these whiners need to grow some [bodyparts that rhyme with "presticles"]... even the worst parts of the shadiest european cities are safer than most areas of washington dc.
Back in the 19th century, there used to some European guides to the rip-offs to be avoided in North America. I expected some new ones to emerge if the dollsr stayed low against the euro and sterling, but there was only time for one or two throw-away newspaper pieces.
Use moneybelt for passports and all except that day's walking around money.
Stuff an old wallet with monopoly money and those faux credit cards you get in "preapproved offers."
Carry said wallet in conspicuous pocket.
Wear $10 watch, no jewelry.
When gypsy woman in Florence tries to hand you her baby, stop ogling her bare breast and step
briskly around her.
Just went to Europe this summer. I loved it, but I found all the scams pathetic; waiters bringing out food we didn't order, etc. Isn't all the petty thievery a symptom of the "we're all just trying to get our piece of the pie" mentality which underlies the modern welfare state?
I'm from Belgium and a several years ago, just out of high school, I traveled to Barcelona, Rome, Paris, London, Venice, ... Always with friends my age, once with my younger brother. Thinking about it, I'm sure we looked like the perfect target, young, naive and unexperienced as we were. Yet none of those things happened to us. Yes, there were a lot of pickpockets, and sometimes people approached us with offers of "help", yet nothing like the stories in the link. We didn't get mugged, tricked into mafia-controlled clubs, etc.
Do these criminals only target Americans/American-looking people? You guys do "stand out" compared to the average European tourist.
Also, Europeans in general are not as open and social in public, compared to Americans. Starting a conversation with the guy sitting next to you on the bus is pretty much not done. So when somebody does approach you, he usually has ulterior motives.
I'm a woman who always travels alone in Europe. In Venice, Florence, London.... I've never been pickpocketed or anything. That being said, I walk and act like a don't-fuck-with-me New Yorker. Being from NYC or any large city means you also a) don't trust anyone b) have great peripheral vision and c) hold your ground in disputes.
I've got a feeling most of Rick Steve's tips were given by Rick Steve's customers, the majority of whom seem to be small-town folks who are like sheep to the slaughter in any sizable city, much less one in a foreign country where there's a language barrier.
I would say the biggest key to avoiding trouble abroad, is to just seem like a local.*
Simply, always look busy, don't go wandering around looking clueless, and don't carry a camera around(Get a good camera phone, you won't be able to tell the difference).
Feel at ease, and don't carry too much money on you at any time.
Don't wear a money-belt, if you get mugged they can take that too. Just leave your money and passports wherever you're staying(Preferably family or friends, don't stay at shitty hotels).
*- If you're in a third world country, completely different rules apply. Crime is much higher in these countries(relative returns to crime are higher, since alternative jobs don't pay as well), and most westerners have no idea how to conduct themselves safely in such an environment.
Unless you have a strong support structure(Family, friends, employer, etc), it's not a good idea to go at all.
Normally I avoid the more touristy areas of Paris, but had to walk across the Champ de Mars to get to a lunch reservation on Thanksgiving day. I was approached twice within a 5 - 10 minute period with someone trying the 'found ring' scam.
Someone walking by you stoops over and pretends to find a ring at your feet. If you're slow enough to engage them in conversation they'll offer to sell it to you for a bargain after showing you markings that indicate it is precious metal. I ignored both scammers, but really wanted to take the ring saying, "Oh, yes, that is mine, thank you for noticing," and walk off. Given that I'm 6'4" and built like a linebacker I wouldn't expect I would have gotten much trouble, but then again it's not worth getting shanked for a worthless ring.
Reading through the list, it seems like almost all of these incidents happened in Spain, Italy, and France. What is it about these places that breeds dishonesty and thievery?
I wonder if these scams are aimed exclusively at Americans? As an Australian whose done the odd bit of travel through Europe (and those appalling third world countries best avoided) I've seen very little of any of these. I suspect previous commenters who suspect targeting obviously hayseeds with no idea are on to something.
these whiners need to grow some [bodyparts that rhyme with "presticles"]... even the worst parts of the shadiest european cities are safer than most areas of washington dc.
Back in the 19th century, there used to some European guides to the rip-offs to be avoided in North America. I expected some new ones to emerge if the dollsr stayed low against the euro and sterling, but there was only time for one or two throw-away newspaper pieces.
There does seem to be an element of Darwinism at work in those little stories.
Cheers,
Rick Steve's is a dick. He deserves to be ripped off. Repeatedly.
Why don't more of these petty thieves get their asses kicked by supposedly "violent" Americans?
Use moneybelt for passports and all except that day's walking around money.
Stuff an old wallet with monopoly money and those faux credit cards you get in "preapproved offers."
Carry said wallet in conspicuous pocket.
Wear $10 watch, no jewelry.
When gypsy woman in Florence tries to hand you her baby, stop ogling her bare breast and step
briskly around her.
Just went to Europe this summer. I loved it, but I found all the scams pathetic; waiters bringing out food we didn't order, etc. Isn't all the petty thievery a symptom of the "we're all just trying to get our piece of the pie" mentality which underlies the modern welfare state?
MC,
Have you ever traveled outside of Europe?(I could go on for hours about India...).
Tourists, by definition, don't know anything about the area, and are far away from traditional support structures.
Unfortunately, the "Let's prey on the weak, stupid, and alone" mentality predates the modern welfare state by quite a bit...
I'm Rick Steves, Bitch!
I'm from Belgium and a several years ago, just out of high school, I traveled to Barcelona, Rome, Paris, London, Venice, ... Always with friends my age, once with my younger brother. Thinking about it, I'm sure we looked like the perfect target, young, naive and unexperienced as we were. Yet none of those things happened to us. Yes, there were a lot of pickpockets, and sometimes people approached us with offers of "help", yet nothing like the stories in the link. We didn't get mugged, tricked into mafia-controlled clubs, etc.
Do these criminals only target Americans/American-looking people? You guys do "stand out" compared to the average European tourist.
Also, Europeans in general are not as open and social in public, compared to Americans. Starting a conversation with the guy sitting next to you on the bus is pretty much not done. So when somebody does approach you, he usually has ulterior motives.
I'm a woman who always travels alone in Europe. In Venice, Florence, London.... I've never been pickpocketed or anything. That being said, I walk and act like a don't-fuck-with-me New Yorker. Being from NYC or any large city means you also a) don't trust anyone b) have great peripheral vision and c) hold your ground in disputes.
I've got a feeling most of Rick Steve's tips were given by Rick Steve's customers, the majority of whom seem to be small-town folks who are like sheep to the slaughter in any sizable city, much less one in a foreign country where there's a language barrier.
I would say the biggest key to avoiding trouble abroad, is to just seem like a local.*
Simply, always look busy, don't go wandering around looking clueless, and don't carry a camera around(Get a good camera phone, you won't be able to tell the difference).
Feel at ease, and don't carry too much money on you at any time.
Don't wear a money-belt, if you get mugged they can take that too. Just leave your money and passports wherever you're staying(Preferably family or friends, don't stay at shitty hotels).
*- If you're in a third world country, completely different rules apply. Crime is much higher in these countries(relative returns to crime are higher, since alternative jobs don't pay as well), and most westerners have no idea how to conduct themselves safely in such an environment.
Unless you have a strong support structure(Family, friends, employer, etc), it's not a good idea to go at all.
Hans,
It doesn't have much to do with being an American, these elements tend to leave young people alone. Mainly, it's because we don't have much money.
That, and young people have a pretty easy time fitting in wherever they go. Thank God for MTV, Hollywood, and the Multinationals...
Normally I avoid the more touristy areas of Paris, but had to walk across the Champ de Mars to get to a lunch reservation on Thanksgiving day. I was approached twice within a 5 - 10 minute period with someone trying the 'found ring' scam.
Someone walking by you stoops over and pretends to find a ring at your feet. If you're slow enough to engage them in conversation they'll offer to sell it to you for a bargain after showing you markings that indicate it is precious metal. I ignored both scammers, but really wanted to take the ring saying, "Oh, yes, that is mine, thank you for noticing," and walk off. Given that I'm 6'4" and built like a linebacker I wouldn't expect I would have gotten much trouble, but then again it's not worth getting shanked for a worthless ring.
Reading through the list, it seems like almost all of these incidents happened in Spain, Italy, and France. What is it about these places that breeds dishonesty and thievery?
I wonder if these scams are aimed exclusively at Americans? As an Australian whose done the odd bit of travel through Europe (and those appalling third world countries best avoided) I've seen very little of any of these. I suspect previous commenters who suspect targeting obviously hayseeds with no idea are on to something.