I am on a tour of Switzerland right now. Geneva's lake is stunning with all the healthy swans swimming in its pristine waters. However, there are many professional beggars who target gullible tourists (something you rarely if ever see in Lugano and Lucerne that are not less beautiful). Geneva's restaurants are mainly tourist traps and it doesn't have a single decent cafe where you will enjoy a specialty coffee. There are a couple of bakers slash chooclatiers who pretty much bought shops at short distances from each other and opened half a dozen branches each. The quality of pastries and even artisanal chocolate is noticeably low especially considering the price because these two or three chains basically squeezed out the competition and the result is (surprise surprise) lower standards. The locals are famous (aka have earned a reputation) for being 'thrifty' (some call it stingy which is probably the more accurate term) and a few locals told me they did not dine in a local restaurant "since before covid". They simply hop on a regional French train that takes them to their favourite restaurants and these are people with triple digit annual salaries in Swiss Francs. Last and also least the streets are not as clean as most mid sized Swiss towns and the municipal sweepers appear to be concentrating their efforts at the most posh parts of town. It is why most of the town's pavements haven't had an effective scrubbing for literally decades.
@@travelwithwill1 Thanks, I appreciate it. We’re gonna drive across Switzerland, doing 2 nights in Geneva, 2 nights in Veysonnaz, 3 nights by lake Zurich then a train to Italy for 2 nights in Milan.
Living in Geneva for 25 years, I have never experienced these scams. Geneva is one of the safest cities in the world. Maybe they are seasonal tourist scammers who come and go, but in general Geneva is not dangerous at all. London can be dangerous, Paris can be dangerous, Tokyo can be dangerous but man, Geneva can’t be. Peace.
I’m a local born and raised in Geneva it is very safe city but you still need to be careful like everywhere in the world but in some places like in Paquis of course you need to be a bit more aware of your surroundings and you need to look the part that means observe the genevan’s dress code;)
Now everywhere is expensive and dangerous, Will) Switzerland is saved by the high cost of life, but does not cut off touring \ seasonal crime. Robbed, got on the train and left. In fact, it's a little scary to walk around everywhere. Me and two of my friends were robbed in Madrid. There were 7 of them. At first we wanted to fight, but they immediately warned about knives. I had to give the watch and a couple thousand bucks.
Though not an outright scam the fact that in Switzerland the heating is not turned on during the month of March at any time of the day or night in the second class carriages in the inter city trains is surprising and unfair (especially to children because many tourists don't expect it to be 13 degrees celsius on the train and don't dress them properly plus there are no sufficient spaces for suitcases. Typically inter city trains have 50% first class and 50% second class carriages plus one carriage for the restaurant. The first class carriages are usually 98% empty and the second class carriages usually 90% - 100% full which inevitably means second class carriages often smell bad because empty or half empty cheap beer cans are found in almost every waste space and that is in spite the fact a one way ticket in a 2nd class carriage from Basel to Geneva (less than 3 hours) costs more than a FULL month of unlimited train, bus, tram and metro travels to all destinations in Germany (!!).
Hey! I don't know if it qualifies as a scam but I was in Geneva two weeks ago for work/tourism and got exchanged for a 100 CHF bill but it was an old one, they told me it coudl be accepted at stores or bars, but it wasn't so had to go the bank :( Hope this info works for anyone! don't accept old bills, as it doesn't work anywhere and you might loose money
Wow, this is great information, funny yet has great advice for everyone, ( worth listening to this advice)), I live near ish to Geneva, but I listen to this advice, thank you ,
The oldest scam i have seen is the ''What time is it'' and they want to give you a small giftbag (weed) as a thanks for being a ''honest and good'' person, basically they want then 10 dollars for the weed. This i saw in South America where a brazilian scammed a couple from spain. Another one old is the ''tibet munk'' asking for donation and giving you the ''friend-bracelet''. And the snatching bag in trains and airports of course.
Mate, most places are hard these days. Have you ever had the “ deaf people “ come up and get you to sigh a petition, then sign for money? They are not deaf, it’s a classic summer one in Genève!
Wow, u get scammed easily. R u sure u r a good tourist? 😅 Just kidding, thanks bro. Really informative. I have seen all Ur Geneva videos, so helpful. Keep it up
There you go, night life is different from day life 😂😂most of the people in Geneva are there solely for work. If you like to party in a posh way, be prepared to pay 😂😂 Broow😮
Hello, my guided TOUR of GENEVA is here: m.ua-cam.com/video/82H1kW0RB9A/v-deo.html
Good videos Will...! Love your style... Thanks!
I am on a tour of Switzerland right now.
Geneva's lake is stunning with all the healthy swans swimming in its pristine waters.
However, there are many professional beggars who target gullible tourists (something you rarely if ever see in Lugano and Lucerne that are not less beautiful).
Geneva's restaurants are mainly tourist traps and it doesn't have a single decent cafe where you will enjoy a specialty coffee.
There are a couple of bakers slash chooclatiers who pretty much bought shops at short distances from each other and opened half a dozen branches each.
The quality of pastries and even artisanal chocolate is noticeably low especially considering the price because these two or three chains basically squeezed out the competition and the result is (surprise surprise) lower standards.
The locals are famous (aka have earned a reputation) for being 'thrifty' (some call it stingy which is probably the more accurate term) and a few locals told me they did not dine in a local restaurant "since before covid".
They simply hop on a regional French train that takes them to their favourite restaurants and these are people with triple digit annual salaries in Swiss Francs.
Last and also least the streets are not as clean as most mid sized Swiss towns and the municipal sweepers appear to be concentrating their efforts at the most posh parts of town. It is why most of the town's pavements haven't had an effective scrubbing for literally decades.
Been binging your videos, you’re really damn good at this. Going to Switzerland this week for the first time, spending a couple of nights in Geneva.
Hello, thanks. I did go a bit Geneva crazy 😂 I hope you have a great time
@@travelwithwill1 Thanks, I appreciate it. We’re gonna drive across Switzerland, doing 2 nights in Geneva, 2 nights in Veysonnaz, 3 nights by lake Zurich then a train to Italy for 2 nights in Milan.
Living in Geneva for 25 years, I have never experienced these scams. Geneva is one of the safest cities in the world. Maybe they are seasonal tourist scammers who come and go, but in general Geneva is not dangerous at all. London can be dangerous, Paris can be dangerous, Tokyo can be dangerous but man, Geneva can’t be. Peace.
You have to understand, the pennypincher paid 2 aperol for a Geneva vixen 10 years ago and the wound is still fresh.
Yes, Geneva is not so « clean » that we can imagine. Thanks for this video 👍
Thanks for watching
Of course there is drugs and pick pocketing like in every big city on the world.
My rule of thumb as a tourist is that nothing good happens after midnight.
😹Spot on !
I’m a local born and raised in Geneva it is very safe city but you still need to be careful like everywhere in the world but in some places like in Paquis of course you need to be a bit more aware of your surroundings and you need to look the part that means observe the genevan’s dress code;)
Now everywhere is expensive and dangerous, Will) Switzerland is saved by the high cost of life, but does not cut off touring \ seasonal crime. Robbed, got on the train and left. In fact, it's a little scary to walk around everywhere. Me and two of my friends were robbed in Madrid. There were 7 of them. At first we wanted to fight, but they immediately warned about knives. I had to give the watch and a couple thousand bucks.
Hello, thanks for sharing your experience. We all need to be careful when travelling...
Though not an outright scam the fact that in Switzerland the heating is not turned on during the month of March at any time of the day or night in the second class carriages in the inter city trains is surprising and unfair (especially to children because many tourists don't expect it to be 13 degrees celsius on the train and don't dress them properly plus there are no sufficient spaces for suitcases.
Typically inter city trains have 50% first class and 50% second class carriages plus one carriage for the restaurant.
The first class carriages are usually 98% empty and the second class carriages usually 90% - 100% full which inevitably means second class carriages often smell bad because empty or half empty cheap beer cans are found in almost every waste space and that is in spite the fact a one way ticket in a 2nd class carriage from Basel to Geneva (less than 3 hours) costs more than a FULL month of unlimited train, bus, tram and metro travels to all destinations in Germany (!!).
Hey! I don't know if it qualifies as a scam but I was in Geneva two weeks ago for work/tourism and got exchanged for a 100 CHF bill but it was an old one, they told me it coudl be accepted at stores or bars, but it wasn't so had to go the bank :(
Hope this info works for anyone! don't accept old bills, as it doesn't work anywhere and you might loose money
Hello, thanks for sharing that info. I will mention that in my next video. Cheers
Wow, this is great information, funny yet has great advice for everyone, ( worth listening to this advice)), I live near ish to Geneva, but I listen to this advice, thank you ,
Thanks for sharing!
Thank you, this is useful. I'm going to Geneva next week
Hello, I'm glad it helps. You should check out my Geneva playlist.
The oldest scam i have seen is the ''What time is it'' and they want to give you a small giftbag (weed) as a thanks for being a ''honest and good'' person, basically they want then 10 dollars for the weed. This i saw in South America where a brazilian scammed a couple from spain.
Another one old is the ''tibet munk'' asking for donation and giving you the ''friend-bracelet''.
And the snatching bag in trains and airports of course.
Hello, thanks for sharing your experience with the other travelers, cheers
Thanks for the advice Will...I am actually going on a solo trip in Geneva in May :)
Mate, most places are hard these days. Have you ever had the “ deaf people “ come up and get you to sigh a petition, then sign for money? They are not deaf, it’s a classic summer one in Genève!
Hello, I have seen that one. I once saw a huge fat man dressed as a clown. haha
talks to pickpocketers and ask if they have had been pickpocketed
😂 did I
😂
Oh das Theater um Diebe. In der Schweiz ist es sicherer als in UK
Do you think it's better to stay at a hotel across from the train station like the Warwick or in the old town?
london is definitely more expensif but for switzerland after zurich here is expensif in geneva ..
Wow, u get scammed easily. R u sure u r a good tourist? 😅 Just kidding, thanks bro. Really informative. I have seen all Ur Geneva videos, so helpful. Keep it up
Haha, I have to say I do attract crazy people. Cheers
Cool video
Thanks
Bro visit Dubai its safest place in the world right now ;) Coming to Geneva next week hope I will enjoy)
You will... I will come to Dubai at some point. Geneva is actually very safe too
There you go, night life is different from day life 😂😂most of the people in Geneva are there solely for work. If you like to party in a posh way, be prepared to pay 😂😂
Broow😮
Very true
Going there in a few weeks just 1 night and fly of to copenhagen
I Liv in Geneva for 10 years as a German now.. never been scammed
Hello, it's definitely a safe city but stay safe.
You left out the most important info: How much was the tab???