One tip that will save pain: if you MUST carry a small bag or purse, do not, I repeat, DO NOT put your passport inside (ESPECIALLY ladies/teenage girls). What they'll do is use a motorcycle and the back seat passenger snags the purse. They're gone so quickly, the victim doesn't even know what color the motorcycle was. I've seen it happen. Stuff your credit card in the passport and wrap a rubber band around it. Keep it in your front pocket. Thieves usually try the bump and run tactic and most will attack the back pockets. A cop said the reason for the rubber bands is to make it harder for them to slip it out of your pocket. True, it'll make it slow and difficult to get it out when you get to the hotel but the pickpocket will also have a hard time.
I just returned from Europe and didn't get robbed. The main reason is that I pay attention to my surroundings. I keep my belongings where they are not vulnerable and when crazy things start happening around me, my radar gets turned up. I've worked in downtown Boston for 35 years and I think that helps. I ignore strangers who walk up and speak to me and triple check my bag and wallet immediately. I still have seen many great sights and enjoyed fantastic cities without becoming a victim of theft. These tips are great from Wolters World.
And such people like you refuse to help those strangers, who ask for where is that and that location at and what is the time ,etc. I have been a foreigner once - being as a student in a foreign country during my study exchange programme in Europe called Erasmus. And just as I said, I was in the role of asker. I was randomly walking on the street, trying to find my faculty's location with the help of GPS. But you know, locals help will save so much more time than trying to find it yourself via GPS. I don't say you need to completely change your behavior to the contrary. But I just say that sometimes you should open up to that stranger - you might never know how you will save his/her day! Regards, Svens from Latvia.
Peter, you strike me as the most streetwise person here. Great points on awareness. You are a veteran of the street, and you sure sound like you are nobody's fool. ty
Great advice! Just want to add - Be aware when using your mobile (Cell) phone as cycle gangs are known to approach from behind and whip it out of your hand. I always use mine with my back against a wall so I'm only approachable from the front. Doesn't mean I won't get it stolen but it cuts down on the risk.
Chris Richards Great advice, thank you Chris! My niece (a SoCali local) was dining outside with friends, along an Esplanade of boat docks in Southern California. Her new iPhone sat on the table & was swept away by a duo of "jogging" thieves with no method to track them down.
+Bobby Paluga Gipsies in Spain are nice people (unless you are in a ghetto, there the things could get a bit messed, but thats mainly a fault of the government), the hookers issue is mostly a problem of Barcelona, in las Ramblas
+woltersworld Wolter since you do these helpful tips I was wondering if you could do a video about what you would pack before going on vacation. The videos you do are great but you are at the place, I would like to know what happens before and your best tips about packing
Thanks for sharing that. I was robbed twice in Manhattan of New York City when I lived there in Queens over thirty years ago. And I was a college graduate. Doesn't say much for my education, does it ? Also been scammed by members of my own family (sisters). Guess I'm just too simple and too trusting. But I'm still alive and learning about life. I'm 65 now. People are the same wherever you go.
Rick Anderson Last time i checked ROBBERY does NOT= SCAM. Robbery is committed by threat of violence usually with a weapon...that is Armed Robbery. A Scam is a Scheme or a PLAN to DEFRAUD by use of DECEPTION. Two quite different MODUS OPERANDI. One is by threat of Force, the other by Cunning. Do a little reading....in a DICTIONARY. Thanx for your comment.
Quazi. You're correct. In the main, us people are the same everywhere. We're just trying to get by in the end. Everyone wants to live happy and peacefully. Just that some of us have dysfunctional paths enroute. ty
some people just don't learn and are 'not switched on. I was with a tour group and one of the girls got her wallet stolen in a nightclub in Florence. After that we were in Venice and she casually just leaves her bag on the floor under her table whilst she goes to the toilet. I thought ill teach her a lesson and took it from underneath the table and hid it for about 10min and told her it got stolen. She was like not again and started crying lol. I had to give it back straight away and told her what I had done to teach her a lesson. Not long after a week later, her bag finally got snatched in Prague. Just goes to show it doesn't happen to everyone or your just the unlucky. She was just clearly stupid.
There are also scams when children approach you. Don't trust them. My friend in Italy had a gypsy girl approach her to offer to hold her umbrella for her since it was raining, meanwhile another kid from behind was reaching into her pocket. She caught them in the act and stopped them just in time. Evil little kids.
It’s wrong for them to that and I’m not condoning it but you have to at least consider that there’s a reason behind it and people who do little petty stuff like that, are probably down on their luck and desperate... Now obviously that doesn’t justify their actions but at least think about that. It might not ruin your day/trip as badly but realizing the luxury of being able to travel and having gratitude for it.
They’re not victims- they work with the adults and are trained since a young age how to do that. They lack morals and have zero remorse. Giving them money would make their situation worse actually as this mean they’ll be demanded to work harder. They don’t get to keep the money btw, only a very small cut and it goes to their parents.
An excellent strategy for remaining safe in dangerous situations is to WATCH PEOPLE'S HANDS. That's always where the source of action lies, whether it's a pickpocket or a mugger.
I experienced getting robbed well sort of it's a funny story. I was in England. I had a heavy suitcase and was carrying it up the stairs. Then I felt someone grab for it. I reacted so fast I had him pinned against the wall. I grew up around shady neighborhoods I've dealt with thugs. The only thing was he was trying to help. He didn't ask or say anything,so of course my initial reaction to someone grabbing my stuff would be that. We both apologized and he carried my stuff and I bought him lunch. The next day I hung out with my friends and his friends and we all had a laugh about what happened.
My first trip to London, a guy also offered to help me carry my heavy suitcase up the stairs from the tube. I was so paranoid about getting robbed that I said no thanks, but he was probably just being nice! I dragged it up the stairs by myself (for some reason I couldn't find the escalator, only stairs). After that trip I just never travel with that large bag anymore. No matter how long of a trip, you CAN get by with just a carry on size. I think being too weighed down with a lot of luggage also makes you vulnerable to being robbed.
Doggirl. Your story brings a little ray of sunshine to an otherwise depressing topic. Your sharp savvy street sense equals Pete Haleys above. I sure wouldn't mess with you. A combo of street smart old school toughness mixed with good old fashioned common sense and kindness. Just lovely. ty
Thanks for caring about our comments, guys. It makes a huge difference to us, knowing that you are trying to help us with your experience, not just having fun! Although, the humour in your videos is greatly appreciated.
you are very welcome and thank you for watching and commenting. With everything running through google+ now it is harder to keep up with the comments and respond as much as before but thank you and great travels for you!
that is a really nice comment. thank you. I am glad to hear you enjoy the videos. it means a lot. we have tons of videos coming. We just got back from a summer of traveling and filming so lots of China travel advice and a few more from Europe too. thanks again. all the best to you!
Your tips make perfect sense, but I have just one more. Keep your passport in the hotel safe at all times. Credit cards can be cancelled, but when your passport is stolen that is a big hassle getting it replaced. Also, keep your passport number in a book which you keep in the hotel safe, in cases when you HAVE to carry your passport. Just an idea. Hope it helps.
My friend was victim to a two person theft/scam. One time in Toledo, Spain my travel group was seated at an outdoor table. An accordion player came up to us and played and as he came close and distracted us asking for tips, his partner stood up from a nearby table, grabbed my friend's backpack and was able to walk away scot free. Luckily the police found the bag in a nearby trash bin with his now already cancelled bank cards and euros gone, but his passport and many other belongings were still in there. Like he said, make sure to always be holding on to your bag, wrapping the straps around your leg as you're sitting, or keeping in physical contact with it at all times. Also, don't trust anyone who approaches you on the street even the nice old man playing the accordion, give him a few euros for the song, but make sure he doesn't walk away with the rest of them.
in the military it's called being a hard target. totally great info dude. one thing I have found is to make eye contact with people...especially, anyone who seems suspicious. the key is making sure you let them know you are very aware of what's going on around you yet not to the point you piss people off. these dick heads are looking for the easiest, quickest and most stealthy way to ply their trade: being a fucking low life piece of shit wish I could pound your face to a pulp thief. it's best to travel with a friend who allows the "watch each others back" "check the buddies six" practice. another thing is to be respectful when you see someone maybe sizing you up and you ask if you can help them. I was in a train terminal in germany. I had a small backpack and was standing in front of the arrival/departure board checking to see when a friend was due to arrive. I saw a few people watching me from different locations. one guy was very curious about my pack. the other watching him for what I thought was instructions. after a few minutes of this I just faced the lone dude and asked firmly but professionally why was he looking at my pack so closely? he was surprised and said he like it and wondered if he could look at it. I told him I liked it as well and he could continue to look at it from where he was. he started saying I was rude. I told him that he and his looky loo buddies could buy it off the same damn website I got it from and that if he and his group didn't move the fuck on I was going to lose a boot in their ass. needless to say he quickly left.when I got back to the air base I was told to talk this person interested in what had happened. it turns out the man I had confronted was suspected of being part of a theft ring specifically targeting tourists and American servicemen. he was alone at that point but was using his cell phone to coordinate attacks on potential victims. the other people I saw watching me and him were actually intel people from the americans and the germans working together to try and infiltrate the theft ring. I told the "agent" that I felt bad I threw a monkey wrench in their ops but, at the time, I was just protecting myself. he told me to not worry about it just keep what they were doing quiet. be aware...don't establish a routine...take different routes to the same destination...wear clothing that will allow you to blend in with the people there. and for goodness sake make eye contact and non confrontationally let people know you are watching them as well. one more thing...TAKE THE FUCKING EAR BUDS OUT OF YOUR EARS AND LISTEN TO YOUR SURROUNDINGS. PUT YOUR IPHONE AWAY AND KEEP YOUR EYES FREE TO SCAN. I shouldn't have to tell you why.
MrAnimepredator most people in the military are not in combat roles. they are support personnel and do not get the proper training to confront a threat from multiple aggressors. most military personnel who get "rolled" are alone against a superior number of adversaries. most military personnel who become victims have been drinking or have been targeted and drugged (slipped a mickey finn) are in a diminished state...thus, are easy prey. go troll somewhere else. If a troll you are not, then get educated before you speak about a subject.
highonimmi to me it just sounds like you have a weak army with weak soldiers. here every last one of our million soldiers have even the most basic of training (which is the 3-6 months of various training) even if all they did was answer to a phone. not to mention that most of the men in this country have military training, we are talking about would be 80% and thats the lowest approximation. tho than again when you there is conscription in a country that is pretty much a norm. but in a country where army is a choice and they still dont get training, what the hell is that about.
MrAnimepredator sounds like you're full of shit. show me some video of one of your drunk super soldiers in civilian clothes in an dark alley getting attacked by a group of thugs bent on stealing his shit and beating his ass. I would like to see how he defeats them with his bear hands.
highonimmi they would do pretty well. considering even our alcohol is stronger than that water you call booze. so of course you are going to be drunk out of your ass after first shot.
1) Buy few shirts at the airport when you arrive or from the town, so you look familiar 2) Be confident 3) Be rude/mean always, yes its wrong but it will protect you, also never say yes or do a favour to anyone, it might be dicky but just don't 4) Refuse any offer you get on the go, because if you accept to buy a $5 guide book from a guy, all of them will follow you + you are a target now 5) Don't put your camera on your chest and be amazed by every fountain and take pictures 6) Unless you are a professional photographer, don't take your camera with you, (if you are within a group its fine) 7) Don't wear back packs, if you are not a back-packer then use a hand-bag or side-bag
+Untitled Name yeah just dress normally, not too show-offy with bling showing. if you are travelling to third world country then you should wear less flashy clothes though
Buy Tshirts at the airport? what the heck. only tourists buy airport tshirts. that is the worst idea to wear the name of the city you are in then try to blend in.
thanks for following. sorry about the wind. I did not realize it was that bad at the time. we have been trying to improve the wind/sound quality and hopefully when we have newer videos that wont be as bad an issue. I do apologize
I've only been "scammed" once, and that was just a stupid mistake I made in Africa. A guy asked me if I wanted a guided tour of the city, see the major sights, and I didn't ask for a set price in advance.. So when the tour was done, the guy showed me a lame paper with crazy prices for tours and stuff, and being alone in an african city with only africans around, I didn't exactly feel like fighting with the guy.. : )
This happened to me in Saigon…a motor bike guy gave me a tour and he quoted a reasonable price initially but when we were done he got very angry and insistent that the price was higher… I did not want to create a scene and paid the ransom which was not that significant, $60.00 , but still way overpriced…
My friend almost got robbed by a group of kids in the Barcelona subway. They look somewhere between 12 to 15 year olds . They ganged up behind him and tried to open his back pack. He immediately noticed it and turned around and the kids ran away. I witnessed someone trying to rob a woman's wallet from her bag and when she noticed what was happening the guy acted like they know each other and started shouting at her as if they were having an argument.
well if you have travelers insurance (AAA has it for example and sometimes your work as it as well). it is not a must but for piece of mind it may be worth the 40 bucks it costs for a couple weeks. but unless their is an official police report with stamps and such the insurance company says nothing happened.
Anybody who seems all to eager to be your friend is likely somebody you do not want to be friends with or trust. Its actually the people that have no interest in talking to you at all that you can trust more.
+Mark K That's how they got me I had 2 heavy bags and the wheel broke on one of them and sure enough a good Samaritan shows up and offers to help me and he was like a mule running with the heavy bag so don't travel Heavy the bag had donated clothes so I didn't lose much.
Had an attempted mugging in Rio, boy was he surprised. I'm a black belt in Judo, and a British soldier, trained in Akido. The police easily found him later, a bloody mess.
You sir, are a menace to society. Black belt in the SPORT of judo, and he ended up a bloody mess.....Jason Bourne, dark, edgy, lethal and codename dragonwickster.......fuck me a soldier too.....#scaredstiff #publicenemynumber1 #brutal ............any more bullshit, sorry I mean danger tales for us.
Great to hear. We have some other videos for getting ready to study abroad on here too. 5 things you will love & hate about studying abroad, where to live, how to choose classes, all kinds of stuff. I hope you have a great time studying abroad! I am jealous! Mark
fun trick - put an empty old wallet you don't really give much of a damn about, an empty phone case (mine has a flap on the front so when it's closed you can't tell if there is anything in or not) in an obvious place in your bag - when you open the bag and you see those right away. Don't put your actual money, documents, credit cards in the same location. Leave a few bucks in your pockets so that you don't have to open your secret storage when you buy an ice cream in the street.
+Upscent Great advice, love it. Kind of like the mugger's money New Yorker's are rumored to have carried on the way to school back in the day. :-) --MaryGo
Good idea and a method used by older kids in junior high to get into local college basketball games. They would go to a thrift store buy a pile of crappy worn wallets, over time fill them with business cards, ads, and even realistic looking fake folding money. A few would go to a ticket taker at a stadium or arena for the close by university that did very well in both sports, say they had to get a message and some money and a drivers license to their dad who was already in the seats and left what he needed at home. One of the two kids wild tell the student ticket taker to hold onto a wallet of a boy to insure they returned. They never came back but enjoyed the game. I keep a low limit credit card and ID in my sock, my wife placed what she needed, makeup, brush, in my jacket pockets, no purse.
+Bobby Paluga I stuff my old wallet (which I carry with me) with used up gift cards (all zero balances). The robbers would think he hit the Jack pot. Someone has actually broke into my locker while I was working out at the gym. Stole my fake wallet with all those used up gift cards. My real wallet was actually locked up in my car. I had the last laugh. 😁👍
Yep, Rovinj, Croatia. It is in Istria the North West of Croatia. Really beautiful seaside towns. We made like 6 or 7 videos there as it was so nice. I highly recommend going there. definitely a hidden gym of europe
One of the biggest scams I saw was when I was on a study abroad in Russia. I was sightseeing in Suzdal and a Canadian couple was in the area as well. They had a translator with them who was "negotiating" with vendors as they shopped through the vendors and the translator was actually lying to her clients about the prices and negotiating with the vendors to sell at a higher price and get cuts on the profits. The Canadians thought they were getting discounts and in actuality they were getting ripped off blind often being sold items at 2-3x the cost.
I hope they said, "Sorry!" to the translator and vendors for allowing themselves to be ripped off! And yes, I'm Canadian. Sorry if my name confuses anyone...
yeah, I have seen a lot of hotel staff robberies and have made it a point to still lock up everything in the safe (even though I am sure the staff know how to open that too). Sorry to hear about your watch. we still even try to hide semi valuables in our luggage and lock them up when we go out too just in case, even in "safe" countries and cities. hope you got your watch back
A color photocopy of your passport is also an excellent idea. I suppose you would keep that in the hotel safe when you must carry the original. Thanks for the easy and simple tip.
that sucks. i never go the gold ring thing. you see them at the louvre all the time too and people get robbed right there. sad really :( thanks for the comment and watching!
Great tips, I was scammed in Rome, bought a coffee and a piece of cake in a cafe. The price was 20+ euro's. The cafe wasn't anything special. Of course I paid….the exact amount, the waiter hung around for a tip, I thought up yours mate. Next time I'll ask for a menu with the prices.
I know what you mean. The prices over there were ridiculous; and more often than not, the food sucked and was way overpriced. We had dinner at this restaurant in Venice. It cost €230 and the food wasn't good at all. The worst pizza I ever had was in Rome. Shit on a shingle. Yet I had the best spaghetti with basil marinara sauce I've ever had in my life at an outdoor cafe, only the waitress we had was rude to the point of being mean. Of all the places I've been in Europe I found Italians to be the most rude, chauvinistic and sleazy. We were lied to and misled time and time again. I came to learn very quickly that I could trust no one.....about anything. Them and their precious Euros. But the history and culture were in other ways astounding!
A tourist, a teacher, and a spy must all do three things. 1 Have good shoes. 2 Keep your eyes moving all the time. Be aware of everything around you. And, 3. Go the bathroom whenever you can!
I really like your videos and the way you guys see the world. I find your travel tips great and the extra mile you go to for us, is particularly appreciated. Thanks to you all, from Sweden.
Always be mindful when you travel and don't wander off too much when you're traveling to a new place. Getting robbed while traveling just spoils all the fun.
Thank you and thank goodness they look like their mom... the lucky guys :) thanks for watching, commenting and being sweet about my boys. Hope you will subscribe!
Just got back from a vacation in Paris. Wife had her wallet stolen from her purse on the Metro. The train was packed when we tried to get on. Two kids bumped into us and it seemed like they didn't want to let us on. I got on and finally my wife did too. As the door was closing, the girl that had bumped into my wife jumped off. A few seconds later my wife noticed the zipper on her purse was open and her wallet was missing. Luckily it only had $1 in it..lol
You are spot-on with your impression of a gawker. When people come from the suburbs or rural areas to here in the city they do the same thing; they get out of their cars, and put their hands on their hips and look around. What they're looking for is paking info, but what the local husslers see are targets for panhandling.
I was robbed of 600 bucks in Jamaica during touring.. I was so into the beautiful things and being super friendly, shaking hands, laughing w the locals, getting advice and they robbed my ass. I hate Jamaica. I never want to go back. Your tips were great.
sivan suresh I never looked at anyone in Jamaica suspiciously. I've been there before. I never stated that all locals are bad people. I do stand by my statement in not wanting to visit agian. It is a fact that some people take advantage of travelers. I don't walk around look afraid and stuck up I also don't look too friendly. When you have been violated then you'll know how it feels. There's not always a particular 'look' to one getting robbed, I assume.
Janos Nemeth you are an idiot! I certainly don't consider anyone other than yourself that. As an proud African American its offensive to call anyone that. You should be ashamed. Should i say my late husband was killed by a white man? Does that make the white guy a ni??er too? You're stupid. Go AWAY!
+itsme!! trust me there is a particular 'look' to getting robbed in Jamaica (and most tourist areas across the world). I'm from the capital of Jamaica and some of the locals still try to take advantage of me. You just dress differently, walk differently and have a 'foreign' look to them. I'm sorry some of the locals ruined your experience and hope you enjoy your travels elsewhere! P.S. Whenever you travel, try not to walk with so much money at any one time. Most hotels typically have safes so I recommend leaving behind valuables whenever you're walking around the area :)
+itsme!! what about the French metro clerk who took my big bill at the train station then claimed I gave her a small bill? I know where I am from the cashier leaves the bill on the counter, makes change then puts away the bill. So the fact that she put away my bill then denied I gave her the big bill tells me she is a thief. But that won't stop me from going back to France. Matter of fact I've been back. People get robbed in New York that won't stop them. You sound childish.You want to punish a whole bunch of good people because of a few criminals. If you were really friendly as you say then you should know that the decent people won't rob you. It's the crooks. BTW be careful if you go to countries like Spain and France where Gypsies rove and pickpocket wallets.
First,great video. Thank you. Second, I have never had any problem on my travels. But maybe is because I know the language, I act secure by looking people in the eye and great people on the local language.
Good Video! I was robbed in Spain. A gypsy girl on the street stopped me to ask me if I wanted to buy some flowers. I didn't trust her, so after stopping I carried on walking, when I checked my pockets my money had gone. If this happens to you, don't stop at all someone was working with her and I didn't feel a thing.
this video reminds me of nyc !i live in brooklyn and work in the city (manhattan for people who dont know the reference )and i go to get a hot dog the guy tells me 4 bucks all i have to tell em is cmon dude im not a turist and the price goes down to 2or 3 depending on location!
Patriot Fieri Same strategy in Los Angeles and Mexico - always negotiate the prices of street vendors, they can say no, but for the majority of customers, that old expression "a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush" is effective. The street vendors want and need your business and know you can walk away and get a similar or lesser price. It ALWAYS PAYS to ASK ~~> they vendor can always decline...Just be polite and respectful, that's the best solution as a tourist!
The "hold my baby" scam took me by surprise. On my first day in Paris I was walking through a deserted little square and a woman asked me to hold her baby while she unlocked her bike. I was shocked that she a. Just assumed I was a fellow Parisian and b. That she would ask a total stranger to hold her child. No scam, she just needed both hands free for a minute. Parisians are much nicer than they're given credit for. But watch out for the gypsies. Never, EVER take anything they try to offer you. Once you take it in your hand, they consider said object "sold" and will harass you to no end. And don't fall for the "Please sign this petition to help..." scam.
I have to add that a friend of mine got robbed in Miami when someone bumped him really hard in the shoulder like it was an accident, and took his wallet from his pocket at the same time. If you sustain a hard hit somewhere, your mind kind of gets overloaded by that sensation and you won't feel a lesser sensation happening at the same time such as a hand reaching in your pocket and grabbing your wallet.
Before I leave on any trip, I make a list of the addresses of the embassies/consulates of my country. Also, I leave copies of my passport with trusted loved ones. On that list, I also keep credit card numbers, insurance info, addresses of where I am staying, and locations of nude beaches---errrr..the latter is for a separate list. I never wear expensive jewelry whilst travelling, nor do I act like a tourist. I just try to blend in. It apparently works, because people often stop to ask me directions. I don't do drugs or get wasted, I try to keep a low profile. Stay safe folks.
Thank you for this video. I make every single study abroad student watch it during orientation before we let them go. Next time you're in Savannah, we'd love to have you come to Armstrong State University's campus.
Thanks Kristin. My oldest son was born in Savannah and my sister-in-law still lives there. I would be glad to speak to your outgoing students sometime when I am down in Savannah again. I am happy to hear my videos can help study abroad students and the advisors :) sorry I had not written back to you sooner. UA-cam does not always notify me of all the comments... especially ones from Savannah :) I am actually a Professor at the University of Illinois and take students abroad on trips so we have many a thing in common. Anyway, have a great time traveling and thanks for making study abroad a possibility for so many students. Mark
Yeah, we have been targeted with our kids and I have heard some pretty bad stories about it. But usually you are fine, just keep an eye out. My wife has a few videos on here for traveling with small children that could help with some more tips. Thanks for watching and commenting. I hope you will subscribe!
They will use a Marker Paint to mark your back, if you're out shopping it will happen. After shopping a woman set down outside a café where she was meeting people she put her bag down with in seconds bag was gone. I would call it (the team marker) there was a team following her the woman was told they mark your back. So if you out and see someone marker paint on there back tell then.
most of this is really true. the one time i traveled with someone the dummy put his wallet in his back pocket. i told him not to he would get picpocketed luckily he didnt. ive never been robbed, thankfully. i just look like a poor tourist, so no one bugs me. they also try to distract you... i had one girl run up to me in berlin talking super fast... i just looked at her and kept walking. they work in twos one will distract, the other will try to pick your pocket.
and I appreciate it jeff. we have 95 videos from this summer that we will start releasing on the 10th. so stay tuned for more videos from spain, England, Portugal, finland and china. all the best!
Never carry your Passport or Credit Cards. Leave them at the hotel, along with your extra cash you don't need at the moment. Cash, phone in your front pockets. And walk like you belong there, and look pissed off all the time. Nobody comes near me when I'm away, with my pissed off look.
+qdog568 I test myself by walking past promoters and pub crawl people. If they don't try to sell me shit, I'm doing the right thing. The angry look definitely works. Look as miserable as possible without it affecting your actual mood.
+One Strange World Boots would be uncomfortable for me with all the walking I do. I travel to London often, and have yet to encounter a thief. But I'm prepared. I'll be there this coming Feb. We'll see. Lol
One thing I did on my two trips to Europe with my money, passport, ect. was that I had a pouch with a string on it that I wore around my neck and kept under my shirt. It was early spring, and I was in Germany, France, UK, Switzerland, and Austria, so, I had a thick coat on, so my stuff wasn´t very noticeable.
I use a hidden wallet. strap it around my waste and let it fall crotch level behind my pants. if someone's going for my d---- then I have something more important to worry about :))...kinda awkward though when I have to reach for some cash or my credit card so sometimes I excuse myself to the bathroom.
Reginald, I have never been robbed or pickpocketed in all of my travels over the past 20 years of going around the world and I was "slightly" (thanks, that is actually the nicest way anyone has said it) overweight all those times. So the weight thing has nothing to do with it, being uneducated, not paying attention and being in the wrong place at the wrong time has more to do with it than anything. though the American thing does hold true in many places as americans are seen to have more money
It can happen to anyone. I grew up a city kid in The USA. I was in Milan. Unfortunate as it was, I had taken ill (bronchitis). I was a somewhat disoriented from a severe coughing fit while on the way to (you guessed it) a pharmacy. I looked like I was intoxicated. I had victim written all over me. In the blink of an eye my bag was gone. Thankfully I saw the thief (a gypsy child) running away. What the little punkin' did not know was (despite the coughing) that I was in shape runner. My lungs were on fire but I chased him yelling like a maniac for about 3 blocks.Thankfully a police officer actually intervened and stopped the little hooligan. I got it back. All of it. My camera, some cash, an address book nothing that could not be replaced. My biggest concern was my passport (in the bag as well). I did not make a big issue out of it. I told the police officer (after drinking what appeared to be a gallon of water to soothe my chest) to handle the situation at his discretion. That was the end of it. If it happened to me, it can happen to you. Stay safe and be aware of your surroundings.
Grammar Nazi Party 8 mins is too long for you? Have you any idea how many ways I could rip you for 8 mins being too long? Instead I'll simply mock you for having the word Nazi in your name. Douche.
I always pretend as If I know where I'm going/ What I am doing even If I am lost. I never wear expensive clothes or jewelery or talk about how much money I make
All good advise here. Ive spent alot of time in Colombia and havent had any problems so far. His point about dressing down is a good one. I never wear my wedding ring when I travel and just wear a cheap watch, shorts and a t-shirt, with just enough money for the activity I'm engaging in. Passport and visa card always stay at the hotel. When I do need money from the ATM I go straight there and straight back, drop off my card and most of the cash then head out again. It can be inconvenient but I feel safer and if I do loose my cash its better than losing my passport and cards.
Speaking of wrong place at the wrong time. A friend of mine in high school was doing a student foreign exchange in France. One day in Paris three guys tried to mug her. The three guys didn't fair too well..... she also had a karate black belt.... Do I recommend putting up a fight? That depends on your ability and the situation.
Thank u for taking time out of ur vacation to share what u've learned so that others are aware. I appreciate very much u sharing your tips & your adorable family. Family is what it's all about & hopefully ppl will remember that if, God forbid they do get robbed while on vacation, as long as no one was hurt, $$ & belongings are ALWAYS replaceable....our loved ones aren't!!
Tina M Wetzel exactly, if someone tries to rob us we just give it to them and walk away. it is just money or a camera, those things you can buy or earn again. all the best!
Natalie Huebner. I must respectfully agree to disagree. Thieves do not live by a set of ethics or a value system. There is no honor among thieves. It is however, Europe. They could actually have a union though.
At least in Stockholm gypsy beggars from Romania have morning meetings at each metro station where they probably discuss strategy. goals for the day etc.
Useful info for newbies and even for seasoned travelers as a refresher. You make some good points. But hey, man...one friendly production suggestion: This is the second video of yours that I've watched where wind noise is a significant factor. FInd a tiny piece of foam and attach it over the mic hole or wherever the mic is on your recording device. You can even use scotch tape to hold it there if you must make it removable. It may not look pretty on the device, but it is a super cheap fix that will be very effective at eliminating that annoying background wind noise. I once used memory foam from a mattress pad in a pinch. Looked ugly, but worked GREAT. Just a suggestion, cuz the noise is distracting from your otherwise informative video.
Thanks for the advice Mark; will come in handy when I visit Europe next month. And ignore all the complaints about the wind - you can't please everyone!
I saved a drunk tourist from Azerbaijan from getting robbed in Las Vegas once, he gave me an 8 dollar cashout voucher in exchange. You even have to watch out here in the states.
Mark Wolters Great advice. My niece (a SoCali local) was dining outside with friends, along an Esplanade of boat docks in Southern California. Her new iPhone sat on the table & was swept away by a duo of "jogging" thieves with no method to track them down.
A few years ago my husband was in Prague on business and on the way back to the hotel at night after drinks with coworkers and these 2 "call girls" caught him in the alley and tried to hustle him by saying they'd show him a good time, etc. While one was unzipping his pants and trying to give him a hand job, the other was in his bag taking money. So, he lost 60 euro and only got half a hand job. He said it was the best crime he's ever been a victim of. lol. Another tip I have is not to carry all your money in the same place. Have some in your wallet, maybe some in an inside jacket pocket, some more in your shoe..whatever. That way, if they get it from one place, they may forget about the others and you won't be stuck on the opposite end of town from your hotel without money...and maybe leave one of your credit cards in a secure place in the hotel.
Went to Paris in January this year, ruined by scams from dropping gold rings in front of you to sign my petition, I already knew about all these scams, too bad they are a constant hassle. Some good tips sir!
Why don't the authorities do more to prevent crime in Europe. I guess they don't want any more tourists. I have never once had anything stolen off of me in the US in any big or small city, and other than being careful in certain 'bad' areas of certain cities, I don't take special precautions...carry a normal purse, carry a nice camera, etc. Never been robbed or had my car broken into. Also I've never been groped in the US. Lost my nice camera, and it was turned in to a lost and found. I'm not saying there isn't crime here, but in major cities, pickpocket type incidents are rare.
The powers that be need crime to keep ticking over. Jails are now mostly private enterprise in the west, and big dollar spinners. Like drug trafficking. No one wants to rock the boat and mess with the status quo cash cow. But this approach means life is harder for most of us common folk. However petty crime like theft on he street is too much workload/paperwork for frontline cops, so they often let it go. Some gr8 tips on here. ty
Avoid anywhere that looks dodgy. Groups of young men hanging around the streets are usually a bad sign. I took a wrong turning in Panama City. nothing happened as i just retraced my steps but it was scary for a few minutes. Remember in some places it can go from touristy to dodgy in 2 minutes.Try to at least look like you know where you are. If you need to look at a map, sit down in a cafe or something, keeping your bag hooked around your leg and look. stopping on the streets is asking for it. Be careful getting drunk with locals, in some places they will either set you up or drug your drink. Also remember that the overwhelming majority of people are good people. Dont be paranoid but be careful
In Europe, it's usually the opposite of looking dodgy i.e. - nice touristy places, center of town, subway, bus stops, anywhere really. A friend had her handbag stolen at an airport in Duesseldorf. Everyone around looked very professional, well dressed business people. In general, a thief could look like a nice dressed businessman, a couple of old ladies, a young good looking "student" who asks you to look at some petition, a lady with a baby. My cousin's husband had his cell phone stolen in Berlin, he isn't even a tourist, they live there. He's lived in Berlin his whole life. A girl came up to him when he was sitting in a cafe and asked to sign a petition. While he was reading it, his phone was gone. They have a sign there in the center to be weary of people asking to read petitions. I agree with the rest of your advice. I keep my hand on my handbag at all times and always pay attention to it, put it on my knees in cafes and have the shoulder strap wrapped around my hand.
im always aware of the people around me..I dont take a lot of money with me.. and if i have money i make sure that it cant be easily taken.. Learned that trick in oz after being robbed at christmas time.. they opened my handbag and it has a zipper i didnt even feel it happen.. ive been a lot smarter since..and when travelling im even smarter ..you could say that happening yrs ago did the trick.. Be aware always of your surroundings is my tip
***** yeah, the pickpockets know their stuff. I have seen them robbing people right next to me and was shocked. One when I stared at him just zipped up the girls bag and jumped off the escalator onto the stairs next to it and ran off (without the wallet thank goodness)
Be smart, have a lock and lock up the valuable stuff in your suitcase in your hotel or use the ssafe and when you go out pub crawling take your drinking money and an ID (just in case it gets a bit too crazy and the cops have to carry you back to the hotel). ;) its not so bad, just be smart and all will be well. and h ave a great time!
Using a cross-body purse is the #1 thing I always do when traveling. Cross-body bags are amazing. You never have to put it down, you can be hands free at all times, and it would be very hard for someone to snatch it off of your body versus a shoulder bag or a clutch. Make sure the top of the purse zips up and/or has a locking flap. Also, don't bring your entire life in your normal wallet. If you lose your entire wallet, you'll have to replace every damn thing down to your Costco card. Unnecessary. Keep only your essential cards/cash in a slim card holder and put it in the zipper pocket on the inside of the purse. It'll take you a few steps to get to your cash whenever you're buying something, but that's the entire point: to add barrier steps for pick-pockets. If someone gets a hand into your purse somehow, they'd only be able to quickly grab your sunscreen, lipstick, whatever: those things don't matter in the grand scheme. Happy travels!
That's what I do from personal experience. Mine has a thick leather strap. I doubt they'd target me for cutting purposes. And if they're so desperate that they're going to literally cut it from my body, they can have it. I only carry one card on me at any point in time, which would be easy to cancel. Rip stop bags are so ugly, they'd give someone away as a tourist way quicker than a regular purse
I could add number 10.... Since you are carrying cash don't pull out a big wad of it for all to see when you are paying. Spread your money out on your person. I know people that use a bait wallet that is stuffed with nothing but newspaper. The credit cards are somewhere else. This also comes in handy you you are dickering, you flash a lot of cash and the price will go up.
Thank you for your advice. In Rome my boyfriend nearly had his watch snatched and another incident where our iPhone was nearly snatched. Your advice was invaluable and saved us heartache.
My alligator Hermes Birkin bag was snatched in Paris. They ripped it right off my arm. I fought back and they grabbed my hand and tried to pull my diamond ring off my finger. It was tight and not coming off and I was really scared. I bitched slapped that animal across the face with my other hand and he let go and ran away. very terrifying! I am a native New Yorker from Manhattan. I'm a tough old lady and still these vultures still attacked me.
Blanca W that is horrible. I am glad you are OK. the scum will go after tough mature ladies ;) and babies... makes me sick. and the cops just laugh at you if you complain. frustrating indeed. Hope that was the only bad experience. Big travel hug to you Blanca!
Another thing for non-European tourists to pay attention (europeans are aware of this) : DON'T LEAVE YOUR KIDS UNATTENTED. In major historical sights there's beggars (99% of them being gypsies) and some of them kidnap kids (especially the blond ones), so hold your childrens hands please.
+KateDenthimamai Are you being serious??? Last time a kid was (maybe) kidnapped in Portugal, it was all over the newspaper for days and months!! (Remember Maddie?) Do you seriously think this would be the case if kidnapping was common place? Many gypsies, especially kids as they don't risk jail time, will try to rob your wallet or phone, a lot fewer will actually attack you to rob you... but kidnapping is as rare as it is in the USA.
Thanks! Good advice. True that this can happen anywhere but this especially happens when you travel out of town because the key thing is not being self-aware.
Another "tip": DON'T HAVE ANY PRECONCEIVED IDEAS ON WHAT A THIEF "LOOKS LIKE". My friends got robbed by two old women! Don't trust anyone!
Thanks, I needed to hear that.
If a old woman robbed me I would kick her shins.. is that what u call them below ur knees
I know old street scum bags!
Flowers sellers !
Good tip thanks
One tip that will save pain: if you MUST carry a small bag or purse, do not, I repeat, DO NOT put your passport inside (ESPECIALLY ladies/teenage girls). What they'll do is use a motorcycle and the back seat passenger snags the purse. They're gone so quickly, the victim doesn't even know what color the motorcycle was. I've seen it happen. Stuff your credit card in the passport and wrap a rubber band around it. Keep it in your front pocket. Thieves usually try the bump and run tactic and most will attack the back pockets. A cop said the reason for the rubber bands is to make it harder for them to slip it out of your pocket. True, it'll make it slow and difficult to get it out when you get to the hotel but the pickpocket will also have a hard time.
Or just keep your hand in your pocket.
I just returned from Europe and didn't get robbed. The main reason is that I pay attention to my surroundings. I keep my belongings where they are not vulnerable and when crazy things start happening around me, my radar gets turned up. I've worked in downtown Boston for 35 years and I think that helps. I ignore strangers who walk up and speak to me and triple check my bag and wallet immediately. I still have seen many great sights and enjoyed fantastic cities without becoming a victim of theft. These tips are great from Wolters World.
And such people like you refuse to help those strangers, who ask for where is that and that location at and what is the time ,etc. I have been a foreigner once - being as a student in a foreign country during my study exchange programme in Europe called Erasmus. And just as I said, I was in the role of asker. I was randomly walking on the street, trying to find my faculty's location with the help of GPS. But you know, locals help will save so much more time than trying to find it yourself via GPS.
I don't say you need to completely change your behavior to the contrary. But I just say that sometimes you should open up to that stranger - you might never know how you will save his/her day!
Regards, Svens from Latvia.
Peter Haley I
Peter Haley i
Peter, you strike me as the most streetwise person here. Great points on awareness. You are a veteran of the street, and you sure sound like you are nobody's fool. ty
immediately checking your valuables is nice - tells others where you have your wallet and makes their job easier.
It's cool how you incorporate your kids and wife into the videos. Very casual and informative. Thanks
the best is when the kids just randomly wander into the video :)
woltersworld
It was a staged timing
Great advice! Just want to add - Be aware when using your mobile (Cell) phone as cycle gangs are known to approach from behind and whip it out of your hand. I always use mine with my back against a wall so I'm only approachable from the front. Doesn't mean I won't get it stolen but it cuts down on the risk.
Chris Richards Great advice, thank you Chris! My niece (a SoCali local) was dining outside with friends, along an Esplanade of boat docks in Southern California. Her new iPhone sat on the table & was swept away by a duo of "jogging" thieves with no method to track them down.
Also, by putting your back against a wall, you're out of the way of others who are trying to go past... That's just being polite!
Can we say beware of the Gypsy in Paris? Be aware !
+Bobby Paluga Gipsies in Spain are nice people (unless you are in a ghetto, there the things could get a bit messed, but thats mainly a fault of the government), the hookers issue is mostly a problem of Barcelona, in las Ramblas
Sounds like when I took a Pill in Ibiza. ;)
William Tarleton
Just the one gypsy?
Learn to appropriately pluralize.
Look poor, travel in a group, keep belongings in a safe place.
Yep. Sounds about right.
+woltersworld Wolter since you do these helpful tips I was wondering if you could do a video about what you would pack before going on vacation. The videos you do are great but you are at the place, I would like to know what happens before and your best tips about packing
being in a group is one way to let the wolves know who the sheep are....
this is how I live traveling or not
i love when people think I'm homeless and I probably make 2x what they do :D
dress like a local
Thanks for sharing that. I was robbed twice in Manhattan of New York City when I lived there in Queens over thirty years ago. And I was a college graduate. Doesn't say much for my education, does it ? Also been scammed by members of my own family (sisters). Guess I'm just too simple and too trusting. But I'm still alive and learning about life. I'm 65 now. People are the same wherever you go.
Sisters suck ;)
same wherever you go? not really.....not too many scams going on in canada...except the leafs...
Rick Anderson Last time i checked ROBBERY does NOT= SCAM. Robbery is committed by threat of violence usually with a weapon...that is Armed Robbery. A Scam is a Scheme or a PLAN to DEFRAUD by use of DECEPTION. Two quite different MODUS OPERANDI. One is by threat of Force, the other by Cunning. Do a little reading....in a DICTIONARY. Thanx for your comment.
quaz imodo thanks for the speech...don't know why you're addressing me though....i said that scams are rare in canada....regards
Quazi. You're correct. In the main, us people are the same everywhere. We're just trying to get by in the end. Everyone wants to live happy and peacefully. Just that some of us have dysfunctional paths enroute. ty
some people just don't learn and are 'not switched on. I was with a tour group and one of the girls got her wallet stolen in a nightclub in Florence. After that we were in Venice and she casually just leaves her bag on the floor under her table whilst she goes to the toilet.
I thought ill teach her a lesson and took it from underneath the table and hid it for about 10min and told her it got stolen. She was like not again and started crying lol. I had to give it back straight away and told her what I had done to teach her a lesson.
Not long after a week later, her bag finally got snatched in Prague. Just goes to show it doesn't happen to everyone or your just the unlucky. She was just clearly stupid.
The last sentence made me laugh.
Damn bro I was hoping she learned her lesson when you hid her bag 😂
Was she hot though?
EndzMeetMusic. Was she blond?
There are also scams when children approach you. Don't trust them. My friend in Italy had a gypsy girl approach her to offer to hold her umbrella for her since it was raining, meanwhile another kid from behind was reaching into her pocket. She caught them in the act and stopped them just in time. Evil little kids.
It’s wrong for them to that and I’m not condoning it but you have to at least consider that there’s a reason behind it and people who do little petty stuff like that, are probably down on their luck and desperate... Now obviously that doesn’t justify their actions but at least think about that. It might not ruin your day/trip as badly but realizing the luxury of being able to travel and having gratitude for it.
maybe they were hungry
@@mollykimball I do think about it and do feel sad they have to resort to that. But that still doesn't change my hate for people that do such things.
They’re not victims- they work with the adults and are trained since a young age how to do that. They lack morals and have zero remorse. Giving them money would make their situation worse actually as this mean they’ll be demanded to work harder. They don’t get to keep the money btw, only a very small cut and it goes to their parents.
MA: Holy Scrambled Eggs, Batman!
An excellent strategy for remaining safe in dangerous situations is to WATCH PEOPLE'S HANDS. That's always where the source of action lies, whether it's a pickpocket or a mugger.
I experienced getting robbed well sort of it's a funny story. I was in England. I had a heavy suitcase and was carrying it up the stairs. Then I felt someone grab for it. I reacted so fast I had him pinned against the wall. I grew up around shady neighborhoods I've dealt with thugs. The only thing was he was trying to help. He didn't ask or say anything,so of course my initial reaction to someone grabbing my stuff would be that. We both apologized and he carried my stuff and I bought him lunch. The next day I hung out with my friends and his friends and we all had a laugh about what happened.
Great story!
My first trip to London, a guy also offered to help me carry my heavy suitcase up the stairs from the tube. I was so paranoid about getting robbed that I said no thanks, but he was probably just being nice! I dragged it up the stairs by myself (for some reason I couldn't find the escalator, only stairs). After that trip I just never travel with that large bag anymore. No matter how long of a trip, you CAN get by with just a carry on size. I think being too weighed down with a lot of luggage also makes you vulnerable to being robbed.
Doggirl. Your story brings a little ray of sunshine to an otherwise depressing topic. Your sharp savvy street sense equals Pete Haleys above. I sure wouldn't mess with you. A combo of street smart old school toughness mixed with good old fashioned common sense and kindness. Just lovely. ty
d6: Honest response on your part, as it's creepy when a total stranger does this. I would have done the same.
Thanks for caring about our comments, guys. It makes a huge difference to us, knowing that you are trying to help us with your experience, not just having fun! Although, the humour in your videos is greatly appreciated.
you are very welcome and thank you for watching and commenting. With everything running through google+ now it is harder to keep up with the comments and respond as much as before but thank you and great travels for you!
that is a really nice comment. thank you. I am glad to hear you enjoy the videos. it means a lot. we have tons of videos coming. We just got back from a summer of traveling and filming so lots of China travel advice and a few more from Europe too. thanks again. all the best to you!
Your tips make perfect sense, but I have just one more. Keep your passport in the hotel safe at all times. Credit cards can be cancelled, but when your passport is stolen that is a big hassle getting it replaced. Also, keep your passport number in a book which you keep in the hotel safe, in cases when you HAVE to carry your passport. Just an idea. Hope it helps.
Or a colour photocopy of your passport...
There is only one reason you got robbed:there are bad people that steal from others.
They steal and scam make a living 😥
My friend was victim to a two person theft/scam. One time in Toledo, Spain my travel group was seated at an outdoor table. An accordion player came up to us and played and as he came close and distracted us asking for tips, his partner stood up from a nearby table, grabbed my friend's backpack and was able to walk away scot free.
Luckily the police found the bag in a nearby trash bin with his now already cancelled bank cards and euros gone, but his passport and many other belongings were still in there.
Like he said, make sure to always be holding on to your bag, wrapping the straps around your leg as you're sitting, or keeping in physical contact with it at all times.
Also, don't trust anyone who approaches you on the street even the nice old man playing the accordion, give him a few euros for the song, but make sure he doesn't walk away with the rest of them.
thanks fahad. I appreciate the kind words and I hope the videos help you have a greater trip!
in the military it's called being a hard target. totally great info dude. one thing I have found is to make eye contact with people...especially, anyone who seems suspicious. the key is making sure you let them know you are very aware of what's going on around you yet not to the point you piss people off. these dick heads are looking for the easiest, quickest and most stealthy way to ply their trade: being a fucking low life piece of shit wish I could pound your face to a pulp thief. it's best to travel with a friend who allows the "watch each others back" "check the buddies six" practice. another thing is to be respectful when you see someone maybe sizing you up and you ask if you can help them. I was in a train terminal in germany. I had a small backpack and was standing in front of the arrival/departure board checking to see when a friend was due to arrive. I saw a few people watching me from different locations. one guy was very curious about my pack. the other watching him for what I thought was instructions. after a few minutes of this I just faced the lone dude and asked firmly but professionally why was he looking at my pack so closely? he was surprised and said he like it and wondered if he could look at it. I told him I liked it as well and he could continue to look at it from where he was. he started saying I was rude. I told him that he and his looky loo buddies could buy it off the same damn website I got it from and that if he and his group didn't move the fuck on I was going to lose a boot in their ass. needless to say he quickly left.when I got back to the air base I was told to talk this person interested in what had happened. it turns out the man I had confronted was suspected of being part of a theft ring specifically targeting tourists and American servicemen. he was alone at that point but was using his cell phone to coordinate attacks on potential victims. the other people I saw watching me and him were actually intel people from the americans and the germans working together to try and infiltrate the theft ring. I told the "agent" that I felt bad I threw a monkey wrench in their ops but, at the time, I was just protecting myself. he told me to not worry about it just keep what they were doing quiet. be aware...don't establish a routine...take different routes to the same destination...wear clothing that will allow you to blend in with the people there. and for goodness sake make eye contact and non confrontationally let people know you are watching them as well.
one more thing...TAKE THE FUCKING EAR BUDS OUT OF YOUR EARS AND LISTEN TO YOUR SURROUNDINGS. PUT YOUR IPHONE AWAY AND KEEP YOUR EYES FREE TO SCAN. I shouldn't have to tell you why.
+highonimmi
thiefs targeting service men. yeah I dont see how robbing a combat trained guy might end up badly.
MrAnimepredator most people in the military are not in combat roles. they are support personnel and do not get the proper training to confront a threat from multiple aggressors. most military personnel who get "rolled" are alone against a superior number of adversaries. most military personnel who become victims have been drinking or have been targeted and drugged (slipped a mickey finn) are in a diminished state...thus, are easy prey. go troll somewhere else. If a troll you are not, then get educated before you speak about a subject.
highonimmi
to me it just sounds like you have a weak army with weak soldiers.
here every last one of our million soldiers have even the most basic of training (which is the 3-6 months of various training) even if all they did was answer to a phone. not to mention that most of the men in this country have military training, we are talking about would be 80% and thats the lowest approximation.
tho than again when you there is conscription in a country that is pretty much a norm. but in a country where army is a choice and they still dont get training, what the hell is that about.
MrAnimepredator sounds like you're full of shit. show me some video of one of your drunk super soldiers in civilian clothes in an dark alley getting attacked by a group of thugs bent on stealing his shit and beating his ass. I would like to see how he defeats them with his bear hands.
highonimmi
they would do pretty well. considering even our alcohol is stronger than that water you call booze. so of course you are going to be drunk out of your ass after first shot.
Thank you. I hope none of those 9 things happen to you :) safe travels to you as well! Mark
Great vid! And your baby boy is adorable.
Thank you!
Thanks! Will do. Lots of new videos coming soon! All the best!
You seems like a good guy wolter, wish you luck on your ways
thanks Charles. I loved you in the your movies! :) all the best!
1) Buy few shirts at the airport when you arrive or from the town, so you look familiar
2) Be confident
3) Be rude/mean always, yes its wrong but it will protect you, also never say yes or do a favour to anyone, it might be dicky but just don't
4) Refuse any offer you get on the go, because if you accept to buy a $5 guide book from a guy, all of them will follow you + you are a target now
5) Don't put your camera on your chest and be amazed by every fountain and take pictures
6) Unless you are a professional photographer, don't take your camera with you, (if you are within a group its fine)
7) Don't wear back packs, if you are not a back-packer then use a hand-bag or side-bag
+Untitled Name All good except for buying shirts at the airport . Don't do that.
+Untitled Name yeah just dress normally, not too show-offy with bling showing. if you are travelling to third world country then you should wear less flashy clothes though
Buying most things at the airport is a form of being robbed!
When you say "buy few shirts" do you mean "buy A few shirts"? Because those 2 mean the opposite.
Buy Tshirts at the airport? what the heck. only tourists buy airport tshirts. that is the worst idea to wear the name of the city you are in then try to blend in.
thanks for following. sorry about the wind. I did not realize it was that bad at the time. we have been trying to improve the wind/sound quality and hopefully when we have newer videos that wont be as bad an issue. I do apologize
I've only been "scammed" once, and that was just a stupid mistake I made in Africa. A guy asked me if I wanted a guided tour of the city, see the major sights, and I didn't ask for a set price in advance.. So when the tour was done, the guy showed me a lame paper with crazy prices for tours and stuff, and being alone in an african city with only africans around, I didn't exactly feel like fighting with the guy.. : )
THAT'S RACIST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This happened to me in Saigon…a motor bike guy gave me a tour and he quoted a reasonable price initially but when we were done he got very angry and insistent that the price was higher… I did not want to create a scene and paid the ransom which was not that significant, $60.00 , but still way overpriced…
My friend almost got robbed by a group of kids in the Barcelona subway. They look somewhere between 12 to 15 year olds . They ganged up behind him and tried to open his back pack. He immediately noticed it and turned around and the kids ran away. I witnessed someone trying to rob a woman's wallet from her bag and when she noticed what was happening the guy acted like they know each other and started shouting at her as if they were having an argument.
#10 You were too busy making a video on how not to get robbed... Jk, thanks for the great tips :)
well if you have travelers insurance (AAA has it for example and sometimes your work as it as well). it is not a must but for piece of mind it may be worth the 40 bucks it costs for a couple weeks. but unless their is an official police report with stamps and such the insurance company says nothing happened.
Anybody who seems all to eager to be your friend is likely somebody you do not want to be friends with or trust. Its actually the people that have no interest in talking to you at all that you can trust more.
+Mark K That's how they got me I had 2 heavy bags and the wheel broke on one of them and sure enough a good Samaritan shows up and offers to help me and he was like a mule running with the heavy bag so don't travel Heavy the bag had donated clothes so I didn't lose much.
that is a very good one too. thanks! have had friends robbed like that a lot in bars. thanks for watching andcommenting!
Had an attempted mugging in Rio, boy was he surprised. I'm a black belt in Judo, and a British soldier, trained in Akido. The police easily found him later, a bloody mess.
Dude, you even scared me outta my chair right now!
Donkey Kong Federer Sucks You're not your
Yeah when he draws his gun and shoot you dead aint no Ikido is gonna save you. Brasil is dangerous as fuck.
You sir, are a menace to society. Black belt in the SPORT of judo, and he ended up a bloody mess.....Jason Bourne, dark, edgy, lethal and codename dragonwickster.......fuck me a soldier too.....#scaredstiff #publicenemynumber1 #brutal ............any more bullshit, sorry I mean danger tales for us.
IBM Vrc well obviously it work for him dumbass why is it people like you get in their feelings about people being able to protect themselves
Great to hear. We have some other videos for getting ready to study abroad on here too. 5 things you will love & hate about studying abroad, where to live, how to choose classes, all kinds of stuff. I hope you have a great time studying abroad! I am jealous! Mark
fun trick - put an empty old wallet you don't really give much of a damn about, an empty phone case (mine has a flap on the front so when it's closed you can't tell if there is anything in or not) in an obvious place in your bag - when you open the bag and you see those right away. Don't put your actual money, documents, credit cards in the same location. Leave a few bucks in your pockets so that you don't have to open your secret storage when you buy an ice cream in the street.
+Upscent Great advice, love it. Kind of like the mugger's money New Yorker's are rumored to have carried on the way to school back in the day. :-) --MaryGo
Good idea and a method used by older kids in junior high to get into local college basketball games. They would go to a thrift store buy a pile of crappy worn wallets, over time fill them with business cards, ads, and even realistic looking fake folding money. A few would go to a ticket taker at a stadium or arena for the close by university that did very well in both sports, say they had to get a message and some money and a drivers license to their dad who was already in the seats and left what he needed at home. One of the two kids wild tell the student ticket taker to hold onto a wallet of a boy to insure they returned. They never came back but enjoyed the game. I keep a low limit credit card and ID in my sock, my wife placed what she needed, makeup, brush, in my jacket pockets, no purse.
+Bobby Paluga I stuff my old wallet (which I carry with me) with used up gift cards (all zero balances). The robbers would think he hit the Jack pot. Someone has actually broke into my locker while I was working out at the gym. Stole my fake wallet with all those used up gift cards. My real wallet was actually locked up in my car. I had the last laugh. 😁👍
I did that a wallet full of monpoly money! My real one a hidden one under my cloths.
thats funny hahah and a good idea
Yep, Rovinj, Croatia. It is in Istria the North West of Croatia. Really beautiful seaside towns. We made like 6 or 7 videos there as it was so nice. I highly recommend going there. definitely a hidden gym of europe
One of the biggest scams I saw was when I was on a study abroad in Russia. I was sightseeing in Suzdal and a Canadian couple was in the area as well. They had a translator with them who was "negotiating" with vendors as they shopped through the vendors and the translator was actually lying to her clients about the prices and negotiating with the vendors to sell at a higher price and get cuts on the profits. The Canadians thought they were getting discounts and in actuality they were getting ripped off blind often being sold items at 2-3x the cost.
Wow. That sucks. Not cool at all.
I hope they said, "Sorry!" to the translator and vendors for allowing themselves to be ripped off! And yes, I'm Canadian. Sorry if my name confuses anyone...
Russia sucks.
yeah, I have seen a lot of hotel staff robberies and have made it a point to still lock up everything in the safe (even though I am sure the staff know how to open that too). Sorry to hear about your watch. we still even try to hide semi valuables in our luggage and lock them up when we go out too just in case, even in "safe" countries and cities. hope you got your watch back
A color photocopy of your passport is also an excellent idea. I suppose you would keep that in the hotel safe when you must carry the original. Thanks for the easy and simple tip.
that sucks. i never go the gold ring thing. you see them at the louvre all the time too and people get robbed right there. sad really :(
thanks for the comment and watching!
Great tips, I was scammed in Rome, bought a coffee and a piece of cake in a cafe. The price was 20+ euro's. The cafe wasn't anything special. Of course I paid….the exact amount, the waiter hung around for a tip, I thought up yours mate. Next time I'll ask for a menu with the prices.
I know what you mean. The prices over there were ridiculous; and more often than not, the food sucked and was way overpriced. We had dinner at this restaurant in Venice. It cost €230 and the food wasn't good at all. The worst pizza I ever had was in Rome. Shit on a shingle. Yet I had the best spaghetti with basil marinara sauce I've ever had in my life at an outdoor cafe, only the waitress we had was rude to the point of being mean.
Of all the places I've been in Europe I found Italians to be the most rude, chauvinistic and sleazy. We were lied to and misled time and time again.
I came to learn very quickly that I could trust no one.....about anything. Them and their precious Euros.
But the history and culture were in other ways astounding!
Great Advice! Thank you! And thank you for watching!
A tourist, a teacher, and a spy must all do three things. 1 Have good shoes. 2 Keep your eyes moving all the time. Be aware of everything around you. And, 3. Go the bathroom whenever you can!
hahaha I like that John!
love it :)
I really like your videos and the way you guys see the world. I find your travel tips great and the extra mile you go to for us, is particularly appreciated. Thanks to you all, from Sweden.
Always be mindful when you travel and don't wander off too much when you're traveling to a new place. Getting robbed while traveling just spoils all the fun.
Thank you and thank goodness they look like their mom... the lucky guys :) thanks for watching, commenting and being sweet about my boys. Hope you will subscribe!
Just got back from a vacation in Paris. Wife had her wallet stolen from her purse on the Metro. The train was packed when we tried to get on. Two kids bumped into us and it seemed like they didn't want to let us on. I got on and finally my wife did too. As the door was closing, the girl that had bumped into my wife jumped off. A few seconds later my wife noticed the zipper on her purse was open and her wallet was missing. Luckily it only had $1 in it..lol
You are spot-on with your impression of a gawker. When people come from the suburbs or rural areas to here in the city they do the same thing; they get out of their cars, and put their hands on their hips and look around. What they're looking for is paking info, but what the local husslers see are targets for panhandling.
No, No, No so true so true. it is like they put a target on themselves. Thanks for all the comments and support!
I was robbed of 600 bucks in Jamaica during touring.. I was so into the beautiful things and being super friendly, shaking hands, laughing w the locals, getting advice and they robbed my ass. I hate Jamaica. I never want to go back. Your tips were great.
sivan suresh I never looked at anyone in Jamaica suspiciously. I've been there before. I never stated that all locals are bad people. I do stand by my statement in not wanting to visit agian. It is a fact that some people take advantage of travelers. I don't walk around look afraid and stuck up I also don't look too friendly. When you have been violated then you'll know how it feels. There's not always a particular 'look' to one getting robbed, I assume.
+itsme!! next time you go to a big city, occasionally check your pockets
Janos Nemeth you are an idiot! I certainly don't consider anyone other than yourself that. As an proud African American its offensive to call anyone that. You should be ashamed. Should i say my late husband was killed by a white man? Does that make the white guy a ni??er too? You're stupid. Go AWAY!
+itsme!! trust me there is a particular 'look' to getting robbed in Jamaica (and most tourist areas across the world). I'm from the capital of Jamaica and some of the locals still try to take advantage of me. You just dress differently, walk differently and have a 'foreign' look to them. I'm sorry some of the locals ruined your experience and hope you enjoy your travels elsewhere!
P.S. Whenever you travel, try not to walk with so much money at any one time. Most hotels typically have safes so I recommend leaving behind valuables whenever you're walking around the area :)
+itsme!! what about the French metro clerk who took my big bill at the train station then claimed I gave her a small bill? I know where I am from the cashier leaves the bill on the counter, makes change then puts away the bill. So the fact that she put away my bill then denied I gave her the big bill tells me she is a thief. But that won't stop me from going back to France. Matter of fact I've been back. People get robbed in New York that won't stop them. You sound childish.You want to punish a whole bunch of good people because of a few criminals. If you were really friendly as you say then you should know that the decent people won't rob you. It's the crooks. BTW be careful if you go to countries like Spain and France where Gypsies rove and pickpocket wallets.
First,great video. Thank you. Second, I have never had any problem on my travels. But maybe is because I know the language, I act secure by looking people in the eye and great people on the local language.
you are very welcome! all the best!
Great video. I dig your sense of humor
Good Video! I was robbed in Spain. A gypsy girl on the street stopped me to ask me if I wanted to buy some flowers. I didn't trust her, so after stopping I carried on walking, when I checked my pockets my money had gone. If this happens to you, don't stop at all someone was working with her and I didn't feel a thing.
this video reminds me of nyc !i live in brooklyn and work in the city (manhattan for people who dont know the reference )and i go to get a hot dog the guy tells me 4 bucks all i have to tell em is cmon dude im not a turist and the price goes down to 2or 3 depending on location!
perfect example! thanks!
Patriot Fieri Same strategy in Los Angeles and Mexico - always negotiate the prices of street vendors, they can say no, but for the majority of customers, that old expression "a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush" is effective. The street vendors want and need your business and know you can walk away and get a similar or lesser price. It ALWAYS PAYS to ASK ~~> they vendor can always decline...Just be polite and respectful, that's the best solution as a tourist!
Right on Kath. Supply and demand. God bless america
New York sucks.
Thanks! Yeah, I figured if we did not tell people we would not rob them someone would complain :) Thanks for watching and commenting!
The "hold my baby" scam took me by surprise. On my first day in Paris I was walking through a deserted little square and a woman asked me to hold her baby while she unlocked her bike. I was shocked that she a. Just assumed I was a fellow Parisian and b. That she would ask a total stranger to hold her child. No scam, she just needed both hands free for a minute. Parisians are much nicer than they're given credit for. But watch out for the gypsies. Never, EVER take anything they try to offer you. Once you take it in your hand, they consider said object "sold" and will harass you to no end. And don't fall for the "Please sign this petition to help..." scam.
+Andrew Clark no end forever. And they do it to your kids too. It's horrible
I have to add that a friend of mine got robbed in Miami when someone bumped him really hard in the shoulder like it was an accident, and took his wallet from his pocket at the same time. If you sustain a hard hit somewhere, your mind kind of gets overloaded by that sensation and you won't feel a lesser sensation happening at the same time such as a hand reaching in your pocket and grabbing your wallet.
Your dimples look good in the bright sunset light. Excellent advice in this video. Thank you.
You really do want to give the big man a length don't you!
thanks dano!
Mark Wolters
Three weeks now until I go to Paris for a month.
Did you two end up meeting up?
Before I leave on any trip, I make a list of the addresses of the embassies/consulates of my country. Also, I leave copies of my passport with trusted loved ones. On that list, I also keep credit card numbers, insurance info, addresses of where I am staying, and locations of nude beaches---errrr..the latter is for a separate list. I never wear expensive jewelry whilst travelling, nor do I act like a tourist. I just try to blend in. It apparently works, because people often stop to ask me directions. I don't do drugs or get wasted, I try to keep a low profile. Stay safe folks.
Thank you for this video. I make every single study abroad student watch it during orientation before we let them go. Next time you're in Savannah, we'd love to have you come to Armstrong State University's campus.
Thanks Kristin. My oldest son was born in Savannah and my sister-in-law still lives there. I would be glad to speak to your outgoing students sometime when I am down in Savannah again. I am happy to hear my videos can help study abroad students and the advisors :) sorry I had not written back to you sooner. UA-cam does not always notify me of all the comments... especially ones from Savannah :) I am actually a Professor at the University of Illinois and take students abroad on trips so we have many a thing in common. Anyway, have a great time traveling and thanks for making study abroad a possibility for so many students. Mark
Yeah, we have been targeted with our kids and I have heard some pretty bad stories about it. But usually you are fine, just keep an eye out. My wife has a few videos on here for traveling with small children that could help with some more tips. Thanks for watching and commenting. I hope you will subscribe!
They will use a Marker Paint to mark your back, if you're out shopping it will happen. After shopping a woman set down outside a café where she was meeting people she put her bag down with in seconds bag was gone. I would call it (the team marker) there was a team following her the woman was told they mark your back. So if you out and see someone marker paint on there back tell then.
Yes, this is common. In Rome a street vendor told me - If paint is yellow and in a cross shape, gang is usually 4 or more. Green means gang of 2.
i'm so glad there is someone like you making videos about traveling abroad and talking about information like this. Keep it up
most of this is really true. the one time i traveled with someone the dummy put his wallet in his back pocket. i told him not to he would get picpocketed luckily he didnt.
ive never been robbed, thankfully. i just look like a poor tourist, so no one bugs me.
they also try to distract you... i had one girl run up to me in berlin talking super fast... i just looked at her and kept walking. they work in twos one will distract, the other will try to pick your pocket.
lambchopxoxo I enjoyed your videos. Ty
Why not dress nice , dress nice for formal meetings . But for causal walk just wear like a street begger
and I appreciate it jeff. we have 95 videos from this summer that we will start releasing on the 10th. so stay tuned for more videos from spain, England, Portugal, finland and china. all the best!
Never carry your Passport or Credit Cards. Leave them at the hotel, along with your extra cash you don't need at the moment. Cash, phone in your front pockets. And walk like you belong there, and look pissed off all the time. Nobody comes near me when I'm away, with my pissed off look.
+qdog568
I test myself by walking past promoters and pub crawl people. If they don't try to sell me shit, I'm doing the right thing. The angry look definitely works. Look as miserable as possible without it affecting your actual mood.
thank god for bitchy resting face
+One Strange World Boots would be uncomfortable for me with all the walking I do. I travel to London often, and have yet to encounter a thief. But I'm prepared. I'll be there this coming Feb. We'll see. Lol
+qdog568 Thanks for the tips.. Lol
Sometimes you can't trust hotels either.
I have seen that one happen too. and it was on la rambla. sad.
One thing I did on my two trips to Europe with my money, passport, ect. was that I had a pouch with a string on it that I wore around my neck and kept under my shirt. It was early spring, and I was in Germany, France, UK, Switzerland, and Austria, so, I had a thick coat on, so my stuff wasn´t very noticeable.
I use a hidden wallet. strap it around my waste and let it fall crotch level behind my pants. if someone's going for my d---- then I have something more important to worry about :))...kinda awkward though when I have to reach for some cash or my credit card so sometimes I excuse myself to the bathroom.
That's similar to what I do I put all my stuff in a pouch and wear it in the pocket of my shorts under my pants
Good mindset
Reginald, I have never been robbed or pickpocketed in all of my travels over the past 20 years of going around the world and I was "slightly" (thanks, that is actually the nicest way anyone has said it) overweight all those times. So the weight thing has nothing to do with it, being uneducated, not paying attention and being in the wrong place at the wrong time has more to do with it than anything. though the American thing does hold true in many places as americans are seen to have more money
It can happen to anyone. I grew up a city kid in The USA. I was in Milan. Unfortunate as it was, I had taken ill (bronchitis). I was a somewhat disoriented from a severe coughing fit while on the way to (you guessed it) a pharmacy. I looked like I was intoxicated. I had victim written all over me. In the blink of an eye my bag was gone. Thankfully I saw the thief (a gypsy child) running away. What the little punkin' did not know was (despite the coughing) that I was in shape runner. My lungs were on fire but I chased him yelling like a maniac for about 3 blocks.Thankfully a police officer actually intervened and stopped the little hooligan. I got it back. All of it. My camera, some cash, an address book nothing that could not be replaced. My biggest concern was my passport (in the bag as well). I did not make a big issue out of it. I told the police officer (after drinking what appeared to be a gallon of water to soothe my chest) to handle the situation at his discretion. That was the end of it. If it happened to me, it can happen to you. Stay safe and be aware of your surroundings.
Just keep your wits about you and your eyes open. You will be ok. Enjoy it.
David, your wise words and story are a comfort. I bet that little rascal was surprised at your fitness level. You're nobody's fool. ty
Marketing now, but I used to teach all kinds of different business courses.
Practical. Concise. Honest.
Thanks Liam. That is what we try to do!
*****
>Concise
You do realise that this video is nearly 8 minutes long, right?
Grammar Nazi Party 8 mins is too long for you?
Have you any idea how many ways I could rip you for 8 mins being too long?
Instead I'll simply mock you for having the word Nazi in your name.
Douche.
*****
Good job using your middle school level insults.
I always pretend as If I know where I'm going/ What I am doing even If I am lost. I never wear expensive clothes or jewelery or talk about how much money I make
All good advise here. Ive spent alot of time in Colombia and havent had any problems so far. His point about dressing down is a good one. I never wear my wedding ring when I travel and just wear a cheap watch, shorts and a t-shirt, with just enough money for the activity I'm engaging in. Passport and visa card always stay at the hotel. When I do need money from the ATM I go straight there and straight back, drop off my card and most of the cash then head out again. It can be inconvenient but I feel safer and if I do loose my cash its better than losing my passport and cards.
Speaking of wrong place at the wrong time. A friend of mine in high school was doing a student foreign exchange in France. One day in Paris three guys tried to mug her. The three guys didn't fair too well..... she also had a karate black belt.... Do I recommend putting up a fight? That depends on your ability and the situation.
MysticKnight38 Just put on a serious face at all times. I did that back in 2011 during a school trip to Madrid. Nobody bothered to get near me.
Thank u for taking time out of ur vacation to share what u've learned so that others are aware. I appreciate very much u sharing your tips & your adorable family. Family is what it's all about & hopefully ppl will remember that if, God forbid they do get robbed while on vacation, as long as no one was hurt, $$ & belongings are ALWAYS replaceable....our loved ones aren't!!
Tina M Wetzel exactly, if someone tries to rob us we just give it to them and walk away. it is just money or a camera, those things you can buy or earn again. all the best!
Natalie Huebner. I must respectfully agree to disagree. Thieves do not live by a set of ethics or a value system. There is no honor among thieves. It is however, Europe. They could actually have a union though.
lol
At least in Stockholm gypsy beggars from Romania have morning meetings at each metro station where they probably discuss strategy. goals for the day etc.
Useful info for newbies and even for seasoned travelers as a refresher. You make some good points. But hey, man...one friendly production suggestion: This is the second video of yours that I've watched where wind noise is a significant factor. FInd a tiny piece of foam and attach it over the mic hole or wherever the mic is on your recording device. You can even use scotch tape to hold it there if you must make it removable. It may not look pretty on the device, but it is a super cheap fix that will be very effective at eliminating that annoying background wind noise. I once used memory foam from a mattress pad in a pinch. Looked ugly, but worked GREAT. Just a suggestion, cuz the noise is distracting from your otherwise informative video.
You Sir, have excellent information but desperately need a boom for your mic to prevent that epic wind noise. Almost unwatchable :-(
+Geekbuzz you are watching a vid from 2012...
+Geekbuzz just focusing the topic don't worry about the wind..
The item you speak of is a windscreen.
i agree !!
greetings from croatia :)
And yet, the Like to Dislike ratio is high. The evidence for "unwatchable" doesn't seem to pan out...
Thanks for the advice Mark; will come in handy when I visit Europe next month. And ignore all the complaints about the wind - you can't please everyone!
I saved a drunk tourist from Azerbaijan from getting robbed in Las Vegas once, he gave me an 8 dollar cashout voucher in exchange. You even have to watch out here in the states.
Very True, it can happen anywhere. heck even where I live now in small town america
Mark Wolters Great advice. My niece (a SoCali local) was dining outside with friends, along an Esplanade of boat docks in Southern California. Her new iPhone sat on the table & was swept away by a duo of "jogging" thieves with no method to track them down.
So wheres the save area in our body to keep the money ?? Underware ? Or shock / shoes ?
A few years ago my husband was in Prague on business and on the way back to the hotel at night after drinks with coworkers and these 2 "call girls" caught him in the alley and tried to hustle him by saying they'd show him a good time, etc. While one was unzipping his pants and trying to give him a hand job, the other was in his bag taking money. So, he lost 60 euro and only got half a hand job. He said it was the best crime he's ever been a victim of. lol.
Another tip I have is not to carry all your money in the same place. Have some in your wallet, maybe some in an inside jacket pocket, some more in your shoe..whatever. That way, if they get it from one place, they may forget about the others and you won't be stuck on the opposite end of town from your hotel without money...and maybe leave one of your credit cards in a secure place in the hotel.
Your husband got a half hand job AND lost money??I would've slapped him for getting robbed lol That's nice of you to let him pick up call girls lol
DearJRenae I have to say I was stunned when he told me, but in the end it was funny. For 60 euro though, she could have at least finished! haha
lMAO "half a hand job"
Good advice about the "decoy" wallet though
Went to Paris in January this year, ruined by scams from dropping gold rings in front of you to sign my petition, I already knew about all these scams, too bad they are a constant hassle. Some good tips sir!
Why don't the authorities do more to prevent crime in Europe. I guess they don't want any more tourists. I have never once had anything stolen off of me in the US in any big or small city, and other than being careful in certain 'bad' areas of certain cities, I don't take special precautions...carry a normal purse, carry a nice camera, etc. Never been robbed or had my car broken into. Also I've never been groped in the US. Lost my nice camera, and it was turned in to a lost and found. I'm not saying there isn't crime here, but in major cities, pickpocket type incidents are rare.
The powers that be need crime to keep ticking over. Jails are now mostly private enterprise in the west, and big dollar spinners. Like drug trafficking. No one wants to rock the boat and mess with the status quo cash cow. But this approach means life is harder for most of us common folk. However petty crime like theft on he street is too much workload/paperwork for frontline cops, so they often let it go. Some gr8 tips on here. ty
Avoid anywhere that looks dodgy. Groups of young men hanging around the streets are usually a bad sign. I took a wrong turning in Panama City. nothing happened as i just retraced my steps but it was scary for a few minutes. Remember in some places it can go from touristy to dodgy in 2 minutes.Try to at least look like you know where you are. If you need to look at a map, sit down in a cafe or something, keeping your bag hooked around your leg and look. stopping on the streets is asking for it. Be careful getting drunk with locals, in some places they will either set you up or drug your drink. Also remember that the overwhelming majority of people are good people. Dont be paranoid but be careful
In Europe, it's usually the opposite of looking dodgy i.e. - nice touristy places, center of town, subway, bus stops, anywhere really. A friend had her handbag stolen at an airport in Duesseldorf. Everyone around looked very professional, well dressed business people. In general, a thief could look like a nice dressed businessman, a couple of old ladies, a young good looking "student" who asks you to look at some petition, a lady with a baby. My cousin's husband had his cell phone stolen in Berlin, he isn't even a tourist, they live there. He's lived in Berlin his whole life. A girl came up to him when he was sitting in a cafe and asked to sign a petition. While he was reading it, his phone was gone. They have a sign there in the center to be weary of people asking to read petitions. I agree with the rest of your advice. I keep my hand on my handbag at all times and always pay attention to it, put it on my knees in cafes and have the shoulder strap wrapped around my hand.
im always aware of the people around me..I dont take a lot of money with me.. and if i have money i make sure that it cant be easily taken.. Learned that trick in oz after being robbed at christmas time.. they opened my handbag and it has a zipper i didnt even feel it happen.. ive been a lot smarter since..and when travelling im even smarter ..you could say that happening yrs ago did the trick.. Be aware always of your surroundings is my tip
***** yeah, the pickpockets know their stuff. I have seen them robbing people right next to me and was shocked. One when I stared at him just zipped up the girls bag and jumped off the escalator onto the stairs next to it and ran off (without the wallet thank goodness)
Be smart, have a lock and lock up the valuable stuff in your suitcase in your hotel or use the ssafe and when you go out pub crawling take your drinking money and an ID (just in case it gets a bit too crazy and the cops have to carry you back to the hotel). ;)
its not so bad, just be smart and all will be well. and h ave a great time!
Using a cross-body purse is the #1 thing I always do when traveling. Cross-body bags are amazing. You never have to put it down, you can be hands free at all times, and it would be very hard for someone to snatch it off of your body versus a shoulder bag or a clutch. Make sure the top of the purse zips up and/or has a locking flap. Also, don't bring your entire life in your normal wallet. If you lose your entire wallet, you'll have to replace every damn thing down to your Costco card. Unnecessary. Keep only your essential cards/cash in a slim card holder and put it in the zipper pocket on the inside of the purse. It'll take you a few steps to get to your cash whenever you're buying something, but that's the entire point: to add barrier steps for pick-pockets. If someone gets a hand into your purse somehow, they'd only be able to quickly grab your sunscreen, lipstick, whatever: those things don't matter in the grand scheme. Happy travels!
+Sara French They can cut it off of you if you don't have a slash proof strap on it, so don't fall for that.
That's what I do from personal experience. Mine has a thick leather strap. I doubt they'd target me for cutting purposes. And if they're so desperate that they're going to literally cut it from my body, they can have it. I only carry one card on me at any point in time, which would be easy to cancel. Rip stop bags are so ugly, they'd give someone away as a tourist way quicker than a regular purse
Sara French q
Mark you sound like a very good friend! Enjoy your travel and share it with us
I could add number 10.... Since you are carrying cash don't pull out a big wad of it for all to see when you are paying. Spread your money out on your person. I know people that use a bait wallet that is stuffed with nothing but newspaper. The credit cards are somewhere else. This also comes in handy you you are dickering, you flash a lot of cash and the price will go up.
Thank you for your advice. In Rome my boyfriend nearly had his watch snatched and another incident where our iPhone was nearly snatched. Your advice was invaluable and saved us heartache.
My alligator Hermes Birkin bag was snatched in Paris. They ripped it right off my arm. I fought back and they grabbed my hand and tried to pull my diamond ring off my finger. It was tight and not coming off and I was really scared. I bitched slapped that animal across the face with my other hand and he let go and ran away. very terrifying! I am a native New Yorker from Manhattan. I'm a tough old lady and still these vultures still attacked me.
Blanca W that is horrible. I am glad you are OK. the scum will go after tough mature ladies ;) and babies... makes me sick. and the cops just laugh at you if you complain. frustrating indeed. Hope that was the only bad experience. Big travel hug to you Blanca!
woltersworld Thanks honey! XOXO
Bitch slapped 😂😂😂
Blanca W That's horrible! A terrifying experience, and the loss of the most beautiful/ coveted bag in the world! I'm glad you slapped 'em, though!
woohyukikkoku Thank you! Yes the whole thing was very upsetting.
Thank you for sharing the information with us , very helpful, and light
Another thing for non-European tourists to pay attention (europeans are aware of this) : DON'T LEAVE YOUR KIDS UNATTENTED. In major historical sights there's beggars (99% of them being gypsies) and some of them kidnap kids (especially the blond ones), so hold your childrens hands please.
+KateDenthimamai Are you being serious??? Last time a kid was (maybe) kidnapped in Portugal, it was all over the newspaper for days and months!! (Remember Maddie?) Do you seriously think this would be the case if kidnapping was common place?
Many gypsies, especially kids as they don't risk jail time, will try to rob your wallet or phone, a lot fewer will actually attack you to rob you... but kidnapping is as rare as it is in the USA.
Thanks for the excellent and real information Wolters ... will be quite useful for me! Cheers!
6:15 SOOO CUTE !!!
thank you
Good information. Thanks. Good to be alert and careful and not seem too touristy.
Ed Roker Exactly :) and thank you for the comment. Great travels for you!
1 step on how to not get robbed while traveling:
• Stay away from eastern europe.
I tend to agree.
Yes
Yeah.. Go to London, Paris or New York instead. That's where the professional thieves are
Thanks! Good advice. True that this can happen anywhere but this especially happens when you travel out of town because the key thing is not being self-aware.