Vacationing in Europe, any tips?

[freaper]

Pro-tip for Rome: if anyone tries to sell you a "queue dodging ticket" (around Vatican City, for example) don't buy it, it's a scam. General rules for pickpocket precautions apply when taking the subway (anywhere) or when visiting the more touristic locales. You probably shouldn't pack to capacity, unless you know 100% you won't buy anything you'll want to take back home.

On language: you guys picked three Romance countries, so you're going to have an awkward time at best. You should be ok around tourist attractions, but don't expect people to be able to reply in English if you venture off the beaten path.

Other than that, have fun, you picked some amazing places to visit.

 

[kuolonen]

Crimes reported against Chinese tourists in Paris rose 25% in the year that the Roma gangs arrived. Paris is by far the worst by you will find the same tricks in the streets of London. I have even seen Roma begging in the streets of Siena and Oslo.

Funny that. My Chinese friend traveled to Paris and Rome, both places she got targeted for pick-pocketing, but managed to stop it. Apparently Asian appearance = easy game for pickpockets. The Stuff I've heard from friends visiting mainland EU... I'd leave the wallet in hotel, keep only days worth of money with me at a time. Hidden in my boxers.

 

[Kristoffer Mattila]

Well, holy shit, now I'm scared of Europe. Is this the first world or what?

 

[DoPo]

Well, holy shit, now I'm scared of Europe. Is this the first world or what?

Dunno, really. I'm from around there, but I've never been in France, Italy, nor Spain. Heck, I've hardly been anywhere, really, to be honest. Where I've been, the gypsies are known as troublemakers, sure, but I've never known them to be that much of a problem.

 

[Albino Boo]

Funny that. My Chinese friend traveled to Paris and Rome, both places she got targeted for pick-pocketing, but managed to stop it. Apparently Asian appearance = easy game for pickpockets. The Stuff I've heard from friends visiting mainland EU... I'd leave the wallet in hotel, keep only days worth of money with me at a time. Hidden in my boxers.

Only the UK has a significant Chinese population so its not so much as Chinese = easy game but Chinese = obvious tourist.

 

[L. Declis]

Funny that. My Chinese friend traveled to Paris and Rome, both places she got targeted for pick-pocketing, but managed to stop it. Apparently Asian appearance = easy game for pickpockets. The Stuff I've heard from friends visiting mainland EU... I'd leave the wallet in hotel, keep only days worth of money with me at a time. Hidden in my boxers.

Only the UK has a significant Chinese population so its not so much as Chinese = easy game but Chinese = obvious tourist.

It's because the Chinese who travel are nearly always extremely rich, and so if you mug one, you're getting a crap ton of expensive stuff. Because the mainlanders are so flashy, they always bring EVERYTHING.

Spain and France are getting a massive Chinese population, but it's still concentrated. It's still rising though.

 

[Metailurus]

So our family of seven is having our last hurrah before my older sister moves out, and to do this we are going to go on a trip to Europe. We are visiting Spain (Madrid, Zaragoza, and Barcelona), France (Paris and Lourdes), and Rome. Any advice? Its been seven years since we traveled as a whole family, and my sisters were all babies then.

Oh, and a few more specific questions:

1) Is pickpocketing really that much of a problem? Especially in Spain?

2) Is it better to have smaller luggage? I heard that bringing huge suitcases on the trains is impossible.

You are going to a bunch of cities. Just treat them as you would any other city and you will be fine. They might be different culturally but the same basic unspoken rules are practically universal.

Also, travel as light as you can, you want to enjoy your vacation, rather than remember it as luggage hauling simulator 2015.

 

[Lightspeaker]

1) Is pickpocketing really that much of a problem? Especially in Spain?

2) Is it better to have smaller luggage? I heard that bringing huge suitcases on the trains is impossible.

1. Depends where you are. Paris for definite is a hell of a pickpocket hotspot. Also if you're going to Barcelona then you should definitely go down La Rambla; but if you go down La Rambla there is roughly a 100% chance someone will attempt to pickpocket you. More likely someone will attempt it every hundred metres or so.

2. Yes. Small luggage is always best if you're going to travel around a lot on trains. They tend to get pretty busy, though it depends where you're going to and from of course.

 

[kurokotetsu]

1. Depends where you are. Paris for definite is a hell of a pickpocket hotspot. Also if you're going to Barcelona then you should definitely go down La Rambla; but if you go down La Rambla there is roughly a 100% chance someone will attempt to pickpocket you. More likely someone will attempt it every hundred metres or so.

WHat Rambla have you've been in? I've lived in Barcelona, nad have gone there for nearly ten consecutive years, walked hundreds of times through ther and never gotten pickpocketed nor even tried. As a kid,as an adult, even my grandmother walks there and never got anything stolen. We look more like locals (My grandmother was born next to the Rambla) but still it isn't that full of pickpockets.

 

[WhiteNachos]

The Colosseum in Rome has operating hours and closes at a certain time, so get there before it does.

Try French food in France, it doesn't have to be escargot but it should be French.

 

[L. Declis]

Well, holy shit, now I'm scared of Europe. Is this the first world or what?

It's the first world, but when you go to tourist places, you're going to attract the thieves and pickpocketers because they know that is where the rich people are.

Basically, it's the first world, but thanks to the E.U., a lot of third wolders have moved there and brought their attitudes with them.

We're not scare-mongering; we're warning. I'd rather he went, had a good time and nothing bad happened, then he was stupid, had his passport and money stolen and was fucked from the get go because we just gave him a slap on the arse and said "Nothing will ever go wrong".

 

[Beliyal]

Well, holy shit, now I'm scared of Europe. Is this the first world or what?

Being warned is always better, though this topic does look a bit too scary.

I'm from Europe and I traveled to many places here (multiple times to Italy including twice to Rome, France, Germany, Netherlands, England, Bulgaria) and never encountered a single problem. I was never bothered, attacked or robbed. On my second trip to Rome, we stayed at a small hostel which was basically located in something people might call a "shady" neighborhood and the rooms were in something like an apartment and the owners and pretty much everyone in the building were non-white (Romani included). We haven't had a single problem, everyone was polite and ensured us that our stuff is safe (which was true as no one got robbed or bothered in the slightest).

I would still advise caution though, despite never encountering any problems. Better safe than sorry. Many people do get robbed regardless, but that can happen literally anywhere. Only when you're in a foreign country you have to be more careful because being stranded there if your passport gets stolen is much worse than being robbed in your hometown.

 

[Lightspeaker]

1. Depends where you are. Paris for definite is a hell of a pickpocket hotspot. Also if you're going to Barcelona then you should definitely go down La Rambla; but if you go down La Rambla there is roughly a 100% chance someone will attempt to pickpocket you. More likely someone will attempt it every hundred metres or so.

WHat Rambla have you've been in? I've lived in Barcelona, nad have gone there for nearly ten consecutive years, walked hundreds of times through ther and never gotten pickpocketed nor even tried. As a kid,as an adult, even my grandmother walks there and never got anything stolen. We look more like locals (My grandmother was born next to the Rambla) but still it isn't that full of pickpockets.

Good few years ago now but when I was there numerous people went for my mother's bag and even one guy came over very friendly shaking hands and stuff...pretty clearly trying to work out if he could get the Rolex off my father's wrist.

So yeah. If you look more like locals I guess that might be why you didn't have such a problem but from my own experience obvious tourists down there is like blood in the water with sharks around.


Anyway: Yes this topic looks pretty terrifying but people are basically giving you the worst case scenarios here. I'm sure you'll be fine but its better to be alert to the possibilities than stumble in blind. Personally, I've never had any actual problems anywhere I've been in Europe because I stay alert and aware of any potential problems. Common sense will get you a long way.

 

[Hades]

Be VERY careful when crossing the streets in Rome. The Romans all drive horrible and you crossing at a green traffic light is not going to make them stop for you.

Minus the driving I found Rome to be pretty safe but as every Tourist trap you should keep an eye on your wallet. You should buy a ''Roma Pass'' which gets you free public transportation for two days and two free entries in a museum or attraction. If you use it on the Colosseum you can skip the huge line.

As for Barcelona. Its very easy to find your way across town. There's a huge spire with a golden Columbus statue near the sea at the very end of the main street. Its visible wherever you go so if you get lost you will always find your way back to that point.