So, I was at the US Consulate in Pg. Reina Elisenda today and while I was there a younger couple (early 20�s) walked in and told the lady at the window that her purse had been stolen with her passport and every ID she had with her in it. My first thought was "they must be on vacation or honeymoon or something". So, I thought it may be useful to share some tips and ideas on how to prevent things like this. So, let�s hear them, what do you guys do?

I started out carrying a photocopy of my passport in a billfold with my money in the breast pocket of my jacket. If you are on vacation, the hotel you are staying at will have a safe where things like your original ID can be put. Being an American living here it�s a slim chance a policeman will stop you, but if he does it�s nice to have some ID unless you have a resident card.

Also, I never carry anything of importance or value in my outer pockets. You would be surprised how easily or how quickly someone can stick their hand in your pocket pretending to bump into you and take your mobile phone or something else.

As racist as this sounds, in Barcelona, keep your eyes on 1. Middle easterners 2. South Americans 3. North Africans 4. Gypsies. I put them in that order because Middle Easterners, North Africans and South Americans are notorious for pickpocketing while Gypsies are more street scammers. If you plan on living here, get over your anti-racist tendencies.

Always look as if you know where you are going. Never show a map or guide in public. If you need to look at one, do it inconspicuously. Go into a bar or a store and look at it.

When my wife and I walk together, she ALWAYS carries her handbag with the hand between us. This way, it�s harder for someone to grab it and run.

Keep your car doors locked at all times. Put everything in the trunk (or your hotel room) that you possibly can do without.

Keep anything you must carry under your shirt or jacket in something that zips.

Separate your credit cards and cash so if you do get robbed you will still have something left in another secure area.

Don't be polite when approached by anyone you don't know

In Pla�a Catalunya do not accept a flower from a gypsy woman. I watched this happen to a young British woman. She accepted a flower from this old gypsy woman right in front of the Hard Rock Cafe...once you touch that flower, you just bought it. I almost felt bad for her, she was loaded with bags and such not speaking any spanish trying to deal with this little old lady.

If you own a car in Barcelona, do not leave ANYTHING in it at night. I guarantee you someone will break into it for so much as a stick of gum.

In the smaller souvenir shops, there are often two prices - a tourist and 'local`price for items. You will need to bargain in a friendly manner to achieve the lower of the two.

This site is great, these stories are pretty fun.
http://www.jones.tc/barna/scams.html

man, after reading your message and some of that page.........what a depressing way to look at life.....oh well, remember two things though:

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1. These things come a lot worse in other areas of the world beyond Western Europe

&

2. Barcelona sucks. �Hala Madrid!


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(as for your travel tips, my suggestion for those who want to be extra safe, is to scan copies of some of your personal documents or ID's onto your computer........then place them on a Yahoo or MSN group for example.

Thus if you lose anything, you can print out a copy over the internet while at the same time you dont have to carry around a printed copy of something in addition to the official print. )

quote:

my suggestion for those who want to be extra safe, is to scan copies of some of your personal documents or ID's onto your computer........then place them on a Yahoo or MSN group for example.

If you do this, find a way to encrypt them so others won't have easy access to your information. For example, instead of just putting a graphic file in a directory, paste the graphic in a password-saved MS Word file. OK, this makes for a bigger file, but makes it more difficult for others to access andview it.

quote:

"Don't be polite when approached by anyone you don't know"

I am often on the receiving end of the unpolite tourists. Sometimes I see lost travellers in Madrid and ask them if they need help finding something, usually get a rude brush off and sometimes they even walk away from me at a fast pace

I have stopped trying to help, a shame huh!!!

Saludos,
jer...

If you have a rental car and can avoid it, DO NOT leave things in you trunk! A rental car is the same as shouting tourist and you will be watched and followed and it is likely that it will get broken into- and since you're being watched, they'll see what goes in! Trust me, more than once, especially in Sevilla this has happened, the thieves communicate through walkie talkies and other things so it doesn't have to be the guy who overheard you iin the restaurant- he calls and tells his buddies where you're going and which car to look for! You never can be too careful- but just use your head and ENJOY!

And let's be fair, Barcelona is a beautiful city and has plenty of good things to it . (Although Madrid wins for me hands down anyday! )

Sometimes a local friend can suggest things to make a car rental trip safer.

We were planning to spend 3 days driving from one town in Andalucia to another where a friend lives, spending time in the countryside and pueblos along the way.

When we told her our plan, she suggested we go to her city first, leave 90% of our stuff with her, then take off on a loop route for our three day excursion. That way, anything valuable (cameras, medicines, etc.) could be carried everywhere in daypacks. The changes of clothes could be put into plastic bags in the trunk, and would be the only thing stolen if the car were broken into. Much less to worry about...

While I know that such an option might not be possible for everyone, it just shows that listening to the locals can really save headaches later on.

Another tip...actually it is clothing for the trip, but I figured it could go here.

Dockers pants makes a version called "Mobile" that has three extra pockets accessed by nearly invisible zippers. Two are along the outer seam of the right and left pant leg just below the front pockets, and incorporate the zipper into the seam. They are big enough to store a cellphone or palmpilot. The third is accessed from a zipper inside the right front pocket, and is just about as large as the original pocket. Perfect for a money clip, an ID card or an ATM card

I needed a pair of nicer looking pants for our trip, and thought they might be good for keeping some items like a cell phone out of easily-picked pockets. Of course, it's not foolproof and thieves are incredibly skilled so you can't let your guard down.

This is a very useful thread!

A very good tip for ladies in particular is to buy a Victoria Secret Wonder Bra that has a hidden pocket, there you can store an extra credit card, just in case, and a photocopy of you passport, driver's license, etc. Pick pockets have to be really fresh to frisk you up front!

Always leave a copy of your passport, credit card numbers, or important document with a relative, so it can be express mailed to you overnight if needed!

Also, if I am staying out late, I don't venture out alone or even with someone else on a dark deserted area. I call a taxi. Safety is more important than saving a few dollars.

By the Way, these are the tips that I use whenever I have to go to Orlando, Florda! But, it works well anywhere in the world.

There's nothing common about common sense!

:cheers:

quote:
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"Don't be polite when approached by anyone you don't know"
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Jer answered:
I am often on the receiving end of the unpolite tourists. Sometimes I see lost travellers in Madrid and ask them if they need help finding something, usually get a rude brush off and sometimes they even walk away from me at a fast pace

I have stopped trying to help, a shame huh!!!
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Yeah, i agree with Jer...
As a person sesitive towards the tourists I always try to offer my help when I see someone lost or hesitating in the street and it is true that they are so unpolite that make you feel like a criminal . Well on the other hand there are some others who really appreciate my unexpected help, so I won�t give up!! Come on, Jer, don�t be so shy!!

That thing of the bra... thanks por the tip!! I never thought of that (doesn�t it feel a bit uncomfortable?) Do you think we should start a new bussiness line selling that bras at Los Amigos he he he

Cheers!

All so anxious about getting robbed... The cities in Spain are not worse than in any other country.
You may never leave something visible in the car, anywhere. Even here, in the village where I live, we can't.
When we travel to Spain we go by car. We have a foreign licenceplate so everybody can see we are tourists. We never had any problem.
Rumours of unsafety circulate very fast and it already begins at the French-Spanish border where we got a "warning" leaflet at the peaje: Proteja sus pertenencias! Tenga en cuenta estos consejos: ...
- No se f�e de desconocidos. Haga sus consultas a
personas uniformadas.
- Desconf�e de los avisos realizados por otros
usarios sobre incidencias en su veh�culo, como
tubos de escape ardiendo o ruedas pinchadas.
- etc.

Welcome to Spain! The first time we almost did an about-face .

Martine,

Of course one should not obsess about this. But, if you are aware of it the chances of it not happening to you increase. I only brought this topic up because the girl that came it looked horrible, like she had been crying. Something like this, can undoubtedly ruin your trip. And yes, it does happen in every city, I just used Barcelona as an example because that�s where I happen to live.

Jer,

You should let tourists get lost. I see some of the most interesting things when I�m lost. If someone asks me if I know where something is, I help them, but I don�t approach people and ask them if they need help.

Of course, Shiloh!
I've read your first "travel tips" post very attentive and I fully admit you have to be carefull while you travel.
I'll remember your advices when I'll visit your beautiful city Barcelona.