A trick I learned against pickpockets; use a large safety pin to secure the zip on your bag. It's a pain when you have to open and close it, but nobody will be able to slide the zip open.
1) We wear a “money belt” (flat fanny pack) under our shirts, with passport and backup slim wallet at least. 2) hard sell tactics: hold your hands up, like “stop” and do not speak so you can pretend to not understand and they don’t know your language. 3) cross your arms and put your hands flat on your chest to avoid being handed something if you see them coming. 4) keep smiling or at least neutral so you don’t feel like you’re being negative. 5) walk briskly, like you’re fit.
Many years ago, my 19 y/o sis and I traveled to Rome. After visiting the Vatican on a warm day, she was a little dehydrated. On our way out, there were lots of stalls selling souvenirs and drinks (with price list). Sis grabbed a bottle of their “cheapest” mineral water, opened to drink it and gestured me to pay for it. I handed 1,200 Lira (as listed) to the vendor. He said “no, no. It’s 8,000 Lira” (approximately USD8 that time). I indicated to him it wasn’t Evian. He insisted it was 8,000 Lira. Without arguing, I just paid and left. The next stalls were also selling that particular brand of mineral water, and it was 1,000 Lira a bottle. I understand my sis made a big mistake. She should have paid for it before she opened it. This is a lesson learnt. Here’s another thing everyone should know: NEVER ever touch their merchandise (and fresh fruits too) before paying. ALWAYS, always ask for the price first. If agreed, point at that particular item you want and REFUSE any if they say they will get you one from the box or storage which is likely a “factory reject”.
It was a scary walk in the dark, but a travel memory we will alway cherish. 🤣. Glad you enjoyed it. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
01:40 When I approach a rental car I video my view to include the stall area to identify its location. Continuing my recording, I circle the vehicle noting anything out of the ordinary. My recording ends after entering the vehicle and showing the odometer and fuel level readings. Luv your videos!
We are a military family, my husband and all 3 children serve the Army, Navy and Air Force. We travel around the world to visit our children where they are stationed. We visited all over Spain for almost a month, eating out 3 meals everyday. Only one Seville Spain "tourist area" restaurant billed us 10 euro for a small basket of basic bread for 5 people. They did not even serve tap water. We had to order drinks. Based on our one month experience around Spain, complimentary bread is normal practice. If the item price is not listed in the menu, people would assume it is complimentary. It may not be a scam, but it is definitely NOT HONEST and NOT UPFRONT PRICING. A lot of "tourist area" vendors think tourists are one-time consumers, so they do not try to get repeat business and charge whatever they want. Eat and shop where the locals do to avoid dishonest pricing. Back in 2017, we dropped in and ate at this unassuming restaurant in downtown Reykjavik, Iceland. The food was fresh, tasty and good, and the price was fair. We tried to get a table there this summer, but no table was available for the next 3 days. Good restaurants are rewarded by words of mouth, especially at this age of social media.
Excellent advice and spot on! One thing we have seen a lot is people selling bottles of water out of coolers or bags for 1 or 2 Euros. In some cases these bottles have been scavenged and then refilled. There are plenty of legitimate convenience-type stores where you can purchase sealed bottles, so do not but it from these types of street vendors.
We rented a car in Great Britain for 2 months and used Turo (kind of like Airbnb for cars) it’s very straightforward and pricing was better than what we’d have paid at an agency. We also had an individual we could communicate with 24/7. It was a great experience for us and the host. It felt really scam free, local and eco friendly. Another great video, guys.
I rented a high end car through Turo in San Diego 6 years ago.. After 10 days I returned it & was accused of serious damage to the side. Fortunately I had seen the damage & taken pics and sent them to him. He said it was his cousin who gave us the keys & after my pics the cousin admited damaging it before I arrived. Just Realize that even Turo is far from foolproof. Take pics!!
@@welltravelledlife Totally agree about taking pics. I was just responding to the poster who mentioned Turo appears " scam free." I respectfully disagree since I was almost scammed. I just want others to be aware.
Another scam comes to mind. When you pay cash for gelato or other small item, the clerk might give you less change than they should. If you point it out, they'll shrug and give you two more Euros (or whatever is short). It's easy to be overwhelmed if you don't speak the language and are also dealing in a foreign currency. It's smart to keep small change on hand. Also, in some countries they've devalued or changed their currency. Be sure you know what legal currency looks like and don't accept anything else. Unscrupulous people sometimes pay change with the worthless, former currency.
@@RetirementTravelers Apropos of nothing, but I have a warning also for visiting a Disney theme park. They will give you change in "Disney Dollars", which are equivalent to U.S. dollars. Sadly, they'll only work on a Disney property. Don't get stuck with Disney dollars!!! Can't believe Mickey is a scammer too!
LONG ago, I was on an exchange program in Germany. The day after we arrived, we wanted a cold Coke. We asked for Cola mit eis, and thought we'd asked for Coke with ice. Instead, they brought warm Cokes and big bowls of ice cream. Turned out to be a happy error. The ice cream was refreshing and not super expensive.
A few years ago we booked a compact car for three weeks. When we arrived the girl at the desk told us they had no compacts, we would have to upgrade to a Mercedes which was available. My wife showed them the rental agreement and told them that was the price they quoted and that is all we were paying. The girl could see my wife is not one to back down so after arguing a little, obviously furious, gave us the keys. When we got to the pickup area the guy said they had a compact after all but we refused to swap and had a very nice car for our trip.
Very common--or they're out of small cars so could give you a huge SUV (not a good thing on Scottish roads...or at gas stations anywhere) for the same price, or you can pay more for a smaller and nicer car. Has happened to us twice, never again.
Excellent advice folks. Was it Thomas Jefferson said a long time ago, "the price of peace is eternal vigilance". This applies to traveling as well being safe from scams requires us to keep both eyes open at all times. Thank you, enjoy your travels.
Thanks for the kind words and appreciate your additional comments. So glad you found the video helpful. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
Thanks for making this vlog. Five of us were at a Seville Spain restaurant. We were aware of the "tap water", but it was the bread that got us this time. The waiter took our orders and asked, "do you want bread for the table?" We answered "yes" and assumed it was complimentary. When the bill came at the end, the pan (bread) was 2 Euro per person, 10 Euro for our table. Always ask for the price before ordering. Happy travelling.🙏👏
But if the "pan" was of that hand-made European quality, to me it would be worth 2 Euros. . .? No? I love "Pan y mantequilla" ! But I do get your point; ask the cost of everything extra that's offered!
@@RetirementTravelers Sorry, but the bread is NOT a scam, they are not cheating, it is just an item that has to be paid for, just like anything else you order in the restaurant. If you are unaware of this aspect, your problem is, but it is not a scam! Only tap water is free
We experienced something similar where they just brought out a little plate of olives while we waited. We thought they were complementary but our travel companion warned us that we would be charged if we ate them. Not truly a scan but a way of upselling you on the meal.
Tourists are often required to carry their passport. While out for the day, we only carry a laminated copy of our passport instead of risking theft of our actual passport.
Gosh. With all this grift and hustle going on, it wouldn't be worth it to me to travel. Maybe years ago I would have had the energy to be on the alert and ask all the pertinent questions, but anymore, no. Good for you two who still have the desire and smarts -- and each other! - to navigate all these things.
When we were in Florence, we bought small gelatos and it was probably at the same place as they charged my husband 20 Euros-much to our shock. In Rome, my husband had his wallet stolen out of his fanny pack on the train….we were being so careful, but it was getting later and we got on to one that was too crowded. They pulled it off by a very large man pressing against me to the point that I could barely breathe and my husband and I were both distracted by it. I think his partner then was able to get into hubby’s fanny pack. We knew better…. Great video! Thanks for all the tips!
Thanks and glad you found the video helpful. Sorry about getting scammed, but hopefully it won't happen anymore. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
Beware of the Fanny pack. A friend of mine lost everything on a busy subway when someone sliced the bottom of the Fanny pack and walked away with his wallet and passport. Some people like the travel pouch you wear around the neck. I’ve seen two times when they grabbed the cord, cut it and ran. I wear everything under my clothes. Invisible is best. 👍
There is a purse/pack company called Baggalini, developed by a flight attendant. They use a fabric that is very difficult to cut. I’ve been using them for six years now and have never had a problem. Just two days ago, I was very subtly getting hustled in Las Vegas while playing a slot machine. I had my smaller Baggalini with me. This young woman was closing in on my space. I positioned the bag between my thighs tightly. Somebody called for her and she was gone.
Hello from Australia. Once again some great travel tips from you both. One thing you possibly should have mentioned when using an ATM is to make sure you" DECLINE CONVERSION" ( bottom left hand corner of ATM machine. ) Very important to do this. Thanks again. Max.
The rental car scams are a special disgrace because they involve large companies, not just destitute individuals. Last month, in Zaragoza Spain, we rented from Alamo/Enterprise. In my U.S. experience, the company’s customer service has been very good. But over there, the first thing that happened was they tried to trick us into signing onto a higher price than the reservation. Then, when we were doing our pre-check walk around and videoing all the scratches, we noticed there was no spare tire. At that point, the Alamo manager explained her version of the insurance scam. She removes the spares, so you’ll buy the insurance. With their insurance, you call them in the event of a flat and they’ll send someone out to help you. Without it, you’ll really be stuck.
I’ve been traveling since 1987, for work and leisure. I’ve been pickpocketed and rental car companies, taxi drivers have TRIED to scam me, with no avail. There’s so many scams, even in remote place in Kazakhstan😂 Thank you for sharing.
Great video - I’ve taken notes to remind me! I keep my passport, spare money and credit cards in a money belt under my clothing . The rest is in a Pacsafe crossbody bag with anti theft locks. A scam that I’ve been exposed to in a non European country was a person offering to take you to your hotel (often when they see you looking at a map) OR around a tourist attraction. They appear to just want to help you but then request money at the end of it. Xx
I only travel with Pacsafe as my daypack or purse. Gives me such peace of mind. When I was in Barcelona, Spain two people got pickpocketed one for phone the other for their wallet. I have my Pacsafe securely locked on my back not on the front like people walking around town and no one ever tried to get in it even in dense areas. At a restaurant I had it secured through the back of my chair and I think someone tried to to do a quick grab when I was leaned forward in my chair but the bag just slipped down the chair poles still attached and the person continued walking past my chair without turning around when I looked back. A friend and his family just went to Spain this summer, I warned him and loaned him 2 Pacsafe daypacks and one sling. He first said he didn't think he would need them but took them anyway and came back and thanked me. Said the two other families that traveled with he were planning to buy Pacsafe as well.
Thank you for such great tips! Neither my husband nor I are in the habit of using Apple Pay (he isn't even set up yet!), but knowing how easy it is, how safe it is, AND that a new card can be loaded onto it if one was stolen are all great reasons to start using it consistently. Thank you for letting us learn from your experiences!
Thanks. That one really saved us!!! Chase Sapphire is a great travel card. Check out that video of ours if you haven't already. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
@@vlink4071 Google or apple pay require an unlock code or finger/face unlock to use so security shouldn't be a factor. Keeping other cards at your hotel/Airbnb for such emergencies is what we do. My wife dropped her phone and broke it. We bought another and used a Sim card locally and re-established most apps and use.
Thank you for sharing these tips. “Free” bracelets happened to me in Lisbon. As for waiter asking whether we want something, mostly a side item, it happens pretty much everywhere. Once we ordered nachos for appetizer. Generally, it comes with salsa, sour cream etc., once waitress asked if we want guacamole, never said we need to pay extra, sure enough there was extra charge when we received our bill.
Why would she have to say that you would have to pay? It's a restaurant, you have to pay for what you consume! If in some countries bread is offered free of charge, the same certainly does not apply to guacamole or cheese! Or did you just want to eat the starters and get a free meal?
@@Maria-js9ou I have been to many restaurants ordered nachos, it always came with salsa, sour cream and guacamole on the side. These items weren’t free, is built into the price of nachos. I was talking about an appetizer, no clue why you were asking about free meal. By the way, I paid the bill in full and gave her 20% tips. The only tip I wanted to share is to ask if the suggested item cost extra or not.
This was excellent! Thank you so much. As we get ready to travel once again overseas (Bulgaria) we need these reminders. Just because it hasn’t happened yet does not mean it cannot or will not. I will be sending this video to 8 other friends (possibly more) that too are planning trips overseas. I am also sending your wonderful packing videos and etias video as well. I am hoping at least some of them will subscribe and find as much value in your content as I have.
Thanks so much. You are favorite viewer! 😊. It helps so much when people share our videos and channel. So glad the video was helpful. One note: We recently heard that the ETIAS requirements will be pushed out again until 2025. Safe travels and many blessings, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
Great videos. Loved it. My wife and I have experienced almost all of the scams. We are wiser now but still get scammed from time to time. When I was in Madrid taking a train to the airport, I had my wallet in my front pocket but they still managed to distract me on a packed train and took my wallet. I don’t carry a wallet now but have all my card and cash in a money belt. I thought of carry a cheap wallet and put a note in it saying “You shall not steal or you go to hell.”. What do you think?
Thanks. Glad you are enjoying our channel. Thanks for sharing your experience and love your wallet idea. 🤣 Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
Super tips! Not a scam, but be aware of whether your "travel" credit card offers primary or secondary rental car insurance. If it's secondary coverage, your regular insurance will have to pay (and max out) first before the travel card's rental car insurance will kick in. And, the credit card coverage is usually very limited. Just be aware.
Great tips! I didn't know that about Apple Pay and a replacement card. When renting a car overseas we stick with a major brand, like Hertz, etc. If there is an issue it "might" be easier to resolve than with a local rental company. A scam we experienced in Costa Rica was when you drive to some tourist area and park there. There are people waiting and they want you to pay them to watch your car. We declined and didn't have any issues. We have a currency app on our phones that helps make the conversion easier. The app automatically updates, so you always have the current exchange rate. Safe travels! --M
Thank you so very much for all of these wonderful tips!!! I especially appreciate the advice about using a debit card attached to a checking account! All the very best to you! You are always an inspiration for me, and I keep you in my daily prayers!!! Let's go Mountaineers!!!! 💛💙
You are so welcome and so kind. Thanks so much. Glad you are enjoying our channel and glad you love the gold and blue. 😊 Many blessings, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
Thanks for the great tips! Here's my backpack tip: to protect against zipper opening, add small caribiner-type clips aka theft deterrent zipper clips. They're easy for you to open but a real pain for someone trying to quietly get into your backpack. They cost very little and work great.
Great tips especially about women with children! It happened to me once we were climbing a hill in a tourist area, that they put a hawk on my arm and let us take a picture with our small digital camera. The battery was almost drained so I refused to pay the whole amount stating that there was no picture on it, I just gave them a small tip. To my surprise the picture was there once I charged the camera.
Glad you got the picture. Thanks for the comment! It’s great when you know the cost and you choose to participate. Many people don’t know there’s a cost involved. John & Bev
Before you order an Uber, make sure it is illegal in that country. My husband and I were in Costa Rica and ordered an Uber. He picked us up and drove us out the middle of nowhere and demanded our money. I took a picture of his license plate when we got out and turned him into Uber. Only to find out that Uber is illegal in Costa Rica. And the one person who’s going to get in trouble would be me for hiring them. Even though the app works in Costa Rica it is illegal to order an Uber.
Thank you for such useful tips. We made the mistake you referenced in using our credit card (at a bank) for a cash advance and then realized it was considered a "loan" and started to incur interest. Quickly paid it off, but good lesson learned. We do routinely log into our online credit card account while travelling to ensure we recognize all the charges. Will likely do more with Apple Pay in the future. Thanks!
Thank you. I'm American currently living in Thailand, visited Cambodia, and heading for Europe in 3 months. I've been scam. Luckily small, but a couple could have been huge. And my first would have been an airline customer service scam BEFORE I even left the U.S. It's not if you even get scammed. It's when! Thanks for additional advice.
Outstanding tips, thank y'all very much! Does the Sapphire card you mentioned in an earlier video cover rental insurance?? And thanks for twisting my arm on Apple Pay...been stubbornly avoiding it, but this pushed me off the fence 🙌
Thanks so much. Yes, it has some rental coverage. As for the Apple Pay, it really saved us when we got our credit care number stolen. It really is the way to go. Safe travels, John and Bev
Croatia was the worst about tap water. They forced you to buy bottled water and said that it’s against the law for the restaurant to serve tap water. That was in Dubrovnik near the Game of Thrones castle. Btw, the entrance to that castle was 30 euro…talk about scams and taking advantage of tourists!
Thanks for sharing. We thought Dubrovnik was beautiful, but too expensive. We enjoyed Split, Zadar, and Zagreb and found better value. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
OMG! So much to watch out for. Thank you for all the tips! One woman told me she had someone try to unclip her fanny pack--another team effort: one person distracts while the other unclips. She felt it happening and grabbed her pack before it slipped away.
Very helpful video! Thanks. We were almost scammed by what appeared to be “Hertz” in Norway trying to hit us with “car repair” bills two months after the rental. Thanks to the vigilance of our credit card’s fraud department and our then seeing that no tax was paid on this “repair” sent up red flags. Dodged that one but, Jefferson was right… constant vigilance.
Very helpful tips...had similar experiences with taxis...gypsy woman carrying a baby begging for money...But don't wear that "Retirement Traveler" T-shirt...tourist target giveaway...
Glad you found it helpful. Yes, we have to be careful with the shirts, but we have met so many wonderful people all around the world because of the shirts. Safe travels, John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
Thank you for these helpful and important tips! Glad you two have been so alert and careful. Btw, any particular app you’d recommend to find taxis and train station/bus schedules in Italy?
LOVE your channel!! Thank you for sharing , and wishing you good health & safe travels . Quick question? Have you guys been in Hungary? ( I’m from there)
A lot of places. Have you tried the thermal baths? Most popular “Szechenyi bath”. Heviz lake, ( it’s a geothermal lake) about 2-3 hours from Budapest .
Also thank you for the tip about Apple Pay. It’s much easier to worry only about a phone and not a wallet or cash. Can you pay with it in bathrooms also?
In South America I was traveling with my husband and couple friends. At one airport the taxi driver was telling us outrageous fees. The two men conversed sternly with this one driver to no avail. Finally we started off walking the few miles to hotel. He came up behind us, stopped and agreed to the original prices the two men in our group had offered. Be safe.
Talking about bottle water 💧 I was scammed in Central Park in New York City. I was thirsty and I saw a kiosk bought the bottle of water for the $10.00 1999 . My New Yorker siblings just😂 of men.lesson learned 😜
Thank you! Good to know. I have a question, I know that you guys use the name of your channel on your shirt, and I love the concept and I will do it too, but I ask myself if that can be a tag for those who stole from tourists. I would like to hear your opinion. Thank you and be safe 🙏
There have been a few places in the world we didn't wear our shirts, but we have felt safe everywhere in Europe. Yes, we do open ourselves up, but the upside of meeting so many wonderful people has been worth it for us. John and Bev retirementtravelers.com/
We rented from Enterprise in Scotland on two different occasions for multiple weeks, and they didn't try scamming us. So maybe it depends on the company? And we used our Apple watch to pay for almost everything. No need to take out a phone or a wallet!
When I was in Italy, capri, some restaurant display the price on the table, but after you ordered the food. They swapped the price when you did not pay attention then charged you much more .
Another common scam: Since the colour of a 5 Euro note does not differ that much from a 20 Euro note, you are deliberately being handed over change to a 5 Euro note instead of a 20 Euro note. Even in grocery stores, not in restaurants only. When you note and object, the vendor indignantly insists on having been given a 5 Euro note by you. Therefore whenever paying cash using a Euro note, look the vendor straight into the eyes and loudly name the value of the note you are going to hand over, that way signalling alertness. (I have been cheated this way twice in Germany.)
Great video! I always carry a flat money belt with my passport and extra debit card under my clothes. I use 2 Charles Schwab debit cards in case one gets stolen and because they have no foreign transaction fees. I also put just enough money in the account for a week or two so if it gets stolen I don’t lose too much money. I always decline the conversion rate. My scariest experience in 2013 was almost being kidnapped by an Arab taxi driver in Israel at the airport. He grabbed my rolling suitcase and ran back with it Into the airport. Thankfully he had to wait for the elevator and I caught up with him there. When we got to the town where I was going to an hour away he pulled into a gas station and asked for all the money. I only gave him 25%. He finally got me to my hotel and threw my bag on the curb after I paid the rest we agreed on. I don’t think I’ll ever travel alone again in the Middle East. It was terrifying.
When paying for anything stop talking to the sales person or the friendly local while paying. Even when you are paying cash. Concentrate on what you are doing, check the #s the sales person has put in. Especially when you have to put your pin # in, or before you do the touch for the Apple Pay.
When a local offers you something in your hands, do NOT look at them in the eyes... they will leave you alone since you won't have the reflex of grabbing. Also keep your hands free (from cell, sunglasses, purse, bag) when you walk around. When we we're pickpocketed, my husband was pulling a suitcase on wheels with one hand and holding a tube containing a poster with the other hand.