Has anyone toured Italy recently, and encountered cashpoint thieves, and distraction thieves, that are widespread and hushed up by the tourist industry?! Maybe these two were robbed off camera and did not mention it...such is it common in Italian tourist destinations
shareI spent time in Rome and in Naples just a few months ago - absolutely no problems anywhere of any kind. Last year, I was in Perugia, Naples and Rome - also, absolutely no problems whatsoever. Have you spent time in Italy recently?
"Someone has been tampering with Hank's memories."
Italy had been notorious for tourist robberies. pick-pockets and various forms of swindling of tourists for over 50 years. It's nothing new whatsoever . . . We traveled in Italy quite a bit several years ago and, fortunately, only got ripped off once for a higher price for a taxi ride than should have been charged. No big deal!
However, MANY people have purses ripped off they shoulders as well as have wallets abscounded with on the streets -- particularly in Rome, Venice and Naples. It's just the reality there -- you just have to be smart about how much and where you carry your money and store your valuables. Everyone we know in Europe talks about it and try to give visitors advance warning!
I mean, let's face it-
- the Nuns sell you toilet paper when you go in to use the Vatican toilets, so everybody's trying to find a way to earn or 'make' a buck off tourists! Even the
Catholic Church 'nickel-and-dimes' you -- not surprisingly . . .
New York's nearly as bad. And here's an IMPORTANT WARNING TO
WOMEN: NEVER, EVER hang your purse on the side or armrest of your chair in big cities!! Put in front of you either on your lap or at your feet. It's one of the most frequent ways purses are stolen. We had a young friend have her purse with passport, plane tickets, lots of cash, wallet with ID's & CC's, cellphone, etc. stolen off the side of her chair while we had dinner in NYC one night -- less than four hours
before her flight! It was a real drag! Poor sweetie couldn't leave on her
trip and it cost her a lot of time and money to straighten everything out over a few days. Big bummer!