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In India, a travel companion and I pre-negotiated the fare for a boatman to take us across. It's a shallow river, and he uses a long pole to move the boat. Well, about ten feet from the small dock he stops and insists on payment, now much more than agreed. Well, we weren't going to pay that. After a short argument that went nowhere, we handed him what we'd promised. When he still refused to move, we shocked him by just climbing out and walking through the water the rest of the way. Yes, we got pretty wet, but it was worth it seeing the look on his face.
Hubby threatened to jump from a camel! He’d worked construction so the distance was extreme for him. The guide quickly moved back to the platform as he move both legs to both sides.
@@LifeWellCruised I’m with you, I’d probably just stay there until the guy got bored. Hubby did concrete work and so removing forms from basement walls sometimes caused a fall. He was also a high jumper. Now, I certainly would have walked in the water but jump, ever!
Another scam I experienced, once myself and second time it happened to my travel companion. In my case, it was in a souvenir shop in Mexico. The shelves were packed tight with cheap merchandise. I picked up one item and the whole shelf collapsed. The store owner came at me verbally aggressive and threatened to call the police if I didn’t pay for all the broken stuff, which he claimed were priceless artifacts. I quickly exited store and was chased a few hundred feet, but I didn’t stop and wasn’t caught and I quickly got back on the ship. I just knew the shelf was booby trapped because I am a very careful person. The same thing happened to my friend! So my recommendation is NEVER TOUCH OR PICK UP ANYTHING IN A MEXICAN SOUVENIER SHOP!
My step mom was on a cruise where a women lost a neck purse tucked inside without her knowledge! Step mom always pins hers so that cutting the neck piece etc gives her a tug that she feels!
When looking for a cross body bag, ALWAYS, make sure the strap has a steel cable in it. My Travelon crossbody bag has a steel cable in the strap, body is slash resistant, the inside pocket is RFID proof and the zippers have a latch to secure them. Another tip is to dress quietly. Do not wear expensive clothing, jewelry, etc , just blend in quietly.
Another tip…if you use your credit card in the Caribbean or Mexico, make sure when you sign that the price is in the currency of your choice…for example, a swim suit could cost J$3,446.00, which equals $30 CDN or $23 US. If you don’t pay attention to the currency on the slip you are signing, you just might end up with a charge of $3,446 US or CDN on your next credit card statement,
I always check to make sure what denomination the price is in and how much that would be in dollars, but the last trip I didn't use my card, but used cash instead. I haven't been scammed yet, and don't want to be.
While on a beach in st maarten we rented 2 chairs and a umbrella,we weren't there 15 minutes when the man that was selling the spots came over and pointed to a break in the umbrella wood and blamed us he wanted 100.00.it was upsetting but my husband didn't cave in he demanded they call the police and stood his ground,we left and went back to the boat,it ruined the day but he didn't get anything from us so before you sit on a beach check the chair,umbrella to see if they are fine
My husband did not believe all the warnings about pickpockets I told him about when we were on our Med Cruise. So, in Rome he decided to put an old wallet in his back pocket and guess what? When we got back to the cruise ship he didn't have a wallet! Maybe he'll believe me from now on... Probably not.
I traveled to Italy alone as a female tourist. I rented a car and enjoyed wandering around Italy. In Rome, I purchased a ticket for the tour of the colosseum and the man who took my money put a small round sticker on my jacket near my shoulder and out of my line of vision. I assumed that it was proof of payment. The next day I drove to Pompeii without removing the sticker. Fortunately, a nice, honest tour guide explained the “dots” are used to let others know I was someone who appeared to have some wealth. It was a target for criminals and vendors as well. He said it was probably my watch that earned me the sticker.
There's also a few that I would like to share. 1) Do not be a good guy. Recently there's a syndicate for smuggling illegal items. You'd see an old lady at the airport asking for help, the luggage was too heavy and she's willing to pay you to carry the bag for her. The bag usually contains drugs or so, and if you get caught, the lady disappears. Remember, the law in most countries said "possession of drugs" regardless of whether you are just being nice to help an old lady, you are carrying the drugs and you get arrested and prosecuted. Get the airport staff to help if you really wanna be helpful. 2) Shoe polisher scam. You'd see that usually around Europe. Someone dropped a brush, you helped him to pick up the brush, he wants to show gratitude by giving free shoe polishing, he demands for money afterwards. 3) Watch out for illegal massage parlours, hair salons etc at port city, especially Asian sailings. These parlours do offer "extra service" but from time to time, the local authority raid the place and everyone will go to the police station, that's not a good idea especially when you have a ship that you need to go back to.
These scams are GOLDEN! I knew of a few of them, like when someone (sometimes, unfortunately kids) will push cardboard up against you to redirect your attention to that 'feeling' and someone else might be picking your purse or wallet.
in Mexico we had a restaurant overcharge us and claim it was due to conversion to USD but a savvy person on our trip calculated for us correctly. we each saved about $20 so watch out
I would also recommend staying on the beaten track. Leaving a "touristy area" especially in a city/town can be daunting and i would recommend for females to cover up. Many countries and islands still have a decency dress code and walking around with daisy dukes, or a buttocks high skirt or dress might give you the attention you are not wanting that includes deep cut dresses and tops. Be safe out there. :)
Many yrs ago, my cousin, who speaks little English was approached by a woman in a Caribbean island, in English, said braid $1, my cousin said yes, the woman started doing braids very fast. Her husband was shopping nearby, when he noticed he ran and screamed Stooop! My cousin said, oh! it's only $1. He told the woman to stop and told my cousin it was $1 each braid. The woman did not say that. She only said braids one dollar. My cousin paid over $20 . Be cleae about what service you are getting before you start getting it.
One thing that we've done for years is to use reloadable prepaid credit cards. If IT gets lost or stolen, you are only out of whatever the balance was on the card. Some cards charge a modest monthly or per transaction fee so shop around. You can usually reload it from your regular credit card nightly with whatever you intend to spend the next day (plus maybe a little bit extra for spur of the moment purchases.)
I’ve had the “free” things before, and yes, they do ask for a donation. My response is “You said it is free , so Thank You, and have a nice day.” and I just walk away with my free item. In the past the Krishna people did this at airports very often.
Happened to me in the Bahamas. I was crowded and 'pretty ladied' by ladies to braid my hair, a 10 yr old to sing a song for a dollar, directions for a dollar, and as the 10y old volunteered vocals, my right arm was commandeered and a "free bracelet for da pretty lady" placed on. I said how cute, went to move and stopped by a lady, man, and 2 teens. That's 1 dollar for the bracelet. So, I reached back across and said, then take back your free bracelet. (They did. )
We were scammed on our very first cruise there. While distracting us with the bracelet, my husband felt someone try to take his wallet. Fortunately, he had put it in a Fanny pack in the front. People be aware ALWAYS!!!
I wish someone warned me! Lol she was quick! It was Nassau as well. I had no other cash on me but a $10 so she got that.... I was mad at myself. So I'm trying to be more vigilant,
Thanks for the important reminders! Years ago my husband and I went on a two week tour of Italy. We had taken a train into Rome and upon arrival we began looking for a cart to place our bags on to make it easier to maneuver to the taxi cab location. Unfortunately, we learned the hard way that luggage carts are primarily a benefit of the US only, as you rarely find them in travel hubs of other countries. As we struggled with our bags a nice young man approached us and offered to assist us to the taxi cab station, which we gladly accepted. When we got to the front entrance of the train station the young man motioned for us to follow him as he turned and headed to the parking lot. My husband told him “NO”, that we wanted the taxi station, but the young man said the line was too long and that he had a better plan for us to get to our hotel as he pointed to the large, very full parking lot where three other men stood waiting next to a parked car and motioning for us to come to them. When I saw these men my inner-voice began screaming “NO” at me and I in turn screamed “NO, NO, NO!” at the young man. When my husband also saw where the young man was trying to take us he too yelled “No” again and began struggling with the young man to get our bags out of his hands. By the Grace of GOD there were still some people in the train station waiting for their rides so our yelling drew their attention and the young man let go of the bags, at which time we quickly moved into the line of people waiting for taxi cabs. We were pretty shook-up by the experience, especially knowing what could have happened had there not been other people around and had I not seen the three other men waiting in the parking lot. Rome is also where my father’n law had his wallet and passport stolen out of a “secret” inside, zippered pocket of his jacket. This happened when a gypsy woman who appeared to be breast feeding a baby “accidentally” bumped into him as she was getting off the bus. Unfortunately, he didn’t realize he had been robbed until it was too late. These kinds of thieves are very skilled so take heed that you don’t allow yourself to be distracted when people are standing close to you, and especially when they “bump” you. As bad as the thieve are in Rome, we found them to be even worse in Paris, especially around the Eiffel Tower, so if you are planning a trip to any popular destination stay alert to your surroundings, watch out for the pick-pockets, scammers, and especially people who are a little too eager to offer you assistance or something for nothing. Just as it’s helpful to check out the weather reports for your destinations, it’s also helpful to check out the latest crime reports. Knowing the latest scams and other types of crimes can help all of us to have a safer and more enjoyable vacation with hopefully only happy memories.
If you have so much luggage that you need help, you are already at risk. I suggest 1 big rolling suitcase per person with a smaller bag you can perch on top. Never accept help from someone who approaches you. Once you clear the secure area of an airport be even more vigilant. And always use the toilet just after getting off the airplane because you have no idea how long it will take with customs/immigration/taxi.
I just got off a Carnival cruise that docked in Grand Turks. We knew that Carnival pretty much runs Grand Turks and the beach chairs are free. But there were men hustling the passengers for $50 for a beach chair. One man even told this couple he had a cabana and took them far away needless to say they got tired of walking and came back. Also in Grand Turks, Margaritaville they billed me twice for my food. I disputed with my credit card and they refunded me.
We asked a security guard at the beach about the chairs and found out they were free. I thought it was sad the beach had to have a security guard but I’m glad they did.
Forgot-I had a 2nd scan while on a cruise visiting Honduras. After our tour of a Mayan village/jungle dh and I decided to go to the beach w/ a few other people from the tour; everyone swam while dh and I relaxed. In 15 mins time we were approached by 10 if not more peddlers wanting to sell their crafts, etc. We totally understood that they were trying to make their living but goodness, we just wanted some time to chat/relax. One fella asked if we didn’t want to buy some water? I mean, a nice cold water bottle sounded wonderful bc we were dying from the jungle humidity! I was SO MAD…AFTER he OPENS the small 4-6oz bottle WITH HIS FILTHS HANDS, I politely (though grossed out!) told him “no thank you, I’ve changed my mind, I THOUGHT you were selling a large bottle of water like the ones in your cart, NOT the tiny bottles and CERTAINLY NOT for $7.00???” He kept yelling @ me te price is $7.00 because it’s COLD!” I again told him “No thank you” and we told our group we would see them @ the bus!” Maybe he realized we were together w/ other tourists bc they’d heard what was happening and swam back to the beach to defend us! Still-No Thx!😠
We did the Mediterranean Cruise on the Beyond back in May. We were on a small group tour in Athens. When the tour stopped at one of the places for photo taking, it took seconds for my brother in law to lose his wallet. He had it in a pouch which is in the backpack. Doesn't matter. It happened so fast he didn't even realize it. My advice is always have everything in front of you.
In Rome and Istanbul we could see pickpockets at work at a distance everywhere but you are packed so tightly into public transit you can't warn the victim.
My daughter and I went on a European tour with her high school group and found that the tour company had booked one of those perfume factory tours for our group while we were in Paris, France. It was so long and, yes, after the lecture was over it took us another hour or so to actually leave the factory because so many of us were deciding what kinds of perfumes to buy. It was very informative and I still have some of the perfume left after giving several bottles away as souvenirs to family members. However, I would not have done this tour on my own because it took time away from what I would have preferred doing while in Paris rather than spending 2 hours in a perfume factory.
Nassau Bahamas- It was our first cruise. Right after we got off the ship, there were many locals waiting for us asking for donations for their kids to go to school. We walked to a free beach, but kept getting harassed by locals to rent umbrellas. Then we decided to talk a walk around the stores. A lady came up to us to offer us lower prices on clothing at her store. She stated that she made these clothing pieces by hand. Once we got to her store, we found the same exact pieces of clothing, for the same amount of money. The clothing was not hand made either. Then she started to offer discounts, and tried to make us feel guilty for not buying anything. We really did not enjoy Nassau. It felt run down and sketchy. I am planning my 2nd cruise soon. This time we are going to do excursions, and we are going to other ports. We are hoping that we have a better experience at the destinations.
Be aware you will still have the locals waiting for you when you get off your ship excursions. We took the ship trip thinking we would be hassled less. Not true. Also buy cut resistant bags. Use hidden bra or belt money holders.
I was on a Disney cruise that stopped in Nassau and a woman said she would braid my daughter's hair, so we started following her to her stand, but she began leading us further away from port and into a sketchy area where I felt the buildings were going to hide us away, so I stopped and said No, we are going back. She was pretty upset, but I did not feel it was safe to continue following her.
The level of mistrust I had for everyone and how guarded I was the entire time we were in port at Roatan made it wholly unenjoyable for me. I should've stayed on the ship.
Taxi in Rome scammed us. Driver stayed on his phone while picking us up, never turned on the meter & when asked to, said it was broken. We were only going on a short local drive within the city, back to our hotel and he overcharged us, asked for extra per number of people and threatened to call the police when we questioned his tactics. We paid his ransom in full, but beware while in Rome!
Here are a couple of things I’ve learned. All examples touched on in the video. 1. Don’t take the “free” tequila shots in Mexico while walking by restaurants. A friend did a was charged $25 for his “free” shot. 2. Usually Chocolate Factory & Rum Factory tours are just stores selling goods. Not even processed on that location. 3. In Rome I saw pick pocketing happen to a girl on the metro. The person grabbed her wallet out of her purse and ran out the door as it was closing. We also learned in Rome to walk several blocks away from the train station for much better food with better service and prices!
Yes-the free bracelet scam happened to me while on a tour in Jamaica with my hubby and out 4 teen boys! I noticed a guy eyeing our tour bus while we were unloading, immediately approached us, he grabs my arm as he’s saying “let me show you what I made today!!!” I told him the bracelet was pretty as I was TRYING to take it off my wrist buttttt he wasn’t having it, he kept saying, “it’s free, it’s free, can’t I give a pretty lady a gift???” My hubby and our 4-6’3” boys surrounded me but they never said a word to the fella; I was a proud Mom! My hubby broke the bracelet off w/ his bare hands! Ugh, I was scared to death bc the other fella could’ve shot/stabbed all of us but thankfully, he only cursed @ us, instead! BTW-I’m such a plain Jane and now years later, my grown boys STILL love teasing me with, “MOM~You SOoooo Pretty, Yah~Man!!!🥰 ( using their Jamaican accents mixed w/ a strong Texan drawl🥰 So yes, like everyone warns travelers-BEWARE of your surroundings! Happy Sailing. Y’all🚢
So true for Barcelona. Went in March 2022 and my fiancee got pick pocketed and his bank card was taken. Luckily I had all our travel money on me on a travel credit card. We were able to call his bank & cancel his card before anything was charged to it.
One exception perhaps to the excursion with a factory tour may be in Bruges. On my last cruise in Northern Europe, we took a great walking tour of the city and this did include a stop in a chocolate shop. After all, when in Bruges, you will be buying chocolate. A bit of heaven. What can be done with chocolate is amazing and these little bits of deliciousness made fantastic gifts.
Yup, this one is not an absolute. Two notable exceptions that DID work for us was a rug place near Ephesus and a "misc. store" in Mazatlan. Neither of them SHOULD'VE worked, but did. I still think it's good to consider it a "red flag" & to be aware & consider avoiding.
I've used Viator for excursions and I've always been satisfied. They are very responsive and it takes only a few days (sometimes the next day) to get your money back if you have to cancel.
ToursByLocals takes your payment, but guides don't get paid until you take the tour. Have used them around the globe with no problems. Variety of tours, can be customized; priced by the vehicle, so excellent value for groups. They have recently added a cruise section to their web site which makes it very easy to use and compare. Very secure, excellent service.
In some places that will put stuff on you like a big snake or beautiful headdress and claim because it’s on you you have pay like for Ana photo of it or whatever…happens to us in Mexico. Right by the port . Cool to have a pick of a huge yellow snake on my hubby but basically they can charge you whatever. This was many years ago but heard they still do this and are relentless. Like the little kids selling chicklets. Don’t ever let anyone put stuff on you!!
We went to a restaurant down a narrow side street near the Trevi fountain in Rome and not only was it inexpensive but it was one of the best meals we had in 2 weeks.
One of our best lunches ever was about a block off the tourist area in Florence. There was a line of factory workers at the door of a place selling pizza by the slice. Giant slices were 1 Euro. There were benches outside where we could sit and eat and the pizza was delicious. Yes, there was a bit of a language issue in ordering, but pointing and smiling worked just fine! It wasn't fancy, but it also wasn't the 15 Euros per person we had decided against just a block away. Any place the locals are eating is likely to be good! There are reputable companies that offer private excursions with NO charge if your ship can't dock. We've done these on Grand Cayman and in Alaska. THe company will take your credit card number when you book, but you won't be charged until you actually show up for the excursion. IF your ship comes into port and you are a "no show," you will be charged. In one case, it took 3 cruises before our ship could dock and we finally got to do the excursion! For the first 2, absolutely no problem; we were not charged. Just read the fine print before you book.
I just got a Travelon bag for my next trip and I must say I am impressed before even using it! All the zipper pulls latch so they are closed more securely and there is a tiny little light inside to help you find things. I am actually obsessed with the whole brand. Everything is very affordable. I just bought an assortment of pouches and little mesh bags to improve and simplify my packing organization.
Use an underclothing waist belt and never access it in public. Shirt tucked into underwear. Never use a neck wallet- strangulation. In your purse only stuff you don't care if you lose it. That way you don't lose your life trying to hang into your cross body bag during a motorcycle attack. Beware motorcycles and bicycles coming near to you.
I once had a waiter try to charge me for the bottle of wine that was sitting on our table before we arrived. It sat there unopened the entire lunch and we didn't drink it. So I called him on it and he took it off the bill. This was in Germany many years ago.
We were in Venice and stopped into the Murano glass store for a « glass blowing demonstration ». Immediately after that finished, a huge group of sales people descended upon us with high sales pressure to purchase glass items. It felt like they had trapped us. We were stuck there for at least another hour, it was so annoying
We won't take taxis in any place now. Once in turkey we thought we were going to be kidnapped. We wanted to go to the market and the driver kept insisting it was closed and want to take us on a tour. The other time was in Cartengena where they took us to 3 jewellry stores before we could actually get to where we wanted to go.
Hi, Ilana! I have been lucky not to be a victim of pickpocketing. I recently visited Barcelona and I saw in all the videos here warnings about this so I was very careful. I would give a suggestion to include here and it is, when you book an excursion with another vendor like Trip Advisor, make sure where the meeting point is. In my recent visit to Barcelona I booked a tour to Park Güel. I paid almost $30 and I went the morning of the cruise. I used the hop on hop off bus, which I also booked ,to see some places of Barcelona before boarding. I got off and walked to the park and looked for the tour guide, but she was not there. I asked the people who work in the ticket booth and showed them my reservation. Then I was told that the meeting point was not there, but in another place and it was too late to go to that point now. To make the story short, I had to buy another ticket, which was 7 Euros with my senior discount and visited the park by myself. I tried contacting this person from Trip Advisor and the guide never answered my calls or messages. I wrote to trip advisor and they did not even respond. Bottom line, always check for the meeting point address to make it to your tour.
A few years ago we cruised to Rio de Janeiro where we took a wonderful driving tour of the city, beaches, several well-known sites such as the Christ Of The Andes statue over the city, the tram to Sugar Loaf, etc. It cost us nothing at all, except for a half-hour stop at an emerald store (which was very interesting) right on Copacabana Beach. There were four of us in the van from the ship, and the driver had a tour guide describing everything we saw. This was one of the best tours we ever took, and it cost us nothing. We did tip the driver and guide, but nothing exorbitant and they did not ask for anything. The van was available right at the pier; it was right at the time of preparations for their samba parades, so that may have prompted this.
Pickpocketing is my biggest hate - I echo that it's a real issue in both Barcelona and Rome, but I've heard that Paris can also be pretty bad for it. The general rule of thumb applies with all of these points - being cautious and aware is key - if you stay alert, you should be absolutely fine!
Llana, I’m one of those that look forward to touring the chocolate and perfume factory!!! I’ve visited the perfume factory in France many years ago, and purchase some of my favorite. The chocolate factory I’m looking forward to because I love the different chocolates for myself and for souvenirs 😋😋 I think you shared several excellent scams to be aware of; only two I didn’t think of is people coming up to you with the bracelets or something free, then demanding a payment or being stopped by the police if driving, and away from tourist or cruise ship area. I do recall now having seen on another blog how a family went to a port to enjoy the beach and a group singing would come to tables and sing, then expect money. Thanks for sharing these tips!!!
In Latin American countries it is usually around $7 (us dollars) a song. I had strolling musicians singing and playing La Paloma, our late Grandmother's favorite song. Soon everybody in our family was crying including the singer. They would take no money. My husband gave them a generous amount, asked them to light a candle at church for their loved ones. Everybody clapped.
This was a great video! Wish that I saw it many years ago before I fell for most of the scams/traps! Need more videos like this! (Maybe a "Caribbean Islands--what is worth getting off the ship to see" video.)
A Camelback backpack is ideal for hydration. A water bottle can get lost and it is more convenient to use the tube that comes from the water bladder for water supply via a tube with a mouthpiece on the end to suck on for water.. I will also be fixing some very strong magnets throughout my backpack for highly pickpocketed items. My wallet, coin purse, passport, ticket wallet and much more. It will be harder for anyone to take it from me because it would pull on my bag and I'd feel that.
Love the waist pouch, the belt bags are great as well. I try to stay clear of demonstrative tours as they will try and sell you something but if you are specifically interested in a demonstration let it be none that they will try and sell. Also, if you choose to take an independent tour other than what the cruise line in offering, please be sure you go with others and that the price is set before you venture out. I will have the furniture removed from the cabin when it isn't being used to free up space. Also having dollar bills on person is great as tour director's do expect a gratuity.
Great tips, as usual. We got stuck on a tour through the cruise ship that included a rug demonstration… it was the longest most boring hour and a half while in Turkey… they followed us on the bus trying to sell… beware!!
In Estonia we made arrangements to be dropped off in the shopping area. We pre arranged a fee and he took the long way home telling us stories along the way. He then demanded a large fee for the "tour". My husband's refused, saying that we didn't ask for, not did we want a tour. It got quite awkward but my husband remained firm and we got out at the ship pier.
When we stayed in Costa Mujeres, we used USA Transfers to get to and from the airport and we also did an excursion with them they were not the cheapest but definitely reliable, friendly and they had lots of drivers and vehicles. We had no complaints..
Not cruise-related, but in a US airport, I was told by the TSA to remove a silk scarf I was wearing. It went through the scanner, but I set off the alarm and was not allowed to get my scanned items and bring them to where I was to be patted down. After I was allowed to return and pick up my items, I wasn't thinking about my scarf. I picked up my shoes and carry-on items, put my shoes back on, and proceeded to my gate, where I realized that I didn't have my scarf. I returned to the checkpoint, where I was told that the scarf was not there, and nobody had turned it in. I suppose I should be thankful that they hadn't taken my purse, but apparently the TSA takes no responsibility for watching your items if you set off an alarm. If you are traveling with others, plan ahead for someone in your group to watch your items if you set off an alarm. Not sure how you'd handle this if you're traveling alone, but as noted, this was a domestic flight at a US airport!
Thank you so much for these helpful videos! Watched your channel a few days before my first cruise to the Caribbean and these tips came in handy. Reading reviews about the excursions was very helpful and I enjoyed the one I picked because of that. Always good to know how much of a trip is actually driving/ferrying to a site. A snorkel excursion listed as 3 hours is likely 2 hours of transportation total there and back, 30 minutes snacking/prepping, and only 30 minutes of actual snorkeling. A personal tip I have to offer relates to taxis: handle your cash and tip like bankers do! Keep it in your hand or close as you count it out slowly and don’t hand it over until the taxi driver concretely agrees it is indeed the correct amount you both agreed upon in the first place. Sometimes the driver might accidentally miscount on their end or claim you gave them the incorrect amount. Doesn’t matter if the driver was super friendly.
In Rome I had a fanny pack that I worse around my neck with money and cards and phone. Then in my backpack they would be shocked if they got it. Bottle of water, rain jacket etc, nothing of value.
After 20+ years of travel, we have experienced most of these. Paris was the the worst. Near Notre Dame you descend to a tourist bathroom. A certain group of people will stand in front & behind you, the old lady poking you in stomach to see if waist belt & then bringing a 6 foot + tall man dressed as a woman behind you. I spoke in Canadian accented French telling them off. They were relentless. I had to leave. Only use restaurant bathrooms. You don’t need to dine there, just give a little tip. Jeanne
It has been 20 years since we cruised on HAL. It was my first time cruising. It was an older ship, but still so nice. I’ve never forgotten how great the service was and how comfortable I felt with the smaller ship size and the ratio of crew to cruisers. I’ve enjoyed many different cruise lines since then, but I want to go back to HAL to see if I would feel the same.
We have been cruising for 10 years. We have usually done carribean and mexico. My husband has wanted to do Europe but i have been reluctant. Ive been afraid of all the warnings and safety. But i opened up and we are cruising Europe in 2025. I will take all the warnings and safety tips to heart. Thanks for all your helpful info and for all those that posted their stories. Really helpful. And i know, that all places can be dangerous and have scams.
California Linda shares thank you for the awesome reminders, and do check the receipts while still in line to be sure you were not charged twice for any item you bought, especially if there are long lines. This was the case in Nordcapp and it was a pain to have them reverse the charges, but I was at the register and I did not move on until the matter was dealt with. As you shared...you as the consumer must always be villigant.
Men - get a shirt from Duluth Trading Company with a ‘Naoplean pocket’ to keep your wallet it. Better still, if weather permits, a light jacket or vest over it
In Victoria we went to a store where the cashier would tell everyone paying with a card that there was a minimum for using a card. The minimum would change and was always 1-2 dollars higher than whatever they were buying. The people in front of us it was $4, for us it was $6.
A member of our party in Madrid was wearing an expensive necklace during the day. A man ran along side of her & yanked it off her neck. Keep your jewels at home!
The bracelet scam is also big in Las Vegas, in many forms. Such as Bracelets, CDs, photos, etc. I never realized it happened in cruise ports. Thanks for a great video
Sat through an NCL tour in Turkey where we sat through a sales pitch of very expensive rugs. And another one in a silk factory in China. Now that was a good one, came home with a very reasonably priced silk duvet and have loved it for years.
One more tip, lol, I think back packs are great, however, i choose to wear mine in front so that I can see it especially when I'm off the ship. I particularly like the nylon sport backpacks that have a draw pull at the top.
Another well done informative video. Back in the day in Washington,DC there was the "free" pen scam a "handicapped person would hand you a pen and demand payment. I have been on a few factory tours but I agreed to them. I've been on a cigar, rum(Puerto Rico), tequila, macadamia nut, beer factory in Canada and yes I bought stuff at the end. The rum tour didn't actually show you how they made rum, just the history of rum making, but we did get free samples.
Some of the biggest scammers, IMO, are the cruise lines themselves. Not only in terms of speciality dining, paid shows, etc, but also some of those on board 'talks' that end up being a glorified sales pitch. Worse if you consider that ship passengers are a captive audience. Though taxis in Sydney aren't a scam, though they feel like it, they are quite expensive generally. If you're sailing into the Overseas Passenger Terminal at Circular Quay (pronounced key) there is an extensive heavy rail service and a light rail service that'll get you most places in the downtown area of the city for less than a taxi, including to the airport if you're flying in or out.
Thanks for the tips! I’ve experienced the taxi scam taking the long route once but it was an extra $2 so I didn’t mind. I like the PacSafe brand travel bags and supplies. They have a slash proof camera strap that I used all over Europe and love. I’m going on a Med cruise next year and I’m going to use a money belt.
The best factory tours are the ones that involve food and drinks. The Totuga rum cake factory is the best, where you get to taste all the different cakes. Buying those cakes was not a problem because they’re delicious! I also went on some liquor factory tours in France, like Courvoisier, Otard Cognac, etc. I don’t drink, but I tasted anyway and only bought if I wanted.
Asia, we did a bit of research how much it was cost to go into town by taxi, one taxi driver wanted twice or three times as much. so we carried on walking. We always do research how much it cost to get from A to B so we don't get ripped off, Egypt, Tunisia and Turkey have been three countries . When we went to Cuba a tour of the cigar factory , my parents and I did not bothered sampling the cigars , it gave us a great chance to go the toilet ,
@@LifeWellCruised Even though everyone on the tour the cigar was included in the price, we decided to keep ours as we knew some people at home who smoke cigars for the Asian trip in Malaysia the walking way helped, knock the taxi price down to what it should have been,
One of our best excursions was in Puerto Rico, an Experience found in the Airbnb app. A tour with Andy who is part of the architecture and historic society. So much knowledge. Small group. Places large cruise ship groups simply cannot go.
In Mexico I was aware of the “bribes” so when a police tried to stop me with his siren I ignored it. He flashed his lights and I ignored it. He pulled next to me and pointed to pull over and I ignored it. Finally he pulled out a huge flashlight and shined it at me. I couldn’t ignore that so I pulled over. He said my plate was missing and it was going to cost me $550 (US) and they were going to impound my car. I said I was going to work and needed it and didn’t have $550 on me.. he said we could go to an ATM and take it out. I said I didn’t have a card. He asked how much money I had and I told him $20 so he said to give it to him and I replied that I needed it for gas. He asked how much I could give him and I said $10. He said ok but if anyone asks I gave him $550. I guess he didn’t want anyone to know that he was “easy” to talk down.
We experienced the factory tour thru cruise line to a rug making place in Istanbul. Very heavy sales pitch. Also, our first Europe cruise we made mistake of having private water taxi to Murano, taken to glass factory, and $1200 later we had new set of glasses. Know better now.
Great advice particularly the ‘factory tours’. It really makes me angry the cruise lines do this. It happens quite a bit. Leather goods, jewelry, chocolates…
Several years ago, we rented a car on Cozumel. We love the little bar area the other end of the island. On the way back, we were stopped and the cop tried the scam. His boss pulled up and chewed him out! We got lucky.
My family takes an trip to Punta Cana each fall. Even after telling my mom numerous times to not let anyone touch her luggage she handed her claim ticket over to a scammer in the airport. They retrieved her bags and tried to charge her 100 dollars to get them back. My husband and 3 brothers in law had to forcefully get them back. We don't let either parent go anymore. They both can't seem to follow directions and we spend the whole time "babysitting" them to keep them safe.
20 years ago, me and my brother took our one and only Cruise. We went to Ensenada and back on the monarch of the Seas. We got a package from the cruise ship. It was to be a shopping and show Excursion. The shopping I was looking forward to. The ship didn't have any ties for formal night and I failed to bring one from home so I was hoping maybe there would have been a small shop that would be dealing with ties. One of the shop owners sent us away from the tourist area and into a part of Ensenada that made me and my brother uncomfortable but it looked like it was normal for the residents. A typical department store that dealt with both cash and peso. Word of advice. Never ever under any circumstances count your cash in public. You might as well get a flare gun from the ship and go out into the middle of Wherever You Are and launch it to get the most attention. We had several two-legged wolves trailing us to the department store and waited outside while we made our purchase. We then left and they started to follow us back into the tourist area .we didn't run however I can tell you that McDonald's after a little bit of safety for us. We bought a couple of drinks and shared a bag of fries while we were watching the wolves search for us outside. We saw our tour group Gathering and we went out to them and continued on the tour. We made it back on board the ship safe and sound with our merchandise and our cash with us, not to mention Our Lives intact. Believe me if I happen to go back to Mexico I'll stay on board the ship and this time bring a tie along with me! LOL
Sometimes the host might have a loaner tie for such occasions. One way to avoid the "flash-cash" is to not carry it all in one place. ie: $20 in one front pocket, $50 in another, $100 in a third front pocket. Use the wad that minimally covers the purchase. Any change received quickly disappears somewhere else.
For item security at port, I wear shorts with zippered pockets; that I keep my phone and wallet in there and I'll be able to feel if anyone is trying to get in there. I found some really great shorts for this that are also really comfortable at Target: Levi's Denizen Voayager Modern Utility Shorts.
Put an identifying item on your luggage that can be seen from a distance, especially the black luggage that looks like everyone else. I also air tag all my items, along with travel insurance that covers delayed or lost luggage.
I haven't have any travel scams but I did have a couple different excursions where I was a bit disappointed. One was in Ensanada with La Bufadora. It's a fairly long bus ride and then you walk through a big market and get a small amount of time looking at the water spurting out of the hole which in my opinion is a little underwhelming. Also just recently did Dolphinaris in Cozumel and felt like it was so expensive for photos and lockers. Lockers were $15 and the photos of you with the dolphins were $60
I had the bracelet scam happen to me in Rome in 2018, but I think maybe they weren’t very good at it because I didn’t give them any money but I got a bracelet out of it. 😂
I booked a private 5 day tour in Beijing China and a silk worm factory tour was on the itinerary. It would have been terrible if it wasn’t only the 2 of us and our guide& driver. I ended up buying silk pillows that my husband loved. In the future I will tell them I don’t want certain parts of the tour package.
If people want to shop,I recommend attending the port talks on the ship.they give maps of all the duty-free stores. These vendors are usually kn own by cruise lines so its easier to get money back if you have too
In the shops: Do not pick up something that you know you have no intention of buying. Also do not ask how much something costs if you know you are just browsing. Asking for price somehow triggers them to pressure you into making a sale.
We used to live in Mexico so we know the things to watch out for. We have since cruised to Costa Maya - the make believe village for cruises. They were selling pure vanilla for over $40 a bottle, we laughed at that price as we knew it was WAY over priced. Next stop was Cozumel and we walked 3 blocks into town and bought the exact same vanilla for $8. Walk into town where the locals shop and save $$. Been stopped many times by the police. Just say, "I am not paying here, give me the ticket." They will debate for a moment but let you go.
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In India, a travel companion and I pre-negotiated the fare for a boatman to take us across. It's a shallow river, and he uses a long pole to move the boat. Well, about ten feet from the small dock he stops and insists on payment, now much more than agreed. Well, we weren't going to pay that. After a short argument that went nowhere, we handed him what we'd promised. When he still refused to move, we shocked him by just climbing out and walking through the water the rest of the way. Yes, we got pretty wet, but it was worth it seeing the look on his face.
I would literally do the same. Probably not even give him the amount agreed for wasting my time
Hubby threatened to jump from a camel! He’d worked construction so the distance was extreme for him. The guide quickly moved back to the platform as he move both legs to both sides.
Wow, that’s awful. You’re braver than me, I don’t think I would have done the same 😬😂
@@LifeWellCruised I’m with you, I’d probably just stay there until the guy got bored. Hubby did concrete work and so removing forms from basement walls sometimes caused a fall. He was also a high jumper. Now, I certainly would have walked in the water but jump, ever!
Sadly in India the taxi drivers at the airport are just as bad, and right in your face.
Another scam I experienced, once myself and second time it happened to my travel companion. In my case, it was in a souvenir shop in Mexico. The shelves were packed tight with cheap merchandise. I picked up one item and the whole shelf collapsed. The store owner came at me verbally aggressive and threatened to call the police if I didn’t pay for all the broken stuff, which he claimed were priceless artifacts. I quickly exited store and was chased a few hundred feet, but I didn’t stop and wasn’t caught and I quickly got back on the ship. I just knew the shelf was booby trapped because I am a very careful person. The same thing happened to my friend! So my recommendation is NEVER TOUCH OR PICK UP ANYTHING IN A MEXICAN SOUVENIER SHOP!
Oh no!! Thanks for sharing 😬
Thanks! I touch everything, even after my mom repeatedly telling me you touch with your eyes since childhood.
Thanks for sharing.it live in San Diego. Ca and going on a curise part of Mexico !!
Wow. No kidding
Yes, I think this scam in Mexico has been happening for decades.
My step mom was on a cruise where a women lost a neck purse tucked inside without her knowledge! Step mom always pins hers so that cutting the neck piece etc gives her a tug that she feels!
When looking for a cross body bag, ALWAYS, make sure the strap has a steel cable in it. My Travelon crossbody bag has a steel cable in the strap, body is slash resistant, the inside pocket is RFID proof and the zippers have a latch to secure them. Another tip is to dress quietly. Do not wear expensive clothing, jewelry, etc , just blend in quietly.
Another tip…if you use your credit card in the Caribbean or Mexico, make sure when you sign that the price is in the currency of your choice…for example, a swim suit could cost J$3,446.00, which equals $30 CDN or $23 US. If you don’t pay attention to the currency on the slip you are signing, you just might end up with a charge of $3,446 US or CDN on your next credit card statement,
Thanks for mentioning this! There were some articles about this happening a couple of years ago. Very expensive mistake 😬
That's a good one!
I always check to make sure what denomination the price is in and how much that would be in dollars, but the last trip I didn't use my card, but used cash instead. I haven't been scammed yet, and don't want to be.
While on a beach in st maarten we rented 2 chairs and a umbrella,we weren't there 15 minutes when the man that was selling the spots came over and pointed to a break in the umbrella wood and blamed us he wanted 100.00.it was upsetting but my husband didn't cave in he demanded they call the police and stood his ground,we left and went back to the boat,it ruined the day but he didn't get anything from us so before you sit on a beach check the chair,umbrella to see if they are fine
My husband did not believe all the warnings about pickpockets I told him about when we were on our Med Cruise. So, in Rome he decided to put an old wallet in his back pocket and guess what? When we got back to the cruise ship he didn't have a wallet! Maybe he'll believe me from now on... Probably not.
Wow!! Lol good test
He should have left them a little note inside his wallet
I just read this comment out to my ‘non-believer’ husband as well… he laughed but I’m the vigilant one! 😂 We are heading on a Med cruise in May!
I traveled to Italy alone as a female tourist. I rented a car and enjoyed wandering around Italy. In Rome, I purchased a ticket for the tour of the colosseum and the man who took my money put a small round sticker on my jacket near my shoulder and out of my line of vision. I assumed that it was proof of payment. The next day I drove to Pompeii without removing the sticker. Fortunately, a nice, honest tour guide explained the “dots” are used to let others know I was someone who appeared to have some wealth. It was a target for criminals and vendors as well. He said it was probably my watch that earned me the sticker.
That's just low and shady as fk.
Wow.
There's also a few that I would like to share.
1) Do not be a good guy. Recently there's a syndicate for smuggling illegal items. You'd see an old lady at the airport asking for help, the luggage was too heavy and she's willing to pay you to carry the bag for her. The bag usually contains drugs or so, and if you get caught, the lady disappears. Remember, the law in most countries said "possession of drugs" regardless of whether you are just being nice to help an old lady, you are carrying the drugs and you get arrested and prosecuted. Get the airport staff to help if you really wanna be helpful.
2) Shoe polisher scam. You'd see that usually around Europe. Someone dropped a brush, you helped him to pick up the brush, he wants to show gratitude by giving free shoe polishing, he demands for money afterwards.
3) Watch out for illegal massage parlours, hair salons etc at port city, especially Asian sailings. These parlours do offer "extra service" but from time to time, the local authority raid the place and everyone will go to the police station, that's not a good idea especially when you have a ship that you need to go back to.
These scams are GOLDEN! I knew of a few of them, like when someone (sometimes, unfortunately kids) will push cardboard up against you to redirect your attention to that 'feeling' and someone else might be picking your purse or wallet.
in Mexico we had a restaurant overcharge us and claim it was due to conversion to USD but a savvy person on our trip calculated for us correctly. we each saved about $20 so watch out
I would also recommend staying on the beaten track. Leaving a "touristy area" especially in a city/town can be daunting and i would recommend for females to cover up. Many countries and islands still have a decency dress code and walking around with daisy dukes, or a buttocks high skirt or dress might give you the attention you are not wanting that includes deep cut dresses and tops. Be safe out there. :)
Many yrs ago, my cousin, who speaks little English was approached by a woman in a Caribbean island, in English, said braid $1, my cousin said yes, the woman started doing braids very fast. Her husband was shopping nearby, when he noticed he ran and screamed Stooop! My cousin said, oh! it's only $1. He told the woman to stop and told my cousin it was $1 each braid. The woman did not say that. She only said braids one dollar. My cousin paid over $20 . Be cleae about what service you are getting before you start getting it.
One thing that we've done for years is to use reloadable prepaid credit cards. If IT gets lost or stolen, you are only out of whatever the balance was on the card. Some cards charge a modest monthly or per transaction fee so shop around. You can usually reload it from your regular credit card nightly with whatever you intend to spend the next day (plus maybe a little bit extra for spur of the moment purchases.)
Brilliant
Wow! This sounds like a great tip, if we can get it to work for us. Applicable to a lot of travel besides cruizing, too. Thank you.
I’ve had the “free” things before, and yes, they do ask for a donation. My response is “You said it is free , so Thank You, and have a nice day.” and I just walk away with my free item. In the past the Krishna people did this at airports very often.
Happened to me in the Bahamas. I was crowded and 'pretty ladied' by ladies to braid my hair, a 10 yr old to sing a song for a dollar, directions for a dollar, and as the 10y old volunteered vocals, my right arm was commandeered and a "free bracelet for da pretty lady" placed on. I said how cute, went to move and stopped by a lady, man, and 2 teens. That's 1 dollar for the bracelet. So, I reached back across and said, then take back your free bracelet. (They did. )
I am a New Yorker so I don’t trust anyone on vacation lol biggest scam I was hit with was Royals internet package 😂
In Nassau, Bahamas, our tour bus driver warned us about the bracelet scam before arriving back at the port. We appreciated the heads up.
We were scammed on our very first cruise there. While distracting us with the bracelet, my husband felt someone try to take his wallet. Fortunately, he had put it in a Fanny pack in the front. People be aware ALWAYS!!!
@@cherylschwitzgebel4819 oh wow! Glad you guys came out ok.
I wish someone warned me! Lol she was quick! It was Nassau as well. I had no other cash on me but a $10 so she got that.... I was mad at myself. So I'm trying to be more vigilant,
Thanks for the important reminders! Years ago my husband and I went on a two week tour of Italy. We had taken a train into Rome and upon arrival we began looking for a cart to place our bags on to make it easier to maneuver to the taxi cab location. Unfortunately, we learned the hard way that luggage carts are primarily a benefit of the US only, as you rarely find them in travel hubs of other countries. As we struggled with our bags a nice young man approached us and offered to assist us to the taxi cab station, which we gladly accepted. When we got to the front entrance of the train station the young man motioned for us to follow him as he turned and headed to the parking lot. My husband told him “NO”, that we wanted the taxi station, but the young man said the line was too long and that he had a better plan for us to get to our hotel as he pointed to the large, very full parking lot where three other men stood waiting next to a parked car and motioning for us to come to them. When I saw these men my inner-voice began screaming “NO” at me and I in turn screamed “NO, NO, NO!” at the young man. When my husband also saw where the young man was trying to take us he too yelled “No” again and began struggling with the young man to get our bags out of his hands. By the Grace of GOD there were still some people in the train station waiting for their rides so our yelling drew their attention and the young man let go of the bags, at which time we quickly moved into the line of people waiting for taxi cabs. We were pretty shook-up by the experience, especially knowing what could have happened had there not been other people around and had I not seen the three other men waiting in the parking lot. Rome is also where my father’n law had his wallet and passport stolen out of a “secret” inside, zippered pocket of his jacket. This happened when a gypsy woman who appeared to be breast feeding a baby “accidentally” bumped into him as she was getting off the bus. Unfortunately, he didn’t realize he had been robbed until it was too late. These kinds of thieves are very skilled so take heed that you don’t allow yourself to be distracted when people are standing close to you, and especially when they “bump” you. As bad as the thieve are in Rome, we found them to be even worse in Paris, especially around the Eiffel Tower, so if you are planning a trip to any popular destination stay alert to your surroundings, watch out for the pick-pockets, scammers, and especially people who are a little too eager to offer you assistance or something for nothing. Just as it’s helpful to check out the weather reports for your destinations, it’s also helpful to check out the latest crime reports. Knowing the latest scams and other types of crimes can help all of us to have a safer and more enjoyable vacation with hopefully only happy memories.
Thank you for sharing these stories. I'm so glad that you were safe in the end.
Oh my! Thanks for sharing these situations. You’re right - we need to go with our intuition on these situations
If you have so much luggage that you need help, you are already at risk. I suggest 1 big rolling suitcase per person with a smaller bag you can perch on top. Never accept help from someone who approaches you. Once you clear the secure area of an airport be even more vigilant. And always use the toilet just after getting off the airplane because you have no idea how long it will take with customs/immigration/taxi.
@@happycook6737 Even better yet is to travel with carry on and personal item only. Take only what you can manage yourself.
I just got off a Carnival cruise that docked in Grand Turks. We knew that Carnival pretty much runs Grand Turks and the beach chairs are free. But there were men hustling the passengers for $50 for a beach chair. One man even told this couple he had a cabana and took them far away needless to say they got tired of walking and came back. Also in Grand Turks, Margaritaville they billed me twice for my food. I disputed with my credit card and they refunded me.
Oh no!
We asked a security guard at the beach about the chairs and found out they were free. I thought it was sad the beach had to have a security guard but I’m glad they did.
Forgot-I had a 2nd scan while on a cruise visiting Honduras. After our tour of a Mayan village/jungle dh and I decided to go to the beach w/ a few other people from the tour; everyone swam while dh and I relaxed. In 15 mins time we were approached by 10 if not more peddlers wanting to sell their crafts, etc. We totally understood that they were trying to make their living but goodness, we just wanted some time to chat/relax. One fella asked if we didn’t want to buy some water? I mean, a nice cold water bottle sounded wonderful bc we were dying from the jungle humidity! I was SO MAD…AFTER he OPENS the small 4-6oz bottle WITH HIS FILTHS HANDS, I politely (though grossed out!) told him “no thank you, I’ve changed my mind, I THOUGHT you were selling a large bottle of water like the ones in your cart, NOT the tiny bottles and CERTAINLY NOT for $7.00???” He kept yelling @ me te price is $7.00 because it’s COLD!” I again told him “No thank you” and we told our group we would see them @ the bus!” Maybe he realized we were together w/ other tourists bc they’d heard what was happening and swam back to the beach to defend us! Still-No Thx!😠
We did the Mediterranean Cruise on the Beyond back in May. We were on a small group tour in Athens. When the tour stopped at one of the places for photo taking, it took seconds for my brother in law to lose his wallet. He had it in a pouch which is in the backpack. Doesn't matter. It happened so fast he didn't even realize it. My advice is always have everything in front of you.
Wow, awful. Thanks for sharing
In Rome and Istanbul we could see pickpockets at work at a distance everywhere but you are packed so tightly into public transit you can't warn the victim.
Always buy a combo lock for your backpack. Advice given to me before going to Europe in 1995.
My daughter and I went on a European tour with her high school group and found that the tour company had booked one of those perfume factory tours for our group while we were in Paris, France. It was so long and, yes, after the lecture was over it took us another hour or so to actually leave the factory because so many of us were deciding what kinds of perfumes to buy. It was very informative and I still have some of the perfume left after giving several bottles away as souvenirs to family members. However, I would not have done this tour on my own because it took time away from what I would have preferred doing while in Paris rather than spending 2 hours in a perfume factory.
Thanks for sharing! We had a similar experience but in Cannes
They do that with leather goods and the "Murano" glass. Bunch of nonsense, but the tour operators make is impossible to not go.
Nassau Bahamas- It was our first cruise. Right after we got off the ship, there were many locals waiting for us asking for donations for their kids to go to school. We walked to a free beach, but kept getting harassed by locals to rent umbrellas. Then we decided to talk a walk around the stores. A lady came up to us to offer us lower prices on clothing at her store. She stated that she made these clothing pieces by hand. Once we got to her store, we found the same exact pieces of clothing, for the same amount of money. The clothing was not hand made either. Then she started to offer discounts, and tried to make us feel guilty for not buying anything.
We really did not enjoy Nassau. It felt run down and sketchy. I am planning my 2nd cruise soon. This time we are going to do excursions, and we are going to other ports. We are hoping that we have a better experience at the destinations.
Once in Nassau was quite enough for us. And for the exact same reason.
Wow thanks for the info. We are stopping in Nassau when we cruise
Similar experience in Nassau. Did not enjoy my time there.
Be aware you will still have the locals waiting for you when you get off your ship excursions. We took the ship trip thinking we would be hassled less. Not true. Also buy cut resistant bags. Use hidden bra or belt money holders.
I was on a Disney cruise that stopped in Nassau and a woman said she would braid my daughter's hair, so we started following her to her stand, but she began leading us further away from port and into a sketchy area where I felt the buildings were going to hide us away, so I stopped and said No, we are going back. She was pretty upset, but I did not feel it was safe to continue following her.
The level of mistrust I had for everyone and how guarded I was the entire time we were in port at Roatan made it wholly unenjoyable for me. I should've stayed on the ship.
Oh no
I have never had a problem on Roatan, but I am usually with a group.
Taxi in Rome scammed us. Driver stayed on his phone while picking us up, never turned on the meter & when asked to, said it was broken. We were only going on a short local drive within the city, back to our hotel and he overcharged us, asked for extra per number of people and threatened to call the police when we questioned his tactics. We paid his ransom in full, but beware while in Rome!
Here are a couple of things I’ve learned. All examples touched on in the video. 1. Don’t take the “free” tequila shots in Mexico while walking by restaurants. A friend did a was charged $25 for his “free” shot. 2. Usually Chocolate Factory & Rum Factory tours are just stores selling goods. Not even processed on that location. 3. In Rome I saw pick pocketing happen to a girl on the metro. The person grabbed her wallet out of her purse and ran out the door as it was closing. We also learned in Rome to walk several blocks away from the train station for much better food with better service and prices!
Yes-the free bracelet scam happened to me while on a tour in Jamaica with my hubby and out 4 teen boys! I noticed a guy eyeing our tour bus while we were unloading, immediately approached us, he grabs my arm as he’s saying “let me show you what I made today!!!” I told him the bracelet was pretty as I was TRYING to take it off my wrist buttttt he wasn’t having it, he kept saying, “it’s free, it’s free, can’t I give a pretty lady a gift???” My hubby and our 4-6’3” boys surrounded me but they never said a word to the fella; I was a proud Mom! My hubby broke the bracelet off w/ his bare hands! Ugh, I was scared to death bc the other fella could’ve shot/stabbed all of us but thankfully, he only cursed @ us, instead! BTW-I’m such a plain Jane and now years later, my grown boys STILL love teasing me with, “MOM~You SOoooo Pretty, Yah~Man!!!🥰 ( using their Jamaican accents mixed w/ a strong Texan drawl🥰 So yes, like everyone warns travelers-BEWARE of your surroundings! Happy Sailing. Y’all🚢
So true for Barcelona. Went in March 2022 and my fiancee got pick pocketed and his bank card was taken. Luckily I had all our travel money on me on a travel credit card. We were able to call his bank & cancel his card before anything was charged to it.
Oh no!! Smart planning though
One exception perhaps to the excursion with a factory tour may be in Bruges. On my last cruise in Northern Europe, we took a great walking tour of the city and this did include a stop in a chocolate shop. After all, when in Bruges, you will be buying chocolate. A bit of heaven. What can be done with chocolate is amazing and these little bits of deliciousness made fantastic gifts.
We did the same tour and loved it too. The chocolate was quite reasonable and we still talk about our Belgian chocolate,although it is looooong gone.
Yup, this one is not an absolute. Two notable exceptions that DID work for us was a rug place near Ephesus and a "misc. store" in Mazatlan. Neither of them SHOULD'VE worked, but did. I still think it's good to consider it a "red flag" & to be aware & consider avoiding.
I've used Viator for excursions and I've always been satisfied. They are very responsive and it takes only a few days (sometimes the next day) to get your money back if you have to cancel.
We used them when we went to Italy, the tours were great and everything they said. No problems.
@@leeanndepoali1463 I've used them in Italy too to tour Tuscany, then the Chianty region, then Cinque-Terre. All tours were great.
ToursByLocals takes your payment, but guides don't get paid until you take the tour. Have used them around the globe with no problems. Variety of tours, can be customized; priced by the vehicle, so excellent value for groups. They have recently added a cruise section to their web site which makes it very easy to use and compare. Very secure, excellent service.
In some places that will put stuff on you like a big snake or beautiful headdress and claim because it’s on you you have pay like for Ana photo of it or whatever…happens to us in Mexico. Right by the port . Cool to have a pick of a huge yellow snake on my hubby but basically they can charge you whatever. This was many years ago but heard they still do this and are relentless. Like the little kids selling chicklets. Don’t ever let anyone put stuff on you!!
We went to a restaurant down a narrow side street near the Trevi fountain in Rome and not only was it inexpensive but it was one of the best meals we had in 2 weeks.
Great to know!!
Edy Ristorante? Small indoor/outdoor restaurant on a side street between Trevi fountain and the square. Best veal parmigiana I ever had.
@@desire2travel There was only indoor dining. I wish I could remember the name.
One of our best lunches ever was about a block off the tourist area in Florence. There was a line of factory workers at the door of a place selling pizza by the slice. Giant slices were 1 Euro. There were benches outside where we could sit and eat and the pizza was delicious. Yes, there was a bit of a language issue in ordering, but pointing and smiling worked just fine! It wasn't fancy, but it also wasn't the 15 Euros per person we had decided against just a block away. Any place the locals are eating is likely to be good!
There are reputable companies that offer private excursions with NO charge if your ship can't dock. We've done these on Grand Cayman and in Alaska. THe company will take your credit card number when you book, but you won't be charged until you actually show up for the excursion. IF your ship comes into port and you are a "no show," you will be charged. In one case, it took 3 cruises before our ship could dock and we finally got to do the excursion! For the first 2, absolutely no problem; we were not charged. Just read the fine print before you book.
Thanks for sharing
I just got a Travelon bag for my next trip and I must say I am impressed before even using it! All the zipper pulls latch so they are closed more securely and there is a tiny little light inside to help you find things. I am actually obsessed with the whole brand. Everything is very affordable. I just bought an assortment of pouches and little mesh bags to improve and simplify my packing organization.
Use an underclothing waist belt and never access it in public. Shirt tucked into underwear. Never use a neck wallet- strangulation. In your purse only stuff you don't care if you lose it. That way you don't lose your life trying to hang into your cross body bag during a motorcycle attack. Beware motorcycles and bicycles coming near to you.
They can cut any kind of bag or back pack and get your stuff.
I once had a waiter try to charge me for the bottle of wine that was sitting on our table before we arrived. It sat there unopened the entire lunch and we didn't drink it. So I called him on it and he took it off the bill. This was in Germany many years ago.
We were in Venice and stopped into the Murano glass store for a « glass blowing demonstration ». Immediately after that finished, a huge group of sales people descended upon us with high sales pressure to purchase glass items. It felt like they had trapped us. We were stuck there for at least another hour, it was so annoying
It was all overpriced too.
We won't take taxis in any place now. Once in turkey we thought we were going to be kidnapped. We wanted to go to the market and the driver kept insisting it was closed and want to take us on a tour. The other time was in Cartengena where they took us to 3 jewellry stores before we could actually get to where we wanted to go.
Wow, scary!!!
Oh my!!
If I use a waist/fanny pack, I use diaper pines to pin it to my clothes
As to meals, we have found that Rick Steves always has very good recommendations for European cities.
Love Rick Steves
Hi, Ilana! I have been lucky not to be a victim of pickpocketing. I recently visited Barcelona and I saw in all the videos here warnings about this so I was very careful. I would give a suggestion to include here and it is, when you book an excursion with another vendor like Trip Advisor, make sure where the meeting point is. In my recent visit to Barcelona I booked a tour to Park Güel. I paid almost $30 and I went the morning of the cruise. I used the hop on hop off bus, which I also booked ,to see some places of Barcelona before boarding. I got off and walked to the park and looked for the tour guide, but she was not there. I asked the people who work in the ticket booth and showed them my reservation. Then I was told that the meeting point was not there, but in another place and it was too late to go to that point now. To make the story short, I had to buy another ticket, which was 7 Euros with my senior discount and visited the park by myself. I tried contacting this person from Trip Advisor and the guide never answered my calls or messages. I wrote to trip advisor and they did not even respond. Bottom line, always check for the meeting point address to make it to your tour.
A few years ago we cruised to Rio de Janeiro where we took a wonderful driving tour of the city, beaches, several well-known sites such as the Christ Of The Andes statue over the city, the tram to Sugar Loaf, etc. It cost us nothing at all, except for a half-hour stop at an emerald store (which was very interesting) right on Copacabana Beach. There were four of us in the van from the ship, and the driver had a tour guide describing everything we saw. This was one of the best tours we ever took, and it cost us nothing. We did tip the driver and guide, but nothing exorbitant and they did not ask for anything. The van was available right at the pier; it was right at the time of preparations for their samba parades, so that may have prompted this.
Pickpocketing is my biggest hate - I echo that it's a real issue in both Barcelona and Rome, but I've heard that Paris can also be pretty bad for it. The general rule of thumb applies with all of these points - being cautious and aware is key - if you stay alert, you should be absolutely fine!
Llana, I’m one of those that look forward to touring the chocolate and perfume factory!!! I’ve visited the perfume factory in France many years ago, and purchase some of my favorite. The chocolate factory I’m looking forward to because I love the different chocolates for myself and for souvenirs 😋😋
I think you shared several excellent scams to be aware of; only two I didn’t think of is people coming up to you with the bracelets or something free, then demanding a payment or being stopped by the police if driving, and away from tourist or cruise ship area. I do recall now having seen on another blog how a family went to a port to enjoy the beach and a group singing would come to tables and sing, then expect money. Thanks for sharing these tips!!!
In Latin American countries it is usually around $7 (us dollars) a song. I had strolling musicians singing and playing La Paloma, our late Grandmother's favorite song. Soon everybody in our family was crying including the singer. They would take no money. My husband gave them a generous amount, asked them to light a candle at church for their loved ones. Everybody clapped.
I’m terrified now 🫣
This was a great video! Wish that I saw it many years ago before I fell for most of the scams/traps! Need more videos like this! (Maybe a "Caribbean Islands--what is worth getting off the ship to see" video.)
A video about that would be so helpful 🤞.
I hate that we pay for an excursion and they waste my time with a sales pitch with rugs and cheap trinkets
Be aware that the cruise line makes money on the sales. Without it the excursion would most much more. So please hate less.
A Camelback backpack is ideal for hydration. A water bottle can get lost and it is more convenient to use the tube that comes from the water bladder for water supply via a tube with a mouthpiece on the end to suck on for water.. I will also be fixing some very strong magnets throughout my backpack for highly pickpocketed items. My wallet, coin purse, passport, ticket wallet and much more. It will be harder for anyone to take it from me because it would pull on my bag and I'd feel that.
Love the waist pouch, the belt bags are great as well. I try to stay clear of demonstrative tours as they will try and sell you something but if you are specifically interested in a demonstration let it be none that they will try and sell. Also, if you choose to take an independent tour other than what the cruise line in offering, please be sure you go with others and that the price is set before you venture out. I will have the furniture removed from the cabin when it isn't being used to free up space. Also having dollar bills on person is great as tour director's do expect a gratuity.
Great tips, as usual. We got stuck on a tour through the cruise ship that included a rug demonstration… it was the longest most boring hour and a half while in Turkey… they followed us on the bus trying to sell… beware!!
In Estonia we made arrangements to be dropped off in the shopping area. We pre arranged a fee and he took the long way home telling us stories along the way. He then demanded a large fee for the "tour". My husband's refused, saying that we didn't ask for, not did we want a tour. It got quite awkward but my husband remained firm and we got out at the ship pier.
When we stayed in Costa Mujeres, we used USA Transfers to get to and from the airport and we also did an excursion with them they were not the cheapest but definitely reliable, friendly and they had lots of drivers and vehicles. We had no complaints..
Not cruise-related, but in a US airport, I was told by the TSA to remove a silk scarf I was wearing. It went through the scanner, but I set off the alarm and was not allowed to get my scanned items and bring them to where I was to be patted down. After I was allowed to return and pick up my items, I wasn't thinking about my scarf. I picked up my shoes and carry-on items, put my shoes back on, and proceeded to my gate, where I realized that I didn't have my scarf. I returned to the checkpoint, where I was told that the scarf was not there, and nobody had turned it in. I suppose I should be thankful that they hadn't taken my purse, but apparently the TSA takes no responsibility for watching your items if you set off an alarm.
If you are traveling with others, plan ahead for someone in your group to watch your items if you set off an alarm. Not sure how you'd handle this if you're traveling alone, but as noted, this was a domestic flight at a US airport!
Thank you so much for these helpful videos! Watched your channel a few days before my first cruise to the Caribbean and these tips came in handy.
Reading reviews about the excursions was very helpful and I enjoyed the one I picked because of that. Always good to know how much of a trip is actually driving/ferrying to a site. A snorkel excursion listed as 3 hours is likely 2 hours of transportation total there and back, 30 minutes snacking/prepping, and only 30 minutes of actual snorkeling.
A personal tip I have to offer relates to taxis: handle your cash and tip like bankers do! Keep it in your hand or close as you count it out slowly and don’t hand it over until the taxi driver concretely agrees it is indeed the correct amount you both agreed upon in the first place. Sometimes the driver might accidentally miscount on their end or claim you gave them the incorrect amount. Doesn’t matter if the driver was super friendly.
In Rome I had a fanny pack that I worse around my neck with money and cards and phone. Then in my backpack they would be shocked if they got it. Bottle of water, rain jacket etc, nothing of value.
After 20+ years of travel, we have experienced most of these. Paris was the the worst. Near Notre Dame you descend to a tourist bathroom. A certain group of people will stand in front & behind you, the old lady poking you in stomach to see if waist belt & then bringing a 6 foot + tall man dressed as a woman behind you. I spoke in Canadian accented French telling them off. They were relentless. I had to leave. Only use restaurant bathrooms. You don’t need to dine there, just give a little tip. Jeanne
It has been 20 years since we cruised on HAL. It was my first time cruising. It was an older ship, but still so nice. I’ve never forgotten how great the service was and how comfortable I felt with the smaller ship size and the ratio of crew to cruisers. I’ve enjoyed many different cruise lines since then, but I want to go back to HAL to see if I would feel the same.
We have been cruising for 10 years. We have usually done carribean and mexico. My husband has wanted to do Europe but i have been reluctant. Ive been afraid of all the warnings and safety. But i opened up and we are cruising Europe in 2025. I will take all the warnings and safety tips to heart. Thanks for all your helpful info and for all those that posted their stories. Really helpful. And i know, that all places can be dangerous and have scams.
Just finished packing. Headed to embark today. Thank you for all your advice.
Have fun!!!
Have an amazing cruise!!!
Sea day today and tomorrow.
Watch out for toll roads charges. Make sure to ask if the driver pays the toll.
California Linda shares thank you for the awesome reminders, and do check the receipts while still in line to be sure you were not charged twice for any item you bought, especially if there are long lines. This was the case in Nordcapp and it was a pain to have them reverse the charges, but I was at the register and I did not move on until the matter was dealt with. As you shared...you as the consumer must always be villigant.
Wow thanks for sharing
Don’t buy chains by the inch….
Love your show!
Men - get a shirt from Duluth Trading Company with a ‘Naoplean pocket’ to keep your wallet it. Better still, if weather permits, a light jacket or vest over it
In Victoria we went to a store where the cashier would tell everyone paying with a card that there was a minimum for using a card. The minimum would change and was always 1-2 dollars higher than whatever they were buying. The people in front of us it was $4, for us it was $6.
re: pickpockets, another good option is to get a lockable backpack and ensure you only keep valuables in the locked pockets.
I always thought the bracelet scam was an “urban legends” until it happened to me in Vegas!!! I was so prepared and just said NO very sternly!
A member of our party in Madrid was wearing an expensive necklace during the day. A man ran along side of her & yanked it off her neck. Keep your jewels at home!
I only do excursions offered by cruise lines..everything is vetted
The bracelet scam is also big in Las Vegas, in many forms. Such as Bracelets, CDs, photos, etc. I never realized it happened in cruise ports. Thanks for a great video
Sat through an NCL tour in Turkey where we sat through a sales pitch of very expensive rugs. And another one in a silk factory in China. Now that was a good one, came home with a very reasonably priced silk duvet and have loved it for years.
Interesting - I think I would have enjoyed the silk factory too
We bought carpets in both Turkey and Beijing. The pleasure my wife got from the haggling was worth it.
One more tip, lol, I think back packs are great, however, i choose to wear mine in front so that I can see it especially when I'm off the ship. I particularly like the nylon sport backpacks that have a draw pull at the top.
Another well done informative video. Back in the day in Washington,DC there was the "free" pen scam a "handicapped person would hand you a pen and demand payment.
I have been on a few factory tours but I agreed to them. I've been on a cigar, rum(Puerto Rico), tequila, macadamia nut, beer factory in Canada and yes I bought stuff at the end. The rum tour didn't actually show you how they made rum, just the history of rum making, but we did get free samples.
As long as you enjoy it, that’s what counts :). Thanks for watching and for your comments
Some of the biggest scammers, IMO, are the cruise lines themselves. Not only in terms of speciality dining, paid shows, etc, but also some of those on board 'talks' that end up being a glorified sales pitch. Worse if you consider that ship passengers are a captive audience. Though taxis in Sydney aren't a scam, though they feel like it, they are quite expensive generally. If you're sailing into the Overseas Passenger Terminal at Circular Quay (pronounced key) there is an extensive heavy rail service and a light rail service that'll get you most places in the downtown area of the city for less than a taxi, including to the airport if you're flying in or out.
One can get scammed in the US as well. See for example, NYC.
Thanks for the tips! I’ve experienced the taxi scam taking the long route once but it was an extra $2 so I didn’t mind. I like the PacSafe brand travel bags and supplies. They have a slash proof camera strap that I used all over Europe and love. I’m going on a Med cruise next year and I’m going to use a money belt.
Ilana, your videos are always informative and fun to watch. Keep up the awesome job!
Thanks so much! I’m so glad you’re enjoying the videos :)
The best factory tours are the ones that involve food and drinks. The Totuga rum cake factory is the best, where you get to taste all the different cakes. Buying those cakes was not a problem because they’re delicious! I also went on some liquor factory tours in France, like Courvoisier, Otard Cognac, etc. I don’t drink, but I tasted anyway and only bought if I wanted.
Asia, we did a bit of research how much it was cost to go into town by taxi, one taxi driver wanted twice or three times as much. so we carried on walking. We always do research how much it cost to get from A to B so we don't get ripped off, Egypt, Tunisia and Turkey have been three countries . When we went to Cuba a tour of the cigar factory , my parents and I did not bothered sampling the cigars , it gave us a great chance to go the toilet ,
Thanks for sharing your experience!
@@LifeWellCruised Even though everyone on the tour the cigar was included in the price, we decided to keep ours as we knew some people at home who smoke cigars for the Asian trip in Malaysia the walking way helped, knock the taxi price down to what it should have been,
Prior to Covid we always left the tourist area to explore and eat. Now with so many out of work it's not as safe nor are prices as low.
One of our best excursions was in Puerto Rico, an Experience found in the Airbnb app. A tour with Andy who is part of the architecture and historic society. So much knowledge. Small group. Places large cruise ship groups simply cannot go.
In Mexico I was aware of the “bribes” so when a police tried to stop me with his siren I ignored it. He flashed his lights and I ignored it. He pulled next to me and pointed to pull over and I ignored it. Finally he pulled out a huge flashlight and shined it at me. I couldn’t ignore that so I pulled over. He said my plate was missing and it was going to cost me $550 (US) and they were going to impound my car. I said I was going to work and needed it and didn’t have $550 on me.. he said we could go to an ATM and take it out. I said I didn’t have a card. He asked how much money I had and I told him $20 so he said to give it to him and I replied that I needed it for gas. He asked how much I could give him and I said $10. He said ok but if anyone asks I gave him $550. I guess he didn’t want anyone to know that he was “easy” to talk down.
We experienced the factory tour thru cruise line to a rug making place in Istanbul. Very heavy sales pitch. Also, our first Europe cruise we made mistake of having private water taxi to Murano, taken to glass factory, and $1200 later we had new set of glasses. Know better now.
Great advice particularly the ‘factory tours’. It really makes me angry the cruise lines do this. It happens quite a bit. Leather goods, jewelry, chocolates…
True, and often accompanied with other interesting things to do
A big waste of time, when there is so much to actually see or do in a strange new land.
When it comes to food; the five minute extra walk is well worth it. Italy and France are examples.
Several years ago, we rented a car on Cozumel. We love the little bar area the other end of the island. On the way back, we were stopped and the cop tried the scam. His boss pulled up and chewed him out! We got lucky.
My family takes an trip to Punta Cana each fall. Even after telling my mom numerous times to not let anyone touch her luggage she handed her claim ticket over to a scammer in the airport. They retrieved her bags and tried to charge her 100 dollars to get them back. My husband and 3 brothers in law had to forcefully get them back. We don't let either parent go anymore. They both can't seem to follow directions and we spend the whole time "babysitting" them to keep them safe.
I loved this and reading all the comments!
Yes, keep away from factory tours. We got stuck in a rug factory in Egypt and bought an overpriced rug, our fault 😒, we could of said "no thank you ".
20 years ago, me and my brother took our one and only Cruise. We went to Ensenada and back on the monarch of the Seas. We got a package from the cruise ship. It was to be a shopping and show Excursion. The shopping I was looking forward to. The ship didn't have any ties for formal night and I failed to bring one from home so I was hoping maybe there would have been a small shop that would be dealing with ties. One of the shop owners sent us away from the tourist area and into a part of Ensenada that made me and my brother uncomfortable but it looked like it was normal for the residents. A typical department store that dealt with both cash and peso. Word of advice. Never ever under any circumstances count your cash in public. You might as well get a flare gun from the ship and go out into the middle of Wherever You Are and launch it to get the most attention. We had several two-legged wolves trailing us to the department store and waited outside while we made our purchase. We then left and they started to follow us back into the tourist area .we didn't run however I can tell you that McDonald's after a little bit of safety for us. We bought a couple of drinks and shared a bag of fries while we were watching the wolves search for us outside. We saw our tour group Gathering and we went out to them and continued on the tour. We made it back on board the ship safe and sound with our merchandise and our cash with us, not to mention Our Lives intact. Believe me if I happen to go back to Mexico I'll stay on board the ship and this time bring a tie along with me! LOL
Sometimes the host might have a loaner tie for such occasions. One way to avoid the "flash-cash" is to not carry it all in one place. ie: $20 in one front pocket, $50 in another, $100 in a third front pocket. Use the wad that minimally covers the purchase. Any change received quickly disappears somewhere else.
For item security at port, I wear shorts with zippered pockets; that I keep my phone and wallet in there and I'll be able to feel if anyone is trying to get in there.
I found some really great shorts for this that are also really comfortable at Target: Levi's Denizen Voayager Modern Utility Shorts.
I've read that waist packs are very easy targets for pick pocketers!
Put an identifying item on your luggage that can be seen from a distance, especially the black luggage that looks like everyone else. I also air tag all my items, along with travel insurance that covers delayed or lost luggage.
I haven't have any travel scams but I did have a couple different excursions where I was a bit disappointed. One was in Ensanada with La Bufadora. It's a fairly long bus ride and then you walk through a big market and get a small amount of time looking at the water spurting out of the hole which in my opinion is a little underwhelming. Also just recently did Dolphinaris in Cozumel and felt like it was so expensive for photos and lockers. Lockers were $15 and the photos of you with the dolphins were $60
I had the bracelet scam happen to me in Rome in 2018, but I think maybe they weren’t very good at it because I didn’t give them any money but I got a bracelet out of it. 😂
I booked a private 5 day tour in Beijing China and a silk worm factory tour was on the itinerary. It would have been terrible if it wasn’t only the 2 of us and our guide& driver. I ended up buying silk pillows that my husband loved. In the future I will tell them I don’t want certain parts of the tour package.
If people want to shop,I recommend attending the port talks on the ship.they give maps of all the duty-free stores. These vendors are usually kn own by cruise lines so its easier to get money back if you have too
In the shops: Do not pick up something that you know you have no intention of buying. Also do not ask how much something costs if you know you are just browsing. Asking for price somehow triggers them to pressure you into making a sale.
One of the most fascinating tours I’ve been on was a rum factory and aging warehouse. Yum, the smell!!!
What port was this?
@@rocketbackhander6280 It was in Jamaica. I wasn’t cruising, just “touristing”.
I got ripped off with a peddy cap, he charged us $80.00 for 1 and 1/2 miles. Always ask first how much is it going to be
We used to live in Mexico so we know the things to watch out for. We have since cruised to Costa Maya - the make believe village for cruises. They were selling pure vanilla for over $40 a bottle, we laughed at that price as we knew it was WAY over priced. Next stop was Cozumel and we walked 3 blocks into town and bought the exact same vanilla for $8. Walk into town where the locals shop and save $$.
Been stopped many times by the police. Just say, "I am not paying here, give me the ticket." They will debate for a moment but let you go.