I’ve taken over 75 cruises on shut to twenty cruise traces all around the globe. I’ve cruised all over the place from the Caribbean to Europe to Asia. Whereas each vacation spot is exclusive, there’s one factor that’s fixed. You at all times should be careful of journey scams.
Listed here are a couple of of the scams that I’ve personally encountered in numerous nations whereas taking cruises and how one can keep away from them.
Taxi Scams
Let’s begin with a pair widespread ways in which some taxi drivers will attempt to rip-off you.
The primary one is that they may quote you the fare value up entrance after which flip off the meter. They do that as a result of this fashion they’ll overcharge you. Except it’s a flat fare (In Rome, all taxi rides from the airport to metropolis heart and vice versa are 50 Euros), at all times ask them to show the meter on.
Even when they flip the meter on, some will take you the scenic route (aka good distance) to drive up the fare value. I as soon as had a taxi driver inform me that roads had been closed attributable to a protest so he needed to take the good distance. After all, there was no protest as we drove by the principle street and it was empty. He didn’t know I used to be accustomed to that space.
Generally, there actually isn’t something you are able to do when this occurs. I prefer to name it the “vacationer tax” and simply chortle about it.
One other rip-off some taxi drivers try is the “invoice swap” or “switcheroo” making an attempt to prey on you not being accustomed to their forex.
After one taxi experience, the driving force stated it was 18 Euros. I handed him a 20 and turned to get out of the automobile. He then said once more that the experience was 18 Euros and I circled to him holding a 5. He switched the 20 I gave him for a 5 making an attempt to make me suppose I gave him the flawed invoice. This was all finished within the matter of seconds.
My first thought was, “oh I simply have given him the flawed invoice”. However I shortly remembered studying about this rip-off and realized he was making an attempt to drag it on me.
I obtained actually agency with him, instructed him I gave him a 20, and that he wasn’t going to rip-off me. He tried to persuade me I gave him a 5 till I stated, “Let’s speak to that police officer proper over there”. He gave up making an attempt to rip-off me at that time.
Now, I simply say out loud what invoice I’m handing them and this fashion they’ll’t attempt to rip-off you.
Beneath is a hidden video by Conor Woodman taken in a taxi displaying how this works. The one distinction is within the video, the taxi driver switches for a faux invoice as an alternative of a smaller one.
In addition they like to let you know they don’t have change to allow them to maintain the distinction.
How will you keep away from these scams? Whereas you need to use Uber, they don’t provide service in lots of nations. Nonetheless, there’s normally a taxi app that you need to use in every nation that can allow you to keep away from getting ripped off. As an illustration in Italy, I take advantage of itTaxi. In Spain and lots of European nations, it’s FREE NOW. When in Asia, I take advantage of Seize.
You possibly can have the rides charged proper to your bank card and you’re going to get a fare estimate whenever you seek for a experience. The apps are similar to utilizing Uber/Lyft however the rides are in taxis and never personal automobiles. I extremely suggest utilizing these apps for rides in international cities.
One other nice app I take advantage of is Welcome Pickups. They’re obtainable in 228 cities in 92 nations. You might be assured a driver who speaks English and for airports rides, it might’t be beat. The costs are extraordinarily affordable and also you received’t get ripped off. I’ve used them in Amsterdam, Paris, Spain and Italy.
Avenue Scams
It doesn’t matter the place you’re on the planet, avenue scams appear to be ubiquitous.
rule of thumb is that if somebody is making an attempt handy you one thing and so they say it’s free, it’s in all probability not free. In Caribbean ports and even in Europe, they typically attempt to put a bracelet or necklace on you after which cost you for it after it’s on.
Generally they like handy girls a “free” rose solely to make you pay them for it as soon as it’s in your hand.
One other widespread avenue rip-off is “3 Card Monte”, “3 Cups and a Ball”, or “Discover the Queen”. They’re all run the identical and right here’s the way it works.
You see a gaggle of individuals standing and betting on a sport that appears insanely straightforward to determine. They’ve three taking part in playing cards with one among them being a queen. The vendor will transfer them round proper in entrance of you and in the event you can select the appropriate one, you double your cash.
A bunch of persons are betting and getting it flawed. A number of get it proper and win. You comply with alongside and might clearly inform which card is the queen or which cup has the ball in it. You suppose it’s tremendous straightforward so that you attempt it.
Regardless of what number of instances you attempt, you’ll lose 100% of the time. They may use sleight of hand so that you by no means win, and they’re superb at it.
The group of individuals taking part in earlier than you’re all in on the rip-off to make it look straightforward to win to suck in vacationers. There’s normally anyplace from 6-10 folks in on it. They solely use sleight of hand whenever you’re taking part in, to not these in on the rip-off. They’re mainly avenue magicians who attempt to rip you off.
I’ve seen this sport performed on the road all over the place from Venice to Paris to Barcelona to Las Vegas. They at all times have lookouts for police and might pack up in seconds if one is coming.
These aren’t the one means you can get tricked whereas in port, you’ll be able to learn our article on 10 Sneaky Cruise Port Methods Individuals Hold Falling For right here.
No matter you do, don’t let these widespread scams maintain you from touring and seeing the world. It’s simply one thing to maintain at the back of your thoughts so you’ll be able to have the very best journey.
