Avoid These Tourist Scams in Italy! 🚫🇮🇹

Avoid scams while visiting Italy! Discover the hidden charms and celebrated wonders while avoiding common tourist traps. Join me as we navigate through the pitfalls and highlight must-see destinations, from food markets and palaces to small village streets. Learn how to protect yourself and make the most of your Italian adventure.
🌎The Italy Insider e-guide: bit.ly/3Zom90m
🍝Dining in Italy Explainer Guide: bit.ly/3MPOGEE
✈️ Need travel advice? Schedule an exclusive video call with me. 30min, pay $150
www.paypal.me/...
(contact me via the about page for more information)
📧 Newsletter
Join my newsletter email list for free travel tips and hacks, and exclusive content.
subscribepage....
📺Watch the next unreleased episode NOW by becoming a channel member
/ @gregorbrown
✈️ My TRAVEL INSURANCE recommendation 🩺 bit.ly/42FeDx0
⚙ Gear I use for travel:
Plug adaptor: amzn.to/3HeyMAr
Power strip (plug into an adaptor): amzn.to/3JefEVP
Portable USB Charger (a must!): amzn.to/3kzrZcM
Italian phrase book: amzn.to/3wynZMv
Sleep eye mask: amzn.to/3IS7u4n
Ear plugs for sleeping: amzn.to/3IMOUuu
Toiletry Kit bag (I got the camo one): amzn.to/3Z2AM6B
Travel Bottles for Toiletries: amzn.to/3xT3WZN
...or get clear refillable ones: amzn.to/3ktjEHU
Samsonite hard shell luggage: amzn.to/404ZlRa
Rimowa Essential Cabin Luggage: amzn.to/3b1v94l
(If you buy using this links above, I receive a commission via the Amazon Affiliate Program.)

[@GregorBrown]

Need an Essential ITALY TRAVEL GUIDE ? kzbin.info/www/bejne/fJjVc5SMg9-SjqM

[@andreasschaetze2930]

@@GregorBrown Italy doesn’t have ATM? Best is to use ATM. Mostly they have a better exchange rate if you don’t „except exchange rate of this bank“ and the additional fees. I have a credit card where I don’t pay fees for the home bank and get a better rate. When you go to pick up money then use the maximum limit for withdrawal and keep the receipt. It’s a different game if you withdraw 10€ and pay around 6€ ATM fee. It’s better to withdraw 400-500€ daily max limit. I had it before that the exchange rate gave me nearly 10% of the withdrawal amount

[@cristinacucconi7411]

La cosa positiva dell'Italia, le persone non hanno le armi, al contrario degli U.S.A

[@Alexdrod]

Italy eating rule #1: Good restaurants NEVER ask you to come in or sit down. They don’t need to do that.

[@jasonleeky453]

EXACTLY

[@0007tad]

True, and the REAL restaurants also dont have Pictures of the food on the menu..,,

[@paulcapaccio9905]

Simply stated but very true

[@kevtea6199]

Never trust a place that needs a tout to get you in. Rule 101 on street smarts.

[@SergioBracali]

@@Alexdrod absolutely true. And not only in Italy, of course.

[@yegim8036]

14:20 ⚠️ when sitting outdoors, never put your phone on the table, in a matter of second, someone snatches it! I saw it several times. Also, backpack and bags. Never leave them behind the chair. Always on the eyesite or on the lap.

[@TheWhiteWolfFang]

A big tip: most of the guided tours I did in Florence tended to give me a verified list of restaurants/gelato places which were not tourist traps, and tended to be down some of the side streets. They will also explain a lot of these scammer methods along the tour

[@dizz_dila]

Could you give me recommendations too for restaurants and cafes?

[@rbejva]

Total flip side as well, I was buying bread in Venice from a cash only bakery in a non-touristy street. It was early in the morning and the baker didn’t have enough change, so he charged me less! Some of the nicest, kindest people I’ve come across have been in Italy , overall the Italians are wonderful people. Back to the baker, he was thrilled when ten minutes later I came back and made up the difference.

[@GregorBrown]

Well said

[@jovifan674]

@rbejva yes. For us, the bad experiences were with foreigners. Like the ones giving you "for free" a bracelet and asking where you are from and starting a conversation. And then they play the poor immigrant, struggling and ask you for money. When you don't give it to them, they get very nasty and intimidate you. The ones stealing on streets, busses, trains, etc, are mostly Western Europeans, gypsies. I am Peruvian and live in the US, but I felt more insecure in Italy and France than I do in Latin America.

[@GregorBrown]

@@rbejva that's great 👍

[@richardsteele6776]

I’ve visited Italy twice. Everything you said was true. I never buy anything from a person on the street. Always buy from a shop. I told a tall black man no thank you in Italian and he persisted to make the sale. I gave him a firm NO! Then he says “You don’t like black people. You are a racist!” He’s screaming this over and over while following me. I was in shock. Thankfully a woman stepped in and told him to leave the man alone.

[@GregorBrown]

Sorry to hear about that experience, Richard. Stay safe out there! 🚫

[@Samael6685]

They try It whit every one. The tourist are the perfect victim, we are used to the trick so don't even came close tona local

[@akbr980]

yeah sadly we don't have your police in italy. Policeman can do nothing, if he touches somebody they will sent him to court, not the criminal :/

[@Keepingitsane54]

I watched one of your videos that said bring an extension cord for charging multiple devices at once. I am in Italy now, and what a great piece of advice. I bought one with multiple ports and I use it every day! Thank you!

[@GregorBrown]

Awesome, and i'm happy to hear it that it's helped and I use mine all the time

[@joecowan3719]

This is a great list of known scams Gregor! One I would like to add is young people hanging out near the entrance to public pay toilets. Since it usually costs €0.50 and many people don't have coins on them, there is a bill breaker machine right outside. The young people in a large group will be pretty pushy asking for money. We observed that at the Florence Train Station, and made a U-turn to the Bus Station toilets instead. Keep change on you, unlike in the States, it can actually help a lot!

[@GregorBrown]

Thanks for adding to the list, Joe!

[@pelekeososhio5627]

I wanted to share a recent (10 days ago) experience I had with a taxi driver in Rome. I attended a Three Tenors concert at a beautiful church really close to a Metro station, which is how we got to the concert. When the concert ended we discovered the Metro A Line was closed for maintenance, so we walked to the Termini train station to find a taxi back to our hotel. The fare was $13 Euros, so I gave him my last $20 Euro bill and told him to keep the change. He handed me the change and I re-explained that the change was for him. He smiled at me and said "It's ok.", and gave me the change. So you can get an honest taxi driver who really just wants to get you from A to B.

[@GregorBrown]

That is great to hear, and thank you for sharing the story

[@judithmaca1570]

@@pelekeososhio5627 About sixty years ago my cousin and I were camping near Gaeta (in the south). We took the local bus to town (about six miles away) to have an evening meal. The return bus had finished very early so we had to take a taxi to get back to our campsite. The elderly driver spoke excellent English and explained he had been a prisoner of war in the UK. When we arrived at our campsite the driver refused to accept any payment, saying he loved England and its people, but knew that he would never manage to return there. Instead of accepting any payment, he asked us to kiss the English ground for him! We felt so very humbled by his great kindness and of his only time in the UK, as a prisoner of war! We wept as we walked back to our little tent. I have never forgotten him and that incredible experience!

[@rstraveladventure4987]

Most taxi drivers in Rome are quite honest.

[@MM-sq5pf]

@@pelekeososhio5627 you found the honest one

[@pramotejutaporn2965]

A great story to hear. I know there are always good people out there who just want to do their job honestly. However, I'd like to know if such incidence is the rule or an exception.

[@peterjones7673]

Brilliant video Gregor everyone should take your advice, I have had the change scam in Rome 2 years ago when buying a bottle of wine from a small general store, cost was 8 euro, I gave him a 20 but he gave change of a 10, I spotted this at once and he gave me the correct change after I pointed out his mistake.

[@GregorBrown]

thanks so much Peter and thanks for sharing your advice

[@martinbootneck]

Definitely agree with eating in a local restaurant. We were in Sorrento and 2 people in our group decided to go out for a meal in the evening. My late wife and I did the same. We had been watching the locals and where they go to eat. We found a family run restaurant and it was unbelievable, the service was great the food was out of this world and we were introduced to the whole family LOL, we even had a free glass of Limoncello and at the end of the meal a Vecchia Romagna brandy on the house. We were there for 3.5 hours LOL. When we spoke to the couple next day, they said they went to a nearby restaurant, told us what they had and it cost them €40. We told them our story and it only cost us €22 and food that was all homemade and cooked fresh. Bellissimo.

[@aaronstark7676]

@@martinbootneck where is this restaurant, ill be there in 5 days?

[@Sharylanne]

@@aaronstark7676 ..it may have been years ago

[@michaeljohnangel6359]

That was a nice little walk through the centre of Florence. As I wrote elsewhere, I've lived and worked in Florence for the last 35 years, and it's a 7-minute bus ride for me to the centre of town, but I don't go into the centre anymore. It's been spoiled by the hoards of tourists. The centre of Florence has become Disneyland-which is fine, if you're a tourist, I guess. Like Venice, most Italians don't live in the centre. Florence has a population of 360,000 people, while 18,000,000 tourists come here every year.

[@BICIeCOMPUTERconGabriele]

You should absolutely avoid using Taxis in Italy: they are a lobby, really expensive and many many times they don't even give the receipt (it means that they are not paying taxes).

[@alicetwain]

Taxis don't have to give receipts, unless you need personally one, and that's becase the the meter (il tassametro). It works like a cash register already connected with their tax account. It's all automatic: as long as the meter is working they can't evade taxes. It's the same reason why certain shops give you a receipt that bears "non fiscale". Their sistem is hooked up with the tax office and as long as the payment occurs through a cash register it's automatically accounted for.

[@TheWhiteWolfFang]

Using an ATM in Siena, a message came up saying it was going to charge me 15% markup for the exchange. Clicked cancel, and it did the conversion using my bank rather than the atm, at 2.1%. So watch out for that one, don't just hit Continue

[@GregorBrown]

Yes smart man

[@tse7794]

Never accept a torn bill / Euro as change. I was given change after a purchase that included a $50 Euro with a small rip. No one would accept that bill assuming it was a possibile counterfeit. Finally we found a bank that would exchange with the help of the hotel. Concierge.

[@GregorBrown]

good tip

[@jasonleeky453]

To add on to the first scam, I was almost scammed by a ticket official in Circumvesuviana Naples station believe it or not. Essentially one of those ticket helpers approached me when I seemed to have trouble with the ticket machine and told me to go to the staffed ticket office to get the tickets. Little did I know, he was in cahoots with the staff. The staff asked me to pay in cash which was sus because there was a card reader right in front of her. Anyway, I just assumed the card reader was faulty and I paid her in cash. When I was expecting my change, she immediate told me to "go go go". Luckily, I knew the train schedule and it was not time so I insisted on my change. She then gave me part of it and hesitated to give the remaining, even consulting her colleague in Italian. Eventually, she did give the remaining change probably because it was a small change and it probably wasn't worth it to scam me. And I think she splits the profits with the ticket helper at the beginning. TLDR: Be warned, do not trust any ticket officials at stations who ask for cash, all of them accept cards now.

[@jonathantatler]

Just returned from Naples, Alamo screwed us and was quoted €18 for taxi then at destination he spanked us €90, both left us feeling sour and I'll NEVER use Alamo for car hire again.

[@ILOVENJ00]

When I travel to Europe, I buy food and snacks at the local grocery store. Much cheaper! I have one or two meals at a restaurant as a treat.

[@loisfolk5492]

When they ask me where I’m from I say in this life or my last they usually walk away.

[@jeremytidman2414]

Where was this video in 2018! Traveled to Florence as a teenager and totally got roped into one of those free gift scams. Only lost a dollar, but was so crushed that people would do that to make money. Thanks for the great video, and the great tips!!

[@saadn.3348]

I love you man! You are the best! Keep up the good work!

[@hellohello-tp4mb]

Your videos are always well made, I’m so excited to go to Italy 🇮🇹

[@GregorBrown]

Glad you like them!

[@SomeDudeSomewhereOverThere]

Back in March, we spent a week in Florence and then a week in Cetara and Gregor's video were super helpful to get around and know what to do (as well as helpful phrases). Love the content!

[@GregorBrown]

Great to hear! Thanks so much!

[@SergioBracali]

In Italy you should never use a taxi. They are expensive and most of the drivers are rude. Just take public transports or walk when possible. Italian cities are made to walk.

[@SergioBracali]

@@aris1956 intendevo dire che dovrebbero evitare ad ogni costo di prendere il taxi, finché possibile. Qualche volta non sarà possibile, ma se scompare quasi tutta la clientela forse qualcosa cambierà.

[@andrewg.carvill4596]

@@aris1956 Purtroppo e vero. Fra tanti troppi tassisti in Italia c'e la cultura di fregare il turista che non parla italiano. Si, io ho fatto 2 o 3 chilometri a piedi piuttosto che subire il vergogno di trovarmi fregato.

[@twatts1523]

@@SoniaGelli-y2oyou guys don’t have any ride shares apps like Uber or Lyft?

[@danfiorini785]

I took taxis for two weeks in italy and never had an issue. Can’t say I thought they were expensive either

[@InvestedAdventure]

I visited Italy and encountered some of these scams myself! I even shared it in my channel to help tourists to be informed and to be alert. Great tips for making the most out of a trip to Italy.

[@GregorBrown]

Thanks for sharing your experiences! It’s great to help others stay informed and alert. 🙌

[@erlbellacasa5325]

I agree to all what you have discussed. I have been and experienced some of these scammed. Right there in Piazza’s. From then on I learned to get away from these scammers in Europe. Keep it up.👍

[@reyinfante5553]

Got scammed when somebody befriended me and suggested a bar. Next thing, he made an excuse to go to the restroom and never came back. I got slap with a ridiculous bill for a couple of beers and peanuts and when I protested, I was swarmed by ther staff and told me they also pay for the air condition. I stood my ground and I paid only what is reasonable. Learned from it and never happened again even with their other antics.

[@GregorBrown]

Yeah, that happens, and that's what I was explaining while I was in the bar towards the end of the video

[@Carlos-ux7gv]

As this not Russia/Indonesia, etc., I would ask for the police. Let's go all to the station if needed be.

[@gilleslafreniere]

Thank you for the heads up advice. We are going to Italy at the end of the month and will keep my eyes open.

[@luiggimondoli]

I had no problem to take the train from the airport to central train station and it was awesome.

[@jafongaro]

Another great and helpful video. Thank you!

[@GregorBrown]

Glad it was helpful!

[@quintonhoffert6526]

Not sure if my comment will be seen or not, but just to check, in Rome you don't need to buy tickets so long as you have a tap credit card right? AFAIK, ATAC tap&go makes it so that you can just tap your credit card to either enter the subway or to validate a bus and it will automatically deduct the proper fare from your card without requiring you to get a ticket. Is this correct? I believe the system only works in Rome, but assuming that's accurate it would be a nice addendum for your video since tap credit cards are pretty common nowadays.

[@maleeoctavia]

I had the same thing happen to me in Pakistan LOL when I was leaving and waiting to catch my flight back home at the airport a man kept coming up to me and asking me what I wanted. He got me food and other things (that I could have gotten myself) then he charged me a crazy amount … I never fell for that again!

[@InvestedAdventure]

That's wild! These scams pop up everywhere. What was your favorite part of your trip to Pakistan?

[@drjbo3]

We love Trattoria Nella. We’ve been going there since our first visit to Italy. Great reasonably priced meals. Going back in October!

[@louisedasilva6046]

Lots of great tips!! I knew about some of them but it’s good to be reminded. Thank you for the video 😊

[@GregorBrown]

Glad it was helpful!

[@1superduck]

Gregor.....We just got back from Italy and it was awesome....thank you for the tips and tricks...that lampredotto in florence is unbelievable 👌....already planning on our next visit..Grazie mille......to La Dolce Vita 🍷

[@GregorBrown]

Wonderful!

[@faithsrvtrip8768]

I was able to study in Rome in the spring of 1997 at Campo de Fiori. It was amazing. But while we did a walkabout with our professor, near the Coliseum, another older female student was pickpocketed. I dressed like a slob (it was the era of grunge in the US) and so I looked poor and no one bothered me with my German black canvas army bag / purse!

[@SylviaWarner-e2e]

be aware : price on item might be for a local but for a tourist it could be much higher - had that experience in a small shop in Pisa

[@_LostAndFound_]

my first day in Rome, I arrived in the train station and with my luggage I made my way out into the city. I ended up leaving through a side door and not the main door. I was dragging my luggage up the small hill... I realized I couldn't walk the 30 minutes with my luggage. I was very sick and just got into the first "Taxi" I saw. I knew what the taxis looked like and were to find them. we drove for what seemed like 30 minutes and my cost was 30 euros.... i didn't have anything less then a 50... he did the I cant break it line. Also I don't remember ever seeing a meter... but i was sick and really just wanted to lie down in a bed. the next week I took a taxi back to the train station at the same time of day and the same day of the week. that guy only charged me 18 and it was a 15 minute drive. Lesson learned.

[@GregorBrown]

they know tourists are vulnerable when they are with big suitcases. it's OK, lesson learned, we've all been in that position before.

[@LifeRNhungrynursetravels]

Love your channel! My husband and I will be traveling to Italy soon with a baby, would you be doing a video soon on Tips of Traveling to Italy with a Baby?

[@LetsViewTheWorld]

great tips! thank you!

[@StevenCovey-ct3sx]

Avoid any restaurant that has advertisements for their food in English. They are tourist traps.

[@maurobernasconi932]

Yes but also not... now everywhere the menu are write in 4 or 5 lenguages...as Italian my advise is to go at restaurants away from the turistic point of interest, that usually is where the italians go, and to don't choose restaurant with hundreds of dishes. More is short the list, more is fresh the food.

[@fulconerra3055]

Ask for the menu. Check at the bottom of the menu; if there is a note telling you that “some products are frozen”: go for some place else. It is a legal requirement for restaurants to tell that.

[@fulconerra3055]

If there are (sorry) a lot of shabby, not italian looking waiters (nepali) hanging around in the restaurant, it is usually a moneylaundering place. Go somewhere else.

[@cristiandilella2337]

As an italian, if you see outside the restaurant a sign with Imagine and writing of most famous italian dishes, probably Is a Tourist scam and low quality.

[@oemolokupano4512]

Great info Gregor. Thank you very much !

[@justmeonthebeach]

@@oemolokupano4512 Yeah, you're right, no one I don't know is my friend..

[@louisjunho]

This is super helping. Thank you for creating this!

[@GregorBrown]

Glad it was helpful!

[@NLW288]

Definitely will keep this in mind next time I come back to Bella Italia, Thanks Mate!

[@GregorBrown]

Please do!

[@davidtaylor2152]

When my wife & i travel we visit the local supermarkets to buy some groceries and occasionally visit a restaurant or cafe, and we want a menu with prices and definitely avoid eateries with no priced menus.

[@fedame6950]

Nice to meet you, my name is Federico and I am a Florentine by birth. I came across this video by chance and I found it very useful for tourists from all over the world. Obviously the recommendations that Gregor explains in the video do not always happen, but you must always be alert because being scammed is a moment. After the whole video I can only compliment Gregor for the accuracy and precision of the information. The most important thing is to always enjoy your vacation and keep your eyes and ears open to danger not only in Italy, but throughout the world.

[@GregorBrown]

Nice to meet you, Federico! Thank you for your kind words and for sharing your perspective as a native Florentine. I'm glad you found the video helpful. You're absolutely right - staying alert is crucial everywhere, but it's also important to enjoy the journey. Your advice is spot on! Grazie mille! 😊

[@TheLillabella]

Exactly.

[@RcaTab]

Looks like great advice! Thanks. I haven’t travelled in years so I need to get my savvy suspicions polished up again😃 before I venture back into the wild. On that note, we’re those subscriber fans you bumped into real…or part of the script? 😉. No matter, you might be worth following anyway 🤔 I really liked how friendly you were to the bracelet scammer. It takes confidence. I would have gotten highly annoyed & it might have ruined my day

[@RadiantTwilight]

I always carry an extra empty wallet to show to beggars and con artists talking me up in the streets, because I hate to act unfriendly and cold, that way I can have a short friendly conversation, and when its time for them to ask for money, I show them the empty wallet, and always get to keep all the "free" gifts like bracelets and figurines they hand you in advance. I love acting all naive and pretend I gave my last money for someones baby daughter a short while ago xD

[@wilson9hern]

Fantastic Tip Video Thanks For Info On Post Office Money Exchange

[@GregorBrown]

Most welcome

[@IvetaDrobna-n8y]

Taxi driver tried to fool me also in Dubai...Not just in Italy

[@trudyengstrom289]

Thank you for the information

[@alicetwain]

Some airports have a fixed fare with the taxi cooperatives, so the meters does not get turned on. The fixed fares should be posted on the car's window. Also. by law any business, including taxis, in Italy are supposed to be able to accept electronic payments, so you should really pay with a credit card or an ATM.

[@MrMike-zm8ex]

Regarding currency exchange. I went to post office in Naples. Terrible exchange rate, about 20% less than actual Forex rates. Never found a good place to get cash in Italy. Not like Thailand, where exchange booths everywhere, with close to worldwide exchange rates.

[@hadiwi56a]

the only place to get cash is bank ATMs, never money exchanges

[@AndyGlavac]

Another great video

[@catherinelee3298]

Great video!

[@GregorBrown]

Thanks!

[@kevtea6199]

Back in 96 when I moved back to Japan I met a guy that told me the worst country he'd ever been to was Italy. I think it was because of everyone trying to scam him. The petty crime like pickpockets etc. I can believe it. These scams are everywhere and I read so much about Buenos Aries one time but I went downtown to the main square and didn't have anything like that happen to me. I try not to look like a tourist but walk around like I belong there. I never trust anyone trying to be friendly who randomly comes up to me. Sussed that stuff out long ago. Had a nice indian man in Bangkok come to me and a friend who had lived there for a while asking us if he could help. We got rid of him in a hurry. Also back in Fiji once I had a guy carve a gift with my and my mother's name for me in a little balsa wood thing, handed me it and then did the ask for money. I told him I only had enough money to get back on the bus to the airport and that there was no way I could accept such a nice gift without paying so I handed it back and he could say nothing to me.

[@pyt6631]

Be careful to check the menu for coperto charges as well. I was charged in Rome (later on i learnt that coperto is illegal in Lazio), I dont know if this charge was in fine print somewhere tho.

[@Giuseppecompa]

@@pyt6631 Coperto is not illegal, it’s just illegal to have it written on the receipt. As we, italians, arr masters of “tricking the law”, restaurants found a way to make you pay by writing “servizio” instead of “coperto”, and that’s completeley legal, is just the same thing but written in another way. Anyway, I’m not pride of what I said in the first lines, that’s a shame to pay 2-3€ more than the effective “legally-illegal”. I’m sorry, I hope I’m making myself clear

[@brewswithviews]

Im hoping that by learning and speaking the language would give me the respect that a restaurant wont try and rip me off 😂

[@davidfromdownunder]

Great tips mate 👍

[@GregorBrown]

Glad you found the tips helpful. 👍

[@briansmyla8696]

lol that 'free gift' ruse. I fell victim to that in the US - Washington DC of all places. Cost me $25 for a 'free' baseball cap. I'm not mad though, because my step daughter claimed it as her favorite hat.

[@JasonGabler]

When I went to Florence, we got out of the train station and got into a cab. The driver drove us around and around and around... Finally we got to the hotel, we paid the driver, checked in and went up to our room. The first thing I did was to draw the drapes and open the window. I leaned out the window and looked right. Ah, love that look of European cities. Then leaned out to the left and... there was $#%! train station, like 3 blocks away :D We totally got snookered lol. Benvenuti a Firenze!

[@GregorBrown]

Haha 😄 sorry to hear that but at least you staked in the italian vibes

[@baskiff155]

Gregor, I now that in a lot of your videos that you are drinking wine. It would be helpful that you mention the wines you are drinking so she can try them too when we are in the same area or country you are in. Thanks . 21 days to Rome. Woo woo

[@ethanryleck6999]

very good video, but you miss one biggest scam in Venezia particulary !! 3/4 of restaurant present menu with 2 plate at price like 15 or 20 euro. The minute your at a table, the guy telling you that this menu its not good and will strongly suggest you to take the plate "à la carte" this plate its like 20 euro and in the end often its not bigger !!

[@GregorBrown]

Thanks for sharing!

[@ethanryleck6999]

@@GregorBrown thank you again for your great video !!! Im now one of your greatest fan !! I travel around the world and just love your "reportage" !

[@jimklemens5018]

Huh?

[@dougie6886]

Excellent tips.

[@GregorBrown]

Glad it was helpful!

[@travelwithcol4625]

Brilliant Tour Greg 👏 I also have a Channel @ Travel with Col but I focus more on Poland and Bulgaria / Eastern EU

[@caleahmarie365]

Free gifts- most are super friendly. We were at the colosseum and the guy literally threw it at my husband and then “gave” it to me. We tried to give it back and he literally wouldn’t take it and before we knew it was demanding money. The whole time he was complimenting us, telling us we were good people, that he knew we liked black people, etc. it was awful because we COULD NOT get away. Ended up giving him 10 Euros just to get away. Next time I’ll throw the bracelet back and run lol

[@sisyphuscranerigging7792]

CHICKEN SASHIMI!! That why you belched at 10:07? Listen I'm just gonna say, in the book and movie "Unbroken" when those guys were starving in the lifeboat for DAYS and finally caught a gull, they couldn't even gag it down. That's the same for raw chicken my traveling friend. (With birdmeat for bait they caught fish and it was delicious for real. Now that's sashimi.) Nice video, btw.

[@GregorBrown]

yeah, watch the raw chicken feast here. It was good! kzbin.info/www/bejne/rYe4gHuDaql0fZo

[@jy3781]

Man I already regret booking a trip to Italy , from pickpockets to taxi scam it doesn’t sound like a nice country to visit , too bad I can’t cancel this trip 😭😭😭

[@fulconerra3055]

They still do the classic shell game, with up to 10 accomplices!

[@GregorBrown]

Yes, they do! Always good to stay alert and avoid getting caught in those scams. 🚫🎩

[@brycesy9553]

Hi. Will be traveling with a group. Do they take separate checks per guest?

[@catw6998]

Like your scam video stories 👍.

[@GregorBrown]

Glad you like them!

[@SteveLaston-ji7gv]

Many of those SCAMS, are done in NYC too !!!!

[@0007tad]

Also the real authentic restaurants DONT have pictures of the food on the menu...

[@GregorBrown]

true

[@tomtracykuster2344]

Currently in Monopoli and trying to exchange $s for Euros. So far 3 post offices told me they cannot change money, only regional PO in Bari. One credit union said no and one bank said only for customers. Another bank said only in the morning so I’m going to try tomorrow morning. Any advice is appreciated

[@germanobissoli5041]

Instead of the Taxi, Plan and Reserve a NCC - a limo service operated mainly with vans - not much more expensive than a taxi. But You know in Advance the price, they Will meet You, almost all of them speaks some words in English and You can pay by credit card. Do It Just to avoid that your First Steps in Italy become a tragedy worse than Aida's fate

[@FortunateXpat]

Where do you find these scams? I’ve lived outside of Palermo for 4 years now, commuting almost daily on the train. Although I must say that I’ve never taken a taxi here. 😂 ps… you need to learn to haggle here. Always negotiate.

[@violetgaribyan-jg9ll]

Thank you 🙏 ☕️🌺🍷🍕

[@GregorBrown]

Always welcome

[@deborah3709]

If I step on your floor painting I will stand my ground.

[@gennyjustdownthelane8967]

Your phone on the table made me nervous!

[@stephenhampson1577]

So going to Pisa, Florence and day trip to Bologna. Do you have anything specific for this trip? And saved the phrase at the counter 😂

[@_LostAndFound_]

while in Florence I kept get.. "Hi you from Africa" ... Im sorry Im a pale redhead... lol... I just act like I dont hear people when im out in very tourist city.

[@bender1283]

I think that inviting a guy down for a drink somewhere cool isn’t a call for a scam, just ask the prices before you go! I am always being asked where the cool place is in Italy since I know very cool places all around Italy so should I get tagged as scammer?

[@GregorBrown]

I'll take that drink! ;) But this is just for those to know to be aware, it can happen, it's happened to me once and it's happened to others.

[@Chris-e3y]

I'm from New York City. You just need to stay away from the heavy tourist locations. Times Square in NYC has people just come up to you to ask if they can take your photo with a Polaroid camera. Then they charge you like $20, lol. The guy did it to me, and I was like, "Get lost." He started getting aggressive, and then I pulled out my police shield because I'm a cop in NYC. Then he ran away. I've learned to never eat at any restaurants near these center tourist areas. The quality is terrible. When I see tourists eating at restaurants in Times Square, I just cringe.

[@twatts1523]

They don’t have ride shares apps like Lyft in Italy?

[@larrymastro9635]

come on man the only place where you don't get a coned by a taxi driver is in Singapore

[@szudy76]

I’m going with a tour group. It’s amazing how horrible people act towards tourists. Tourism literally makes your country a better place, don’t bite the hand that feeds.

[@caramia4789]

Tourism is a very small part of Italy’s GDP, so no they would be fine without tourists. People/tourists that think like you are actually the problem. You need to be grateful you get to go experience their culture. If you show your appreciation the locals might treat you better.

[@iggyantioch]

I spent almost half my Life on ft.myers beach fl. The locals do get fatigued. Such is the life in the tourist town.

[@Ale33810]

​​@@caramia4789 exactly thank you. I'm italian but I speak spanish also and one time, at the gelateria I worked for, this woman form South America treated my coworker SO BADLY, so I just took over them and the moment I spoke spanish to her she immediatly changed her attitude. At the end of the service she asked why italians are so rude, assuming I wasn't. I said "well, maybe if you try basic universal education and try to great us in our language maybe you'll get a better service". Her husband took her away while screaming.

[@wongway40]

basically, no one you dont know is your friend - just carry on by😔

[@furnacefighter]

Beware of the slow count. You pay with a large bill and the cashier takes out a large coin hands it to you then stops like transaction over. If you walk away then you’ve been had. Just wait until you’re sure they have returned all your change before leaving. Happens when you’re rushing trying to make travel connections. Good idea is wait until the cash register door is closed. My wife wanted to slap a girl who slow counted her at a shuttle station. I had to urge her to wait for all the money before walking away. She waited, did not get ripped, but man she was pissed.

[@sanjaysadhukhan2202]

Please help with the food guide pdf u promised

[@GregorBrown]

Link is in the description for the e guides 👍

[@jameswatkins96]

Used Uber a lot in Rome and Florence!

[@GregorBrown]

yeah, did you have good availability of cars?

[@jameswatkins96]

@@GregorBrown Worked well for me in 2018 and more recently in August 2023.

[@Yannickille]

Never get a taxi

[@iggyantioch]

How did you get around? We're going to Sorrento in March

[@ledinhdong7743]

Dual pricing is because tourists are one-time customers and local people are frequent customers. Tourists and locals are not the same.

[@earvingmontufar7921]

So I’m American. If I take my credit card from here. I can use it? I can pay let say 110 euros with my credit card but my credit card will charge the difference to whatever the rate it? Like my credit card will charge $100 dollars?

[@GregorBrown]

Yes. Exactly. Just make sure you inform your credit card company. You're traveling abroad beforehand to avoid avoid any inconveniences.

[@rostamx]

I am in rome and they stole all of our luggage and my laptop every where is thief be careful inside the car should be park your car inside the parking lot

[@GregorBrown]

Oh, man, I'm so sorry to hear that. And are you okay?

[@rostamx]

@@GregorBrown yes thanks

[@astoriussgoth-uo7nl]

I choose the bicycle...

[@stephaniechan4926]

Is this location - Florence?

[@Giulyfruly]

In Italia non succede che ti scroccano da bere in un bar. e ti lasciano con un conto astronomico. Al contrario trovi spesso chi ti offre da bere, soprattutto al sud. Io sto al nord e nemmeno qui succede che vadano a scrocco, soprattutto se sei straniero. Apprezzo comunque il tuo video e quasi tutto ciò che hai spiegato è vero: scippi alle stazioni e metro, sovrapprezzi nei menù stranieri, bere seduti nei dehors dei centri storici, ecc ecc. Amen

[@Taurrus]

Do you really just sit down at an empty spot or aren't you supposed to go up to a host and ask first? 😀

[@GregorBrown]

depends

[@thanhtamnguyen1142]

May I take the Uber in Rome?

[@GregorBrown]

they have it but the network and numbers of cars are not as big as you'd find in the US as example

[@azf_al_oudazf_al_oud]

Use uber