Beware In Barcelona
 

ack! Another report of mugging in Barcelona. <BR>Just 10 minutes after arriving I was mugged by 2 guys as I waited for the elevator in the entrance of the flat I was to stay in!! I've traveled fairly extensively and have never had problems before. Yes, being a single female traveler does make one more of a target, unfortunately. I suggest if you are arriving in Barcelona at night that you stay in a hotel that has a door man. MAKE your cab driver take you to the door and WAIT until you are safely inside. These two simple precautions would have saved my trip. I plan to return to Barcelona because it is a beautiful city with a lot to offer, but you can be assured that I'll employ these hard lessons I learned.

Yes people do not understand how dangerous Barcelona is. You will get gassed, slashed, and robbed. People sometimes do not like to be in touch with reality. Yes Barcelona is beautiful, it has wonderful architecture but it is dangerous, and people do not want to admit that important fact. <BR>

Bedi and CoorsLight <BR> <BR>Sorry, but Barcelona isn't more dangerous than New York, or Miami, for that matters. <BR> <BR>One has to be careful and take some precautions, even more being a woman traveling solo. <BR> <BR>It could have happened in Paris, London, Rome, Madrid.. <BR> <BR>I'm a woman, and I travel solo often. I'm aware of the risks, and have seen myself in dangerous situations in both cities, Miami and New York, more often than in whatever city in Europe, though. Imagine yourself getting to Miami, downtown, to an unattended door or an empty building late in the evening. Do you have an idea of what could have happened to you? <BR> <BR>Once, me, my daughter and a girlfriend were walking at 9 AM, in Miami downtown. The area was nearly deserted, since the stores haven't yet opened, and we were being trapped by three guys that clearly intented to mugg us. We were saved by a taxi that fortunately was passing by. Otherwise, I don't know what could have happened... <BR> <BR>Surlok

Why would anyone go to Miami? I thought we were talking about Barcelona here.

My husband and I visited Barcelona for the first time two weeks ago and other than having our umbrellas taken 2xs once from Adolfo Dominquez and the other from a small cafe around the corner, we really enjoyed our visit. Time Out had declared Barcelona a hot spot for pickpocketing, so we were cautious, but not nervous. If it starts to pour while you are shopping, hold on to your umbrella.

Surlok, <BR>I have lived in NYC for years, I have also visited and lived in Miami and have to disagree with you. I have not experienced anything bad in NYC or Miami. And I am a young woman, I take the NYC subway at 2, 3, or 4am after going out dancing or club hopping, and nothing really had happened to me, or anyone I know (young female friends). <BR> <BR>I have never seen a mugging, or heard of anybody getting mugged or robbed. <BR>In Barcelona I could literally sit down near or in Las Ramblas and see people getting pickpocketed, mugged, robbed, etc. I have also heard of several stories of women tranveling alone that got attacked in Barcelona. <BR> <BR>The only crime you see in NYC or Miami is violent, but it tends to be among friends or family members. Usually people get shot by a friend or a family member (somebody they know), or if they are involved in crime themselves, by jealous lovers, etc. Usually you know where and what is going to happen to you by the places you go, and the poeple you hang around. <BR> <BR>The same in Miami, drove, walked unitl the wee hours without nothing happening to me, I can carry a wallet and a purse in Miami and NYC. However, when I am in Barcelona I have to carry a money belt inside my clothes, big difference. <BR> <BR>Although I agree that CoorsLight blows things out of proportion (exaggerates and scares people), I feel safer in MYC or Miami, as long as I know who I am hanging around with. And I have to admit Barcelona has a problem with petty crime.

Coorslight, do you do anything other than post negative things about Spain? Every page I've seen your name on is about how dangerous madrid and barcelona are basically if you go you will die. You are very wrong. All you are doing is creating hysteria and making people nervous to what end? I was in Spain last month for 3 weeks without incedent and didn't even see anything happen to others. I stayed in a hotel right on La Rambla so I had to come and go day and night and nada. My biggest problem was running the hooker gauntlet and while they may have been after my money they didn't try and stab or slash me. Have you ever been there or are you just reading other postings and assuming that it must be the worst place on the planet? Pretty rediculous.

I'm not lying. This HAPPENED to me. I was nearly mugged in Miami 5 years ago, and had my wallet stolen in New York, Manhattan, at the corner of 5th Ave with 50th St. in November, 97. This was the last time something like this happened to me. I've been to Barcelona (three times), and to other European cities since then, and felt perfectly safe. I also live in Rio de Janeiro, which Americans think is a very dangerous city. I never felt threatened here as I felt in the US. Big cities, anyway, are all dangerous, no matter where. <BR> <BR>Surlok

To: xxxx, Re: "In Barcelona I could literally sit down near or in Las Ramblas and see people getting pickpocketed, mugged, robbed, etc." <BR> <BR>You could...or you did? <BR> <BR>I'm <I>not</I> saying there's no problem with petty crime in Barcelona, and I also realize people's experiences differ, but we were there for six days a year ago in March, spent quite a bit of time near and on Las Ramblas and the Gothic Quarter, and didn't see anyone getting pickpocketed, mugged, or robbed. <BR> <BR>

I was in Barcelona for five days in 1997 and was confronted by a man who I am sure was a pickpocket on the Ramblas. Thieves also tried to break into our rental car in Barcelona. I appreciate people who have had problems with crime writing in so others can be aware of the problem. I try to do the same in return. I think it is fair to regard Barcelona as having a much more serious crime problem than other European cities. Let's Go Europe 2001 says that Barcelona, Amsterdam, and Rome are particularly dangerous.

Surlok: <BR>You were nearly mugged, please elaborate. Not to be rude, but are sure that those guys were following you and targetting you in Miami? Your wallet was stolen in NYC how? <BR> <BR>How did you feel threatened in NYC? <BR>Sometimes cities have a reputation, like NYC, it has reputation, people think you will get mugged, robbed and worse. Every time somebody asks me if I have gotten mugged in NYC I laugh, I just do not see how, unless you take the wrong subway line and end up in bad drug-infested area, but those areas are really far, it is hard to get to those areas even as a tourist. <BR> <BR>As for Rio de Janeiro, yes I have been there, and I agree with you Surlok, I did not feel threatened at all in Rio. I would say there is less petty crime in Rio, we walked around until the wee hours of the night, nothing happened to us. However, in the favelas (is that how you spell it, sorry not sure about the spelling) I think there are more violent crimes being committed. Well that is the same in NY, bad areas have violent crime, the rest of the areas are safe. <BR> <BR>But in Barcelona and other European cities crime is everywhere, downtown, central areas, around touristic areas, boutiques, etc. That is the difference. <BR>I am talking about petty crime though. <BR> <BR>By the way I have lived and visited everywhere in the world (including areas such as Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, and Kingston, Jamaica which are considered dangerous) and when it comes to petty crime and muggins and getting robbed I have to be honest some European cities have more petty crime than those countries in my opinion. <BR> <BR>Probably the only city I would really be fearful is Mexico City (more crime than European cities have and more violent). It seems there the crime against tourists is really bad (know a couple of people who have been there and live there). <BR> <BR>By posting on this thread I do not want to deter people from going to Spain because the reality of it is if you are smart and keep your valuables away, and try to stay in areas where there is a lot of people you will be fine. <BR> <BR>Capo: <BR>Yes I have sat down for maybe an hour or more in Las Ramblas and I have witnessed several people get pickpocketed or robbed. Also in the Plaza Mayor in Madrid I have witnessed the same thing. I could literally predict who will get pickpocketed and who will not. I have also witnessed single women being followed by several shady looking men(in that case I would warn the woman beacuse I felt that can lead to something more than just being pickpocketed or I have tried to divert the potential criminal or attract the attention of the police who sometimes are walking around).

In New York, I was waiting to cross the street ( waiting for the pedestrian green lights). It was 5:30 in the afternoon. I was using a bag with a zipper, and the thief, probably a woman, since there were only women around me, was very light handed, I didn't feel a thing. When I got to the hotel, I realized that my wallet had been stollen, with all my credit cards. No problem, I called Amex and mastercard and got the cards canceled a few minutes after. <BR> <BR>In Miami, we were browsing windows in downtown, it was 9 AM, and the shops were still closed. We saw three men getting closer and closer.They were making signs to each other, while watching us. The three of us felt the same, and we were not being paranoid. We're not this kind of travelers, since we are all well traveled, and we live in Rio. We were in the middle of a block, one of the guys was at one of the corners, the other one at the other corner, and the third was across the street. Fortunately, a taxi was passing by, otherwise... <BR> <BR>Once in New York, I got the express train ( shame on me, I made a mistake). The next stop was at 98th West, or 108th street, I'm not sure. I left the train, and crossed to the other side, to head south. I was scared to death, since it was approximately noon, and the station was nearly empty, unless for a group of Latin American young guys. They were also getting closer, when I saw an older gentleman, and got close to him, as if I were with him. I cannot say that I'd be mugged, as I surely would in Miami, but it was surely scaring. <BR> <BR>You spelled it right, favelas, and you're sure, crime usually occurs in favelas, rather than in other areas, but still, if you travel by bus, is very easy to be pickpocket. The thieves here, same as they are in New York, or Barcelona, or Rome, are very skillful, you don't realize that someone is touching you, or your pockets, or bag, unless when you realize that something is missing. <BR> <BR>Surlok

Surlok,I believe the thread was about Barcelona - until, Surlok started going off with Miami and New York. <BR>I too have lived in NYC (7 years) and have frequented MIami at least for a month every year I was in NYC. Yes, danger lurks if one is not careful or streetsmart. <BR>During my first trip to Barcelona in 1997, I witnessed a male and female tourist that were recounting how they were almost mugged at Parc Guell by a mugger, pretending to be another tourist. <BR>In spite of the frequency of posts on Barcelona muggings, this is still a wonderful city to visit. Just be a little more careful and be streetsmart. <BR>

I was mugged in Barcelona (during the day I may add) in 1998. Someone sprayed what turned out to be shaving cream on me in the subway and when I was diverted by a woman who "informed me" about and "helped" me I was pickpocketed. Lost about $400 and 2 credit cards and a drivers license but luckily my passport was safe in another place.

I know that, I just mentioned Mia and NYC because this forum is mostly frequented by Americans. <BR> <BR>My point is that any city, mostly big cities, are potentially dangerous, if the tourist doesn't take some precautions. So, US big cities are as dangerous as any other city in Europe, S. America, or whatever is. <BR> <BR>Public transportation are more likely to attract pick pocket thievery, for it becomes so easy given the physical closeness. <BR>Money belts are safer than wallets, as is keeping the original passport in the hotel safe, and bringing a color printed copy only. <BR> <BR>This said, I won't give up traveling just because there are potential riks of being robbed, since there are risks everywhere. <BR> <BR>Surlok

Just as a follow-up to Paul's post above, the couple that I previously mentioned as being almost mugged were, as I recall, also sprayed with some chocolate drink. <BR>Yes, Surlok, all big cities are potentially dangerous. However, it appears that unlike others, some big cities have made better progress in ensuring safety especially in tourist areas.

The way to reduce crime is to enforce the laws with a competent police force and serious judges & a strict penal system. The problems exist when criminals are not prosecuted & encarcerated. In my opinion the police in Spain are frustrated because the petty theives are back out on the street soon after they are arrested. <BR>The politicians have to get tough on crime!Case in point, in the basque area of Spain there are daily acts of violence but never any arrests, because the nationalist party in power won't demand enforcement of the laws, instructing police to stand clear, letting street terrorists run free!

can anyone recount positive experiences of Spain? We were considering a trip in November/December but am getting scared with all the posts of crime in Spain. It is amazing how many posts about crime pop up from doing a 'spain' search. We're afraid that going in winter (low season) will make us more target of crime since there are fewer tourists around!

Coors Light A/K/A Robert, All Of Your Comments On This Board Are Full Of Hatred Towards Spain. Obviously Your A Drunken Racist Prick. The Spaniards & The Rest Of The World Are Laughing At Your Ignorance!

We were in Barcelona for three days. Many in our group were pickpocketed. One lady in line for the Gaudi was pickpocked two people ahead of us. In another line for a museum, a man tried to open my fanny pack but I caught him in time and he ran. Walking down the street after dinner in a good neighborhood, a well dressed woman had her necklace ripped off and, in the process, she was dragged a few feet before the thick necklace broke. My husband chased the kid but lost him. Her knuckles, elbow and neck were bleeding. We've lived in NY and LA and I've been robbed and mugged in New York. However, I've never seen so much daily street crime as in Barcelona. You've just got to be careful. Barcelona was a fabulous city and one of the highlights of our trip. Whatever you do, don't wear nice clothes, fancy jewelry or use backpack type bags. Dont' leave a shopping bag at your feet in cafes. And, keep your hands on your fanny packs and purses at all times.

Do not kid yourselves and pretend crime in Spain is not bad or it is the same as in the US. I am a young woman, and my girlfriends and I have backpacked throughout the US and nothing happened to us! We have slept in Penn Station NY waiting for a train to go to Vermont, backpacked in Arizona and Colorado, slept in the desert, nothing happened to us. <BR>You say NY is dangerous, that is because you have never been there, and just repeat what others said, or I have noticed that most people in this board come from rural areas and small towns in the center of the US, that is why you think NY is dangerous. It is not dangerous compared to Spain. <BR> <BR>Only in Spain my girlfriends and I were gassed in an AVE train going from Madrid to Barcelona one year ago. All of our stuff was stolen, everything gone, they did not leave us with anything. They have to have gassed us because I do not remember anything, when we woke up everything was gone, all the backpacks, passports, money, debit, credit cards, and also my pants and undergarments were down to my ankles when I woke up. Disgusting! I was crying, we went to the police in Barcelona, but it was too late, people were off the train before that. I talked to the police I reported the crime, not only the robbery, but also the sexual assault. Nothing could be done, I went to the US embassy, to no avail. I had to call my parents I could not cope, and I had to wait to get my passport. The same with my girlfriends. My parents picked me up and I left! I was only 19 last year, and a college student eager to know the world. <BR> <BR>All of you who claim that Spain is not unsafe, should read all the posts from all the people who had a bad experience with crime in Spain. New travelers should know that crime in Spain is on the rise. <BR>

We now have "Robert", "Coors Light", posting the exact message written above under the alias "crimeinspain", and copying it to all new posts on Spain. I guess he is using his feminine side, by pretending he is a woman. Or, we have another bigoted spain-basher on our hands. Why else would this person be compelled to copy the same reply on numerous posts? I think his next alias should be "Archie Bunker".

I've got friends who were "gassed" on a sleeper train while in those bunks with canvas covers, but I forgot which country it was in. Does anyone know what kind of gas they use? All they remembered was waking up with huge headaches.

We have visited Barcelona as a part of our honeymoon in July. The people that we encountered there were very friendly. We walked a lot and also took a metro and we never had any problems outrselves nor did we see anyone else being mugged. We felt very safe at all times and the biggots and racists who are posting comments on this board should be ashamed of themselves. They are just trying to degrade such a beautiful contry as Spain and possibly funnel the tourism to other parts of the world. Barcelona offers so much beauty and charm that it would be a real shame if someone would change his/her travel plans based on the reports posted by a few illeterate idiots.

I've been avoiding these anti-Barcelona postings, but I am going to add my opinion just once. We spent five days in Barcelona as part of our honeymoon in late June. We saw three instances where someone had just had something stolen at La Ramblas. We never saw an actual incident, only the aftermath (usually a tourist yelling, followed by the slighty tardy police officers showing up.) It was not comfortable at La Ramblas, but I use a money belt. Our biggest complaint was that Barcelona was the dirtiest city we have ever seen, and the whole place smelled like urine. You could see the stains on every corner of every building. I don't think it was just the dogs, either. Unfortunately, Gaudi's great buildings will always be there. The Miro Foundation was very great. The Picasso Museum has some important works, but they are in a building that was not meant to house art. I'm glad I went, but I don't see any reason to return, unless they finish La Sagrada Familia (yeah right!)

<BR> <BR>Has anyone mentioned Athens? My wife and I had been with a group in rural areas in Crete, etc, and were back in Athens on our own. So our guard was down as we boarded a city bus. And both of us quickly had our wallets lifted. <BR>Another case of not being careful in big cities. <BR> <BR>Bill in Missouri

You must be joking mister 'crimeinspain ([email protected])'. <BR> <BR>You said: <BR>'Only in Spain my girlfriends and I were gassed in an AVE train going from Madrid to Barcelona one year ago.' <BR> <BR>Well. In Spain there is no high-speed railway between Barcelona and Madrid. The only one at this moment runs from Madrid to Sevilla. <BR> <BR>You better leave the moon. <BR>

Look, I was in Barcelona in May and yes, I sat at a cafe and watched people being robbed. They were people at tables whose bags were on the ground unattended - of course they were going to be robbed. My bag was on my lap with my arms through the straps and nobody was going to bother me when there were plenty of people who weren't careful to take advantage of. The other thing was, the people doing this pickpocketing were pretty obvious. I'm sure there are others who are not. Why go if you're not going to enjoy it and it's a shame if you miss such a rich and fantastic city for this reason. Bottom line, just be smart. Leave your valuables at home and just carry what you absolutely need that day.

Re: Lou's comment: "Our biggest complaint was that Barcelona was the dirtiest city we have ever seen, and the whole place smelled like urine." <BR> <BR>Interesting perspective. My girlfriend & I, on the other hand, didn't perceive either of those things. Funny how people can visit cities and come away with such different impressions.

To "crimeinspain":Obviously, you haven't travelled by train in Spain. I seriously doubt that you've even been there. First of all, the AVE only travels from Madrid to Sevilla. Second, these trains all full of honest people who are seated all around you, pretty close together and those closer can see every move you make and every word you say if you don't intentionally lower your voice. I doubt very much that anyone could get gassed, robbed and raped in one of these trains without someone noticing. I also doubt that someone would pay a ticket to get on an almost two hour ride to do this in front of other people and nowhere to run and hide (it's a moving train) if they get caught.

An old tourist and children were blown up in Spain. Two bombs in resort areas were denoted in Spain, obviously aimed at tourists. <BR>Even Spain's own government says that crime is on the rise in Spain, and that they are worried about how terrorism is affecting tourism, I do not understand why people on this board choose to avoid the obvious, do not accept reality and misinform potential travelers. <BR>

SURLOCK: <BR> <BR>Must you "facture" the english language. <BR>"Once, me, my daughter" .......

Ok, Ted: <BR> <BR>I, my daughter.. Are you happy now? <BR> <BR>However, I'm sure you understood what I meant, didn't you?? <BR> <BR>Surlok

My girlfriend and I are going to visit Barcelona and Madrid in November. Since it won't be the tourist peak season, will be have a higher chance of being targeted? Also, can anyone recommend what will be a good neighborhood to stay at in these two cities?

Surlock: <BR> <BR>Thanks for paying attention. It should be "My daughter and I". or "My daughter, xxx and I. <BR> <BR>When my children or my students would say "me and him" I would think " what language are you speaking".

Wen, my girlfriend & I were there in March of last year -- which also was not peak tourist season -- and we thought that, because of that, we may have actually had a <I>lesser</I> chance of being targeted, thinking that perhaps the evildoers come out in force when the tourists do. <BR> <BR>As for neighborhoods in Barcelona, I'd recommend either the Eixample ("Expansion") -- the newer part with the grid streets and the Modernisme buildings -- or the older Barri Gotic (Gothic Quarter.)

Ted, <BR> <BR>Yesterday I was sleepy, now, I'm not. I'm not a native English speaker, as you shall have already realized. Now I need an English lesson. I learned to say: <BR> <BR>Me and..my daughter, son, friend,... or <BR> <BR>My daughter, son, friend... and I. <BR> <BR>Is this wrong? <BR> <BR>Surlok

Bedi: <BR> <BR>So sorry to hear this happened to you. I travel on my own extensively (on business mostly)and I have become far more careful recently about where I stay and how I act (partly due to being alerted to safety problems on this board). <BR> <BR>I was in Barcelona a few months ago and saw no muggings. I was considering various hotels in different areas. I asked Maribel, a regular on this board, to help with a recommendation. She STRONGLY advised that I stay in the L'Eixample area and she was right on - broad streets, plenty of light, high-end area. I was glad I did not choose an hotel on La Rambla - colourfull as it is, turn right off the main street and it has its seedier side and this is not something I need when travelling alone. <BR> <BR>I also agree that you can be mugged anywhere and a single women is an easy target. The problem when travelling is that one does NOT know the areas to avoid at night, while, at home, you do. My female collegues in Barcelona generally avoid certain areas at night and my female collegues in Paris advised against travelling on certain metro lines at night. <BR> <BR>If I am going to a city I don't know, then I will stay at one of the more expensive hotels and then check out cheaper ones in the same area for the next visit. I try to avoid any hotel near a train station, as they tend to attract "undesirables". If I arrive late I night, I give the taximan a huge tip which always results in him hopping out of the car and helping me with my luggage. If I need to read a map, I keep my back to the wall. I have become very good at "feeling" people over my shoulder following me and checking out a shop that I can duck into. <BR> <BR>These rules apply anywhere I go - North America or Europe. <BR> <BR>Despite the trauma, I hope you did enjoy this beautiful city. <BR> <BR>Regards ... Ger

Surlock! <BR> <BR>Perfect! " My daughter, friend and I." Now if I could speak your language as well as you speak english, that would be wonderful.

Mr. Bob: <BR> <BR>Why are you so angry? Such vugarity coming from you mouth.