So I am currently visiting my relatives in Vienna and while I was sketching (drawing the amazing architecture in Vienna) a guy who sells mozart concert tickets to tourist started talking to me. We talked for some time until he asked if I wanted to join him and his friends at a bar. I declined but he gave me his number anyway to contact him for tomorrow. After seeing the movie "Taken" I'm not quite sure if calling him is the smartest thing to do. But, if he turns out to be a decent person then I would have to opportunity to meet some locals and make some friends. Also, I'm seventeen but I look like I'm in my early twenties and am very responsible. Has anyone been in a similar situation?

don't go alone..

UM, I was on this site looking for information for my trip and came across this and had to write- you should most certainly not go with them. I would not do that if I were in your position and while it's great to meet locals and make some friends, the risk is not worth it. I understand that you're looking to reach out and that is always a great thing but being seventeen and going out with strangers in a country that is foreign for you, is probably not a good choice. Talk to your relatives and if you really want to meet them, then take a group with you but do not go on your own. That's my opinion.....

I think it's reasonable to be open to meeting new people - but you need to observe basic cautions. I would NOT go to visit anyone - but only meet them in a public place for a coffee or whatever. After spending some time you might decide to pursue a friendship - then I would invite them to visit you at the relative's house. And if you go to meet them give the relative the name, phone number and place where you will be.

And not to be paranoid - but never leave the table with your coffee or drink on it - there are way too many guys running around with ruffies.

After all,, this is not like being at home and meeting people who are friends of friends - or who you have seen several times at some place you normally hang out. You can certainly be friendly - but must also be careful. (When we traveled in europe with my 2 teen step-daughters they went out in the evening several times with young people (both sexes) they had met. But they were 2 together - and they went only to cafes or clubs - NOT to anyone's apartment.)

The fact that you are asking means something inside you has been triggered to be cautious.

Do not deny the Gift of Fear and always trust your gut.

Do not go. Do not pursue in any circumstances. You have a lifetime to make friends in better situations.

OK -- maybe I'm a bit too skeptical -- but honestly, would a 17 yo girl register on Fodors to ask this question? Wouldn't other websites/social media be more on your radar?

Just seems odd for a teenager to seek out Fodors to ask about being hit on in Vienna?? :-?

If you are legit and this really happened -- sorry for questioning you, and run - don't walk - RUN away from this guy. Don't meet him in a public place or anywhere else.

This is perfectly normal behavior for young people, it hardly means the guy is some sex trafficker. I don't think they would masquerade as some selling Mozart tickets. Yes, of course, this kind of stuff happened to me all the time when I was young, that's how young people meet.

However, I would say the big problem is you are only 17, not in your 20s. The guy doesn't know that, obviously, you said you look older. Now that may be right up the alley of a lot of guys, but I think that may not be what he bargained for, either. I don't know how common it is for 17 year olds to go to bars in Vienna, or the legality of that. Some places in Europe are pretty casual about that, but in others, you are supposed to be with parents or something to be served underage. 18 is the age to be served in a lot of European countries, I think.

IN short, do you usually hang out in bars with friends at home? If so, and your parents know about that, I don't see anything wrong with meeting up with him if you had a girlfriend with you or something, and just went to the local bar to meet him and some friends. If you don't know anyone to go with -- I don't know, I think you are just a bit too young to be meeting guys in bars on your own. If you were in your 20s, I might think it okay if you didn't leave with anyone and it was just a local casual cafe/pub type place (I know Vienna has some as I've been there) and you had a safe way to get home and didn't leave too late.

This is a no-brainer. Ditch him.

Thanks for your advices. I find it odd that he is aware of my age and still wants to show me around or grab a drink, etc. I guess since this has never happened to me before, I didn't know how to react.

Don't worry. If it's a public place there's nothing bad about it. Don't get paranoid. It happens a zillion times, just don't go to his place. That's the way life is... LOL. Some people here are just overly paranoid. Asking such a question, you're not from a bigger city, right?

Haha actually I'm from Toronto. It's considered big but it's definitely not as big as nyc or los angeles, to name a few.

So why worry! Have a great time.

hey, Pickapick...Mississauga here!

And I still maintain to stay away from the guy

Police is 110 or 112 free from any phone. You may be cuter than you think

hi anita63!
I would have been fine if he were to show me around in the afternoon but I guess the time kind of concerns me.

Too late, ditch him.
Bye.

think so too

I'm suddenly feeling old... Basically, what you're supposed to say later in the evening is "You can't come to my place tonight". He has to answer that that's ok. and he never intended to, but that you're the most beautiful girl.

Why do you make all this so difficult. It was all so simple and straightforward when I was young. LOL.
You're not the only girl and he's not the only guy.

Thanks for your advices. I find it odd that he is aware of my age and still wants to show me around or grab a drink, etc. I guess since this has never happened to me before, I didn't know how to react.>>

how is he aware of your age? you told him. not strange at all that a 20ish bloke wants to 'hang out" with a 17 year old girl. and going to a bar is completely normal for 17 year olds in europe - it's even legal in most of them though you're not supposed to drink alcohol until you're 18 in some.

logos - I'm with you here. happens every day. it's what makes the world go round.

OP - Please be careful. I second what others here have said. Take some other friends or a relative and go with someone and go to meet them at a public place. And absolutely watch any drink at all times. It's better to throw a few euros away on a drink that you left unattended than to pick it up and risk being dosed with rohypnol or GHB or worse. Also, don't feel ashamed to call someone to come and pick you up from wherever it is that you meet this person - IF you choose to meet them.