My wife and I have been pick pocketed only twice on our many visits to Europe over the last 35 or 40 years. Both were in Spain (Barcelona and Madrid). That's never happened to me in the USA, but it doesn't mean that it won't happen in the future.

I must say that I have never felt uncomfortable walking in the "gut" of Barcelona which I liked to prowl in my younger days, However, IMHO the flood of drugs that flowed into the country in the years after the passing of Franco have changed that a bit for me. I never recalled finding used syringes lying about in the alleys of the grotico in the old days.

People with drug habits tend to do some bad things when they need cash, and that can be dangerous to your wallet and or your health. Just a word to the wise to those of you who think it can't happen to you.

You can be sure of one thing..pickpocketing happens also to the locals, nothing to do with nationalities.

Thanks again everyone :)

Padrag- I won't go into detail, but you are completely off the mark for guessing what my security issues might be for going to Spain. You should loosen up a little bit instead of being appalled by a general question.
Nothing person!

Nothing personal!

"I'm not sure I agree that you are going to be LESS in danger of pickpockets in the US than in Barcelona"

In the US they took the pockets too ! (I.e. my coat was stolen.)

Dear Kurt,

Even in Zurich you must watch your wallet or purse for pickpockets and many shops and cafeterias post signs telling you to do so...I lived in NYC for many years and never saw such a sign. Perhaps they have them there now.

A few weeks ago an army boy randomly opened fire on a teen-aged girl at a Zurich bus stop with his army gun. A few boys from my daughters school were beaten up by a crowd of Swiss boys. Last week someone pepper-sprayed an innocent hiker in the park in our little village. Last year 30,000 apartments in Zurich were broken into... Today my daughter called to say a man died of a heart attack on her bus on the way to school - she said it took a really long time for the ambulance to come and no one started CPR....Two weeks ago my 13-year-old called in tears from the bus - the bus-driver was physically fighting with a 13-year-old boy. I hopped in my car to go get her and when I arrived there were police on the scene. Yet, everyone tells me how safe it is here in Switzerland.

I've been traveling a lot in Europe this year and lots of my NY friends ask me if I "feel" safe. I think I felt safer in NYC than in Amsterdam, Venice or Rome because I knew my way around, spoke the language and knew what would constitute "unsafe". For instance, I know where drugs are sold in NYC and how to not be in those areas - in Amsterdam that's a little harder for me to know.

In the past few months I've heard 3 stories from friends about being robbed in Spain. Two people had their luggage stolen from locked car trunks and the other was a purse with wallet etc. So, I'm still going to Spain but I'm going to be very careful when I go. I don't think I'll feel unsafe, but I'll keep a closer eye on my things. People in the US have their cars broken into too. Happens all the time.

Sadly, no place is totally safe. Ask any victims of violence and they'll tell you so. Oklahoma City, 9/11, London, Madrid just made us more aware of random violence.

I'm going to Morocco with my daughter in February and I've been told by many on Fodor's to have a driver or guide for my "safety". I'm going to listen, and sometimes I wonder if I'll "feel" safe or not when I get there.

On the other hand, I used to regularly do business in the WTC and I never felt unsafe there...what's that quote, "we know not the moment or time...?

If safety worry will take away from your enjoyment of your trip perhaps you should pick another country... so many places to go anyway... that feels better to you. Perhaps a few positive experiences under your belt will help the Jamaica experiences to fade and then you'll be ready to venture into what feels to you like less comfortable zones. Also, as you start to read about Spain, perhaps you'll become intrigued and as your excitement grows your worries will diminish. That's what happened to me with Morocco.

Good luck.

gruezi

Morocco is pretty safe though

Any place that is a tourist attraction will be a location where, if I were a pickpocket, I woiuld want to be. It could be Disneyworld, Times Square, Eiffel Tower, Red Square or the Greal Wall of China. So I as a tourist, must be more aware in these areas. The fact that, in general, we all probably mostly go to tourist areas when we travel at should mean that our awareness level is a bit higher in new locations, and is just part of the trip. So when I'm in Cape Cod, Ile st Louis in Paris, or Ghana West Africa I am aware of my surroundings, but not to the point of paranoia.

The fact that you are probably going to somewhere where millions of tourists have already been (Spain) would make me feel comfortable. The implication, (un-intentional I'm sure), is that you will be somewhow targeted differently than the thousands of others tourists in Spain at the same time, at the same location? Can't see that.

Safety is not my top issue, it is simply part of my travel checklist.

There are places where you would be crazy to go due to security, but I would be hard pressed to understand Spain being there.

Why do you think an American would be singled out for special attention?

Overgrown sense of your own importance!

Kurt-- you have a legitimate concern been that you have never experienced Spain travel and there is so much in the media about anti-American sentiment worldwide. I read nothing in your post that makes your concerns too inappropriate. Please disregard the idiots (overseas- crossing a sea to get to a country; does this term really needs to be explained? YIKES!!).

I've been to Spain many times; just back from Spain as a matter of fact. No worries, just be aware of pickpocketing tricks and take precautions.

Have a great time!

Welcome to the world of irrational fears and equally hostile replies.

<i>Welcome to the world of irrational fears and equally hostile replies.</i>

The internet?

Waring, as an American I really appreciate your passive aggressive comment. Perhaps Kurt has it right.

Back on point. I haven't researched his previous posts, so I can't comment on any penchant he might have for annoying Europeans by intimating that their cities are crime havens. But, anyone traveling to a place for the first time should try to get the lay of the land. For example, having been warned about motorcycle purse snatchings in Naples, it makes sense to be aware of the sound of an oncoming bike and tuck the bag away like a running back hitting the hole.

Crime patterns exist in cities. I'm more aware that I might be clubbed in NYC than in Madrid, and that my pocket will be picked in Madrid before it is in NYC. However, one must remember that they are not mutually exclusive.

IMHO your bearing has a lot to do with your likelihood of being the victim of a crime. Act like a bewildered tourist and you are a target. Act like you are vigilant and will kick a$$ and the criminal will probably look somewhere else. Now before I get accused of being a typical ugly American, I'm not talking about stomping around, just showing confident awareness.

Genuine thanks to everyone, especially Altajoe, Viejero, Michel and Gruezi for the long and kind posts!

As for Waring and Padraig, I think their problem is with the US government. Heck, as the world moves forward most of us will soon realize that we really are all one, and not just country 1 vs country 2. It will be nice when these &quot;borders&quot; vanish.

Thanks again everyone,

Kurt

Mango7 wrote: &quot;As for Waring and Padraig, I think their problem is with the US government.&quot;

I am quite willing to say that there are aspects of US foreign policy that I oppose (and, indeed, I oppose aspects of the foreign policy of a number of other states). I do not see that as a basis for taking against individual Americans.

I don't see that I have a problem. You brought up the question of the treatment of Americans in your header and I made the point that Americans need not expect to be in particular danger. Europeans, with no significant degree of exception, do not target Americans for criminal purposes; that's simply bad business. They target those that appear wealthy and off-guard.

I also made the point that if security concerns dominate your thinking, it shows a bad set of priorities.

Where is the evidence that I have a problem?

Waring can speak for himself.

I see your point. Thanks

Speaking for myself, I cannot understand that a Spanish crook would target people by nationality.

Why would you think that they would?

They neither know nor care about American foreign policy and wouldn't target you for that even if they did.

They are after your money, and if you are carrying greenbacks, you are probably less likely to be attacked, cos they are worthless.

I'm puzzeled by many of the responses here, which seem to dismiss the possibility that crime can be politically motivated and particular nationalities or ethnic groups targeted by criminal elements. If the post had been entitled &quot;Hebron,Ramallah...Anything dangerous for an American Jew?&quot;, would Fodorites have been so &quot;appalled?&quot;

Most responsible guidebooks discuss safey and security while traveling and address particular issues facing identifiable groups such as women, non-whites, or Americans. Depending on the locale, legitimate concerns might be terrorism, extreme sexual harrassment, or something fairly mundane like pickpockets.

Sadley, people are sometimes targeted for nefarious reasons due to their being female, American, persons of color other than white, Israeli, Jewish, etc. And, while most criminals may be economically motivated, if the common assumption is that American tourists, as opposed to Asians, Africans, eastern Europeans, etc. are the ones with the cash/valuables, that would mean they as a group are more likely to be targeted.

As for safety in Barcelona, my parents and I were warned by cruise ship staff a few years ago not to take a lot of money or credit cards into the City. We heeded the warning, but didn't personally feel uncomfortable, not like we did a few days later in Dakar, Senegal. But I still appreciate that the cruise ship informed us of known problems and allowed us to make the decision on what to take into the City.

Hi Gruezi,

And that's why the SVP is so strong in Switzerland. They want the criminal foreigners out, even if that means making law-abiding foreigners in Switzerland feel unwelcomed.

Switzerland was much safer ten years ago. It is still basically very safe today but I personally believe the more foreigners we have, the more crime we have. But one can't stop progress and I don't believe in the SVP nationalistic thinking. It's just as scary as the possibility of crime rates going up.

I think it is entirely sensible &amp; appropriate for Kurt to enquire about safety &amp; security issues in a country he has never visited.

I just don't see why he feels that his nationality is relevant.

If I posted &quot;<i> New York, Orlando..Anything dangerous for a Scot?</i>&quot; what sort of reaction would I get?

For the avoidance of any doubt I should probably stress that I chose New York &amp; Orlando as examples deliberately because I have visited and thoroughly enjoyed both cities on more than one occasion - without even the slightest hint of any safety or security problems.

Jim