Villa Rentals -- PLEASE read this before you go!!
Jul 25th, 2006, 06:22 AM
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Villa Rentals -- PLEASE read this before you go!!
I hate to spread fear...but there is an article in August 2006 Conde Nast Traveler magazine about the recent rise of burglaries and other crimes related to villa rentals primarily in Caribbean, but Europe as well.
Anyone thinking about renting or about to go on a villa rental vacation MUST read this article! There is a security checklist that is invaluable for your safety.
I checked CNT's website and this article is not on it...yet. They have July articles, but not August. Not sure if this will be on the website, but again...do yourself a favor and get the magazine from library or buy it..if you are renting a villa.
Hope this helps...
Debi
Anyone thinking about renting or about to go on a villa rental vacation MUST read this article! There is a security checklist that is invaluable for your safety.
I checked CNT's website and this article is not on it...yet. They have July articles, but not August. Not sure if this will be on the website, but again...do yourself a favor and get the magazine from library or buy it..if you are renting a villa.
Hope this helps...
Debi
Jul 25th, 2006, 06:41 AM
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If you really want to be frightened by what could happen in vacation homes, watch the German movie "Funny Games" - very weird.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119167/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119167/
Jul 25th, 2006, 11:06 AM
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Jul 25th, 2006, 11:30 AM
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Ira..the caribbean isnt washington dc either.
The dc chief of police has declard a crime emergency after 14 murders in 2 weeks.
This is what a uk paper had to say about dc
http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,1824587,00.html
The dc chief of police has declard a crime emergency after 14 murders in 2 weeks.
This is what a uk paper had to say about dc
http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,1824587,00.html
Jul 25th, 2006, 11:32 AM
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NO, the Caribbean isn't Europe,nor vice versa. And this is not meant to be a fear mongering article. It is meant to make travelers aware of certain issues that may effect their safety.
I cannot imagine why anyone would object to reading something that may help them to be aware of potential issues.
Debi
I cannot imagine why anyone would object to reading something that may help them to be aware of potential issues.
Debi
Jul 25th, 2006, 11:42 AM
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"I cannot imagine why anyone would object to reading something that may help them to be aware of potential issues...."
Welcome to Fodors LOL...thanks for posting.
I actually read the article (in hard copy) and agree it does help to be aware of some of these things no matter where you are.
Welcome to Fodors LOL...thanks for posting.
I actually read the article (in hard copy) and agree it does help to be aware of some of these things no matter where you are.
Jul 25th, 2006, 12:03 PM
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In the part of the article about Europe, the woman in Stillwater, Minnesota thought the renter should program their telephone to call the Owner, Agent, and the Police. The renter should learn some basic terms or phrases in the local language.
I think is one of the stupidist idea I've seen for come some time. Usually a tourist who speak a small phrase, the person who is receiving the phrase and will respond with something the tourist won't understand. I don't even want to tell the Stillwater travel agent about the chance of the telephone within the European system. I think she should take a trip before she's making ideas.
Sorry, this turned out to be a rant. Sillyness gets my motor running.
Blackduff
I think is one of the stupidist idea I've seen for come some time. Usually a tourist who speak a small phrase, the person who is receiving the phrase and will respond with something the tourist won't understand. I don't even want to tell the Stillwater travel agent about the chance of the telephone within the European system. I think she should take a trip before she's making ideas.
Sorry, this turned out to be a rant. Sillyness gets my motor running.
Blackduff
Jul 25th, 2006, 12:10 PM
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Thanks for posting this. I had heard stories about crimes such as this in the Caribbean quite a while ago. However, it pays to be careful no matter where you stay. The two villas we rented in Massa Lubrense, Italy, the one in in Praia da Luz, Portugal and the apartment in Villefranche-sur-Mer all had shutters which could be closed and locked from the inside over the windows. Glass sliding doors had the same thing. We were told by managers for the rentals to close and lock them at night. When I asked, at each location, if the area is unsafe, the reply was that one never knows what might happen and it is better to take the precaution than regret it later. It was a simple thing to do for peace of mind.
Jul 25th, 2006, 01:53 PM
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I don't think this article is spreading fear, IMO it is making travellers more aware of safety concerns. I stayed in a house in Italy that was outside of town..near a factory area. I was told to not walk outside of the gardens of the house by myself due to crime problems along the isolated streets due to immigrants (legal or illegal I do not know) that were looking for victims. Being aware of safety issues is very good, shouldn't we all have knowledge of safety issues? I just received an email from our local PD concerning the same subject even though basically the city I live in which has a very low crime rate. Maybe because our fantastic PD does an excellant job of communicating with the residents.
Jul 25th, 2006, 02:49 PM
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massagediva, if you are referring to my post and it sounds as though you are..let me say that I live in N CA and we have legal and illegal immigrants everywhere. I have legal immigrants in my own family.
I was REFERRING to a high crime area on the outside of a town in Italy..where unfortantly immigrants were terrorizing the locals so to speak due to the high crime rate. Like it or not, that is the facts. Nothing racist about my comments..if the crimes had been committed by the residents I would have mentioned that. Naples for example, in some areas the crime rate is high, due to crimal activities by the residents.
Do NOT read something into my post that is not there, please. You have no idea that perhaps I make donations to help illegal immigrants in my area do you?
I was REFERRING to a high crime area on the outside of a town in Italy..where unfortantly immigrants were terrorizing the locals so to speak due to the high crime rate. Like it or not, that is the facts. Nothing racist about my comments..if the crimes had been committed by the residents I would have mentioned that. Naples for example, in some areas the crime rate is high, due to crimal activities by the residents.
Do NOT read something into my post that is not there, please. You have no idea that perhaps I make donations to help illegal immigrants in my area do you?
Jul 25th, 2006, 04:55 PM
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Well,LoveItaly,sometimes things are read into something aren't there at all.If I read your post correctly,you were saying that you were TOLD to watch out for immigrants looking to commit crimes.I was not implying that that was your judgment or fear.My thought was that many are quick to blame local problems on immigrants.I didn't call you a racist and I wasn't thinking anything of the sort.
Jul 26th, 2006, 03:58 AM
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Hi
Just wanted to write that I read the article in Conde Nast Traveler. People seem to have lost sight of the article itself, instead of discussing, immigrants or their own personal agenda, why don't people read the article before slamming each for their views.
Just wanted to write that I read the article in Conde Nast Traveler. People seem to have lost sight of the article itself, instead of discussing, immigrants or their own personal agenda, why don't people read the article before slamming each for their views.
Jul 26th, 2006, 06:18 AM
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I am topping this so others will see it and have a chance to read article. Thanks for words of support...I am just trying to help everyone stay safe and ENJOY their well deserved vacations!
Debi
Debi
Jul 26th, 2006, 09:36 AM
#20
I must admit that one of my colleages rented an enormous luxury villa in Mallorca with numerous other friends (I think they were 5 couples) and one night when they were all out at dinner, the villa was burglarized. Those who had not left money or cameras lost nothing. The others were upset.
