Tourists have slammed one European city as one of the ‘worst’ destinations for tourist traps, with one traveller warning that ‘Paris is bad, very bad’ for scams
Regardless of the holiday destination, tourists often fall prey to scams, resulting in them overpaying for goods or services, or even losing money. A group of holidaymakers have slammed a European city as one of the “worst” places for scams targeting tourists. Sharing their experiences on a Reddit forum, they discussed how they had fallen victim to scams in the French capital city of Paris.
Paris, renowned for its breathtaking architecture, rich cultural heritage, and exquisite cuisine, is among the most visited cities globally. However, the city’s bustling streets and crowd of tourists tend to attract opportunists. A Reddit user anonymously posted: “Paris is full to the gills with people hassling and scamming tourists. Far worse than anywhere else I’ve travelled.”
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Tourist scams come in different shapes and sizes – from inflating restaurant bills to pickpocketing. One tourist recounted a terrifying experience they had while using Paris’s Metro system, reports the Express.
The post read: “Paris was the worst incident while trying to buy tickets for the Metro from a machine in the underground. A guy was very insistent that we buy our tickets from him and not the machine. With no one around at the moment he was quite aggressive.
“It was just myself and my daughter. Once I had inserted my card into the machine he pretty much backed off as he wasn’t going to scam us. I can see how someone might fall for it or be intimidated enough to just give in.”
Speaking previously, Sam Willan, the global vice president of marketing for StudentUniverse, pinpointed Paris as one destination where holidaymakers should exercise “extra caution”.
He warned: “While theft can happen anywhere in the world, there are some places you need to be more wary than others.
“Larger cities that are tourist hotspots tend to be popular pickpocket locations – think Barcelona, Paris and Rome.” A recent study also ranked Paris among the top 10 worst European cities for pickpocketing.
Quotezone.co.uk sifted through Tripadvisor reviews to identify which of Europe’s top attractions are most prone to pickpockets and found several Parisian landmarks on the list.
In France, the Eiffel Tower was singled out as the prime hotspot for pickpockets.
This is likely due to the throngs of tourists who gather around the monument to snap photos. While it’s generally safe to visit, it’s crucial to stay alert.