The Best Travel Guides For Budget Travelers: Travel Guidebooks, Online Travel Guides & More, Guide to Budget Backpacking in Europe - The Savvy Backpacker - How to Backpack Europe Cheap. Travel Tips, Costs, Itinerary, Routes, Packing Lists, Hostels, Eurail Passes, Planning Checklist & More

Traditionally, guidebooks have been the traveler’s bible, and I think they’re still a great resource for planning your journey. Although, over the past few years there has been a proliferation of online travel resources and it is now easier than ever to find out about the best Europe has to offer.  I think any good travel planning should include both printed travel books and online guides.

I often hear people mention that they don’t want to plan their trip, but they would rather “play everything by ear.” They have romantic notions of “finding that great little cafe” by accident. I think this is a terrible idea (trust me, I was one of those people).   European cities are full of little gems—but they’re often hidden away and you’d never find them unless you knew exactly where to look. Without some foreknowledge you’re going to waste a lot of precious time and you’re going to miss out on many great things.

There are hundreds of guidebooks and travel guide websites out there, but I am  going to mainly focus on the ones geared towards budget and younger travelers.

In this guide I will review “traditional” travel guidebooks but I will also review new sources of travel information—like online guides.

Independent Online Guides—Written By Locals

Spotted By Locals: Having a local show you around is the best way to experience a city but many of us don’t have that luxury. This is where the multi-award winning site Spotted By Locals steps in. I really like these guides because they’re written by hand-picked locals. I believe that most their writers are students/young professionals so the reviews are geared toward the twenty-something budget-conscious traveler.

The guides are currently available for 30 popular European cities, and unlike guidebooks, these are updated multiple times a year. You’re not going to find much information about “tourist” stuff but you will find plenty of information about local restaurants, bars, clubs, specialty grocery stores, shops, markets and plenty of other “under-the-radar” spots. I find that these guides have a fairly heavy focus on restaurants/bars (with plenty of budget options).

Each guide costs 3.99€ and comes as a PDF. They also publish a free blog for each of the cities. Spotted By Locals has won a bunch of travel awards so you know the guides are going to be good.

InYourPocket: I believe I first saw these free guides when traveling in Krakow. They now offer free online guides to numerous cities throughout Eastern Europe (and a handful of Western European cities). These guides are written by local English speakers and are available for free download on their website. They still print free guides (available at various hostels) or you can buy the printed guides before you go (5€-8€ w/ postage included).

I like InYourPocket guides because it gives you a lot of practical information about the city (public transportation tips/maps, city maps, money saving tips, helpful words/phrases, upcoming events, etc). The guides are updated every few months so the information is current. There is a lot of good information about stuff to see and do at every price point. You’ll find a decent amount of advertisements but its free.

Unlike.Net: If you want to know where the hip people hang out head over to Unlike.Net. The guides are written by culture-savvy journalists, fashion, art, music professionals and other people way cooler than we’ll ever be. You’ll find trendy bars, restaurants, shops, concerts and other interesting things. Right now they have about a 8 European cities. Unfortunately, most trendy things are expensive so a lot of the stuff on this site skews toward the pricier side—although there are still some budget friendly suggestions.

What really sets this site apart is its iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad city guide App. The city guides can be downloaded (so you don’t need to be online to get info) and you can customize your own tour. The App will allow you to see all the cool stuff that is within proximity so you don’t have to do a lot of searching while you’re on the go. The Unlike App cost 3.99€/city and you can find a bunch of free info on their site.

Superfuture SuperGuides: Are you a trendsetting traveler that loves to drop a lot of cash? Well, Superfuture’s SuperGuides might be perfect for you. The SuperGuides are geared toward travelers on the cutting edge of fashion and design, and that want to know the coolest new shops and places to visit. The information is updated every month so you can be sure you’re only reading current reviews. The true budget traveler probably won’t find this too helpful because a lot of the stuff in these guides are fairly high-end. Each guide costs $20—so, it too, is on the high end of the spectrum.

Crowdsourced Travel Guides

TripAdvisor: The mecca of user generated travel reviews. This is one of my favorite sites to visit when first planning a trip. The reviews are written by a wide range of travelers, each with different expectations, so not everything you read is going to be from the point of view of a young budget traveler. You have to read into the reviews a bit but I still think it is a great resource.

WikiTravel: The wikipedia of travel. There is a lot of really good practical information about European countries/cities. All the major tourist things will be highlighted and some guides will give recommendations for hostels/shops/restaurants/etc. I like to go here to get a good overview of each city.

Traditional Guidebooks

I think a good guidebook can be very valuable. Personally, I like to use guidebooks to find out about the tourist things (museums, sights, attractions) but I would rather find non-tourist things (hostels, restaurants, shops, bars, etc) from the online resources I listed above—although a guidebook will still list many good “non-tourist things.” There are many guidebooks available and each one caters to a different audience/niche. It is important that you get one that fits your travel style.

Guidebooks are generally split between focusing on all of Europe or focusing on a specific country/city. I think the country/city specific ones have better information, but if you visit multiple countries it doesn’t make sense to take multiple books with you (this is why I think having electronic guides on your smart phone/iPod Touch is a great idea). On the other hand, if you only plan on visiting one country it doesn’t make sense to get a book that covers all of Europe (duh).

I recommend going to a bookstore to check out the travel guidebooks in person. You’ll find tons of travel books at Barnes & Noble, Borders or any other bookstore. Take a few that look interesting and flip through them for a few  hours. If you don’t want to spend money, you can always write down the things that look interesting in your homemade travel guide and not buy the book. I like to buy my books on Amazon because the prices are so much better than in the store.

Lonely Planet: The most popular guidebook series—especially with young, budget orientated travelers. There is a lot of good information in these books and I think they’re worth checking out. Their “Europe on a Shoestring” is especially designed for budget travel. The guides are only updated every two years so some information might be out of date (although, this is fairly common among guidebooks).  Although, be warned that any place that gets featured in a Lonely Planet book will likely be overrun with tourists—this makes some travelers shun the LP series.

Lonely Planet allows you download guides in PDF format and you can pick which sections you want to buy. I think this is a really great idea—I usually just cut the pages that are interesting anyways.

Rick Steves—Europe Through the Back Door: Rick Steves is a seasoned travel writer/television show producer and he has published multiple travel books. His “Europe Through the Back Door” series is very popular with travelers of all ages. It is written for independent travelers who want to get away from the touristy stuff. He also has a bunch of country/city specific guides. In addition, he also has a few travel guide iPhone Apps.

Rick Steves also has all 66 of his PBS travel shows available on Hulu for free (US Only).

Fodor’s Guidebooks: Fodor’s publishes some high quality guide books and I know a lot of people who really like them. I think you should check them out. 

Rough Guides: Another popular series that is popular with younger travelers.

Let’s Go: These guides have been a long time favorite of student travelers but I’ve heard the quality is starting to go downhill (I guess they were purchased by a different company). There have been many reports that the 2010 versions on the books have less content and are less helpful than earlier editions. You can always buy the 2007-2009 versions but much of the info could be out of date. Although, I hear the maps in these books are really good. If you see one at a bookstore you might want to thumb through one, but I don’t think I would recommend buying one.

Eyewitness Guides: The eyewitness guides seem to get good reviews but I think they are better for travelers with deeper pocketbooks. They do have a lot of pretty pictures so these are great to read through at the bookstore, but I probably wouldn’t buy one to take with me while I traveled.

Miscellaneous Travel Guide Sites

Time Out: Time Out is a pretty good online travel site (they also publish travel books) that caters to younger, more budget-oriented and culturally hip travelers. They have guides to a lot of the major cities in Europe so you’re bound to find something interesting. The website is free and they also offer iPhone apps for a bunch of cities that cost £2.99/city.

Do you have a favorite website or guidebook? Leave me a comment and I will check it out!

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The Best Travel Guides For Budget Travelers: Travel Guidebooks, Online Travel Guides & More, Guide to Budget Backpacking in Europe - The Savvy Backpacker - How to Backpack Europe Cheap. Travel Tips, Costs, Itinerary, Routes, Packing Lists, Hostels, Eurail Passes, Planning Checklist & More

Want to truly experience the local culture, save money and make friends all over the world? Then you should consider  CouchSurfing. The couchsurfing scene has exploded over the past few years and it is hugely popular in Europe. The experience is more than just a free place to sleep, because when you couchsurf you get the rare opportunity to change from an outsider to an insider. This site will explain what you need to know to become a successful couchsurfer.

What Is CouchSurfing?

“CouchSurfing is an international non-profit network that connects travelers with locals in over 230 countries and territories around the world.” — Couchsurfing.org

Basically, it is a group of people who open their homes/couches/beds/floors to other travelers for free. The online community revolves around couchsurfing.org. It has grown to be the largest online hospitality community with over 2.2 million members in 237 countries and territories, averaging around 60 million daily page views.

Each member first creates a profile. Then the site allows travelers and hosts to connect up. The hosts will indicate if they have a couch available (or if they’re willing to meet for drinks) and the travelers search the profiles of hosts with available couches. They email back and forth to see if the arrangement works for both parties.

CouchSurfing.org has the largest community but there are is Global Freeloaders and Hospitality Club.

What Are The Hosts Like?

The people who host couchsurfers will all vary. Some host people every week. Some host 1-10+ people at a time. Some will make you meals. I even know of some who just give you the keys to their house and leave for the weekend. Or you might have a really busy host who can only offer you a bed and nothing else.  Some hosts are older people and some are students. Most hosts tend to be open-minded individuals who genuinely want to show off their city to new visitors.

A lot of hosts will give you advice about where to go and what to see. Many times they’ll take you around the city and show you good bars and restaurants.

Safety Concerns

I think it is understandable to have some concerns about safety. CouchSurfing.org says 99% of all stays are positive and all the couchsurfers that I know all had positive experiences. But you still want to be cautious.

Be sure to check references, vouching from past travelers, friends and don’t forget to read each hosts profile.

The most vulnerable type of person are single women travelers. Luckily, there are plenty of female hosts (many of whom will only accept female guests). It is generally advisable to only stay with people who have a lot of references. Make sure you read all their feedback too. Always have a backup place to stay just in case something goes wrong/doesn’t feel right.

Tips For Successful CouchSurfing

Complete Your Profile: You’re not going to get a lot of responses from a partially completed profile. Fill it out honestly and make sure it is up-to-date.

Don’t Send Mass Request: Hosts hate it when you simply send out an impersonal copy-and-pasted mass email to a bunch of  hosts. Carefully read each hosts profile and send them a personalized email asking if they would be willing to host you. In fact, look for hosts with the same interest as you. It helps ensure compatibility and you’re more likely to be accepted by the host. Also, give them the specific dates of when you’re traveling—don’t just say “I’m visiting your city in April. Can you host me?”

It Is More Than A Free Room: Couchsurfing is not a hotel service, but many new surfers make the mistake of thinking it is. It is about sharing your culture with someone else and creating a sense of community. Hosts really go out of their way for their guests and they don’t appreciate people who just want a free couch. This is a big problem in large cities because hosts get inundated with request so make sure you’re doing couchsurfing for the right reasons.

Don’t Contact Host Super Early/Late: Remember that hosts have their own lives that don’t revolve around you. They have to make special arrangements when they have guests so you want to give them enough time to prepare. So you shouldn’t wait until last minute to contact them. Also, don’t contact them months ahead of time either. I would usually try to contact them 10-21 days ahead of time.

Search Active Users: CouchSurfing.org has over a million members. Many people sign up and forget about their profile. This is why it is smart to filter people based on when they last logged onto the website. If someone hasn’t signed on for 6 months there is a good chance they’re not an active host.

Hosts Have Lives: Remember that the hosts have lives too and they’re not doing this to cater to you. Sometimes something comes up and they have to cancel. This is a risk you take as a couchsurfer so always have a plan B.

Bring A Gift: Don’t give your host money but it is nice if you give them a small gift. Wine and beer can be nice (if it is appropriate for their culture). Or some fruit. Maybe a little souvenir from your hometown or another small gift. Don’t spend a lot of money but get something that shows your appreciation.

Communication: Make sure you ask about the house rules. If you’re looking to party, make it known when you’re searching for a host. If you’re upfront about it you’re more likely to get a compatible host. Many hosts are young university students so they live in small apartments. You want to let them know right away how many people are in you group. If they’re expecting one person and four show up it could make the host angry.

Also, find out when is the best time to arrive and stick to that schedule. Try not to be super early or really late. Always contact them if plans change so they know what is going on.

Don’t Overstay Your Welcome: A lot of couchsurfers abuse their stay by staying too long. Many hosts are too nice to tell them to leave. Try to limit your stay to one or two nights.

Interact With Your Host: Make an effort to talk to your host. They bring people into their home because they like the social aspect of couchsurfing.

Clean: Always clean up after yourself. Take out the trash. Fold up your bedding and make sure you keep your bags out of the way.

Cook: Cook your own food. Many hosts are totally fine with you using their kitchen but don’t take their food. Offer the host whatever you’re making. They may decline but it is a nice gesture.

Vouch For Your Host: If everything went well be sure to leave positive feedback on the website.

If you want more information go the the couchsurfing.org wiki page.

Things To Think About

CouchSurfing isn’t always 100% reliable. Hosts can cancel last minute and it can often be hard to get people to respond to your requests. It takes a lot of time to find a host, especially in large cities where there are tons of other travelers.

Sometimes staying with someone you don’t know might limit your freedom. They might require you to be back at a certain time or ask you to leave while they’re not home. You also might not ‘click’ with your host and it can be award. If you’re staying in a hostel there are many people so you’re more likely to find someone you get along with.

Many hosts don’t live right in the center of town because it is so expensive. Therefore, the location might be less convenient for sightseeing.  Although, this allows you to see part of the city that you probably wouldn’t have ever experienced otherwise so it isn’t always a negative.

Even though its called “couchsurfing” it doesn’t mean you’ll always be sleeping on a couch. You could get lucky by getting a comfy bed or you might have to sleep on the ground.

Final Thoughts

I think couchsurfing is a great idea. It gives you the chance to really meet the locals and to see parts of the city that 99% of tourists never experience.  It also gives you the chance to meet people on a deeper level and hopefully you’ll make life-long friends. I also don’t think it is a great long-term solution for accommodation because it isn’t always possible to find somewhere to stay.  I suggest a mix of hostels and couchsurfing.

Hostels are great but sometimes it is nice to get some privacy. If you want change things up a bit, consider renting an apartment or flat in Europe. It is a great way to experience living like a local, and in some cases, it can save you money (especially if you’re traveling in a group). In fact, if possible, I always recommend renting an apartment over booking a hotel. This guide will help you decide if apartment rental might be an option during your trip to Europe.

Advantages To Renting An Apartment in Europe

Money Savings: The cost of renting an apartment drops considerably when split between 2+ people. In fact, the price per person can often be less than what you’re pay at a hostel. For example, I saw a listing for an apartment in Paris that was across the street from Notre Dame and the rent was 700€/week. Split between 3 people this apartment only costs each person about 33€/night. Another benefit is that most apartments can be much nicer than many upscale hotels—plus you get a kitchen.

Local Living: Renting an apartment is a great way see where the locals live. You’ll be in close proximity to neighborhood bakeries and restaurants.

Amenities: With an apartment you’ll get your own kitchen, bathroom and probably a TV. Many come with free phone and internet. You might get lucky and find one with a washing machine.

Disadvantages To Renting An Apartment In Europe

Minimum Stay Length: Most apartment rentals have a 7 day minimum but this isn’t always the case. I’ve seen plenty that rent by the day but I believe 7 days is pretty standard.

No Reception Desk: If something goes wrong (e.g. there is no hot water) the owner isn’t always available to tend to the problem right away. This is a fairly minor concern though.

Possible Extra Costs: Some rental companies charge extra fees for things like cleaning, internet, deposits and other charges. The extra fees will be listed but don’t forget to take them into account.

Rental Legitimacy Concerns: Most of the time you’re dealing with an individual and many people have doubts about giving a stranger their money—especially over the internet. Luckily, most rental companies are legit and I don’t personally know anyone  that has gotten ripped off. Although, be careful and do a little research first.

How To Find An Apartment Rental In Europe

Rental Agencies

There are many rental agency sites dedicated to apartment rentals—way too many to list here. I suggest googling “short term apartment rental + your city” and you’ll find a ton of listings. I like to compare the prices of a few different sites because each site will have different apartments for rent. I also google the rental company to see if it got positive feedback from other travelers.

‘By Owner’ Rental Services

‘By owner’ sites allow apartment owners to advertise their apartment to travelers so you deal directly with the individual landlord—not through a third party rental agency. This option is a bit more risky because you’re dealing with the owner and you never know how professionl the owners are going to be. You usually get a chance to speak to them over the phone (which I recommend because you can tell a lot about a person by the way they speak to you) or through email. If something doesn’t feel right, move on.

Here are a few sites which all come recommended by other travelers:

AirBnB: AirBnB is a service that connects budget travelers with locals who have space to rent. This site is kind of like couchsurfing but it isn’t free (although the accommodation is often nicer). Sometimes the locals have an extra room and sometimes they rent our the entire apartment.  The site has a lot of nice photographs of the rentals and you pay for your stay through AirBnb (so you don’t have to worry about getting ripped off). As with most sites like these, you’re going to have more selection in larger cities and you might not find anything in smaller towns.

Crashpadder: The same idea as AirBnB.

iStopOver: Similar to AirBnB and Crashpadder

Craigslist: Good ol’ craigslist. You’ll find tons of people renting their apartments on craigslist. Many of the offerings are posted by rental agencies but you’ll also find individuals renting out their unoccupied apartments. The apartments that are being rented by individuals tens to be cheaper because they don’t have to pay agency fees. Be cautions of fraudulent postings and don’t rent if something doesn’t feel right. Just use your common sense.

VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner): VBRO is the largest online “by owner” rental site. I’ve never used them but they have something like 150,000+ rental properties available and they’ve been around since the mid 1990s. They do tend to have nicer places (ie more expensive) but there are still plenty of budget friendly options. It is worth checking out. NOTE: I hear that VRBO makes it difficult to leave negative feedback about apartments. The owners can choose to not display negative feedback—but if they choose this option they can’t display positive feedback either—so I thought I should make that known.

HomeAway: Another “by owner” rental site. There are tons of rentals posted so it is worth checking out.

First off, Europe is pretty safe and there isn’t a ton of violent crime. Most would argue that large European cities are much safer than most large American cities. Unfortunately, there are plenty of people that want to separate you from your money. This guide will explain the most common traps tourists fall victim to so you won’t do the same.

Pickpockets and Theft In Europe

Europe is known for its pickpockets so you really have to be careful. Young travelers tend to carry around a lot of expensive (and easy to steal) electronics so you’re a prime target. It is really easy to get your money/camera/passport/iPod in an instant and so you need to be vigilant. Here are some tips on how to avoid becoming another pickpocketing victim.

• Beware Of Crowds: Busy streets, crowded subway cars, buses, trains and places with a lot of tourists attract thieves. That person rubbing up against you might be trying to sneak his hand into your bag. Know where your valuables are at all time and don’t let your guard down.
• Watch Your Bag/Purse: Always look after your stuff. Setting your bag or purse on the ground while you eat is an invitation for a thief to steal your bag. You you’re going to set it down put your leg through the straps so you’ll feel if someone is trying to take it. Ladies (and European men), make sure your purse has a zipper. Multiple zippers are even better.
• Pay Attention: Many thieves will use a knife to cut your bag open so you really have to be alert. Some bag manufactures make bags with steel cables woven into the material. This helps prevent someone from cutting into your bag. I wouldn’t use one but it is an option.
• Lock Your Zippers: You can get little luggage locks for your bag’s zippers. You can also use twist-ties. Thieves want easy targets so even a twist-tie is enough to make them move on to an easier target.
• Beware of Distractions: Most pickpockets work in teams. One person distracts you with a map or something similar, and the other person swipes your cash. Groups of little kids are also used a distractions.
• Keep Your Wallet Safe: Keeping your wallet in your back pocket is a pickpockets dream so keep it in your front pocket. I also suggest wrapping a rubber band around your wallet because it makes it much harder to slip out of your pocket without being noticed.
• Money Belt: Honestly, I hate money belts. They are annoying and uncomfortable. I wore mine for about 5 minutes before taking it off. But, many people swear by them. Wear one if it makes you feel safe.
• Fake Wallet: Some people have mentioned about keeping a fake wallet full on expired credit cards/old Blockbuster cards and maybe a few euros. This way a pickpocket will hopefully steal this unimportant wallet. It might also come in handy if you ever get mugged.
• Don’t Show Your Wealth: Don’t wear expensive jewelery and don’t show off your fancy camera/ipod when you’re not using it.
• Secure Your Bag To Something: The “snatch-and-run” is a very popular, especially on trains and buses. I like to use a retractable cable lock to attach my bag to the seat or luggage rack on the train or to my bedpost in the hostel. This will be enough of a deterrent to stop someone from running by and grabbing your bag.
• Lock Up Your Stuff: Lock up your valuables in the hostel. Pretty simple.

ATM/Credit Card/Debit Card Fraud In Europe

High-tech theft is on the rise in Europe and it is really hard to do much about it.

• Credit/Debit Card Skimming: It is EXTREMELY easy to “clone” a credit card and this crime is becoming huge. All the thief needs to do is swipe your card through a tiny machine that records all the info from your card’s magnetic strip. The devices are cheap and easy to buy online. In fact, skimming is the biggest problem in bank fraud today. Most often this crime is committed by waiters and shopkeepers. Sometimes they’ll make charges right away but they’ll often wait months before they make a charge.
  • Always use your credit card (or cash) when making purchases at a place of business. It is much easier to contest fraudulent charges with a credit card. It can be a huge nightmare if your debit card gets cloned because it takes much longer to get your money back.
  • I believe that I’ve had my cards cloned — twice. They didn’t make any purchases until about 3-5 months after my trip. I just randomly had a charge in Spain for $1,800 and I had never been to Spain. My credit card company declined it before it went through.
• Stolen Cards: It is pretty common sense that you should report your stolen cards ASAP.
• Using Credit Cards in Payphones: Never use your credit card in a payphone. You’ll get charged a ton. This isn’t illegal but it is still a scam. I know someone who paid well over $100 for a 2 minute call.
• ATM Machines: ATMs are the best way to get cash but they can also be another way to get scammed. Thieves have all sorts to ways to rip you off.
  • Hide Your PIN: Make sure no one is looking over your shoulder. Some thieves have been known or rig up a small camera pointed to the number pad so always use your other hand to cover up the number.
  • Tape In The Card Slot: A common scam is to put clear tape in the card slot so your card gets stuck when it is inserted. After you leave someone comes by with tweezers and gets your card.
  • Report “Eaten” Cards: Sometimes cards just get eaten but some are victims of fraud. Cancel the card if you can’t get it back.
  • ATM W/Skimming Device: This is pretty rare but some thieves outfit ATMs with a cloning device (like mentioned above) and steal hundreds of credit numbers. This is a pretty advanced technique and it can be difficult to detect. If the ATM looks a little funny I suggest finding another one.

Taxis

The dreaded taxi. It feels like even the honest ones are trying to rip you off. Unfortunately, there are plenty drivers who set out to scam unsuspecting tourists – especially in Eastern Europe. You want to really be aware of common scams when taking taxis.

• Uses A Reputable Company: Call ahead and make an appointment for a taxi. If you find on on the street there is a good chance they’ll be a bit sketchy.
• Use Taxi Stands: These are places where real taxis pick up people but don’t assume they’ll all be honest.
• Go By The Meter: Many drivers will claim the meter is “broken” or they won’t turn it on. They’re always going to rip you off in these cases. Insist that they turn it on. Leave if they don’t.
• Ask Tourist Office/Hostel About Price: An unbiased third party should be able to give you a pretty close guess to how much you should be paying for your ride. Ask the cab driver for this estimated cost too and compare the two.
• Get Price Upfront: On non-metered taxis, triple check the price before getting into the car. Always negotiate with predetermined prices. It is also helpful to research the fair price is before you arrive in the city.
• Bags In The Backseat: Don’t chance getting your bags being taken “hostage” in the trunk.
• Carry Small Bills: Some drivers might claim to not have small change so you get back less money than you should.
• Make Your Money Clear: Hand your money to the driver slowly, bill by bill. Then make sure you get all your change back. Double check.
• Never Take Recommendations: Do NOT let seemingly helpful taxi drivers lure you to an establishment they recommend – they may receive a commission for bringing victims to the club/restaurant.

Pretty Girls/Strip Clubs/Etc.

• Pretty Girls: A super common scam involves a pretty girl (or two) and alcohol. They’ll flirt with you and they will eventually ask you to go to a bar/club/restaurant that they know. At the bar they’ll ask that you buy them a drink. What you don’t know is that the girls and the bar are scamming you. Each drinks cost $500+ (they don’t tell you this) and at the end of the night you’re stuck with a $1000+ bill. Magically the girls are nowhere to be found but they’re replaced by a few scary dudes who want your their money. They’ll happily escort you to the nearest ATM while you withdraw your cash. This scam is very widespread in Eastern Europe but it happens everywhere. Many times the police won’t do anything about it so you’re out of luck.
  • So if you want buy a girl a drink I suggest asking the price upfront and then paying as you go. This way you won’t have a surprise bill at the end of the night. If they refuse to let you pay you should just leave the bar ASAP.
  • I also suggest carrying only enough for a few drinks when you go out at night. Leave the cards at home so if you find yourself in this situation you won’t have any money to give them. They’ll probably rough you up so be prepared.
• Strip Clubs: I advise against going to strip clubs because tourists are scammed there all the time. Much like the scam above, you’ll be charged exorbitant amounts for drinks/talking to the hostess/whatever else you do at a strip club.
  • I have a friend who went to a strip club in Paris and they quoted him one price and then they charged him something different. They held him at knife point until he forked over the dough (about $700). This happens multiple times a day.

Money Scams

• Menus Change: Some scummy restaurants will have two menus — one with normal prices and then another higher price. They’ll show you the normal price when you order and then they’ll give you a large bill. When you protest they’ll show you the menu with the high prices.
• Menu Without Prices: I wouldn’t eat at a restaurant that doesn’t advertise their prices. You’re just asking to get ripped off if you do.
• Fake Undercover Police: A common scam involves “undercover” police wanting to check your money because the think you got some counterfeit bills. They’ll inspect you money and trade it out for small bills without you noticing. They’ll often flash a badge to make it all look official. Plainclothes officers don’t deal with tourists so ask them to bring a police car before you’ll give them any access to  your cash.
• Street Money Changers: Never chance money in the street. It is usually illegal and you’re going to get ripped off. If you need to change money go to an official change office.
• Short Change: Shop keepers, taxi drivers and just about anyone else will probably try to short change you at least once during your trip. It is the worst in countries that don’t use the euro because the money is so foreign to tourists. Make sure you count all your money carefully before leaving the register.

Internet Cafe & Hostel Computer Scams In Europe

It is hard to go a long period of time without using a computer these days. While traveling many people use computers to book future travel plans, check email and facebook often. Unfortunately, the computers in internet cafes and hostels can be fully of really nasty software designed to steal your passports/credit card numbers/other information. I would assume that every computer you use is going to be infected in some shape or form.

• Key Loggers: Many computers have “key loggers” installed. These programs record everything you type. So they can easily get into your email/facebook/IM service. They also record credit card numbers and other personal information.
• Viruses: Many computers are infected with viruses and the virus can do all kind of harmful things.
• Much More: There is too much to list when it comes to computer scams.

Computer Safety Tips

• Security Programs: Luckily, it is fairly easy to protect yourself if you have the right tools. The best protection is to download special programs onto an USB flash drive. CafeKlysm is a totally free set of security programs (no advertising or other stuff either) that easily fit onto a flash drive. It includes a portable version of Firefox web browser, a program that allows you to enter sensitive information safely and a bunch of other good stuff.  As long as you use these programs you shouldn’t have any problems with cyber-scams. Also, don’t forget simple stuff like not allowing the browser to “save” your password and signing out when you are finished.

• Gmail: Use Gmail for your email because all the information is encrypted

• WiFi Is Dangerous: Using a wifi connection is never completely safe so you might not want do any banking over wifi.
• Don’t Use Internet Explorer: IE is very easily infected with viruses. Make sure you use the browser on the USB drive.
• Pick Tough Passwords: This is web security 101 but make sure your passwords are complex. It isn’t a bad idea to change your passwords often.
  • Note – Many European countries don’t use an English keyboards so trying can be a little difficult.

Mugging In Europe

Violent crime is generally minimal but there are still plenty cases of muggings. Don’t make yourself an easy target and you shouldn’t have any problems.

• Don’t wear flashy jewelery.
• Stash the expensive electronics.
• Stick to busy, well-light streets at night.
• Be aware when withdrawing money from an ATM.
• Walk with confidence. Muggers want to attack the weak.

Alcohol

Just like at home, don’t accept drinks from random people and don’t leave your drink alone.

Other Tourist Scams

Friendship Bracelets: People will come up to you and tie a piece of string around your wrist and then demand payment for it. This is also used as a distraction for pickpockets.

Helpful Locals: Most people are helpful but some take advantage of you. I’ve heard of locals helping tourists buy train tickets but instead they buy child tickets and pocket the rest of the money. Be very careful of who you trust.

Got Any Good Scam Stories? Post Them In the Comments Box.

I receive a lot of good tips from my readers and I’ve done a lot of dumb stuff during my travels. Learn from our mistakes. This is sort of a “catch-all” for good advice that really doesn’t fit anywhere else. This list will be constantly updated as I receive more helpful advice. Feel free to post your favorite tips in the comment box.

Click here for our guide of money saving tips.

Check Correct Airport/Train Station: Many cities have multiple train stations and airports. It is very common for people to go to the wrong station so be sure to double check.

Get On The Correct Train: It is easy to get on the wrong train. I’ve done it a few times.

Get Off the The Right Stop: Making sure I got off at the right train stop always seemed to give me the most difficulty. The nicer trains have an electronic sign that informs you which stop you’re currently at. But other trains don’t have anything so you have to look out the window to see the physical sign posted at the train stop. This gets more confusing when the city has more then one station. If I wasn’t sure I would wait to see what other people were doing. If it looked like everyone was getting off the train I assumed that I should get off too. You can always ask people around you.

Validate Your Ticket: Many trains/trams/subways require you to validate your ticket after you buy it. Many times you have to do this in the station. You can get fined a lot if you don’t validate your ticket. Some places are tricky too… In the Budapest subway station the validation machines are located before the ticket window so you have to backtrack to validate your ticket. Many tourists never validate their tickets and are hit with a big fine.

Double check your flight/train times: In the hustle and bustle of travel it is easy to overlook crucial details like flight/train times. Many people have showed up a day early or a day late because they didn’t look close enough.

Walking Tours: Take a walking tour. Do it. Seriously. Hell, take a few of them (there are often multiple “themes”). This is the best way to discover a city. I like walking tours much more than bus tours because you see much more cool stuff this way. Make it a point to do a tour on the first day so you can get a feel for the city. There are multiple free tours (the guides work on tips) and plenty of other cheap high quality tours. I recommend checking TripAdvisor to find the best tours wherever you’re visiting.

Look Before Crossing Street: Pay attention when you’re traveling in the UK. The traffic comes from the opposite direction so people have the tendency to step in front of cars/bikes. In London they’ve written “look right” on the crosswalks but tourists get hit by cars/buses every year.

Bathrooms in McDonald’s: Bathrooms are often hard to find in Europe. Many places charge you to use them. I’ve had good luck finding free restroom at McDonald’s. Although some might require you to buy something and some might still charge. You can always try hotels. Just walk in and act like you’re staying there — there is usually a restroom on the ground floor.

Toilet Paper and Baby Wipes: Toilet paper is always nice to have and baby wipes are nice for freshening up.

Zippered Pillow Cases: Stick your wallet (or other flat valuables) in your pillowcase and zip it up. Instant safety.

Gold Bond Medicated Powder: Many travelers rave about Gold Bond Talcum Powder. It has many uses and they sell it in small travel size bottles.

Bring Your Favorite OTC Medicine: I’ve heard from a lot of travelers that cold/flu/allergy medicine in Europe is weak.

Travel Utensils: Having a travel spoon and fork really makes eating food from the grocery store about 1000% easier.

Fake Wallet: A fake wallet can help get you out of a sticky situation. Just fill it with some fake/expired credit cards and maybe a dollar or two. If someone ever demands you wallet throw your fake one at their feet and run.

Keep Your Wallet In Your Front Pocket: Don’t carry your wallet in your back pocket (unless it is your fake wallet) because there is a good chance you’ll get pick-pocketed. I like to carry mine in my front pocket.

Wrap A Rubber Band Around Your Wallet: Wrapping a thick rubber band around your wallet makes it a lot harder to get out of your pocket.

Know The Address To Where You’re Staying (For The Passport Officials): Many passport officials will ask you where you’re staying and they’ll want an address. If you don’t know they’ll take you aside and make you contact the hostel/wherever you’re staying. The UK passport control officers are sticklers about it. They usually won’t let you into the country until you come up with some information. Also, don’t joke around with these guys.

Museum Burnout: Europe has so many great museums and a lot travelers try to visit a ton. I actually recommend limiting the amount of museums you visit because you will get burnt out. Don’t visit more than one a day. After a while everything looks the same and you start rushing through. I suggest only going to ones that are really interesting to you and saving the others for another trip.

Stores Close Early: Most Americans are used to 24/7 grocery stores and are surprised when European stores close early. Don’t be surprised when stuff is closed on Sundays (sometimes Monday).