We have friends who live in New York City %26amp; they carry %26quot;mugging%26quot; money to give instead of getting hurt or losing a lot. Is there any need to do this in Paris? Is it a good idea?
amb
|||
bambam, you need to spend some time on the Paris forum( Europe for that matter) . Mugging is not a huge issue ,, you are far more likely to be pickpocketed, and those of us who are careful, and take precautions don%26#39;t worry about that occuring either.
|||
Hello bambam, I%26#39;ve got to agree with Joan on this.. if it makes you feel safe to carry a bit of %26#39;mugging%26#39; money %26#39;just in case%26#39; then go ahead. Chances are, this won%26#39;t be needed, especially if you read other pickpocket related threads and take the advice of other posters. Be smart, know where your belongings are at all times, know who is within your personal space.. etc.
|||
Well, thanks for the little bit of snootiness in the reply joan1. I have been on the Paris forum a lot in the last 8 weeks. No, I haven%26#39;t seen that mugging is an issue but it doesn%26#39;t hurt to ask. Having lived in and visited several big cities, anything can happen. We certainly do intend to be careful as we are anywhere. Thanks.
|||
yes, you%26#39;re right.. anything can happen. in any big city. if you keep your wits about you in paris, as you would in any big city, you%26#39;ll be fine.
here are a couple of links that may be of interest to you. if you do a quick search for pickpocket or scam, you%26#39;ll find many more.
tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g187147-i14-k22109…
tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g187147-i14-k21554…
knowledge is power.
ps. i didn%26#39;t find joan%26#39;s comment to be particularly snarky.
|||
Mrytle,
thank you for the links. i will check them out. i have read many re: pickpockets %26amp; scams. like i said, this was just a question i thought should be asked given the size of the city. mugging is common in most american cities. having never been to europe, i was wondering.
if i took joan%26#39;s comment wrong then i apologize. however, i felt it was a BIT snotty. i%26#39;m sure she will let me know if there was none of that and i will again apologize.
|||
Late at night it is a good idea. Actually, I find it useful to always have some cash on hand(not too much), for many purposes, I keep it in my purse, where it%26#39;s easily accessible, and hide the rest. Never carry money or anything of value in my pockets though, because than its %26#39;too%26#39; accessible.
Cheers
|||
I am totally with Joan on this one. You are far more likely to encounter pickpockets than muggers in Paris. It would seem that there are so many easy pickpocketing targets that mugging is hardly necessary.
A bit of cash is much safer in a deep front pocket of slacks or inside zipper pocket than %26quot;easily accessible in a purse%26quot;.
In fact, the pickpockets are expert at their %26quot;art%26quot; and selecting %26quot;targets%26quot;.
The very best line of defense is to know how to secure anything/everything important to you, then not worry about it.
|||
%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;I am totally with Joan on this one. You are far more likely to encounter pickpockets than muggers in Paris. It would seem that there are so many easy pickpocketing targets that mugging is hardly necessary.%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;
Mugging--ala NYC and other US cities--is a relatively RARE occurence in Paris. Petty-thieves-of-opportunity--pickpockets--are certainly an OCCASIONAL problem....but it would be a mistake to presume that there were marauding hordes of petty-thieves-of-opportunity, preying on hapless tourists. They exist...so it%26#39;s always a good idea to be %26#39;..situationally aware..%26#39; and keep your personal possessions and property secure and under your control---don%26#39;t put your bag down on a bench and then wander off and leave it unattended to find a better camera-angle for your snapshot...or leave your purse on a chair at a café when you go to the bathroom. Don%26#39;t be STUPID and you%26#39;ll be safer in Paris than you are crossing the parking lot of your local COSTCO.
|||
-:- Message from TripAdvisor staff -:-
TripAdvisor staff has removed this post because it did not meet TripAdvisor's forum guidelines with regards to off-topic chat. Please limit conversations to subject matter directly related to the host forum. For example: when in the London forum, please stick to topics that relate to travel within the London Metropolitan Area.
Off-Topic Chatter is a forum for discussions gone afield from the topic of travel. Please note that the Off-Topic Chatter forum is un-moderated -- the Forum Posting Guidelines are not enforced, with the exception of pornographic images or text, hate speech, unauthorized re-prints of copyrighted text, and messages that promote or encourage illegal activities. Each user is expected to take responsibility for his or her own conduct.
To review the TripAdvisor Forums Posting Guidelines, please follow this link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html
We remove posts that do not follow our posting guidelines, and we reserve the right to remove any post for any reason.
Removed on: 4:57 pm, September 17, 2008|||
You must understand that in NYC it is not unknown to have a knife or handgun stuck in your face to facilitate the handing over of cash - this I know from experience - once a 357 Magnum (Dirty Harry%26#39;s weapon of choice) and another time a 9mm Glock. Neither mugger was old enough to vote.
It%26#39;s not something you have to worry about in Paris - as has been said, you may get your pocket picked, you might even have your bag snatched, and if you walk away from your luggage on the street it%26#39;s probably going to take its own trip - but nobody is going to stick a gun in your face.
The reason for the difference is simple. The French (British, Italians, or whoever) would bring down their government if they had to accept the levels of personal danger that Americans regularly put up with. It would create a political scandal that no politician or political party could survive. The people wouldn%26#39;t tolerate it, and so it doesn%26#39;t happen.
I most often travel in Europe without my husband. I live like a European and dine on their schedules. That means that I%26#39;m out after dark every night. I travel by bus, the Metro, and on foot, and I%26#39;ve never felt unsafe, no matter where I was staying and no matter what the hour. I%26#39;ve had no problems and I%26#39;m quite sure you%26#39;ll have none, as well.
Bon voyage.
No comments:
Post a Comment