I have been on over 75 cruises on nearly 20 cruise lines around the world. I've cruised everywhere from the Caribbean to Europe to Asia. Every destination is unique, but there is one thing that remains constant. You should always be wary of travel scams.
Here are some scams I've personally encountered in various countries while cruising, and how you can avoid them.
taxi scam
Let's start with some common ways some taxi drivers scam you.
The first is to present the fare in advance and then turn off the meter. They do this because they can overcharge you. Unless it's a flat rate (in Rome, taxis from the airport to the city center and vice versa are all 50 euros), always ask for the meter to be turned on.
Even if you turn on the meter, some will take the scenic route (aka long distance) to drive up the rates. One time I told a taxi driver that I had to take a long way because the roads were closed due to protests. Of course, there were no protests as we drove past the main road and the road was empty. He didn't know I knew much about that field.
Sometimes, when this happens, there isn't really anything you can do. I like to call it a “tourist tax” and just laugh about it.
Another scam some taxi drivers try is “note exchange” or “changer”, which targets users who are unfamiliar with currency.
After taking a taxi once, the driver told me it would be 18 euros. I handed him the 20 and turned to get out of the car. He then told me again that the ride was 18 euros and I turned to him with 5. He changed the 20 I gave him to a 5 to make him think I gave him the wrong bill. All of this was done in just a few seconds.
My first thought was, “Oh, I must have given him the wrong bill.” But I quickly remembered reading about this scam and realized he was trying to scam me.
I was firm with him and gave him 20 points and he said he was not going to scam me. He tried to convince me to give him a 5 until I said, “Let's talk to the police officer right over there.” He gave up trying to scam me at that point.
Now I tell them out loud which bill I'm handing them so they can't try to trick you.
Below is a hidden video taken by Conor Woodman inside a taxi showing how this works. The only difference is that in the video, the taxi driver replaces the small bills with fake bills.
They also like to say that differences can be maintained because there is no change.
How can you avoid these scams? You can use Uber, but the service is not available in many countries. However, there are usually taxi apps available in each country that can help you avoid being scammed. For example, in Italy they use itTaxi. It's free now in Spain and many European countries. In Asia, we use Grab.
You can charge your ride directly to your credit card, and get estimated fares when you search for rides. The app is the same as using Uber/Lyft, but the ride is via taxi instead of your own car. I recommend using this app when riding in foreign cities.
Another great app I use is Welcome Pickups. Available in 228 cities in 92 countries. You're guaranteed an English-speaking driver, and you can't beat it when it comes to airport transfers. The price is very reasonable and you won't be ripped off. I have used them in Amsterdam, Paris, Spain and Italy.
street scam
It doesn't matter where you are in the world. Street scams seem to be everywhere.
A good rule of thumb is that if someone tries to hand you something and says it's free, it probably isn't free. In Caribbean ports and even in Europe, bracelets or necklaces are often charged after they are worn.
Sometimes they like to hand women “free” roses and make them pay for them once they're in their hands.
Another common street scam is “3 Card Monte,” “3 Cups and a Ball,” or “Find the Queen.” They all run the same and here's how it works:
A group of people can be seen standing and betting on a game that looks incredibly easy to understand. They have three cards, one of which is the queen. The dealer will move them right in front of you and double your money if you can choose the right one.
A group of people are making bets and getting the wrong results. Some get it right and win. As you follow along, you will clearly know which card is the queen and which cup contains the ball. I think it's super easy so give it a try.
No matter how many times you try, you will lose 100% of the time. They never win using dexterity, they are very skilled at it.
The group of people playing before you join the scam makes it easy to win in order to siphon off tourists. Usually about 6 to 10 people enter. They only use feats when you play and never against people involved in fraud. They are basically street magicians trying to trick you.
I've seen this game played everywhere on the streets, from Venice to Paris, Barcelona and Las Vegas. They are always on the lookout for the police and can pack up within seconds if the police come.
This isn't the only way to cheat while in port. Here you can read our article about 10 secret cruise port tricks people keep falling for.
Whatever you do, don't let these common scams stop you from traveling and seeing the world. This is something to keep in mind so you can have the best trip possible.