Avoiding pickpockets on the Mexico Subway

In order to fully explore the huge dimensions of Mexico City, one must use public transport. Here are a few tips to avoid your trip being ruined by pickpockets in such a busy city.

1)     Avoid travelling on a very congested metro especially at peak times as pickpockets take advantage of the closeness to people’s belongings. Over crowded transport is where an anti theft bag comes in necessary.

2)     Do NOT keep any wallets, phones or money in your front or back pockets as they are easily accessible. Keep your belongings in a safe bag, kept close to you.

3)     Unless an anti theft bag, wear your bag in front rather on the back in order to avoid anyone opening and stealing your belongings.

4)     Have a lock on the zips in order to be extra secure and avoid anyone attempting to open your bag.

5)     Carry as little as possible, i.e the essentials. It is unnecessary to carry all your cash on you, especially in a city where not a lot of money is necessary in order to get around.

Nicole Fernandez

How to Avoid Being a Victim of Theft in Greece

While Greece may currently have economic troubles, it remains as one of the most popular holiday destinations. Here are a few tips on how to avoid pickpockets in Greece.

1)    Remember not to hang your belongings, including your handbag on the back side of the chair in restaurants, especially ones near the beach as they tend to be really crowded and the perfect spot for pickpockets to act.

2)    When sightseeing and taking photos, make sure not to get too distracted from your surroundings. Make sure to keep your belongings close to you in order to avoid anyone taking advantage of your hands being busy.

3)    Avoid leaving your belongings on the beach without constantly keeping an eye on them. Pickpockets love going to the beach in summer due to the high volume of tourists and therefore things to steal.  Do not leave them in sight, try and hide them under your towel or clothes.

4)   As many tourists enjoy renting a car when travelling around Greece, if you are one of them do NOT leave your bag on the seat next to you when the window is down as a pickpocket may stick their hand in when you are stationary.

5)   Lastly, beware of any scooter or bike noises coming up behind you as they may ride as your side and attempt to steal your bag or belongings. Furthermore, they may even snatch the whole bag if they are travelling at a high speed.

Safe travels!

Nicole Fernandez Medina

Barcelona Travel Guide

Barcelona, Spain is a wonderful city.  It is full of life, culture and full of sun.The locals speak Catalan. They also speak Spanish. So to get a taste of the local lifestyle, remember to greet locals by saying ‘Bon dia’ (Good Morning), ‘Bona tarda’(Good Afternoon) or ‘Bon vespre’ (Good Evening).  These greetings are sure to start things on a positive note when interacting with the locals.

In Barcelona, there is so much to do. It’s the place for shopaholics, football fans, creatives, designers and architects. It has something for every body. If you are a true shopaholic you have to check out Passieg de Gràcia. It is one of Barcelona’s prominent shopping and business areas. It has all the top global brands and designer brands. The area has a lot of wonderful architecture and culture. It is said to be the most expensive street in Spain. Another shopping hotspot is Barri de Gracia. In this cool urban location there are small fashion boutiques, if you are looking make a few unique purchases.

If you are a football fan you have to make some time to catch a football game at Camp Nou. It doesn’t matter what football team you support at home. It is truly a great opportunity to experience The Barcelona Football Team and enjoy the epic atmosphere in the stadium.

If you want some design inspiration you should make time to visit Basilica of the Sagrada Familia.  No trip to Barcelona is complete without making a visit here. It is still under construction, but seeing the structure in real life is truly breathtaking. If you want avoid waiting in long queues for hours you should get a ticket online and this will fast track you to gain access. Another famous building to check out is the Casa Batlló in the center of Barcelona. Antoni Gaudí redesigned it. Throughout Barcelona you will see more amazing buildings designed by the famous architect, such as the Casa Milà and many more.

La Pedrera

In addition, you should check out Las Ramblas. It is so vibrant, full of energy and there is so much to see and do. Also, definitely explore Mercat de la Boqueria it’s a super cool market, full of fresh produce and it is a wonderful opportunity to try some Catalan cuisine.

Barcelona

Pickpocketing Hotspots in Barcelona

When it comes to being a victim of pickpocketing. We believe prevention is better than the cure. So we wanted to share the pickpocketing hotspots so you are vigilant, prepared and two steps ahead. Please be aware that pickpockets change their location from time to time. But from our experience we have managed to find the common hot spots where pickpockets operate in Barcelona.

Las Ramblas

Las Ramblas is a huge tourist location. The street is buzzing with noise, activity, crowds and movement. It is very easy to get lost in the distraction and become a target for a pickpocket. When in Las Ramblas be very vigilant or better still you can bring your High Spirit backpack with you for extra security for your belongings. The backpack with zips against your back will prevent any pickpockets from stealing your possessions. This will enable you to fully be care-free, especially in places where large crowds gather and there is a lot of entertainment going on.

Sagrada Familia

Pickpockets have been known to operate in this area. Due to the fact that it is a famous tourist attraction, pickpockets will be waiting around to take advantage of their target. In addition, they have been known to target people waiting in queues, so make sure you have your belongings stashed away in your High Spirit backpack or leave your more important items locked in the hotel.

The Metro

Millions of people travel through the Metro, but there have been many pickpocketing incidents in the Metro stations in different locations across the city. As it is a crowded and enclosed place remember to stay vigilant throughout your metro travels.