Regardless of whether this is your first or tenth time in Amsterdam, here are some “irregular” activities to avoid when you’re visiting Amsterdam:

1. Beggars

If you’re new to Europe, especially if you haven’t headed south, you may be surprised to see people on the sides of sidewalks and streets aggressively asking for money. Some are genuinely in need, while others are dressed for the part. An older woman with a large shawl covering her hair and upper body could very well be hiding a normal outfit underneath.

It sounds heartless, but you should be very careful about giving away money. Your generosity could backfire, and you could find yourself ensnared in another scam… or losing your wallet.

2. Tulip stands

Tulips are a symbol of Dutch culture, but the season itself is short. In fact, tulip bulbs can only be planted during the autumn, and chances of successfully growing from bulbs bought out of season are low to impossible.

But that doesn’t stop vendors from selling bulbs year ’round, and the flower market is open every season. Don’t buy flower bulbs on a whim, do your research first and find out which purchases are worth buying, and which will even survive. (Read more about buying tulips here.)

3. Prostitutes

The world’s oldest profession is a legal one in the Netherlands, and the women are rightfully well-experienced with negotiations. If you are going to partake in this business, know exactly what will happen before entering a “red light” room. Will there be physical activity? Where, what, and for how long will determine the price.

Pay careful attention to the details and to what is agreed upon – even the slightest interaction can cost an extra €5 or €10. This isn’t technically a “scam,” but rather a very shrewd business deal. Treat it as such before having any fun.

4. Taxis

Taxis in Amsterdam have a reputation for being over-priced and drivers are known to take long, unnecessary detours. Before hopping in, see that the base price isn’t above €8. Tell the driver where you want to go, and ask him his route. If it doesn’t sound right, go for another cab.

By April 2012, the starting price will be €2.50, the price per kilometer will be €1.83 and the price per minute will be 30 cents. (Read more about taxis and other forms of transportation in Amsterdam.)

5. Junkies

The Red Light District at night has its fair share of sketchy men selling hard drugs and stolen bikes. Despite what they claim to have, you really shouldn’t trust anything they say. To avoid getting in trouble with the law, ignore these sellers. Taking their word will bring nothing but trouble — and their goods are usually fake anyway.

Amsterdam is safe

In the end, Amsterdam is a safe place for tourists, and the buying and selling of goods is well regulated, from the coffeeshops to the boat rides. Use your instincts – if your gut feeling says something is too expensive or too good to be true, back away and find something that feels right.

Have you been scammed in Amsterdam?

Have you encountered any scams while visiting Amsterdam? Tell us about it in our comments section.

Also in our guide: Looking for hotels in Amsterdam that won’t scam you into paying too much? Our editors have pounded down the pavement in Amsterdam looking for affordable hotels, from no-star to three-star, that are central, clean and cheap. Read our recommendations in our guide to Amsterdam.

The post Amsterdam: 5 tourist scams to avoid appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Wandering through Gamla Stan is a wonderful way to get to know the medieval history of Stockholm. The Old Town is one of the best preserved in all of Europe and has a beautiful array of churches, historic buildings, and museums. It is also a great place to pick up overpriced knickknacks and souvenirs. Despite my feelings towards those overpriced souvenirs, what goes on inside the stores is not any kind of scam. It is what goes on just outside of the stores that you need to watch out for.

On Västerlånggatan, the main tourist street in Gamla Stan, the street where you’ll find enough Swedish souvenirs to send you over the luggage limit, you’ll also find a classic street scam.

What to look for (and avoid)

A group of people gathers around a man kneeling on the ground. In front of him is a simple game. Find the ball. It seems easy enough, just watch which box the man hides the ball under and follow along as he scrambles the boxes.

Yep, it’s the old shell game. We’ve all played the game at some point in our life. Of course, usually it only costs a dollar and will result in a stuffed animal being won at the county fair. Here you are “shelling out” 500 SEK notes (about $70). The problem is, you’re not really playing. At least not by any standard of fair play.

The scam is just as simple as the game itself. Instead of actually putting the ball under one of the moving boxes, the man keeps it hidden in his hand. You can’t win. It doesn’t matter which box you choose, there will be no ball and there will be no payout.

Walk on by…

Don’t stop to play the game. Don’t even stop to watch the game. Often times, the scam works with a team. The scammer with the quick hands, maybe even a scammer who plays and, lo and behold, wins, and of course a few cohorts wandering around the crowd, rooting through pockets, purses, and backpacks.

Recently, the Stockholm police force has been cracking down on this, but the scams continue. Warning signs are posted in shop windows throughout Gamla Stan, but tourists and scammers alike pay no heed as the games often take place in plain view of the warning signs.

The best thing you can do is simply keep walking. Don’t slow down to gawk, instead walk past, and enjoy the beautiful sights and history that Gamla Stan has to offer.

Tell us about your experiences

Have you seen this “game” in action? Have you been scammed yourself? Tell us about it in the comments section.

The post Stockholm: Avoid this popular tourist scam in Gamla Stan appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

But aside from just generally watching your wallet or purse, there are a number of scams typically used on tourists in Paris. They should know it’s not so easy to con a Cheapo!

Here are a few of the most typical scams to watch out for:

1. “Free” bracelets at Sacre Coeur

Most days, as tourists start to walk up the steps to reach Sacre Coeur, they face a veritable gauntlet of men trying to trick them out of a few euros. This scam involves someone tying a string bracelet onto your wrist and then refusing to let go until you “pay” for the souvenir.

While these men can be aggressive, they are fairly easy to avoid. Often if you speak French they just leave you alone – a simple “non, merci” should do the trick. (Read more tips for visiting Sacre Coeur.)

2. “Did you drop this gold ring I just found?”

I don’t really understand how this one works, but it must, because so many scammers still do it. It starts like this: as you’re walking along the street, someone approaches you and asks, “Excuse me, did you drop this gold ring?” When you say, no, that’s not mine, the person then tries to foist the ring on you, saying it must be worth a lot of money.

Since he or she is in the country illegally, the person can’t possible sell the ring, but you as a respectable tourist should have no problem. Can you just give him or a her a little money (not even the value of the ring)? Of course, in reality the ring is worthless. Be on the lookout for this scam in the Jardin des Tuileries and the Champs de Mars, near the Eiffel Tower.

3. “Do you speak English?”

As foreigners in a strange land, we’ve all needed to ask for assistance at some point. So when someone asks if you speak English, the logical response is: “Yes, I do! How can I help?” However, the next step on the part of the asker is to hold up a card with a poorly written sob story asking for money.

This isn’t so much a scam as a clever way to engage with tourists before begging for some spare change. It’s up to you whether or not to part with a few euro coins. These alms seekers can be found in pretty much all the major tourist districts, and are especially abundant in the square facing Notre Dame.

Don’t panic!

As the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy would tell you, don’t panic! Like in any big city, it is important to remain on one’s toes in Paris, but that shouldn’t prevent you from having a good time. Just keep on eye on your belongings and use common sense and you should be fine!

Tell us your scam story

Have you witnessed or been the victim of a scam in Paris, or in any other city while traveling? Tell us about your experience–and what you’ve learned from it!

The post Paris: Smart tourists know these 3 scams appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.