Europe is home to some of the world’s most beautiful and bustling cities, nestled amongst breathtaking scenery, sandy beaches and charming towns, with weather ranging from the chilling lows of Scandinavia to the bright sunny spells of the Mediterranean.
For caravan and motorhome owners in the UK, this means there are plenty of international adventures to be had just a metaphorical stone’s throw from our doorstep.
But any destination that brings in hundreds of thousands of visitors is likely to suffer a certain level of scams and other criminal activities. From pickpocketing to online booking cons, one thing is for certain – you need to have your wits about you.
Many Brits will already be familiar with London’s tourist traps, as globally famous landmarks like the London Eye and Big Ben unfortunately come with individuals looking to profit from unsuspecting holidaymakers.
That’s according to research from Quotezone.co.uk, which investigated the European destinations where tourists felt most cheated, based on online reviews from people who had recently visited.
But London’s not the only place on the list…
The European Scam Index
The European Scam Index saw France top the list by some distance, with 748 reviews on travel websites that mentioned authors being scammed. In fact, the Eiffel Tower alone made up 537 of those reports, making it the destination where tourists were most likely to fall victim to swindlers.
Spain and Italy rounded off the podium, receiving 91 and 72 reviews featuring scams respectively. The UK featured in sixth place, while Austria came in at tenth, with just 13 scams mentioned in reviews.
Greg Wilson, CEO of Quotezone, noted that these results only scratched the surface of how many tourists are being scammed while visiting Europe’s top destinations. He said: “Visitor hotspots are focal points for anyone looking to target tourist dollars, leaving many feeling they have been shortchanged.”
View the full list below.
| Top European destination | Reviews mentioning scams |
| France | 748 |
| Spain | 91 |
| Italy | 72 |
| Turkey | 67 |
| Greece | 64 |
| UK | 37 |
| Croatia | 26 |
| Poland | 26 |
| Portugal | 17 |
| Austria | 13 |
The travel insurance comparison experts at Quotezone have advised tourists to avoid carrying cash in crowded areas and to ensure any credit or debit cards are kept in a secure bag, either strapped under your clothes or across your chest.
Additionally, if you wish to store your belongings in a locker at an attraction or station, be certain to get a key from an official, rather than anyone approaching you on the street attempting to sell fake items.
Be cautious of people offering to take photos of you or claiming to have gifts and always pre-order tickets to attractions from official sources with a high volume of positive reviews.
Photo credit: Pixabay / Pexels
