One Sneaky Red Flag Tourists Should Avoid In Italy, According To Seasoned Travelers

In popular tourism destinations, sometimes people can take advantage of a tourist's lack of local knowledge or politeness. From avoiding taxi scams when visiting Europe to unknowingly joining a tour with fake tour guides, tourists need to keep their guards up. While Italy is an amazing destination offering beautiful sights, history, and globally renowned cuisine, tourists might fall victim to scams without even realizing it.

When visiting places like Venice, Rome, and Florence, people may approach you selling items like flowers or souvenirs. Some salespeople will seemingly outright give you what they are selling. Human nature is to take something when it is being handed to you. However, such gestures are not what they seem. "If someone offers you something 'For Free!' Don't ... take it! They will dump it on you. Make it as hard as possible to take it back, and then pressure you for money," explained Redditor u/Dude19086 in an /askReddit thread. "I am talking about how in Italy people will approach you offering a bracelet attach tight and then ask you to pay them."

These bracelet tricksters will sometimes have fellow scammers stand around to add to the intimidation. When one does take your wrist and start tying a bracelet, you may have to get assertive when you decline their so-called gift. The same scam was covered in r/travel, where Redditors chimed in explaining that being stern or raising your voice when telling the scammers to go away usually gets them to leave you alone. Decline sooner rather than later as it is best if you staunchly decline before you end up standing there waiting for them to finish trying the bracelet.

Another version of the same trick, salespeople in Italy's popular tourist areas might hand you a rose without saying a word. If you take it, they will ask for payment. Whether someone starts tying a bracelet on your wrist or offers a flower, go against your instincts to take it and be hasty as you walk away. The crowds can help in this way as it won't take many steps for other people to get between you and the pushy scammers. There is so much to love about Italy, but knowing how to avoid tourist traps and scams will definitely improve your experience.