Great post and excellent advice. My 23 year old daughter just moved to Garmisch, Germany last month. She and friends are going to either Innsbruck or Munich tomorrow on her day off and I referred her to this post for good, common sense advice. As for feeling safe in Madrid, perhaps it is being a large male, but I have never felt unsafe. But I have not visited any areas in Madrid that appear to be unsafe - if I felt at risk, I would depart quickly.
Yes, I feel safe in Madrid at night in the areas that I know. More safe than in London. I have two stories to tell. Some English friends came to Madrid an one had his camera stolen in the metro. We went to the police to report it in Huertas, and obviously they have quite a lot of reports a day, they even have the forms in English. My friend got a better camera with the insurance money!
I was so astonished that I could not react, but my husband, who is 6 ft did, while this woman was 4ft10in, all she had taken was the empty camera bag, not the purse and it was restored to the owner. I have visited Naples, where you also here a lot of mugging stories, and I walked even without a handbag, in jeans, trying not to look tourist at all.
No problem. Talk about stable doors and horses! After I left you the other week, one of my wallets went walkabout.
No great drama; there wasn't anything of any real value in it Some tips given to me during my years in the USA. Looks valueless and 'local' 3 - Do not carry your laptop in one of those neat black bags that scream "laptop" use a standard briefcase.
