We were in AMS and BRU in November this year. Our video camera was stolen on the train between AMS-BRU and looking back, we are pretty sure we know who took it and how. Do not leave ANYTHING less than 40 pounds on the luggage racks (even the ones directly above your head and across the aisle that you can see the entire time!) and keep your eye on EVERYTHING with you at all times. On the very next day we bought tickets at the BRU train station and the guy TRIED to short change my by 5 Euros. I quickly got back in line and he was waiving a 5 Euro bill when he saw me come back-he was just hoping I would not notice. There was also a public transportation issue in AMS that a guy got on and started SCREAMING profanities at us that I am sure was just his way of telling us he hated Americans.

We have traveled to France, Italy, Germany, Greece, and Austria in the past 3-5 years and NEVER felt so unwelcome and taken advantage of as we did on this recent trip. I am not sure if it is an overall tone towards Americans or we were just lucky on the past several years that we had nothing happen to us. We have often stayed in apartment rentals and used all public transportation but after this trip we may change our habits in the future.