BEWARE Of The Thieves Of Poland
Nov 7, 2004 | 12:48 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: BKK, formerly Irvine, CA, UA 1-k-MM, Hilton-gold, Gold Starwood
Posts: 3,004
BEWARE Of The Thieves Of Poland
Beware of the Thieves of Warsaw
I read lonely planet, it advises tourist of pick pockets in Warsaw and more to the point Bus 175 from the airport to the city center. It didn’t help.
I have traveled extensively for over 25 years and this is only my second experience. I was sure I learned my lesson the first time, but these guys are good.
In fact they are so good that the Sheraton Concierge said that she had been pick pocketed twice this year already. She also stated that they can tell when they are targeting unsuspecting tourist, but don’t say anything as these pick pocketers are usually working in a gang of 3 and therefore it is not worth the trouble or harm that may be inflicted on them. Civilized no?
When I went to pick up my new AMEX card within 4 hours of this occurrence the representative said that the Polish people where proud of their pick pockets and know that they are the world’s best.
What the thieves don’t care about and this is anywhere is what are the consequences for the traveler who has been robbed. Sure you lose some money and you have to make some phone calls but the most irritating part is to lose your drivers license.
If you need to rent a car or if you are stopped by the police. I am fortunate that I have licenses from several countries and always carry at least 2 with me, one with my other documents and one in my wallet.
TIPS TO AVOID BEEN ROBBED
Keep your money, credit cards and passport separate
Have at least 2 to 3 credit cards in different areas of your luggage and on your person
Have a replacement driver’s license with you. And not in your wallet
Don’t Keep your money and valuables in your pocket, get a bumb-bag or hide it on your body in a pouch.
Keep records of all your cards, Passports and drivers license in a safe place in your suitcase. It might be better to have your ID scanned and printed on a sheet or two of paper which shows your picture and ID numbers for verification
Whenever someone or several people push you bang into you or try to distract you, chances are you are been robbed. I knew the minute we where of the bus that I had been robbed but the guy ran down the street. It was a typical scene. He stood in front of the exit door on the bus and when I went to get buy him he moved in front of me while is co-heart pushed me from behind and he stepped back into me. This is a favorite.
I hope these few tips will help you in the future.
POLAND IN GENERAL
Poland was very nice and since most cities had been bomb to oblivion in the second world war it means that their infrastructure is relatively new not like the rest of Europe of for that matter any of the 100 or older cities in Canada or USA that have not been updated.
Warsaw is very cosmopolitan and the food is very cheap compared to our standards. The city itself is something that is very worthwhile seeing and spending time in. Many buildings in the older part of town that had been destroyed have been restored from old pictures and prints. These are new buildings made to look like old buildings including cracked facades and fallen down stucco.
The salt mines in the south of Poland were another fond part of our trip. From Warsaw, about 6 hours drive. The mines themselves where incredible. It boasted the largest underground cathedral in the world and it took the miners over 100 years to mine it out this section alone.
DRIVING IN POLAND
The driving in Poland can be nerve wrenching if you don’t drive just like them. To drive in Poland safely you have to throw out your good driving habits. Now you can drive like the chasing scenes on TV.
Forget about the center line, or any lines for that matter.
Pass or overtake on corners.
Pass on hills without knowing what’s on the other side of the hill
Pass the vehicle in front of you when another car or truck is coming towards you and hope they will pull over (they always do or did for me)
Pass on the left (ditch) if the right or oncoming side is full
Don’t worry about slow moving farm tractors they are on the road only just before the light comes up or goes down and must be use to been rear ended. This really is a problem. They are on the road at the hours I just mentioned and you have no warning. Be careful of these and other slow moving vehicles.
HOTELS AND FOOD
Every major hotel chain in the world is in Warsaw so you won’t run out of great places to stay. Warsaw hotels and food prices are expensive compared to the rest of Poland. We stayed at the Sheraton in Warsaw and it was a great hotel but the Intercontinental and the Marriot looked much better from the outside and where closer to the action. Our last night in Warsaw was at the airport hotel which was cheap $50, 4 star hotel including breakfast and free wi-fi and parking.
In the cities and town around Poland the cost of accommodations are much cheaper along with the cost of restaurant meals. We traveled from the North East (Warsaw) to the very south of Poland and into Slovakia, up to Prague and back into Poland and across to Warsaw.
Apart from the robbery, I thought that Poland was very attractive with lots to see and do. I liked it enough to go back in the future. For you that means it is a worthwhile destination for you to visit.
Regards,
Robert
I read lonely planet, it advises tourist of pick pockets in Warsaw and more to the point Bus 175 from the airport to the city center. It didn’t help.
I have traveled extensively for over 25 years and this is only my second experience. I was sure I learned my lesson the first time, but these guys are good.
In fact they are so good that the Sheraton Concierge said that she had been pick pocketed twice this year already. She also stated that they can tell when they are targeting unsuspecting tourist, but don’t say anything as these pick pocketers are usually working in a gang of 3 and therefore it is not worth the trouble or harm that may be inflicted on them. Civilized no?
When I went to pick up my new AMEX card within 4 hours of this occurrence the representative said that the Polish people where proud of their pick pockets and know that they are the world’s best.
What the thieves don’t care about and this is anywhere is what are the consequences for the traveler who has been robbed. Sure you lose some money and you have to make some phone calls but the most irritating part is to lose your drivers license.
If you need to rent a car or if you are stopped by the police. I am fortunate that I have licenses from several countries and always carry at least 2 with me, one with my other documents and one in my wallet.
TIPS TO AVOID BEEN ROBBED
Keep your money, credit cards and passport separate
Have at least 2 to 3 credit cards in different areas of your luggage and on your person
Have a replacement driver’s license with you. And not in your wallet
Don’t Keep your money and valuables in your pocket, get a bumb-bag or hide it on your body in a pouch.
Keep records of all your cards, Passports and drivers license in a safe place in your suitcase. It might be better to have your ID scanned and printed on a sheet or two of paper which shows your picture and ID numbers for verification
Whenever someone or several people push you bang into you or try to distract you, chances are you are been robbed. I knew the minute we where of the bus that I had been robbed but the guy ran down the street. It was a typical scene. He stood in front of the exit door on the bus and when I went to get buy him he moved in front of me while is co-heart pushed me from behind and he stepped back into me. This is a favorite.
I hope these few tips will help you in the future.
POLAND IN GENERAL
Poland was very nice and since most cities had been bomb to oblivion in the second world war it means that their infrastructure is relatively new not like the rest of Europe of for that matter any of the 100 or older cities in Canada or USA that have not been updated.
Warsaw is very cosmopolitan and the food is very cheap compared to our standards. The city itself is something that is very worthwhile seeing and spending time in. Many buildings in the older part of town that had been destroyed have been restored from old pictures and prints. These are new buildings made to look like old buildings including cracked facades and fallen down stucco.
The salt mines in the south of Poland were another fond part of our trip. From Warsaw, about 6 hours drive. The mines themselves where incredible. It boasted the largest underground cathedral in the world and it took the miners over 100 years to mine it out this section alone.
DRIVING IN POLAND
The driving in Poland can be nerve wrenching if you don’t drive just like them. To drive in Poland safely you have to throw out your good driving habits. Now you can drive like the chasing scenes on TV.
Forget about the center line, or any lines for that matter.
Pass or overtake on corners.
Pass on hills without knowing what’s on the other side of the hill
Pass the vehicle in front of you when another car or truck is coming towards you and hope they will pull over (they always do or did for me)
Pass on the left (ditch) if the right or oncoming side is full
Don’t worry about slow moving farm tractors they are on the road only just before the light comes up or goes down and must be use to been rear ended. This really is a problem. They are on the road at the hours I just mentioned and you have no warning. Be careful of these and other slow moving vehicles.
HOTELS AND FOOD
Every major hotel chain in the world is in Warsaw so you won’t run out of great places to stay. Warsaw hotels and food prices are expensive compared to the rest of Poland. We stayed at the Sheraton in Warsaw and it was a great hotel but the Intercontinental and the Marriot looked much better from the outside and where closer to the action. Our last night in Warsaw was at the airport hotel which was cheap $50, 4 star hotel including breakfast and free wi-fi and parking.
In the cities and town around Poland the cost of accommodations are much cheaper along with the cost of restaurant meals. We traveled from the North East (Warsaw) to the very south of Poland and into Slovakia, up to Prague and back into Poland and across to Warsaw.
Apart from the robbery, I thought that Poland was very attractive with lots to see and do. I liked it enough to go back in the future. For you that means it is a worthwhile destination for you to visit.
Regards,
Robert
Nov 7, 2004 | 1:08 pm
#2
In Memoriam
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Southern California
Programs: Hertz 5 star, Priceline Hotel bidder. AA PLT, 1MM.
Posts: 2,910
I wear a "dummy" wallet with a few dollars in it.
Nice trip report!
I wear a "dummy" wallet with just a little money in it. I leave my passport, credit cards, etc. in a money belt and also more stuff very deep in my carry on bag.
There have been multiple attempts to pickpocket me in Rome, Madrid & Rio. Only once, they got a old beat up wallet with a just a few dollars.
I wear a "dummy" wallet with just a little money in it. I leave my passport, credit cards, etc. in a money belt and also more stuff very deep in my carry on bag.
There have been multiple attempts to pickpocket me in Rome, Madrid & Rio. Only once, they got a old beat up wallet with a just a few dollars.
Nov 9, 2004 | 1:36 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: BKK, formerly Irvine, CA, UA 1-k-MM, Hilton-gold, Gold Starwood
Posts: 3,004
Great idea chemist, a dummy wallet, I have a few old ones and I am going on a trip from Guatamala to Panama and back to Costa Rica next week. Flying to GUA then busing it to Panama and back to Costa Rica. I will use the dummy wallet trick for the bus trip.
Thanks,
Robert
Thanks,
Robert