Among other things, they don’t just mention fake taxis that rob you or express kidnappings (especially in Arequipa), but also drugs that can be slipped into your drink if left unattended, "with the risk of scopolamine being added."
They’ve marked the Cuzco region as a red zone (formally avoid!!) and central Lima as an orange zone, "to avoid after dark."
The foreign ministry website gives the same kind of alarming info about pretty much every country in the world once you leave Western Europe... Scams and assaults exist, but listing them like that makes it seem like they’re super common, which isn’t the case. "Oh my God, all this is happening?"... It *can* happen, and it *has* happened, but when, to whom, how...
If you want to take a taxi safely, you can download the Tappsi app on your smartphone. The drivers who respond are "registered" and "traceable."
As for drinks being spiked with drugs, I’m guessing—and no offense meant—that you probably won’t be hitting up nightclubs or similar places.
If I had to give *one* safety tip, it’d be this: in the city, "watch out when crossing the road"... People drive pretty "rock ‘n’ roll" (I’d even use a harsher term, but oh well), and it can really catch you off guard.
The red zone is further north compared to Cusco and the Sacred Valley of the Incas, so no need to worry about those places.
For the rest, just like anywhere in Latin America, you should follow a few safety rules (avoid showing valuables, don’t take just any taxi in certain cities like Arequipa, avoid walking around in some neighborhoods, especially at night, etc.). By following these simple rules, there’s really very little chance anything will happen to you. As mentioned earlier, the government’s travel advisories are always a bit alarmist (but at least they keep people from going in too "gung-ho").
Thanks for your reply, but before sharing the link to the Foreign Affairs website, I took a look at the map of Cusco—it’s pretty shocking. Feels like you’re just as much at risk there as in the Sahel!!!
Weird, right?
Thanks for the info about the app. We're not exactly paranoid, but this thing about the tourist police who can check if taxis aren’t fake kind of surprises us.
Thanks for your reply, but before sharing the link to the Foreign Affairs website, I took a look at the map of Cusco—it’s pretty impressive.
Don’t fall into paranoia in Cusco—I’ve been there three times and never had any issues.
Back when I visited Peru, the country wasn’t as developed and was just coming out of a rough period (especially due to the Shining Path).
The thing is, it’s best to stick around Plaza de Armas in the evening—otherwise, the city is very tourist-friendly and doesn’t pose any real risks.
As for Lima, though, yeah, avoid Plaza San Martín at night. You *can* stroll along Jirón de la Unión, but it’s not really recommended.
Again, Miraflores is the place to stay.
If we follow the Foreign Affairs recommendations to the letter, we’d never leave our beds. That said, by using common-sense precautions, we can minimize risks—there are neighborhoods everywhere that are best avoided.
Hi there,
Barranco is a great area in Lima, really close to Miraflores.
As for that taxi story in Lima, it happened about fifteen years ago. So I can confidently say that the ministry’s page isn’t really up to date.
There *is* a so-called "tourist police" in the main tourist areas, meant to help visitors, but their effectiveness is pretty hit-or-miss!!!
It’s a good idea to read this page to stay cautious.
However, don’t fall into paranoia—nothing happens to 80% of tourists traveling in Peru. You just need common sense and to be careful in big cities like Lima and Arequipa.
Peruvians are generally attentive to tourists' safety. If you’re in a neighborhood where you shouldn’t be, they’ll warn you.
Stories about fake taxis and kidnappings mostly concern Lima and Arequipa. Just stick to formal taxis (clearly marked as taxis and with a radio for Aqp) and it’s best to use an app in Lima (like Uber), more to avoid getting ripped off on the price than anything else.
As for the "red zone," which is mainly limited to the VRAEM, it’s outside tourist circuits—you won’t accidentally cross it. Plus, the extent of the zone is a bit exaggerated, even if the ministry halved it in the last update.
"drugs that can be slipped into your drink if left unattended, "at the risk of scopolamine being added"
This warning isn’t useless for young Europeans who go clubbing thinking they’re still in Europe. In Peru, you NEVER leave your drink unattended. No issues elsewhere—it’s only in nightclubs ;-)
When the Chinese return to China, if one of them had their wallet stolen, they probably don’t go around advertising France either!
I read that the State Department recommends American tourists avoid France and Great Britain (because of terrorist attacks).
I’d rather be warned about potential risks in certain areas, follow advice from others, but that won’t stop me from going (though right now, Mali is giving me pause... some countries and situations just feel scarier than others).
I’ve been living here for 5 years, getting around, hosting family and friends—statistically, my risk rate is 100% certain. But that doesn’t mean anything; it only takes one time!!!
The recurring issue is definitely scams—like being charged S/.10 for something that’s only worth S/.5, which adds up to a little over 1 €. Some people get really worked up about this kind of rip-off, but it’s pretty obvious that flaunting your purchasing power in a country where the legal minimum wage (which is rarely actually paid...) is just over 200 € can make it tempting for others.
So there's a 1 in 5 chance of having problems as a tourist? This country really isn't safe....🙁
We did say you shouldn’t fall into paranoia and just avoid certain areas at night—it’s like any big city.
But Lima isn’t Rio, for example, where I had safety issues.
At night, just carry the essentials, no flashy watch on your wrist, no jewelry, and Lima locals are usually pretty welcoming.
The VRAEM, the acronym for the "Valley of the Apurímac, Ene, and Mantaro Rivers." This area is the heart of terrorist activity and drug trafficking in Peru, linked to what remains of the Shining Path.
Good evening,
We stayed in Peru last October, and at no point did we feel unsafe.
In Lima, we attended an aquatic show at 9 PM and walked back to the hotel on foot.
We explored Arequipa thoroughly without any issues.
In Cusco, we stayed for a week and often returned to our accommodation after dark without any problems.
Peru is a magnificent country; we also spent a week in Bolivia.
Safe travels and happy discoveries!
Mado and Alain Gouédard
Right now, I’d say France is more dangerous than Peru, given the recent international events and possible repercussions, especially in Paris.
In Peru, there’s no need for flashy precautions—just the usual ones like in any other country, and everything goes smoothly
Hi there,
I don’t think the situation in France is comparable at all...
We just got back from Peru where we spent a month. Except in Lima, where in certain neighborhoods taxis suddenly lock the windows and doors (to protect us, so we don’t get our cameras or bags snatched), we honestly never felt unsafe. That said, we didn’t tempt fate either: we left our passports at the hotel, carried only a minimal amount of cash, and kept a single bank card tucked away in an inaccessible spot.
We also followed the helpful tips from travel guides and chose taxis that, for a reasonable fee (around 30 €), stayed with us for several hours, driving us around Cusco, for example, to all the sites. This way, we avoided ending up isolated on quiet, less-traveled paths.
Right now, I’d say France is more dangerous than Peru, given recent international events and potential repercussions, especially in Paris.
In Peru, there’s no need to be overly cautious—just take the usual precautions like in any other country, and everything goes smoothly.
That’s complete nonsense 🤪... But I agree with you about Peru.
It's all relative, really. I've been living in Lima for 3 years and I've never had any problems. In fact, I feel safer here than in Europe. Sure, it's much more likely that someone will steal my phone here because poverty and crime are higher than in Europe, but I know that if someone points a gun at me, I hand over my valuables and don’t play the hero—nothing else will happen to me.
In Europe, I feel like my life could be in more danger here. The only exception might be traffic accidents, since most people in Peru drive like they’ve got two left feet.
Hello,
At the same time, you seem to have a business there, see your website, so is your opinion really objective?
Because I’m struggling to understand how one can feel safer in a country where crime rates are said to be higher than in Europe. Plus, you can feel safe without actually being safe. With a homicide rate 10 times higher than France’s, the numbers speak for themselves. Also, this is a thread about Peru, not Europe—it’s a bit like the Godwin’s Law of security discussions to always refer back to France or Europe. But that’s not the point.
You talk about armed robberies as if they’re pretty normal, but do you really think they’re that common in Europe? And do you think robbers in Peru would react less violently?
In short, your message is a bit paradoxical—it seems more scary than reassuring. So for me, no paranoia, I’ll listen to advice, etc., but no naivety either.
General response: My partner and I spent 4 months in Latin America (Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Patagonia, Uruguay) at the end of 2017.
During trip prep, we wanted to take our time and go with the flow—transport, vaccines, safety, etc. I also checked the Peru page on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs site, and like you, I found it "alarmist" but not discouraging. I cross-referenced with other sites (including this one), and with a little caution and trying to keep a low profile (sometimes hard—speaking Spanish helps), we didn’t run into any major issues. In Lima (crazy traffic), we walked through several neighborhoods, got a bit lost, and didn’t cross the river to the north to reach a historically interesting district—definitely not recommended at night. We took the bus, the Metropolitano, packed in like sardines. Once, passengers shouted about a pickpocket and asked to lock the doors—a sort of civic reaction, maybe... At night, we’d go out in our Miraflores neighborhood—no problems, just cool bars, nice restaurants, a middle-class Lima vibe.
In Arequipa and Cusco, no issues. Maybe the valleys beyond Cusco are a bit more sensitive. We used buses (all types)—good interactions...
Okay, I’ll stop rambling... But it was later in our trip (after Peru) that we dealt with police, customs (drugs), pickpockets (Buenos Aires), and a scammer...
Anyway, like I say—happy trails... 😉 with a few precautions.
Well, you must live in a quiet neighborhood ;-)
I lived in Lima for 5 years, and nothing serious ever happened to me, but I knew tons of people who were robbed, kidnapped, etc. Insecurity is unfortunately part of daily life for Limeños. Not to mention the conditions for women in Peru, who are often victims of harassment or worse in the streets, taxis, and especially in coastal cities.
Saying that France is more dangerous than Peru really shows a lack of understanding of Peru’s police and judicial system, where impunity is the norm... check out the latest Amnesty International reports on the subject.
Don’t panic, though—with cautious behavior, 90% of travelers visit the country without any issues. Most tourist routes don’t go through dangerous areas, and Andean cities are generally safer than those on the coast. Plus, Peruvians often look out for tourists and will usually warn you if you’re in a sketchy neighborhood!
I think safety is mostly a concern for those planning to live in Peru or stay for a few months for an internship or something in a big city like Lima.
I went to Peru last year. In Cusco, there were no security issues. The tourist police are everywhere in the historic center. Obviously, you should take precautions if you go out at night—don’t carry all your money. Personally, I always went to the same restaurant, and the waiter we’d befriended would personally reserve our taxi to take us back to our hotel. In Pisac, we did the same, and there were no problems. As for Lima, I was cautious but not paranoid, given what I’d read. And sure enough, I’d advise against responding to offers from cars claiming to be taxis that wave you down in the street. If you need to get around, ask your hotel to call a taxi for you—it’s safer. Don’t hesitate to ask the reception about the safety of the place you’re heading to if you go out at night. And when you arrive at the airport, I *strongly* recommend booking a taxi from Green Taxi or another company with a counter in the airport. This will save you a lot of hassle. The drivers are accredited by the company and wear an ID card around their neck. The fare is paid in advance at the counter, rather than trying to negotiate a taxi outside, which could lead to shady situations. Generally, don’t accept any offers you didn’t ask for yourself.
It's true that traffic in Lima, in particular, seems... chaotic at first glance. But within that apparent anarchy, there's a kind of order—like a flock of starlings in the sky. Sometimes it gets *super* close, but there’s never any real issue. That said, I’d advise *anyone* against driving in Lima. Leave it to the locals—they’re the experts. Laurent
Good evening. You booked in Barranco. That’s perfect. Much livelier than Miraflores.... Between the banks and the luxury shops.... I definitely prefer Barranco. Have a great stay. For getting around, I only took buses. Simple and cheap. There are agents at the stops who’ll help you out. In English if your Spanish is limited, which was my case. I was there last March. Enjoy your trip!
Generally speaking, don’t respond favorably to an offer you didn’t ask for yourself
The best way to avoid scammers is to never pay attention to touts.
In general, if you need information, a price, etc., ask people on the street—those who come up to you will often be looking for something in return.
Your message is quite surprising—or maybe you're not much of a traveler! For a lot of countries, the government travel advisory site always highlights the worst-case scenarios. We’ve lived in Morocco for 18 years, and if we believed everything on that site, we’d never go anywhere. As for Peru, we spent 28 days there in May 2017. We refused to buy into all the hype from agencies warning against traveling alone. So, we rented a car (we’re two retirees) in Lima and drove down the Pan-American Highway to Arequipa, where we stayed for 3 days. Then, unlike all the tourists rushed by agencies ("vamos... vamos"), we met llama herders in the reserves, took time to watch condors in the canyon... drove 3,200 km without any issues, alone in an incredible landscape, passing trucks and... agency vans. Everyone we met was surprised to see us, and we strongly advised them not to take forums too literally. As for Cusco, we stayed there for 3 days, happily walking around on foot, always staying in an out-of-the-way hotel. No problems at all!
I even posted a message on VoyageForum to encourage people to travel independently, and of course, the agencies didn’t waste any time responding! Yes, Peru is stunning. Yes, you can rent a car and stop by 5 PM every day. Yes, the people are welcoming, and you should hurry to see its indescribable colors and nature.
Keep a traveler’s mindset and take all advice and recommendations with a grain of salt. Don’t hesitate to go!
I went to Peru in October 2017 for 15 days.
We did a loop from Lima to Cusco, stopping in Arequipa, Puno, and then flew back.
I found the people friendly and welcoming.
I didn’t notice anything unusual; we walked around in the evenings in Arequipa, Puno, and Cusco.
In Cusco, I even went behind the check-in counter to choose my seat on the plane.
I don’t think I could’ve done that in France...!!!
I don’t think you should tempt fate by doing anything reckless, but personally, if I had the chance, I’d go back to Peru tomorrow—no hesitation.
This trip is one of my best memories (there were two couples, average age 68).
They’ve specifically marked the Cuzco region as a red zone (formally to avoid!!). Central Lima is an orange zone, "to avoid after dark." What do those who’ve been there recently think?
Hi,
With a group of 10 people, we went to Peru in 2005—admittedly, that’s a bit old, but here are a few "incidents" we experienced.
In Cuzco, we stayed in a small family-run guesthouse on a street not far from Plaza de Armas. The place was secured with an opaque door and monitored by two cameras. Seeing that setup, we started to feel a little uneasy. Back then in France, we weren’t used to that! But nothing happened to us at the guesthouse except for a toothpaste incident. When I opened the tube (brought from France) for the first time, half the contents splattered onto the bathroom mirror!!
Second incident: at Machu Picchu. We took a shuttle from Aguas Calientes, and when we tried to buy our entrance tickets at the top, a police officer told us we had to go back to Aguas Calientes to get them—unless we gave him a few bills. The amount wasn’t huge, but the principle of this scam really bothered us. After paying $100 per person for the special tourist train from Cuzco to Aguas Calientes, though, it felt like small change.
Third incident: in Arequipa, we walked into a building courtyard where there was a bakery. We sat down at the terrace in front, and one group member plugged their camera into a socket inside the shop after asking for permission. They came back to sit and eat with us. After a while, we heard shouting and saw a young woman running out of the shop, chased by an employee. It took the group member a moment to realize it was their camera being stolen—the woman had already disappeared.
Final incident: on our way back to Lima, we took two official taxis that wanted to give us a city tour. After stopping at the beautiful central square, they wanted to take us to Cerro San Cristobal, which overlooks the city. But to get there, we had to drive through a pretty run-down neighborhood. Normally, the street is one-way going up because it’s so narrow. At one point, a car was going the wrong way and blocked us. The drivers started arguing, and suddenly, a bunch of people came out of the houses with unfriendly expressions. We got a little nervous—thankfully, it was unfounded. After a while, the blocking car moved, and we could continue to the top. The stop there? No point—everything was gray and barren as far as the eye could see, and the rooftops of Lima weren’t worth the detour.
That’s all that happened to us in terms of unusual events in Peru. It was 13 years ago, so things may have gotten worse. Proof of that: I once met a colonel, the chief of police in Cuzco, in Saint-Étienne—he was buying flashbulbs at Verney-Caron!!!
My opinion might be a bit dated, probably like the one from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since we went in 2009.
Sure, they’re right to warn people traveling to Latin America, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t explore the cities...
Honestly, if you’re careful and follow the hotel staff’s advice (learn to spot real taxis from fake ones, and only take the one you’ve called from the hotel; don’t hang around outside late at night—even after 10 PM—we were also advised not to walk along Lake Titicaca in Puno...), you won’t be at risk. You can run into problems walking the streets of Rennes or Nantes at 3 AM, in broad daylight at a French train station, or in the suburbs, whether in the provinces or the Paris region. Or even in Italy, where you can get robbed in the middle of the day.
We went with a dry flight in 2009, and by using small local agencies to explore the region each time, everything went really well. We had very conscientious professionals. People are generally kind.
We also wandered around Nazca during a big celebration—it was Mother’s Day, with lots of families in the streets and plenty of activity. Nothing happened to us.
In a country where people struggle to get by and one *sol* is vital, you’ve got to be discreet about your European standard of living. Don’t flash all your cash, your latest smartphone, or your fancy camera with a telephoto lens. To me, that’s just common sense🙂.
Some friends went 3 or 4 years later with the specific goal of meeting Emmaüs volunteers working there and visiting some archaeological sites. They came back thrilled with their trip.
Maybe avoid going alone if you’re a woman... And traveling with others is more fun anyway!
If you’re planning to visit Arequipa, you might want to reach out to the Franco-Peruvian association "Crèches d'Arequipa," based in Pleucadeuc, in Morbihan. People go there regularly, and they might be able to give you some safety tips for Arequipa. (And if their mission interests you and you’d like to stop by the daycare centers, the kids and adults will welcome you warmly!)
Either way, don’t worry too much, and do like me—savor every moment of your trip... just by following a few safety guidelines.
Hi, regarding the risks in Peru, it's not worse than in France—it's pretty much the same when it comes to drugs. As for taxis, it's true, I knew that because I lived in Peru in Arequipa for 5 years. Of course, there are risks in every country in the world, so before making assumptions, do your research because it hurts the people who live there. Go to Africa, Egypt, Brazil, or even the United States—it's the same. You just shouldn’t go out alone, especially not wander around at night, and never take the first taxi that stops. Peruvians call for a taxi because they know it’s dangerous, even for them. So for tourists, it’s even riskier. Watch your bags, phones, clothes, jewelry, etc., just like in France where tourists get robbed in Paris by Romanians. That’s my little take on your comments. jerrycito from Arequipa, Peru
I don’t see what my point has to do with this, but okay. This is just my opinion, and I’m not saying it’s the absolute truth.
Also, I’d add that reading comprehension might not have been your strong suit in school. My comments are very nuanced, and we might not all have the same idea of safety. What I meant is that the worst thing that can happen to a tourist in Peru today—aside from road accidents, which I think should be treated separately—is getting robbed. Here, we don’t have suicide bombers in concert halls or the subway.
No, no... there’s no risk in Cusco! We wandered around there for two days without any issues. We even arrived in the middle of the night after a trip back from Machu Picchu by minibus with a local tour operator, and we made it to our hotel, just 300 meters away, without any problems.
Don’t believe that locals are setting traps for you at every corner 🙂!
As for driving, some people do bend the rules a bit, that’s true. But I always have a lot of admiration and respect for the minibus drivers who took us to Aguas Calientes, at the foot of Machu Picchu. It was during a general strike, with roads blocked by stones placed by Indigenous farmers (who had good reasons to be angry, as they were facing expropriation). The drivers navigated around all the roadblocks on mountain roads, driving at night (it gets dark around 6 PM). They dropped us off at 3 AM in Plaza de Armas in Cusco, clearly exhausted but happy to have gotten us there safely.
Another example: we were stuck in traffic in Lima—some of the worst! But the taxi driver never lost his cool, nor did the other drivers around us. That said, when the light turns green, don’t even think about crossing the street!!
About taxi drivers: you should always agree on the price before getting in. Generally, they stick to the deal.
Final tip: if the bus station is far from your hotel, ask the receptionist if they can pick you up. Like in many countries, there are taxi touts who might take you to a different hotel than the one you booked (it’s just part of the game). In Paracas, the hotel owner, who we’d been emailing with, offered to pick us up without us even asking.
Among other things, they don’t just talk about fake taxis that rob you or express kidnappings (especially in Arequipa), but also about drugs that can be slipped into your drink if it’s left unattended, "with the risk of scopolamine being added."
They’ve marked the Cusco region as a red zone (formally to avoid!!) and central Lima as an orange zone, "to avoid after dark."
What do those who’ve been there recently think?
Hello,
We traveled to Peru with 4 adults in 2014—Cusco, no feeling of insecurity even late at night, I should add, in the city center. In Arequipa, same thing, but we didn’t take any taxis. In Lima, we did take taxis, but be careful in the evenings in outlying neighborhoods and around the historic center. That said, we weren’t bothered. In the Cordillera Blanca near Huaraz, during an acclimatization hike without a guide to the Rataquena viewpoint, we were robbed by a young man in a balaclava (the Rough Guide and Lonely Planet advised against going alone... we went anyway... we took the risk...). Still, all four of us are alive, even though we refused to give the robber anything and he didn’t shoot... we were still terrified...
All this to say, you shouldn’t be naive—the risks are real, especially without a guide. You have to use common sense, just like in any big city in the world, and know that guides like the Rough Guide provide good info.
We don’t regret our amazing 27-day trip to Peru at all. It’s a stunning, multifaceted country that’s absolutely worth seeing—just stay vigilant...
And then, I’d add that reading comprehension probably wasn’t your strong suit in school.
True, I admit it—I was pretty bad at French, sorry... but...
I don’t see what my business has to do with this, but okay.
Well, I feel better knowing at least two of us seem to have somewhat limited reading comprehension. It’s pretty obvious to me—despite my own clear struggles with reading—that when you run a business aimed at bringing tourists to a country, you might not be entirely objective when talking about things that could scare them away. Like safety issues. And you might tend to see things through rose-colored glasses, especially when it comes to security.
For the rest, that’s your opinion, and I’m not revisiting it—no problem, you’re perfectly entitled to think that way.
I really enjoyed reading your little travel journal—it’s a mindset I completely share!
Unfortunately, we only spent 15 days in Peru because work called me back. But I savored every minute of my trip! After booking a round-trip flight with no extras, and since we were two couples (including a friend who *insisted* on going with a tour group!), I had already mapped out the route I wanted to take, and then we booked the hotels via email.
We mostly traveled with Cruz del Sur buses. No issues at all!
Once there, whenever we wanted to explore an area, we contacted small local agencies—it’s great to support them, and they know their country and its history so well. We were never disappointed. That didn’t stop us from wandering around on our own, visiting museums in Lima or Cusco, meeting people passionate about their work in daycare centers run by a Franco-Peruvian association, and seeing happy kids in Arequipa. Or, for me, chatting with a representative from a Puno association who came to meet Uros children on their islands.
Two things really got under my skin: 1) A couple of French tourists on a bus who mocked everything they saw out the window between Puno and Cusco. 2) Seeing a French woman in a Puno street order a young shoeshiner to look up so she could photograph him while he polished her shoes... I watched the whole scene, and to my satisfaction, the kid didn’t even glance up.
For restaurants, we decided to avoid the ones recommended by French guidebooks... Too many French tourists and their bad reputation abroad, with the *Marseillaise* played by bands—no thanks! We mostly went to places frequented by Peruvians—popular spots, fancier restaurants, and local eateries where neighborhood workers ate. And every time, the food was *amazing*!
For anyone still hesitant: Peruvians are joyful, helpful, and incredibly welcoming! If you speak a little Spanish, they’re thrilled to chat with you!
It’s the same—you just shouldn’t go out alone, especially don’t hang around at night, and never take the first taxi that stops. Peruvians call for a taxi by phone because they know it’s dangerous even for them.
So it’s not really the same as in Europe, where the risk of armed robbery is way lower than in Peru.
In Europe, I’ve had stuff stolen before, but we take way fewer precautions than in Latin America. And millions of people walk alone on the streets after dark in Europe.
My girlfriend is Peruvian, and she can confirm you don’t take the same precautions in Peru as in Europe. She’s not from a rough neighborhood, and she doesn’t know anyone who hasn’t been robbed at gunpoint at least once in their life. In Europe, I barely know anyone who has.
It's obvious that Peru is far more dangerous than France, yet most tourists refuse to believe it. Sure, France is far from perfect, but it's worth knowing that crime and petty delinquency are largely unpunished in Peru. Most homicide cases aren't even solved, let alone rapes and violence against women. The judicial system is pitiful. As Yokora says, when you live in Peru, you know tons of people who've had sordid experiences (thefts, robberies, kidnappings, extortion, etc.), and most times you deal with the police, they try to extort money from you and are sometimes worse than criminals...
As for the robbery experience mentioned, that's exactly what you shouldn't do in Peru—never doubt that your life isn't worth much. For 100 soles or a smartphone, you could get killed. Unless you're very confident, it's never worth resisting...
But these opinions are actually a good sign. Everyone's review reflects their personal experience. The fact that 90% of people say they never felt unsafe during their trip proves that with reasonable behavior and a bit of luck, most tourists avoid problems in Peru!
That doesn't mean Peru is a safe country, and I still believe it's better to warn people—even if it makes them a bit paranoid—so they pay attention to their safety!
If you're unsure about the safety of a place, ask Peruvians. They generally look out for tourists.
To answer Cezembre, this topic is about safety in Peru. Of course, there are also plenty of incredible and very kind people toward tourists in Peru. Again, these messages aren't meant to discourage those who want to travel to Peru (after all, I work in tourism), but rather to warn them so their trip goes as smoothly as possible!
1- You need to be aware of where you're going before setting foot there. That’s how you prepare best and are most able to handle sensitive situations. Sticking your head in the sand isn’t very useful. Forums and the Ministry’s website are places where you can find information—not, as some think, to stop traveling, but to prepare for any trip.
2- It’s not about falling into paranoia, but neither is it about naivety. Comparisons with France, Europe, or Uzbekistan have nothing to do with the situation there. We always end up making these kinds of comparisons at some point, which I don’t quite understand.
4- Feeling safe and *being* safe are two very different things. You can perfectly feel safe without actually being so. Real-life security issues differ from the movies in that there’s no creepy music to warn you. Five minutes before, everything might be fine, and probably five minutes after, everything will still seem fine. And just because you didn’t have any problems doesn’t mean there aren’t any, just as having one issue doesn’t mean the country should be avoided. Those are the two extremes you sometimes read about.
5- In case of a robbery, just hand over what you have. There’s a good chance you’ll be fine, and taking unnecessary risks is particularly dangerous. No harm done, thankfully.
Thanks to everyone who responded to my somewhat old post, but we’ve been back (safe and sound) since early April!!
History repeats itself—everything went really well, but clearly some neighborhoods in Lima, Arequipa, and Cusco are dreaded by taxi drivers, who avoid them or lock their windows and doors, citing issues with crime (every evening, the TV shows arrests of pickpockets, drug traffickers, etc.).
We always left our passports in our hotels, carrying copies with us, whether the hotels had safes or not—sometimes our passports were just tucked in a drawer at reception...
No theft to report, no attempted assaults, but we always took taxis called by the hotels (no meters, no taxi signs). We had fascinating conversations with them about local corruption, the pope’s visit, and taxes! In Lima at least, they pay a certain amount to the municipality to operate, so they don’t see why they should pay "extra" taxes (same story in France, where everyone complains about the tax burden but wants more police, teachers, hospital staff, pensions that don’t decrease, faster trials, and judges—how do they think that’s funded?)
Thanks for your reply, but before sharing the link to the Foreign Affairs website, I took a look at the map of Cusco—it’s impressive.
Don’t fall into paranoia about Cusco—I’ve been there three times and never had any problems.
Back when I visited Peru, the country wasn’t very developed and was just coming out of a somewhat dark period (especially because of the Shining Path).
The thing is, it’s best to stick around Plaza de Armas in the evening, but otherwise, the city isn’t risky at all—it’s very tourist-friendly.
As for Lima, though, yes, avoid Plaza San Martín at night. You can stroll along Jirón de la Unión, but it’s not highly recommended.
Again, Miraflores is where you should stay.
Your message is from last year, when I was staying near... Plaza San Martín... I love that neighborhood and never felt unsafe at night, though I’ll admit I never came back after 11 PM. And it’s true that people sleep on the square...
As for Miraflores, I find it a bit too globalized and sterile for my taste...
I’ll be returning to Lima next year... if you have more info on the dangers around Plaza San Martín, I’d love to hear it...
Juste pour notifier que nous avons été attaqués il yá 2jrs dans un bus sur le trajet huencavelica-ayacuch... attention, attention..nous avons pris le bus de la…
Pouvons nous organiser et vivre seuls en toute sécurité notre voyage au Pérou (nous sommes un couple de 53 ans et avons pris nos billets d'avion du 9 au 30…
J’écris ce commentaire afin de faire part à toutes les personnes souhaitant se rendre au Pérou avec l’agence LE ROY TRAVEL la honteuse et incroyable histoire…
Hola Quels genres d'arnaques doit-on se méfier au Pérou? J'ai déjà voyagé de nombreuses fois et je connais tous les principes de base pour ne pas tenter le…
Sans vouloir plonger dans la paranoïa, je rentre du Pérou et insiste sur le fait qu'il faut faire très attention à ne pas mettre trop en évidence ses sacs et…
My mom received an invitation for a free stay (though of course it comes with visits to carpet shops, jewelry stores, and other boutiques). She bought a carpet in Turkey about 10 years ago, and it was that carpet shop in Istanbul that sent this invitation. The whole thing is organized by a travel agency called "Habitat VIP Travel." Has anyone here heard of this agency and their "commercial tourism" practices? I’m not against the idea in principle—I just want to make sure it’s legit and not dangerous (I really don’t want to get kidnapped with my nearly 90-year-old mom!).
Thanks for your feedback
Hello everyone,
A message to warn potential customers of "Go Voyages" about my recent experience.
I left from Geneva for Colombo on December 18, 2025, with a round-trip business-class ticket purchased on Go Voyages, with Etihad Airways, and a layover in Abu Dhabi. Access to the business lounge was denied (I have a 7-hour layover both ways), and I had to pay $160 to get in, despite having a business-class boarding pass.
I’m currently in Sri Lanka, and for a month now, I’ve been trying to get an explanation for this refusal and to find out if I’ll be denied access again on my return on March 12, 2026.
After two calls to the priority line of the "Prime" service I subscribed to (a paid subscription, of course), which is supposed to assist me 24/7 during my trip, after about ten emails that only led to being redirected to links like Opodo, then eDreams (an inaccessible site), and then other links that just sent me in circles... it’s absolutely insane, all this just to answer a fairly simple question: why wasn’t I informed about this potential refusal by Etihad when I made my purchase? All Go Voyages would need to do is contact the airline to resolve this quickly... but no!!! After a month, ten emails, the last response was: contact the airline directly!!! Which, of course, redirected me back to Go Voyages!!
Completely unacceptable! The "Prime" service from Go Voyages is a total scam—completely ineffective, with customer service nowhere to be found. My issue isn’t life-or-death, but imagine a more serious situation where you’d need quick assistance... don’t count on "Go Voyages" to help you at all!! You’d likely be pretty disappointed!! My advice: RUN from this agency, which is headquartered in Spain and owns Opodo, eDreams, and Go Voyages.
Eight months after our vacation in Croatia, Europcar took 1,611.25 € from us... yes, you read that right—1,611.25 €!! At first, we thought it was a credit card scam, but after a little investigation and the documents sent by the rental company (which had the wrong email address), it turned out the city of Dubrovnik had hit us with this huge fine. Following the GPS on June 9, 2025, we were simply heading to our accommodation with parking on Zagrebačka Street. This one-way, busy street has been off-limits to vehicles without a pass issued by local authorities since June 2, 2025. There’s a checkpoint at the entrance with license plate scanning, but the signs announcing the zone are in Croatian! Our landlord didn’t warn us and hadn’t registered our plate with the authorities, as recommended on the city’s website. The result? A prohibitive fine for both the vehicle and the driver. On top of that, the rules say you only have 8 days to appeal... super convenient when you’re on a road trip abroad and no one flags the issue when you return the car a few days later. This is a real blow for us, but more importantly, it’s a massive tourist scam set up by the city of Dubrovnik. 🙁
Hi,
Back from South Africa since 24/10/25, we’re having trouble getting our deposit back after renting a car at Cape Town Airport with Pace Car Rental through Carwiz! It’s still a sum over 1000 €!!
Lots of email exchanges via WhatsApp where they send me the refund proof dated 25/11, but my bank can’t find any trace of it!! Just to clarify, the car was returned without a scratch, as they confirmed!
Has anyone else run into this issue with this rental company, or others for that matter? And if it’s a scam, what are the possible courses of action? I’m hoping there are some… I was thinking of contacting our Consulate in Cape Town to see if they can help with the next steps or even intervene with this rental company!
This kind of practice isn’t going to help boost tourism relations with South Africa!!
Thanks for your feedback,
Dan
hi everyone.
I usually exchange money at a bank in the city in every country, but this time I was being picked up by my guide, so I did it as quickly as possible and didn’t check my receipt.
I don’t remember the exact amount the cashier scammed me out of, but it was significant when I recounted everything later.
Two hours later, when my guide still hadn’t shown up, I ran into the police—a kind woman I explained the situation to—but it was too late because the cashier had already been replaced.
Be careful and don’t do what I did.
Check everything in front of them because afterward, it’s too late 😅
A disastrous experience with Lastminute.com – Family left outside with no assistance
I booked a stay at the Akgun Istanbul Hotel via for a total of 3 884 €. Despite receiving a booking confirmation, the hotel refused to accommodate us. My wife was sick, we had two children with us, and we literally found ourselves outside with no help at all. We had to book another hotel at our own expense, and even with the evidence we provided (medical documents, receipts, exchanges with customer service), only refunded 717 €. Customer service refused to reopen the case, completely ignoring the exceptional circumstances. No gesture, no assistance, no respect.
I strongly advise against using this platform for anyone traveling with family or in sensitive situations. If something goes wrong, you’ll be on your own.
Zou! is the public transport service for the Région Sud Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. We're Canadian and our plan was to hike the Mercantour Great Crossing (GR52). After landing in Nice, we needed to find transport to the trailhead in the village of Entraunes. It took us two months to figure out that the only service available was Zou!'s shuttle, and—after countless calls (not easy from Canada)—to actually speak to someone at the company. Even though they confirmed our reservation, on the day of the trip, they weren’t waiting for us. We ended up stranded in Guillaumes because the driver hadn’t been "informed" that he was supposed to go all the way to the terminus that day. In 40 years of traveling the world, I’ve never encountered a situation where customer service was this nonexistent and access to a region this difficult. I just wanted to share this experience to warn you if you’re planning to rely on public transport to reach the GR52...
I want to share an experience that really knocked the wind out of me and I hope it won’t ruin my long-awaited trip to Japan.
I recently used the services of a travel planner, Hima Voyage, which I found on social media, to organize my family vacation in Japan.
Unfortunately, my experience was extremely disappointing and frustrating, marked by a blatant lack of professionalism.
The major problems appeared when I received the itinerary: the proposed route was completely illogical in relation to the accommodation locations, forcing us to make much longer daily trips than necessary, with duplicate days suggesting a poorly done copy-paste sent to others.
She didn’t take into account the high-traffic days for the places we wanted to visit at all.
No personalized or concrete tips or advice were provided. Most of her “recommendations” were generic copy-pastes you can find anywhere on social media.
Faced with such a lack of optimization and logic, I’m forced—with less than 4 months until the trip—to start from scratch and completely reorganize my trip myself. This service, sold as an organizational aid, turned into a huge waste of time and money (825 euros down the drain).
I feel scammed and deeply disappointed by this service. I strongly recommend being extremely cautious before entrusting your travel plans to any “travel planner” found on social media.
I’m posting this as a not-so-pleasant experience, but one I think is important to share.
We stayed at MMV Arêches-Beaufort at the end of June 2025 (from the 21st to the 28th), in room 317, as a family with our young daughter.
Everything was fine until the night of June 25th to 26th, when we discovered a bed bug infestation right next to our bedhead.
We’d already slept 4 nights in that infested room without noticing anything. Needless to say, the shock was huge, especially with a little one.
MMV offered to relocate us, but by that point, trust was completely broken. The rest of the stay was spent in constant stress: disinfecting, isolating our belongings, and worrying about bringing these pests home with us.
They refunded our stay (which was the least they could do), but they’d also promised compensation of 150 €, which was never paid. Since then, no news at all.
We felt erased, ignored, and not taken seriously.
I’m sharing this not to stir up controversy, but to warn other travelers.
We thought we were staying in a reliable residence with responsive customer service—it wasn’t the case.
I’m genuinely wondering:
Am I an isolated case with MMV?
Have others experienced similar situations (bed bugs or a lack of consideration when problems arise)?
Thanks to those who take the time to read this.
And above all, be wary when everything seems "too good on paper."
Avoid the car rental company "locationauto"
No one was there when we arrived at the airport—we waited 1 hour for someone to pick us up and take us outside the airport.
The vehicle... 97,000 km!!!! Dirty inside and out, stained seats.
Return was the same—1.5-hour wait to drop off the car.
Sure, it’s cheap, but you get what you pay for!!!
With the $CAD/EUR exchange rate already worse than ever (thanks, Mr. Trump and his annexation threats), imagine my surprise when I found out that the EuroBank ATM (same for Alpha Bank) charged a 9% commission on the transaction. That pushed the exchange rate from the official 1.60$ to 1.77$ per euro. It’s better to buy euros in Canada or at a currency exchange office, or just pay by credit card, which I did (at a rate between 1.61$ and 1.63$).
If you take the bus from Bangkok Ekkamai to Pattaya, foreigners will be asked to pay an extra 20k for checked baggage, even though it’s already been paid for and listed on the ticket. They don’t even weigh it—a woman just demands you pay again, and if you refuse, she goes to get security colleagues who yell at you and threaten not to let you board. We later found out at the hotel that this is a well-known organized scam. The company is ROONG REUANG COACH, and we were about fifteen people—all foreign tourists—in the same situation. For Thai passengers, they didn’t ask for anything.
Then in Pattaya, violence and corruption rule. The next day, we learned the city is classified as "scarlet" (high-risk). A hotel guest was attacked with a knife by four Thais on a scooter—they stole his bag with his bank card and cash inside, luckily not his passport. A large hotel near ours was just shut down administratively for pedophilia. On Apple Maps, many reviews warn about how dangerous the city is. I’ve been coming to Thailand regularly for over 30 years, but I barely recognize the country since COVID. The "Land of Smiles" is turning into the "Land of Scowls," and a form of racism is emerging. For us, this will be the last time—next stop, Vietnam, and even China, which pleasantly surprised us.
Finally, China and the U.S. are advising their citizens against traveling to Thailand due to violence. Right now, most tourists here are Indians and Russians—together, they make up the majority—along with some from the Gulf (Qatar, Dubai, Oman).
If you're heading to Basse-Terre in Pointe-Noire, Guadeloupe, **do not** stay at Ara Wakam cabin. It looks tempting on Booking, but it’s a total **SCAM**. There aren’t two bedrooms as advertised—just a double bed in the living area and two single beds in the attic, where it’s **scorchingly hot** and the fan is **extremely noisy**. But the worst part? It’s **THE HOUSE OF MOSQUITOES**. No windows, shutters with gaps that don’t seal—nowhere to escape. The owner is dishonest, and the concierge is arrogant. We lost **800 €**.
! Never accept a flight waiver in exchange for financial compensation when flying with EasyJet—they don’t honor their commitments!
My family and I were among the victims of EasyJet flight EZY4481 on 28/12/2024 from Lyon to Marrakech. Instead of departing at 5 PM, the flight was canceled in the middle of the night and rescheduled for the next day on a smaller plane. We were doubly victimized: not only did we have to give up our trip, but we also chose to be among the 30 people who had to waive their seats at departure because the replacement plane was smaller. This was in exchange for compensation of 500 € per person, supposedly to be paid within 48 hours. It’s been over thirty days, and despite our complaints to EasyJet, we’ve heard nothing. They’re thieves—offering compensation and then not honoring it. What a disgrace!
We left the airport in tears on 28/12, just before midnight, having accepted their offer because we didn’t want our two young children to spend the night at the airport, with no idea of EasyJet’s level of .
Dear EasyJet employees, we won’t give up! !
Hi everyone : WARNING!!!! driver-guide in SENEGAL
I’m posting this just to warn you about this person: Jean Marie DIOUF
Here’s his Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552651919372&sk=reviews
He advertises himself as a cheap driver-guide at first, then raises the price but asks you to send a deposit for a so-called reservation of your dates. To gain your trust, he puts his so-called French wife on the phone with you.
In the end, you won’t see your money again!!!!
Please share this 😡
After years of traveling, I finally settled down a few years ago in the Togean Islands, Indonesia (on the main island of Sulawesi).
For those planning to visit the Togeans via Wakai (arriving either by ferry from Gorontalo or speedboat from Ampana), watch out for a person who goes by the name Bagong, also known as Farid.
This gentleman is a teacher and supplements his income with tourism-related activities. He often hangs around Wakai port looking for tourists to sell things to (a charter boat transfer, a cabin on the ferry, etc.), using dishonest methods and lining his pockets.
More recently, he was hired by the authorities of Togean Islands National Park (TNKT) to sell entry tickets. And this is even worse: in the name of the National Park, he outright scams tourists, either by selling tickets at a higher price, asking them to pay again, or charging children who are supposed to enter for free.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. Entry fee for the National Park: 150,000 IDR (ONLY FOR ADULTS, aged 18 and up)
2. This entry fee is only payable once, even if the ticket states it’s a daily price. These tickets were printed a long time ago, before tourists even had to pay anything, and since then the payment system has changed. So it’s indeed 150,000 IDR per person, payable once regardless of how long you stay in the Togeans.
3. Where to pay (depends on your entry point to the Togeans):
Ampana: entry fee payable when departing from Ampana port
Gorontalo: entry fee payable upon arrival at Wakai port
Bumbulan (Marisa): entry fee payable upon arrival at Dolong port
If you’re asked to pay these fees anywhere else or when leaving the Togeans, it’s a scam—don’t pay.
4. You should receive one receipt per person in exchange for the 150,000 IDR. If not, know that the money won’t go to the National Park but into the ticket seller’s pocket. If someone offers to charge you less (e.g., 100,000 IDR), you won’t get a receipt, so the money still won’t go to the National Park.
Please don’t accept these practices, even if you think it’s good for your wallet (seriously, a 50,000 IDR discount is only about 3 €). The National Park needs these funds to protect the Togean Islands’ ecosystem. By saving 3 €, you’re just lining the pockets of a dishonest guy.
Several resorts have already reported Bagong’s (or Farid’s) dishonest practices to the National Park. The authorities are still struggling to find a trustworthy person to sell tickets in Wakai (no scams have been reported in the other two ports so far). We all hope this person will be replaced soon.
5. Contribution for the Ministry of Tourism: Since early 2019, every tourist staying in the Togean Islands must, in addition to the National Park entry fee, pay a 50,000 IDR contribution (regardless of the length of stay). These fees are to be paid at the same time as the 150,000 IDR for the National Park.
6. Price for renting a cabin on the ferry Wakai - Gorontalo (and vice versa): 500,000 IDR. If someone offers you 600,000 IDR, it’s a scam, and those extra 100,000 IDR will go into the same dishonest guy’s pocket (or one of his accomplices). Note that the 500,000 IDR already includes the commission for the person acting as an intermediary to rent the cabin.
7. Going rates for charter boats from Wakai to the various resorts (approximate prices, just to give you an idea—it may vary slightly from one boat operator to another or from one resort to another):
Wakai - Kadidiri (Harmony Bay, Kadidiri Paradise, Black Marlin, Pondo Lestari): usually free if the transfer is arranged by the resort (if you have a confirmed booking and stay more than one night), otherwise between 100,000 and 150,000 IDR
Wakai - Una Una (Sanctum, Pristine Paradise): I’ll get back to you with the info, but you can also check with these two resorts.
Wakai - Katupat (Fadhila Cottages and Bolilanga): 400,000 IDR
Wakai - Bomba (Polyalisa, Poki-Poki, Araya Dive Resort, Island Retreat): 400,000 IDR
Wakai - Malenge (Malenge Indah, Bahia Tomini, Sera Beach, Sandy Bay, Lestari Cottages): 600,000 IDR
Wakai - Waleakodi (Lia Beach, Pulotiga Resort): 900,000 IDR
There you go, fellow travelers—my little contribution to help you avoid what’s known here as the "Wakai mafia."
I’ve included some photos of Bagong/Farid (found on Facebook) so you can recognize him. Note that he sometimes wears glasses, sometimes not, sometimes has a mustache, sometimes not, and sometimes wears his teacher’s uniform to appear more official or legitimate. Heh, the habit doesn’t make the monk ;)
Other shady individuals in Wakai:
Lamin: sometimes sells ferry tickets to Gorontalo, but mostly acts as a taxi to resorts, with shady deals and unfair prices.
Uni: a seemingly charming woman, but not always honest. She offers cabin rentals on the ferry and arranges charter boat transfers to resorts.
And while I’m at it, if you meet "Miss Harbor" at Ampana port, run away like the plague. She doesn’t handle National Park ticket sales but will try to sell you a car rental for Toraja, Tentena, Luwuk, or Manado, a cabin rental on the ferry to Gorontalo, or other things. Her real name is Ulfa, and she’s a real scammer (on top of being an alcoholic and a bit unhinged). I’ll try to post something about her later.
Don’t worry, there are also plenty of great people in the Togean Islands :P :P
If, despite everything, you fall victim to these scammers’ schemes, be sure to report it to the resort where you’re staying. And of course, leave a comment here so I can report it to the National Park and the Ministry of Tourism (communications are difficult in the Togeans, and some resort owners don’t have many opportunities to contact the authorities).
Together, we can put an end to these dishonest practices and make the Togean Islands even more beautiful :)
Have a great summer, travel safely, and return with your heart filled with the beauty of our world!
Hotel La suerte loca in Sidi Ifni.
Move along quickly!
LIAR AND DISHONEST.
Not to mention the state of the rooms. That’ll come later.
I booked three nights on-site without a bathroom in room (No. 16). I had called the day before to check availability. The next day, they told me I couldn’t stay in that room on the third night but offered to move me to another room—even more run-down than this one—and without a bathroom. They claimed there had been a mistake and the room was already booked, which is completely false. I’ve been traveling for 20 years and can spot hoteliers’ tricks. The woman running the place checked all her online sites and her schedule before confirming the room was available. She was sure. Especially since they display the booking schedule in front of each room to avoid mistakes. So, a pure lie. For what reason?
For me, two options: either take the run-down room for cheaper without a bathroom or leave. Great customer service. I found another hotel, Safa, a bit further away, at the same price with breakfast—100 times more luxurious and comfortable than this place. Or just down on the beach, Hotel Aït Baamrane, same price or even negotiable, and still much more comfortable.
When I left in the morning, they barely said goodbye, not a word of apology, no gesture to make up for kicking me out. NOTHING, NADA!
The woman running the place, with her fake friendliness and hypocrisy, only cares about one thing: money.
Otherwise, the place could be great if it were properly maintained. Instead of repainting the balconies, they should replace the mattresses, which are completely wrecked. The only good thing about this hotel is its location above the sea.
Otherwise, Room No. 16 was recently repainted.
Every time someone uses the water, there’s a huge noise from the pipes and vibrations.
The walls are paper-thin (figuratively speaking)—when neighbors talked or coughed, it was like they were in the room with me.
I had to wait to check in because of cleaning, but once inside, the bedside tables and the table were filthy (see photo).
In the bathroom, there’s a stale smell of old urine and sewage due to the worn-out toilet pipes (see photo), with minimal lighting. The showerhead is disgustingly dirty.
The gray duvet is dirty and very old, as are the blankets, which are dusty and grimy.
The Wi-Fi worked in the room the first day but not the next.
And finally, the worst part: the mattress is completely wrecked and sagging. The springs dig into your body. Horrible!
Instead of repainting, they’d do better to change the mattresses.
As for meals, the prices are outrageous.
This hotel relies on its old popularity, but it’s not worth 190 dirhams for this room. I’d say it’s barely worth over 100 dirhams.
Since I’ve been in Morocco, I’ve stayed in palaces for 130 dirhams with breakfast.
So, my advice: don’t trust the reviews and avoid this place. You’ll find much better at the same price, as mentioned above.
Hello,
I’m currently in Japan, in Osaka, and we just avoided a scam I wasn’t familiar with.
We were in the tall tower in Tennoji when we were approached by two Japanese guys around 20 years old.
One, speaking broken English, asked us to make a video for his friend who’s in the hospital.
The scam involves distracting you to steal your phone or later asking for money for this so-called friend, while the other stays in the background and keeps an eye on our surroundings. We obviously refused, pretending we didn’t speak English, and they left. But after 10 minutes, they came back, this time translating with his phone. After looking it up online, they call this the "sick friend scam"—used to ask for money. I’ve been coming to Japan twice a year for 15 years and had never seen this before. Also, I’ve noticed some aggressive behavior from a few Japanese people toward tourists—shoving in stores, a 1000¥ fee for luggage when taking the train from the airport, and terrible service in some hotels.
Japan plans to require an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) in 2025 for entry, which will need to be applied for and paid for online, along with a surveillance app. The exact date isn’t known yet, and Europe is protesting, considering reciprocity if necessary. Let’s see if this gets canceled, as the new prime minister seems to be backtracking.
I’d like to share the misadventure I had a few days ago when returning from French Polynesia.
It’s 10:30 PM on October 29, 2024. My wife and I just had an incredible trip and are about to face the gray skies of Paris again. We decide to buy two bottles of Mana'O rum as a souvenir from the Tahiti Dutyfree shop. The staff is charming, the price attractive, everything goes smoothly. They give us our products in a special customs bag—all good. Then my wife has a doubt: we’re transiting through the US, will the bottles make it through customs?
That’s when the trouble starts. I go back to the counter to confirm everything is in order and the products will pass through. They reassure me, explaining that with the special bag, there won’t be any issues. My wife checks customer reviews that say otherwise, so I go back. Again, they tell me there won’t be a problem and that they’ve never received complaints or negative feedback. After half an hour, I return, thinking I’d rather not take the risk. This time, they insist there won’t be a problem and even tell me that if US customs confiscate the bottles, they’ll refund me in full upon presenting the receipt and proof of confiscation: “contact us on Facebook, we’ll refund you.”
Ten hours later, I’m standing in front of a customs officer who opens the hermetically sealed bag and runs my bottles through some kind of obscure machine. Each bottle is tested three times—each fails. I’m not the only one; many other travelers have their bottles confiscated too. Without hesitation, I grab my phone and document the scene with the officer’s permission.
A few days later, I contact Tahiti Dutyfree, and they refuse to refund the products, claiming responsibility lies with US customs. A misleading response, since it would mean absolving themselves of the responsibility of selling products banned from entering the US to customers who are *required* to bring these purchases into the country.
For the record, it’s impossible that the management of this shop isn’t aware of the issue. They continue selling these items to customers, fully knowing they’ll end up in a trash bin at Seattle or Los Angeles airports.
I’d like to warn Tahiti Dutyfree customers and travelers who might want to bring back this kind of souvenir from French Polynesia, so my experience can help others avoid getting scammed.
If you’ve also been a victim of this, don’t hesitate to reply to this post :)
My poor bottles that will end up alone
The official ICAO-STEB duty-free bag
The US customs officer who let me capture this sweet moment
Hello les voyageurs,
Je voulais savoir si certaines d'entre vous avaient déjà rencontré des soucis au Belize ?
Je ne suis pas du tout de nature méfiante, je voyage souvent sans d'ailleurs faire assez attention. Il ne m'est jamais rien arrivé de négatif en voyage, si ce n'est au Belize.
J'étais allée avec ma meilleure amie (depuis le Mexique car nous habitions là-bas). Nous avions une chambre d'hôtel basique. Durant la nuit, un homme (un voleur bien connu de la ville), est entré dans notre chambre et nous a volé toutes nos affaires de valeur. Nous l'avons vu mais au moment où il repartait. C'était trop tard.
Ce qui est dingue dans cette histoire, c'est que cet homme avait eu la clef de notre chambre par le responsable de l'hôtel
Encore plus dingue, ce sont des enfants qui étaient à côté de nous sur la plage, qui a renseigné que deux jeunes filles seules séjournaient dans tel endroit...
Il vous est déjà arrivé une histoire complètement dingue ? Avez-vous eu des soucis au Belize ou pas du tout ? Je connais pas mal de personnes qui ont eu des problèmes à la frontière (moi aussi, ils ne voulaient pas nous laissé quitter le pays car il y avait une taxe à payer et nous n'avions du coup plus la moindre carte de banque ni centime...).
Je vous raconte pas ça pour que vous soyez suspicieux des locaux lors d'un voyage. Simplement, le touriste est la proie facile par excellence (encore plus lorsqu'il s'agit de deux jeunes filles seules). Il faut juste rester sur ses gardes. Après, je ne sais pas trop comment j'aurais pu éviter cette arnaque ci ^^
Je voulais vous faire part d'une arnaque aux taxis prépayés à l'aéroport international de Delhi.
Il existe un comptoir de vente dédié à l'intérieur de l'aéroport pour se rendre dans le centre de la ville. Quand l'employé de ce comptoir est absent, les autres compagnies situées juste à côté sortent un panneau intitulé: "Taxi prepaid".
C'est une énorme arnaque ! Normalement, le prix de la course pour se rendre dans le centre est de 600 roupies. Ils vous comptent la course 4 fois plus cher, et surtout ils n'ont aucune autorisation à vendre des tickets "taxi prepaid".
Le mieux pour se rendre au centre-ville est d'emprunter la ligne express du métro, très rapide, climatisée, sécurisée et hyper propre.
Il faut sortir de l'aérogare et suivre les panneaux "Metro" pour descendre dans la station. Il y a des guichets de vente après le passage de la sécurité (c'est la norme en Inde de passer par des portiques de sécurité pour pénétrer dans le métro) et le prix varie en fonction de votre station de destination. Ce prix est dérisoire et cette solution est beaucoup plus rapide et bien plus confortable pour se rendre à Delhi.
vol reservé le 10/02/2020 sous le numéro de résa: 4949548960, date prévu le 28/03/2020
aucun message du service client pour m'informer de l'annulation, puis apres des heure a essayer de les contacter , par chat , numéro surtaxé...
jai enfin réussi a etre contacté par mail car j'ai mis un avis défavorable sur un site , le mail m'informais le 15/05/2020 (1.5 mois apres l'annulation)que j'allais etre remboursé mais pas de la totalité, ils enlève des frais de ''d'intermédiation'' , en fait c'est des frais de résa , c'est vraiement du vol!!! n'achetez pas chez eux !!! utilisez ce site govoyage juste pour comparer mais je vous aurez prévenu , aujourdhui le 4 juin je n'ai aucun remboursement alors que qatar airways m'a confirmé que si javais acheté mon billet direct chez eux c'etait sous 7 jours et ils m'ont confirmé qu'ils avaient remboursé govoyage le 12 mars , c'est abusé leur facon de faire !!! mon message et aussi pou edream et opodo , c'est la meme société , de gros voleur !!! je souhaite a personne ma desaventure qui gache un voyage
Bonjour,
Considérant qu'il y a de plus en plus de vol dans les bus de nuit en Thaïlande, je voulais faire le point en ce mois d'avril 2017 afin d'informer les voyageurs qui comme moi sont inquiets. Alors, je viens régulièrement en Thaïlande, et depuis quelques années, il y a de pkus en plus de vol dans les bus de nuit. Un ami policier m'a aidé à comprendre. Il y a belle et bien une mafia surtout concernant les agences de Khao San Road, à éviter à tout prix, même si c'est tentanpour sauver quelques baths. Si c'est moins cher qu'ailleur alors vaut mieux se méfier. Les groupes organisés vols dans la soute à bagages lors du trajet, ils ont tout le temps pour bien fouiller, voler et tout remettre en ordre sans se rendre compte, sauf en arrivant à l'hôtel. Ne rien laisser de valeurs dans les sacs en soute. Il y a une seconde mode plus efficace ou certain groupe organisé font entrer un léger gaz dans la climatisation pour endormir les gens et les dépouiller de l'argent, Iphone, appareil photo, etc., toujoyrs à partir des agences sur Khao San Road.
Nous avons fait beaucoup de recherche pour éviter d'avoir des ennuies et avons trouvé des solutions à transmettre.
1. Prendre les bus gouvernementaux à partir de la station Monchit.
2. Prendre le train, plus lent mais plus sûr car présence policière dans les wagons.
3. Prendre des compagnies plus éloignées de Khao San Road qui ont pignon sur rue.
4. Mettre passeport et argent dans une ceinture soys les pantalons lors des déplacements en bus de nuit.
5. Nous, afin de dissuader les voleurs en soute, nous avons utilisé le fameux duck tape pour mettre sur tout nos attaches de sac, et nous mettons une housse sur notre sac que nous mettons ensuite dans un sac de plastique que nous attachons à nouveau avec le duck tape. Arrivé à destination, il est facile de savour si quelqu'un a fouillé nos affaire puisqu'il est difficile de recoller parfaitement le sac de plastique sans laisser de trace. De plus, cela rend la tâche difficile pour les gros méchants.
Suggestion: Pour une compagnie près de Khao San Road, nous avons utilisé la compagnie de transport ( Thaisriram transport, 18, Chakrabongse Rd, 086-351-9290). Se sont des bus de couleur blanc, et le propriétaire est un ancien policier. Nous avons été assuré qu'il n'y aurait aucun problème avec cette compagnie, et de fait. Nous sommes partie à l'heure, avons reçu un service parfait, confort à bord, et surtout l'assurance de piuvoir dormir tranquille sans crainte. Nous svons été très satisfait.
Pour donner suite à la très abondante littérature concernant la location de voiture au Portugal et particulièrement à Faro voici le détail de l'expérience que je viens de vivre.
Alerté par tous les problèmes de location dans ce pays j'avais pris la précaution d'éviter soigneusement les offres du genre 4€ par jour et autres propositions douteuses.
J'avais opté pour Avis société internationale et bien connu. J'ai loué un petit véhicule Micra pour 7 jours à l'aéroport de Faro.
Voici comment ça se passe. A l'aéroport tous les loueurs sont regroupés du coté départ et on a le choix car toutes les grandes enseignes sont présentes. Au stand Avis (mais c'est pareil pour les autres) on commence par faire la queue et ça peut être long car la demande est très soutenue. Il y a 6 ou 7 guichets qui sont pris d'assaut à chaque arrivée des vols. Après avoir attendu votre tour le moment est venu de faire votre choix, si ce n'est déjà fait par internet. L'opératrice vous indique les conditions dans un flot de parole ininterrompu dans la langue de Shakespeare, en ce qui nous concerne. Après quelques minutes et selon les options choisies (par exemple le boitier autoroute) on vous demande une signature digitale (sur écran) d'acceptation des conditions. Ce contrat vous ne le voyez pas car il vous est instantanément envoyé sur votre mail. Donc , sauf à le récupérer immédiatement sur un Smartphone par exemple, et à en consulter la quinzaine de pages pendant que derrière vous la file d'attente piaffe d'impatiente, vous ne pourrez pas exactement en connaitre le contenu. Ceci n'est finalement qu'un détail, même si on ne découvre qu'après avoir signé que l'on s'engage à payer toutes les réparations qui seront constatées par le loueur. Précision qu'il convient de savoir mais comme on a d'autre choix de signer sauf à rester sur le carreau, on signe.
Il était 18h quand l'hôtesse m'a donné les clefs du véhicule que je devais récupérer su le parking attenant. Le véhicule en question était en parfait état, une Nissan Micra dernier cri avec 3000 Km au compteur. Mais, première observation il n'y a personne de la société pour faire un constat de l'état du véhicule. J'ai fait un tour du véhicule sans rien y percevoir d'anormal.
J'ai utilisé le véhicule normalement sans problème le temps de la location. J'ai remis les clef du véhicule chez Avis dans la boxe prévue à cet effet, le jour convenu du retour, car notre avion partant à 6h du matin personne de chez le loueur n'était en mesure de réceptionner la voiture.
Rentré chez moi le soir je consulte mes mails et trouve un message de chez Avis me facturant 187€ pour une tache sur une aile du véhicule. A l'appuie une vague photo prise au Smartphone où l'on ne détecte que des reflets ?
Je conteste tout de suite par un mail chez Avis qui est toujours sans réponse à ce jour. 3 jours plus tard je suis débité de 231€ en plus de la location que j'avais déjà payé sans que je puisse m'y opposer d'une quelconque façon.
C'est ce qui me mets le plus en colère. En signant le contrat vous autorisez le loueur à prélever sur votre compte à peu prés n'importe quelle somme. Il faut le savoir. Avis Portugal vous enverra simplement une vague facture en Portugais comme justificatif, une fois que vous aurez regagné vos pénates.
J'ai payé ma location avec une carte Gold qui rembourse ce genre de dégâts et je me demande si le loueur n'en profite pas pour faire passer ces surplus, qui au final seront payés par Visa ???
En tout cas c'est une question que l'on peut se poser.
Je tenais à faire part de cette expérience pour tous ceux qui s'apprêtent à louer au Portugal en particulier à Faro. Je ne dis pas que mon cas est une généralité, je dis simplement qu'il se rajoute à la liste très longues de tous les problèmes déjà rencontrés dans ce pays et particulièrement à Faro, région très touristique ou la location de voiture est une véritable manne.
Conseil: au départ et à l'arrivée photographiez le véhicule sous toute les coutures, ça ne sera certes pas suffisant mais sa sera bien utile avant de se lancer dans de longues et pénibles réclamations.
A bon entendeur.
Bonjour,
je suis propriétaire de 3 gîtes , 2 à Amiens l'autre au tréport.
Je suis solliciter pour proposer mes locations par un club de vacances privé qui m'assure "12 semaines de réservations par an".
Les responsables sont établis à Vancouver et l'organisme se nomme : SIOCORLENTER
Quelqu'un aurait -t-il entendu parler de cette société ?
D'avance merci de vos réponses
Chamaigre
Je vous fais ce message pour vous prévenir sur la visite du Stade Vélodrome...
En effet, sur cette semaine, je me suis rendu deux fois au Vélodrome, une fois seul et une fois accompagné.
La première fois, un homme court vers moi en criant "supporter supporter", je me retourne, j'avais l'air du touriste avec mon sac à dos et appareil photo... Je m'arrête, il m'accoste et me demande si je suis fan de l'OM, après quelques baratinages, il propose de me prendre en photos, enfin "proposer" est un grand mot, il oblige. Ensuite, il te dit des trucs du style "Je te fais à 6 4 ou 4 8", puis il continue ses photos. C'est limite s'il menace, après il m'oblige à payer en scandant : "Donne moi 50, j'te rend la monnaie." A plusieurs fois, il me crie Allez l'OM et indique qu'il propose des visites gratuites du Vélodrome (or c'est l'office du tourisme qui le fait pour 6€ sur le parking voisin). Il m'agresse limite, je lui donne donc son billet et il me rend 22€, il m'a donc volé 28€ pour 2 photos polaroid...
Je reste quelques temps à l'intérieur de la boutique et surveille la sortie, je le vois occupé avec d'autres personnes, des touristes bien évidemment. Je passe discrètement derrière et bien évidemment ces pauvres gens sont dépouillés de 2 billets de 50€ également...
Je quitte en métro au plus vite sans prêter attention.
Quelques jours plus tard, je retourne au stade, accompagné, sans sac et avec des lunettes de soleil pour éviter qu'il me reconnaisse. Evidemment, je le vois occupé avec une troupe de personnes asiatiques, ils étaient 4-5 et rebelotte, il refrotte ses polaroids et plusieurs billets de 20 et 50€ redéfillent. J'ai également pu voir quelques dizaines de secondes après qu'il traine avec deux-trois autres personnes, ces copains, qui je suppose le protège en cas de récidive d'un touriste.
Voici donc la description des mecs :
Celui qui prend les photos était présent une fois à 14h et une autre fois à 10h, donc il doit rester souvent là, il porte une veste Adidas noire, des lunettes noires et il est vêtu d'un jogging (il me semble), cet homme est de type "arabe".
Une autre personne, jeune (+/- 18 ans) vêtu d'un jogging, également de type "arabe" attend devant les grilles, avec un air agressif.
Une autre personne était présente mais je n'ai pu la voir car elle se cachait derrière leur voiture, une FIAT Punto (des années 2000) bordeaux-rouge.
Dois-je avertir les autorités ? Étant donné que j'ai vu ce même type d'arnaque sur un autre topic de forum ?
Je vous écris concernant certaines pratiques frauduleuses rencontrées chez AVIS - BUDGET.
J'ai réservé et payé en ligne une location de voiture en Afrique du sud (Cap Town).
Le Tarif de 790 euros pour 15 jours comprenait :
- le kilométrage illimité
- les frais de retours dans une autre agence
- les assurances
- le rachat de franchise en cas d'accident
- les taxes locales
- la participation aux couts d'immatriculation
- le rachat de franchise.
Je ne devais payer sur place que les services optionnels, à savoir : la location du GPS et le conducteur supplémentaire, le tout pour 1900 Zar
La prise en charge du véhicule a été très rapide. On m'a juste demandé de présenter mon permis de conduire et ma carte bleue et de signer sur un petit écran IPAD pour confirmer ma location et de renseigner mon email. Et que j'allais recevoir le contrat plus tard (que je n'ai jamais reçu).
Un mois après le retour du véhicule, j'ai découvert que j'allais être débité de 615 euros supplémentaires pour des assurances que je n'avaispas demandé. Ce qui veut dire que je paye plus d'assurance que de location de voiture. Cela n'a pas de sens !!!
Mais jamais, la personne du guichet m'a proposé une souscription d'assurance complémentaire. On ne m'a rien remis en échange et on ne m'a parlé de rien, surtout pas d'assurances supplémentaires ou de frais supplémentaires.
A aucun moment on nous a informé et montré que nous étions en train de signer pour des assurances complémentaires.
Nous considérons que c'est de la vente déguisée, forcée, de la malhonnêteté, une arnaque à l'assurance et j'ai constaté tristement que nous sommes loin d’être les seules et que cette arnaque semble être érigée en système chez Avis-Budget dans TOUS LES PAYS comme je viens de le découvrir sur différents forum !!!
Donc éviter absolument cette société.
Pourquoi tous les clients d'EasyJet qui souhaitent modifier leurs plans de voyage peuvent désormais transférer leurs vols à une date ultérieure et/ou vers une autre destination sans frais de modification mais une obligation de payer la fausse différence de prix.
Faite le test valeur de votre voyage exemple 400 euros et demande de prix pour un autre voyage
325 euros. Maintenant aller sur modifier votre réservation avec le même voyage vous verrez un surcoût de 110 à 150 euros avec une explication surcoût de voyage ! Mensonge
Je pense que entre perdre 400 euros et payer un supplément pour ne pas perde la totalité doit satisfaire la plupart des clients. Simplement ne dite pas sans frais mais avec des frais de modification réduit. Il est vrai que commercialement cela passe mieux.
Bru
My poor bottles that will end up alone
The official ICAO-STEB duty-free bag
The US customs officer who let me capture this sweet moment
