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Hello to all travelers. This is Brenna from Wolters' World. Today we are in Venice, Italy, and we will talk about some of the scams and tourist traps that travelers may encounter during a visit to Venice. Since this is a very popular tourist destination, there are quite a few tourist traps and scams to be aware of. I'll start with souvenirs. This isn't necessarily a scam, but it's something to keep in mind. Cheap masks. You'll see Venetian masks everywhere, okay? You will see different options, there will be a huge number of them here. From huge ones to small cheap masks that are in every souvenir shop.
I want you to know that perhaps not all of them are made in Italy, okay? If you want to buy a real Venetian mask, make sure it is truly authentic. Therefore, if you buy a cheap one, it will most likely fall apart quickly, it wasn't made in Italy, and it may not be designed for wearing. If you don't plan on wearing it, that's not a problem, but you should understand that. So, if you want a real mask, be aware-they cost more. Take my word for it, okay? I collect them. I have four of them on the wall at home, okay? This is my hobby when I travel: we buy paintings, and I buy masks. So I have four of them right here. The main thing is to go to a store that
only sells masks. If there are only masks, a bunch of different options, then the chances of buying the real thing are much higher. What's also cool is that you can attend workshops where they teach you how to make them-it can be great fun. And you will get a cool mask as a result. But if you do want a cheap mask, that's okay, just know that you could probably order it on Amazon or Alibaba, and even cheaper than you paid here for the same cheap products. Now, an important thing you need to understand when coming to Venice-remember that woman shouting " Attenzione, pickpocket!" that went viral on the internet? Listen, I think she makes about three-quarters of her content here, in Venice, because there are so many tourists here. And
when there are so many tourists, there will be a lot of pickpockets. So you really need to be careful here, okay? Don't walk everywhere with all your belongings. Don't take everything with you when you go out for the day. Leave your things at the hotel. Put your passport, your belongings, you know, in the safe at your hotel. You don't need to take this with you, okay? Some places here you can't even enter with large bags, so don't pack a lot of things, keep that in mind and pack accordingly. Keep your wallet in your front pocket, use a fanny pack, and be careful when they are in action. They are everywhere in the city, but you will most often see them where crowds of tourists gather, so if you think of St. Mark's Square, they will probably be there.
If you go to the Academy, where everyone is looking at works of art, they might be there. On the Rialto Bridge, we all want to take photos, focusing on a good shot, not our wallets, so be careful with that. But also in vaporettos, you know, these are river trams that run through the city, you also have to be careful there. And also, when you're just waiting to board because you think: " Oh, I'm going to get on this bus right now." "I don't want to trip." "I don't want to fall into the water." " What will happen next?" And you're not paying attention, and right at that moment- whoops-they might rob you. I mean, this is the best moment when a female thief acts-when she catches them while they're literally standing in line for the vaporetto. So be
careful, okay? Just be alert in any crowded place with lots of tourists. So when you're turning off the tourist trail, it's not that important, but if you're on the tourist trail, just know that you have to be careful, okay? Now, as you walk around the city, one more thing to understand: if you see people dressed up for carnival balls, in masks and dresses, that's really cool. They're really cool, but understand that they're not doing this for fun. They do it to make money, you know? So if you take a picture of them or take a picture with them, they will expect you to tip them, okay? So make sure you take that into account. This isn't necessarily a scam or a tourist trap, it's just something to be
aware of. Of course, during carnival everything is different, people are in costumes, and that's completely normal, but that's what often upsets people. They take pictures of them, and they're like, "Hey, pay." And they're like, "What? I just took a picture." Just be prepared for what might happen, okay? Now, another thing that could be a scam or a tourist trap that I want to warn you about is tours to the island of Murano, although they can be visited in a way that avoids these traps. You go to the island of Murano, watch how glass is blown and these beautiful glass products are created. I mean, this is really, really cool.
It's worth going and watching glass blowing. But when you take the free tour, they take you there, show you 20 minutes of glassblowing, and then lock you in the gift shop for an hour. And they're trying to get you to buy something because, of course, they're probably getting kickbacks or some kind of commission. But you're thinking, "Wait, this is a 20-minute event, why should I waste 2 hours of my day sitting in a gift shop for an hour?" That's why, if you're going there, it's better to take a water taxi to Murano on your own and explore everything. The island itself is cool, so you can walk around it, watch glass blowing, and not spend an hour in a souvenir shop.
Another thing I want to warn you about is something you can encounter in all crowded places in Italy, not just in Venice, is an overly friendly person. You know, these: "my friend, my friend. " Hey, what time is it? Hey, where are you from? They try to befriend you, and then of course, eventually they'll try to offer a bracelet, tie something to you, or offer a rose or something. All these free things-there's really nothing free. I can't stress this enough: there are no free bracelets, no free roses, no free anything, no free friendship here.
Usually after that they will ask you for something. And if you don't want to give anything, or say " I gave you a rose," they will make a scene to embarrass you so that you give them money and they will get away with it. Just don't contact them, just walk past them, okay? There will be other tourists they can get besides you, okay? So be careful. Also, while here, you may notice beggars, and the government advises against giving them money. Many of them work in organized groups, and maybe they earn better than you, you know? So it's worth taking that into account. Be careful with this. Are you going to give money? I'm not saying you shouldn't help beggars if you want to, just be aware of the situation. Especially
if they are children. I mean, there are beggar children and pickpocket children. You have to be alert while you're here because of everything that's going on around you. And sometimes these beggars are not who they say they are. It doesn't have to be the person on the corner, it could be a fake tourist. You know, people say, " Oh, I got robbed here, and I need to get to the airport because I have a flight to Manchester today." " Could you give me 20 euros so I can get there?" "Here's my ticket, see?" They will show you their boarding pass or something similar. Look, just know that most likely nothing like this happened to them, okay? Another thing that people think is a tourist trap or a scam, but it's not, is the extra charge when
you sit down at a table in a cafe. Look, you want espresso, you're in Italy, you drink espresso. But the thing is, if you stand, you'll notice that all the locals are standing too, right? They drink their espresso because it's cheaper standing up. When you sit down, they will charge you more. So keep that in mind. I know that the price of an espresso can vary depending on whether you're sitting in a cafe or standing at the bar, but I also want to say: make sure to check your bill to make sure everything is in order, because in touristy places with lots of tourists, especially in the summer when everything is noisy and hectic, anything can happen. Sometimes an extra aperitif or
something else may accidentally appear on the bill. Just check, because sometimes this happens by accident. They may add something extra to your bill. So it's always worth reading everything carefully. Don't hand over your credit card right away. Always check the bill first. By the way, you will see that the Italians do the same. They check their account to make sure everything is correct. They might say, "Hey, we didn't order four portions of groceries." "We only ordered two." "What's going on here?" And they will settle the score. It's not a big deal, but just keep it in mind, okay? And now another thing that some people consider a tourist trap, but to be honest, it's not really. This is part of Italy, Venetian culture- gondola rides. So,
riding gondolas is not a cheap pleasure. I mean, it's not a tourist trap. This is not a scam. It's just expensive, okay? So, if you want to go for a ride, you can find yourself a company to split the costs. But this is an integral part of a visit here, it is part of the local flavor. However, when prices approach hundreds of euros with tips and gratuities, some people think it's a tourist trap, but it's not. It's part of the local culture. But be prepared for the fact that you will have to pay for this culture, okay? Now for what you'll actually have to deal with when you're here. It doesn't matter how experienced a tourist you are, how much you love to travel, or how immersed in the culture you are- tourist trap restaurants are a part of
life in Venice. Listen, if you're taking a tourist route, for example, the long road from Santa Lucia to Piazza San Marco, there are lots of restaurants there. This is a tourist trail. And there are many restaurants there that are tourist traps. The thing is, if you end up there, some of the restaurants are actually pretty good. It's okay, but you'll feel like a tourist trap when you're there. Here's what I'll say. If you're looking for a tourist trap restaurant, if they have big pictures of the dishes, it's probably a tourist trap. If there's a menu in 19 languages, it's probably a tourist trap, okay? Also, for me, the main sign is if there are 20 different types of pasta on the menu and none of them are spaghetti alle vongole, or there's no black, well,
cuttlefish ink, you know? Because so many tourists come here from all over Italy and from all over the world, and they want to eat Italian food, because sometimes it's the only city they go to. They have pasta from all over Italy, but not necessarily from Venice, you know? Typically, Italian restaurants serve only a few pasta dishes that are typical of that region. And here, if they have a lot of everything, then it's probably a tourist trap, you know? But the thing is, since there are so many more tourists than locals, it's hard not to fall into a tourist trap. So one thing I would recommend is to read the reviews. Don't go to any place with a rating below four stars. If it's four or higher, you should be fine, but of course, the higher the
better, and below four-there are too many other options for you. One thing I like to do is literally walk three or four blocks into the island, just get off the tourist trail, and you'll have a better chance of finding something truly local and tasting authentic food. Get the branzino, the sea bass, you should try it. Take, yes, spaghetti alle vongole, take risotto with cuttlefish ink. I mean, you can really enjoy it, avoid the high prices and the touristy atmosphere, and maybe even meet the locals. Because many people don't realize that people from Venice are actually pretty cool. It's just that sometimes they get so crowded with tourists
that they get a little irritated, you know? Oh, and when you go to a restaurant, I know I mentioned branzino, but if you're going to order fish, it's not a scam, but I just want you to pay attention: check the prices because sometimes fish is priced per gram and you don't know how many grams they're going to give you. So keep that in mind, okay? Now, another thing that is purely touristy, but you will have to pay for-it's not exactly a trap or a scam, it's just a reality of life- to drink your shot or eat gelato in St. Mark's Square. Listen, this is the best view in the whole city. This is simply incredible. I once sat there myself. One year for Justin's birthday we went there and sat down because it was a special occasion. And, wow, my wallet said, "This
must really be a special occasion, because you're going to pay a lot more for a view like this." So keep that in mind. It's not a scam, but it's something you'll pay a lot for, okay? And the thing is, location can really dictate the price. That's why I don't recommend buying anything on the Rialto Bridge, because the same souvenirs you see on the Rialto Bridge can be found elsewhere in the city, and they will be much more affordable. And when you're on Rialto, with all those stairs and tourists trying to take pictures, and it's narrower than the street itself-it's also a place for pickpockets. So keep that in mind, okay? Now, a few more things I want to warn you about: be aware that there are the usual tourist scams here, just like everywhere else. Those
distraction scams where they say, "Hey, what's that?" And now your bags are gone. All sorts of things, like bird droppings scams, because there are a lot of pigeons around here, you know? And the seagulls, oh my god, don't forget the seagulls. You definitely don't want to deal with them. Or they say, "You've got some dirty gelato. Let me help you." And basically, they're just intentionally pouring something on you, right? Like poop or some white liquid, or gelato, and they're like, " Oh, sorry." And then you know, I just had my little handbag. I just put it on the ground. And while they are helping me get clean. "Hey, have a nice day." And then they move on, and your bag is gone. They are not the ones who stole it. He says,
"I don't have one. I didn't do that. I was just helping a tourist who got dirty with gelato." And their friends already ran away with your bag, you know? If this happens, you know, report it to the police. But I would advise you to look around on the streets where it happened. Look in the trash cans nearby, because often, especially if it's wallets or something similar, they look for something valuable and throw the rest away so they don't get caught with your bag. Or if your wallet is stolen, they might be caught with your credit card. They won't be able to say "oh" anymore. But if it's cash, there's no evidence that it wasn't theirs. Now there are some more rules for tourists that are important to mention because some people consider them a scam or
feel trapped or cheated. But it's actually worth being aware that you can get a fine while here. Remember, guys, you can't take your shirt off while walking around town. It doesn't matter how hot it is or how pumped you are. I've seen people do it, by the way. You can get a fine for this. Feeding pigeons- you can get a fine for that too, okay? Or sitting in certain places and disturbing people on the Rialto Bridge-you can also get a fine for that. This doesn't happen often, but it's worth knowing about when you're here. Because you will ask: "Why am I getting this fine?" Because it's part of the rules. And the tourist tax, you know, the tax for day trippers, sometimes you really have to pay it. This is not
every day. There are only certain days when you really have to pay it. And, you know, it's usually during peak season, but it's worth knowing about. Oh, and if you're staying at a hotel here, you don't have to worry about the same-day visitor tax because it's already included in the taxes you pay for your hotel room. So you don't have to worry about these things, okay? The thing is, I've told you about all these troubles of Venice, but I'll be honest: you won't encounter most of them when you come here. Apart from tourist trap restaurants. I won't lie to you. This is something you will definitely encounter. I just want you to have an idea of what to expect when you get here so that your trip is safer and better. So many tourists come to Venice and I want
them to have the best time possible. And if you want to learn more about Venice, what not to do here, tourist mistakes, and what to eat, visit our website. I wish you all the best. I want to say a special thank you to our participants and patrons who help create these videos. You are all incredible. Greetings from Venice.
