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TIL that 'free walking tour' advice almost cost me my luggage in Barcelona
Everyone in this group always says to do free walking tours to save money. I tried one last month in Barcelona and the guide led us through this super tight alleyway near Las Ramblas. A local told me later those tours are magnets for pickpockets and sure enough, two people in our group got their wallets lifted. The guide didn't even warn us or offer safety tips. Anyone else had a bad experience with the so-called free tours?
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sarah53118d ago
You mentioned that the guide didn't offer safety tips, and I think that's exactly the problem with these tours. They sell themselves as a way to see the city on the cheap, but the real cost is your attention being diverted while someone walks off with your stuff. In Barcelona, the guides often take groups through touristy bottlenecks on purpose because that's where the "action" is for pickpockets. I'd argue that paying a few euros for a proper small group tour with a licensed guide is actually cheaper in the long run, because they'll keep you away from those spots. The free model forces guides to move fast and hit the most crowded areas to pack in tips, and that puts everyone at risk.
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kelly_nelson9518d ago
Free tours are a straight up gamble with your stuff. The guides have zero stake in your safety since they already got their money from the big group. I saw a guy lose his phone in Madrid on one of those tours and the guide just shrugged. Small paid groups are way more careful about routes and keeping people close.
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