Urgent international warning issued for those traveling soon to Spain: “You must be vigilant”

As travelers plan their summer trips, many opt for familiar or popular destinations. For those considering Europe, Italy, Spain, and France offer fantastic holiday experiences, being among the most visited countries. However, it’s important to note that these destinations also come with certain disadvantages.

“Pickpocketing” phenomenon

Travel insurance company QuoteZone has researched the proportion of pickpocketing-related comments in reviews of top tourist attractions in each European country. According to the researchers' findings, Italy came out on top, with Rome being the favorite place for pickpockets to work. The company found that 478 pickpockets were identified for every million British tourists visiting Italy’s top tourist attractions.

Some of the areas where pickpockets have been most prevalent are well-known public places such as the Pantheon, the Colosseum, the Duomo in Milan, and the Uffizi Gallery in Florence.

France welcomed over 100 million travelers last year, with its capital experiencing the second-highest reports of pickpocketing in Europe, totaling 251 incidents for every million visitors. Sadly, the busiest monuments and cities, like the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Orsay and Louvre museums, are particularly vulnerable to these thefts. Therefore, it is essential for all tourists to remain vigilant and attentive to their surroundings.

Lastly, Barcelona is home to one of Europe’s busiest pedestrian streets, Las Ramblas, which tops the list in Spain. While many tourists stop to enjoy the art of street artists, many thieves take advantage of these moments to strike. Some of the places where this type of theft occurs the most in Spain are emblematic places such as La Sagrada Familia, the Museo Nacional del Prado in Madrid, and the Alhambra Palace in Granada.

There are ways to stay safe

Greg Wilson, founder and CEO of QuoteZone, said: “It is essential always to remain vigilant, leave valuables, like expensive jewelry, in a safe in the hotel, and always travel with a secure cross-body bag with zips to secure phones and wallets or even a money belt.” The QuoteZone founder also expressed the importance of notifying the police if you are robbed, as it will be necessary if you make an insurance claim.