<p>My D is enrolled for a study abroad program for the spring semester in Barcelona. We have only paid the $75 application fee. I have just found out that there is alot of street crime in Barcelona. I googled crime in Barcelona and pages of info came up. Have any parents had students who did a study abroad in Barcelona? My daughter and her friend are NOT street smart. My daughter is the kind of child that leaves her bag on a chair while shes trying something on in a store. So I was thinking of her switching to a program in either England or Rome. Any thoughts of a somewhat safe place?</p>
<p>We visited Barcelona as tourists, though this was 10 years ago. It's the only place we've visited where the tour guide warned us about rampant pick-pocketing and described how it was done (offering free flowers as a way to get close--and we did see people doing this). A friend and her husband were robbed 3 times on a trip to Spain and they are VERY experienced travellers. One time the pick-pocket managed to get the money from a hidden money belt! If things are the same, you might want to look around for a safer place. However, if your d leaves her bag on a chair while trying things on, she'll have problems just about everywhere.</p>
<p>I do not think Rome is safer, and I agree that Barcelona does suffer from a fair amount of tourist-related crime trouble. Either place requires an aware traveler. </p>
<p>Rather than change plans, maybe some kind of training for your daughter? (I have no idea what...)</p>
<p>If you are not careful in any big city, doesn't matter if it's Barcelona, Rome, London, New York, Boston, wherever, you are at risk of being a victim of crime.</p>
<p>It would be better to try to teach your daughter how to take care of herself and especially not leave her bag lying around anywhere.</p>
<p>Our daughter has been studying at the University of Barcelona for the last year - she's been living in the neighborhood very close to the University. She walks everywhere.</p>
<p>I had the same worries about 'Street Smarts" when she moved to Boston for college - our daughter grew up in New Mexico then Alaska - had never taken public transportation before in her life etc. </p>
<p>Trust me - it will be ok. The street survival skills come very quickly. She will develop an awareness. Remind her the obvious - not to flash money, not to leave her bags, try to travel with another person. </p>
<p>I am sure her study abroad program will give her an orientation.
What study abroad program is she going with??</p>
<p>Also, our daughter has had the time of her life in Barcelona. She's made friends with kids from all over the world. There are many US students studying in Barcelona. She travels easily and cheaply around Europe - we get calls when she tells us she and some friends are "going up to Berlin for a concert" !!! London for New Years. Valencia for a holiday. She's worked hard and played hard and is currently in Morocco on vacation before returning to Barcelona to tie up her research and return to Boston in Sept.</p>
<p>Don't know about crime, but you should see the wonderful study abroad French film L'Auberge Espagnole (set in Barcelona).</p>
<p>I have cousins who live right outside of Barcelona and based on what I've heard from them, it's really not that bad. Or at least, no worse than any other large metropolitan city. You just have to use common sense and keep a hold on your stuff. </p>
<p>Another note from them... the worst area for pickpockets is Las Ramblas, in particular the lower area of the street closer to the water. That doesn't mean you need to avoid that area by any means; however, it's just the place that you need to take the most care in keeping an eye on your possesssions.</p>
<p>We just came back from Rome and visited Barcelona 3 yrs ago. Not much violent crime, but lots of beggars, petty theft, etc. We discovered that just an awareness and quickly and clearly denying interaction with those who approached you (rather that you approaching them) worked out well.</p>
<p>Barcelona is a beautiful city, with a great deal to offer. Most people love the vibrant mix of Spanish and Basque cultures, with a little French flavor thrown in. As it has developed as a tourist destination, though, the street crime has flourished. But why would you think Rome would be any better? My niece was born and raised in Spain, has traveled all over Europe, and was pickpocketed in EuroDisney, of all places. A traveler has to learn to protect herself. </p>
<p>She may as well prepare for the worst. Make copies of her passport and have her take one or two, kept separately from the real passport. Also, keep one copy at home. Buy her a traveler's wallet that can be worn under clothing (not that most kids will use it.) Teach her to split her assets so that she has a small amount of money and one ID in her pocket and the rest put away. She should be careful about using ATMs that can be observed from the street. And, yes, travel in pairs or groups, and don't trust natives who are "too friendly" with flowers or drinks or other offers.</p>
<p>There was a recent thread about visiting Barcelona </p>
<p>Just check the percentage of posters who reported a problem with thefts AND still loved the city. </p>
<p>It is true that all large cities have a degree of danger, but how many would warn someone bound for London or Brussels to have to be EXTRA careful for petty thieves and pickpockets. No matter how one slices it, this issue IS bigger in Barcelona, partly because the type of people the city has attracted and ... not done "that" much to correct. My mother had her necklace forcefully and brutally snatched while INSIDE the Picasso Museum. The thief, a young drug addict was apprehended by the guards and sent to the local police station that has a dedicated section for pickpockets. The thief gets the police car; the victims pays for a taxi! The thief was out before my mother started the paperwork. The police admitted that the policy is a mere "catch and release" until the crimes ... get worse. The criminal's name goes on a list and that is IT! The biggest "crime" was to have bothered the agents and requested them to file a full report in the middle of the day. </p>
<p>Sugarcoating what happens in Barcelona around the clock does not help anyone. Tourists and foreigners are magnets for petty crimes and hardly protected by a debonair yet ineffective police force. However, this should not stop anyone from going there and having a great time, albeit not as carefree as one might hope for.</p>
<p>Street crime is prevalent in many major European cities. Fortunately, violent crime is rare in comparison to the U.S. I've spent time in the places you mentioned - London, Rome and Barcelona. All were great, though (coincidentally or not) Barcelona was the only place where somebody tried to pick-pocket me:</p>
<p>I was walking on a side street off Las Ramblas with my backpack when my "spidey sense" was tingling. Sure enough, I found my backpack half opened and somebody about to reach in. The **shole acted as if nothing happened and sauntered away. I didn't see the point of risking my life by going after him.</p>
<p>If you want your D to go somewhere with virtually non-existent street crime, have her check out Japan. There was a hilarious L.A. Times article about the author's experience with crime in Tokyo. A policeman spent several days tracking down his stolen bike until it was found and the perp was caught. I doubt if NYPD's finest have time to look for your bike.</p>
<p>Russ:</p>
<p>Thanks for the link to the article - it was a good one. I was in Tokyo one time with time to kill so I'd just start walking in a different direction from my centrally located hotel (by the Imperial Palace). I've been in many cities around the world but Tokyo definitely felt like one of the safest. Of course it helps that it's not loaded with drug addicts and beggars like some other cities.</p>
<p>I studied abroad in Barcelona last fall, and I won't lie, there is street crime, especially in Las Ramblas. I didn't get pickpocketed in an entire semester, nor did any of my closest friends. I felt more unsafe / vulnerable to getting pickpocketed when I was in Rome than in Barcelona, I won't lie -- maybe that's because I'm more familiar in Barcelona and if a situation seemed seedy in BCN, we'd just talk in only Spanish. I remember seeing a woman's entire bag get pulled straight from her arm near the Olympic stadium - but that's the most intense thing I saw (and that was broad daylight - but was also seven years ago).</p>
<p>IN any case, your daughter should always be carrying a purse with a zipper, and though it's silly, make sure the zipper is all the way closed. These pickpockets know what they're doing and if the purse's zipper is even say one inch open, they can work wtih that if they want. If you say she has no street smarts, maybe she should carry a messenger bag or any other purse that crosses around her chest and that she can wear it with the bag part in front of her (does that make sense?) since she's less vulnerable to pickpockets that way.</p>
<p>There's always going to be a potential problem wherever you go but my best advice is just to be smart and most importantly DON'T MAKE YOURSELF BE A TARGET. Tourists are definitely the easiest to manipulate and take advantage of, and simple things can be done to resolve this. One big one is to dress like a native (even if you're not) -- then you won't make yourself look like one big red X sign. It helps a lot. Knowing enough of the language would be definitely a plus!</p>
<p>I haven't yet studied abroad or anything, but I will be taking a trip to Spain next summer, Barcelona included. I recommend that your daughter try her best to blend in with the locals, especially dressing like them. Some other good advice is to not speak loudly in English, since that will obviously attract pickpockets.</p>
<p>I was in Barcelona for a week in July and had no problems despite being warned about pickpockets and such. Barcelona is a great city with so much to see and do. Just be smart and keep your eyes open and she'll be fine.</p>
<p>well this summer I went to Barcelona on a school trip. It was amazing!!! yes there is some crime but not higher than many other populated European cities. Just need to watch out for pickpockets on the streets and be aware of yur surroundings.</p>