Pickpockets Barcelona

[ieatyellowsnow]

How bad is it really? I want to go with dh, and 2 dc, 2 and 4.

Is it folly to go?

I'm well travelled but since having children I've become very cautious. I would take photocopies of our passports and keep originals in the aparthotel and I wouldn't take all cash with me. In fact I'd probably withdraw from cash machine every other day.

Thanks.

Depends exactly where you are staying. We took an airport bus and it took about 45 minutes. There weren't any seatbelts or anything. But there are other public transport options as well I think.

Yep I got mugged in Barcelona

Be careful especially around Las Ramblas. Beware of distraction techniques as I had my bag pinched in this way. I got it back by chasing the thief and thankfully the police were coming the other way and nabbed him. It was incredibly satisfying to see him being hurled in the back of a police car but took several frustrating hours to sort out all the paperwork and be reunited with my bag.
I have been to Barcelona many, many times since and have never had another problem but I am really careful now.
It's a wonderful city don't let pickpockets put you off.

We had our car tyre stabbed by moped passenger as we were driving along towards airport so pulled off into primary school car park next door to hospital (where we felt we would be sort of safeish) then were "car jacked" and they stole our bags from boot while we were trying to get RAC/AA SPANISH version to help us on mobile

This was middle of day in bright sunshine

But realise this could happen anywhere in world and have been all over world but will never go back to Barcelona

This was me and DH - yes we do know we could have been robbed anywhere but it was really horrible

I had a shopping bag stolen on las ramblas in the supermarket. Still no idea how on earth they did it given how I was carrying the bag and holding a basket with groceries. Stuff happens. Didn't stop me going back though.

We've been lots of times and it is s great place for a family holiday. The only time we've had a problem was on the metro. Our experience was that families with small children are seen as an easy pick pocketing target. We avoid the metro and get taxis instead. It is a compact city so we find taxis don't cost that much and you get to see more of the city.

We went to Barcelona this summer, stayed in a hotel just off Las Ramblas, used the metro all the time, usually getting off and on at Placa de Catalunya, wandered around crowded tourist areas and didn't have any problems at all. We all (dh, dd - who was 16 - and I) all felt very safe.