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A friend of ours in Switzerland was Algerien and had some pretty crazy stories to tell us about how the police, mostly out of uniform, would stop him and ask for his papers - even though they'd done this the week before this, and the week before that one, and so forth. In a pub he even waved to them as they sat at the bar. He went on to tell us that if you do not look caucassian then, in the eyes of the police, you look like a criminal. While he may have said this because he was bitter, I did feel uneasy as where ever we went he was able to point out where some cops where, wave to them, and carry on. And they seemed to be all over the place.
Our friend had one thing to say: Carry your ID and passport at all time or you could end up spending an afternoon at the police station explaining yourself. And that's not a way to spend a vacation.
Hopefully, in the years that have passed since my visit, that attitude has changed and people are given a bit more respect. :\ Leave a Comment
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Remember, at least during the time of my writings, that Switzerland is not part of the EU and so you do go thru checkpoint going into and out of the country. This also means that they do not use the Euro either. Although many accommodations will accept the Euro, they just may give you change in Swiss Franks. Leave a Comment
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Fake policemen roam Geneva streets! These so called policemen are actually tourists from other Eastern European countries who "graze" Geneva for a quick buck. They usually operate in 2 or more and are not in uniform. They approach the victim on the street and demand to see some ID. They will give a story that the place is full of drug dealers (at least thats what they told me) so they will demand to inspect your wallet. They will then go through your wallet and return it to you like nothing happened. With a stern face, they'll ask you to leave! So nothing happened right? WRONG! They already stole your credit cards and cash!!!! So be very wary of these characters! Never give them your wallet or else you are sure to lose your money!!! I did not loose anything as I refused to hand over my wallet. However, my friend was not so lucky and lost 2,000 Swiss Francs to the same routine!!! So please be careful and be very streetsmart when in Geneva!
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Like so many cities now, Geneva has problems with pickpockets. It certainly doesn't have the international reputation for it that Barcelona has, but do be careful with your purse or handbag.
If you lose your handbag or wallet, go to the police and make a report (ask for a copy). They are unlikely to be able to get it back, but having filed a report will assist you with making any insurance claims, or in obtaining new passports etc. Of course you must quickly make sure you contact your banks to stop your cards!
The first website link below can be used to search for the nearest embassy.
The second website link below can be used to find the nearest Permanent Mission for your country in Geneva. Many countries do not have embassies in Geneva; most are in Bern, but often Permanent Missions will have consulate staff who could help you. (Permanent Missions are sort of like an Embassy but instead of trying to foster relations between two countries, a Mission presents a country's interests to an international institution or organisation e.g. the UN or WTO) Leave a Comment
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The ticket machines at bus and tram stops in Geneva do not give change, so have the exact amount ready (2.20 for 1 zone, 2.60 for 2 zones and 4.60 for 3 zones) Leave a Comment
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 pickpocket by peaceness98
The hotel security (a 5 star hotel) could not open the security camera's without a police report, an inconvenience for the lady who was booked to return home the following day.
Another lady was attacked by the lake when a group of young men snatched her purse.
Avoid walking in alleys alone, and try to walk with groups of people. Take your mom's advise and don't talk to strangers :-) Leave a Comment
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Not all of Geneva's visitors are here for a friendly visit or on business, but an increasing number is considering the "safe" Geneva an ideal pasture for grazing. A pal of mine met a couple of women claiming to be from Hungary last night and - after a couple of drinks, trying to give helpful advice to the "visitors" - ended up with an empty wallet. Be careful in crowds, restrurants, public transportation, and keep your valuables (including wristwatches and phone) in a safe place. Never carry large amounts of cash. Always lock and attach your bike. By experience, most of the pickpockets seem to be of North African or East European (gipsy type) origin, sad to say so. No bodily harm seems to be applied, the crooks prefer to run away with their booty. The situation is similar or worse across the border in France. Leave a Comment
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Make sure you have Suisse Francs. Most places acept US Dollars with a steep commission--at the airport, we paid for lunch with dollars and they took 1 USD for 1 Suisse Franc. We also found several places that wouldn't take Euros. Leave a Comment
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Youngsters smoke drug in the Jardin Anglais and along the pier of the Jet d'Eau. Hard drug users assemble around here too. They may not cause problems, but wise to exercise caution around this area at night! Leave a Comment
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 by ElmsaafirLeave a Comment
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