Taylor Swift trip. I hate Poland. Everyone tries to scam you

[Anonymous]

I’ve traveled all over the world and in many underdeveloped countries.

I have never encountered so much scamming as I did in Poland.

They scammed us by renting out an apartment on Booking.com full of bed bugs and no access to kitchen.

Taxi driver scammed us by dropping us off at a wrong location and telling us our destination is around the corner.

We almost got scammed with Taylor Swift concert tickets too. There was at least a hundred of people who bought tickets on Stubhub and although their names were on the tickets , the name inside QR code didn’t match and they would not let them in.

We got lucky by chance. They denied us the first time, but we tried again and they didn’t check our names the second time. Stubhub is going to be so screwed by Polish concerts.

I’m never coming back. I thought it was a developed European country because they are part of EU. Wrong.

[Anonymous]

You sound like an inexperienced gullible bumpkin that doesn't travel much.

[Anonymous]

You booked accommodation on Airbnb, a site with no quality control.

You took a taxi without looking at your destination on a map. (Too cheap to pay for a data plan?)

You booked tickets on Stubhub, a site with no quality control. (Sensing a pattern here.)

Op, POLAND is not your problem. If you’re going through life with a due diligence strategy of “Other people are responsible for giving me what I want,” then what you get is… this. This is all on you, ducky.

[Anonymous]

It sounds like you didn't do your homework on the country you were visiting and didn't take steps to avoid common pitfalls. You visited it like you were visiting Nashville. You can't travel internationally that way except in a handful of places that are super similar to the US.

Be glad the worst thing that happened was bed bugs or being out some money. Traveling like this can get you thrown in a foreign prison or cost you thousands of dollars because you assume everything everywhere will be just like the US. Grow up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve traveled all over the world and in many underdeveloped countries.

I have never encountered so much scamming as I did in Poland.

They scammed us by renting out an apartment on Booking.com full of bed bugs and no access to kitchen.

Taxi driver scammed us by dropping us off at a wrong location and telling us our destination is around the corner.

We almost got scammed with Taylor Swift concert tickets too. There was at least a hundred of people who bought tickets on Stubhub and although their names were on the tickets , the name inside QR code didn’t match and they would not let them in.

We got lucky by chance. They denied us the first time, but we tried again and they didn’t check our names the second time. Stubhub is going to be so screwed by Polish concerts.

I’m never coming back. I thought it was a developed European country because they are part of EU. Wrong.

So an entire country sucks because you picked a shady air B&b, (almost) had an issue with your secondhand stubhub tickets (which has been an issue across Europe), and a cab driver dropped you in the wrong location. Got it. You should probably just avoid travel as these are all common issues the world over.

I’ve had several great experiences in Poland but we stayed at reputable hotels and researched reviews. I also regularly monitor google maps while taking a taxi/Uber in a new location to make sure there is no confusion and the driver is taking me to the correct destination.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You booked accommodation on Airbnb, a site with no quality control.

You took a taxi without looking at your destination on a map. (Too cheap to pay for a data plan?)

You booked tickets on Stubhub, a site with no quality control. (Sensing a pattern here.)

Op, POLAND is not your problem. If you’re going through life with a due diligence strategy of “Other people are responsible for giving me what I want,” then what you get is… this. This is all on you, ducky.

Actually,

1. I do have a data plan on my phone. It didn’t occur to me that I needed to micromanage the taxi driver.

2. Stubhub has very good customer service. They issued us another set of tickets after I complained.

We ended up seating in our original seats. They were legit. It was some bs Polish bureaucracy.

Also, forgot to mention, all the guide tours we had were really bad. Don’t hire tours, do it yourself with audio guides.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve traveled all over the world and in many underdeveloped countries.

I have never encountered so much scamming as I did in Poland.

They scammed us by renting out an apartment on Booking.com full of bed bugs and no access to kitchen.

Taxi driver scammed us by dropping us off at a wrong location and telling us our destination is around the corner.

We almost got scammed with Taylor Swift concert tickets too. There was at least a hundred of people who bought tickets on Stubhub and although their names were on the tickets , the name inside QR code didn’t match and they would not let them in.

We got lucky by chance. They denied us the first time, but we tried again and they didn’t check our names the second time. Stubhub is going to be so screwed by Polish concerts.

I’m never coming back. I thought it was a developed European country because they are part of EU. Wrong.

I would love to know what “underdeveloped” countries OP has visited. I’m guessing an all inclusive in DR or something along those lines.

[Anonymous]

OP again. If you are to visit Poland, here is my advice:

- don’t
- if you do, don’t trust anyone/anything. Always be suspicious and verify
- only book in chain hotels
- don’t use guides, DYI it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You booked accommodation on Airbnb, a site with no quality control.

You took a taxi without looking at your destination on a map. (Too cheap to pay for a data plan?)

You booked tickets on Stubhub, a site with no quality control. (Sensing a pattern here.)

Op, POLAND is not your problem. If you’re going through life with a due diligence strategy of “Other people are responsible for giving me what I want,” then what you get is… this. This is all on you, ducky.

Actually,

1. I do have a data plan on my phone. It didn’t occur to me that I needed to micromanage the taxi driver.

2. Stubhub has very good customer service. They issued us another set of tickets after I complained.

We ended up seating in our original seats. They were legit. It was some bs Polish bureaucracy.

Also, forgot to mention, all the guide tours we had were really bad. Don’t hire tours, do it yourself with audio guides.

That's just standard SOP just about everywhere for anyone w/ half a brain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP again. If you are to visit Poland, here is my advice:

- don’t
- if you do, don’t trust anyone/anything. Always be suspicious and verify
- only book in chain hotels
- don’t use guides, DYI it

Oh, OP…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I would love to know what “underdeveloped” countries OP has visited. I’m guessing an all inclusive in DR or something along those lines.

I lived in Egypt, I’ve been less developed countries like Tunisia, Mexico, Caribbean countries, former USSR republic countries.

I’ve never been anywhere where trying to scam tourists is a national sport, except for Poland.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You booked accommodation on Airbnb, a site with no quality control.

You took a taxi without looking at your destination on a map. (Too cheap to pay for a data plan?)

You booked tickets on Stubhub, a site with no quality control. (Sensing a pattern here.)

Op, POLAND is not your problem. If you’re going through life with a due diligence strategy of “Other people are responsible for giving me what I want,” then what you get is… this. This is all on you, ducky.

Actually,

1. I do have a data plan on my phone. It didn’t occur to me that I needed to micromanage the taxi driver.

2. Stubhub has very good customer service. They issued us another set of tickets after I complained.

We ended up seating in our original seats. They were legit. It was some bs Polish bureaucracy.

Also, forgot to mention, all the guide tours we had were really bad. Don’t hire tours, do it yourself with audio guides.

What?!



If that's your take on taxi drivers it's a wonder you made it home.

Good grief.

[Anonymous]

Are you the same op that thought yesterday’s ceremonies were commemorating the Polish Jews?

[Anonymous]

There are a lot of scam artists in Warsaw. But it is nothing compared to many third world countries in the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, or even other countries in the EU like Romania, Bulgaria, and parts of Italy and France. We won't talk about Russia.

As for taxi drivers, I always called a cab using one of the services. Never use one of the unofficial airport taxis. If you get into any taxi and don't see the ID certificate with the driver's picture and name, get out. The scam drivers always have it covered up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I would love to know what “underdeveloped” countries OP has visited. I’m guessing an all inclusive in DR or something along those lines.

I lived in Egypt, I’ve been less developed countries like Tunisia, Mexico, Caribbean countries, former USSR republic countries.

I’ve never been anywhere where trying to scam tourists is a national sport, except for Poland.

All I can say is you are definitely extreme minority if you find the level of scamming of tourists to be greater in Poland than in Tunisia or Egypt.

And for the record as many others have told you the issue you have described sound like a combination of bad luck and poor planning on your part, not some massive conspiracy to swindle tourists.