
OP here. That has never been my experience in Spain, where the people have always been wonderful all over the country. Like many Europeans, they are more reserved and have to get to know you, but I prefer that to the fake smiles and patronizing welcomes of the Italians, as a PP noted. And the fact that Spain does not suffer from the same endemic corruption as Italy means that Spaniards do not feel entitled to rip you off. |
Horrible Hang out in ischia for a few days but then bounce. Campania is full of scammers and questionable people |
This makes me want to visit Puglia just to see what OP is talking about. |
OP, if Puglia is the first time you’ve encountered scammers or fake smiles, you aren’t as well-traveled or worldly as you think yourself to be. |
OP here. Of course I have encountered scammers. But usually on the street, and not inside restaurants with staff looking to pad the bill in every way possible and not even trying to hide it! As for fake smiles, not so much, as usually we avoid the obvious tourist places. But when that’s all you have, and the locals clearly don’t want you in their spots, then it’s a different thing entirely. That’s what we encountered in Puglia at nearly every turn, which really surprised me given Italy’s supposed hospitality culture. Honestly, I vastly prefer Greece where the smiles are real and they won’t let you leave without a dessert or drink (even if it’s factored in). |
I appreciate the warning. I loathe that feeling of being a target (of scamming and contempt) just for visiting and wanting to spend dollars. |
Stick to Mykonos, snob! Apuglia is beautiful and draws visitors from all over Italy, Europe, etc. Maybe OB is just a rude bigot. |
OP, if Puglia was the first time you encountered scammers in a restaurant, you just proved my point. Truly, you aren’t as well-traveled as you believe yourself to be. It’s fine not to have that depth, but maybe don’t paint an entire area so grossly when you have clearly sampled only a small part of the world. |
Ha ha, so 110 countries visited isn’t that much? OK dear…. |
Ah, a passport stamp collector… |
That's me. Been multiple times over the last 30 yrs. Will only go at this point for business if I have to. No thanks. La Dolce Vita my a** |
Not really. We go the places that interest us, and have been to most of those countries multiple times. Now in Spain for at least the tenth time. We are no Italy experts, but Puglia was our fifth time in the country, and by far the worst. As I had seen it mentioned on this board, I thought it was worth a discussion. It’s not a contest. |
Horrible. Horrible in the 90s, horrible in the teens, still horrible. Dirty, nasty, crime riddled, nothing works, everyone is trying to cheat you. Shall I continue? (Pompeii is amazing, but don't linger around Naples.) |
Italy is so overcrowded. Every time someone posts a complaint and says they don’t want to go back, I get excited! Please keep telling people to stay away!! Makes it better for the rest of us! |
I have a hard time believing you’ve been to 110 countries. Even if you have, you sound like a superficial tourist. Epcot was made for people like you. |