Letters: Traveler safety in Europe

Thank you for the security reminders, which apply to anyone, not just solos [“Safety Tips for Traveling Alone” by Terry Gardner, Aug. 1]. My wife and I are experienced travelers in our 60s who have been to Europe several times. We think there are security issues in Europe that the travel industry is in denial about.

While we were taking a local train from Brussels to Bruges, Belgium, on our last trip to Europe, a thief sneaked into the seat behind us and grabbed my wife’s purse and jumped off the train at the next stop. I chased him, grabbed him and wrestled him onto the station deck (he was in his 30s, I was 67), where he dropped her wallet and camera.

Just before this, we were approached twice in Paris with the latest scam by people who pretend they have found a valuable ring. A similar approach was made in Normandy at the American cemetery. On a previous trip to Paris, a thief had his hand on my wife’s purse. I struck him with an umbrella.

In Barcelona, Spain, a pickpocket got $10 by reaching in my pocket on a crowded bus. Also in Barcelona, while I was going up a subway escalator, a young man in front of me ducked at the top so I would fall over him; I heard someone coming up from behind. Instead of falling, I shoved him out of the way, and he and the other person ran.

Other travelers we talk to tell similar stories.

On our next trip to Europe, we’ll use our own safety tips and those in your article, but in our view, the problem is huge and should be disclosed and dealt with.

Michael H. Miller, Los Angeles

Dude ranch types: rough, luxe

Rosemary McClure’s article on dude ranches [“Roping, Riding and Karaoke, Aug. 8] was great. She pointed out that since the 1991 “City Slickers” movie, dude ranches now include sunset wine tastings, cheese parties, mountain biking, swimming and karaoke.

Of course, there are still traditional dude ranches that are actual working ranches that allow to work side by side with real cowboys.

Whether one chooses the Hollywood-type dude ranch with soft beds and swimming pools or camping out under the stars with the cattle, I don’t think it would be a real adventure unless you had a crusty old varmint like Jack Palance (Curly Washburn in “City Slickers”) for a trail boss that said to you at the beginning of the cattle run, “There’s nothing like bringing in the herd.”

Bill Spitalnick, Newport Beach

Check charges on ATM use abroad

In past columns Catharine Hamm [On the Spot] has advised that one should check the various credit card companies to evaluate charges levied for using the cards in ATMs abroad.

This we did, and as we’d read, Capital One did not charge the 3% that others did. What Capital One did not tell us on the phone was that they levy $10 for each cash withdrawal, and then 24.9% interest on the amount withdrawn.

Ouch.

C. Chambers, Los Angeles