Train Station Question

Cindi, I've encountered the "helpful individuals" that want to help with luggage at various stations in Italy and only ONCE did I give them a few coins (Napoli Centrale). I tend to just tell them "NO" in a firm voice and that usually works. I've also encountered people asking for money (in English) in various stations (Milano Centrale seems to have a lot of those). One that I encountered last year was young and healthy looking, nicely dressed, carrying an expensive Smartphone and smoking tailor-made cigarettes. I didn't feel he needed the money too bad, so he got none. Another common travel experience is teenagers walking up and down the cars of the train prior to departure, dropping a small card on each seat with a "hard luck story" usually written in Italian. Just before the train pulls out of the station, they come back and collect the cards and put their hand out. One that I encountered last year (again in Milan) was quite persistent and somewhat aggressive. He stood in front of me with his hand out and loudly said "Money" repeatedly (with a thick accent that sounded Eastern European). I refused repeatedly and eventually he said something that I'm sure wasn't too complimentary and stormed away with his cards. I've also had to deal many times with the "helpful individuals" that want to assist with ticket purchases at the Kiosks (this seems to happen often at Roma Termini). They can also be quite persistent and on a few occasions when they won't take "NO" for an answer, I've just walked away from the machine and gone to another one. I'm perfectly capable of buying my own tickets, so there's no way I'm paying anyone for that! Happy travels!

Happened to my wife and I in Florence. Guy helpfully grabbed my wife's roll aboard and carried onto the train and stowed it in the overhead rack for her. Two euros satisfied him but have read of other more demanding "helpers". Have not heard of full on stealing of luggage. Another funny thing we saw on the circumvesuvia train between Naples and Sorrento: We watched a group of four average young people-able bodied and laughing it up along the way to Sorrento. Later in the evening we saw one of the guys looking all sad and disabled begging along the sidewalk. It was like, "Hey I know you!"

Cindi, I never let anyone put a hand on my luggage unless I ask them to, and I never do. If you are approached, just say 'no, thank you' firmly and keep moving like you know where you're going. Fred, I had the same experience in Padova and Venice. In Venice, I watched one guy near the Rialto Bridge pretending to be all completely deformed. When I passed him later in the street sauntering perfectly upright with even a little spring in his step, I was close enough to catch his eye and raise my eyebrows with a knowing "You're nicked, buddy." He smiled a little crookedly and winked at me! I thought "It's a kind of street theatre, and he deserves a coin for the entertainment factor." I mean people pay real money to go see things like that at a carnival, don't they?

They are hustling for a tip. Not going to steal your luggage. They are helpful if you need the help. And, of course, there are people begging, trying to sell worthless items, etc., pickpocket are around. But Italy is no different than anywhere else. Nobody wants your luggage. Thieves like high value items like cameras, billfolds, etc. Keep all of that stuff well stored and out of sight and they will leave you alone. Learn how to say NO in a loud and forceful voice and keep moving.

Ken's experience at the ticket kiosk happened to me in a slightly different way in the Washington, DC metro. A young woman appeared next to me quite suddenly just as the ticket dropped into the little tray. She spoke to me to distract me, while she deftly grabbed the ticket and was off in a flash. Obviously she had done this many times before and had been watching my transaction. It was a small fare loss, and if she needed the ticket that badly, I would have given it to her! But I learned a valuable lesson that has served me well since then in all my travels involving public transportation everywhere.

Sometimes the helpful people are rail employees. In Rome a few years ago I was trying to buy a ticket from a machine at the train station. A young woman came over to help me. Mid-transaction, and after I had handed her my money, I thought "oh, no" and looked at the woman to see if she might be a rail employee. She had a badge identifying her with the rail company. Her help produced a ticket and no scam. I got my change.

I finally caught on that you can buy subway passes at a tabac, rather that running the gauntlet of "helpers" at the token machines at Milano Centrale. But then I've run into "helpers" in the Atlanta Metro stations as well.

Basically, if they aren't wearing an appropriate uniform...I don't need, nor want, their help. Those 'luggage helpers' can be quite aggressive and quick. They'll have your luggage before you have time to react, so stay alert! Now you've got to get it back (ugh). Beyond that, they aren't a problem. At any station, keep physical contact with all of your belongings. Someone IS there, looking for an opportunity to steal a piece of luggage :-(