KrakowInformer.com

Tourist season = hunting season?

Illegal taxi stand outside train station

Currency exchange office in Grodzka

Beautiful, yet expensive

Krakow’s renowned daily, ‘Gazeta Wyborcza’ has collected all cases of dishonest conduct towards tourists noted by the readers and tourist guides.

First danger awaits just at Krakow main train station. Some taxi drivers parking just outside the station and Galeria Krakowska mall charge as much as 90 zlotys for one kilometer of drive. If the passenger is not willing to pay, the driver would threaten him with a court trial and penal interest. Some of these rooks have recently heard prosecutor’s accusations, yet the business itself flourishes and lives off confused tourists.

Another source of income for tourist – trickers is the currency exchange rate. One of currency exchange offices in Grodzka lures tourists with bright orange panels at the entrance and high exchange rate of 4 zlotys per euro. It is only after the transaction is complete, that the customer realizes that the real buying rate is just above 3 zlotys and the magical 4 zlotys is actually the selling rate. Complaints are accepted by the Customer Protection Office, and solved by the court, but whether somebody has time to do that during vacation is really doubtful. Even one city toilette fee is exchanged in somewhat unfair way: 1 zloty is 0.5 euro there.

To some Krakow is just a city of cheap beer and hot girls, and those should watch their backs the most. Young attractive girls invite customers to clubs offering table dance and delicious drinks. When a tourist buys them a few drinks, the bartender comes up with the bill accounting for several thousands of euro, as only one drink was worth 500 euro. The security takes care of reluctant customers and threatens them with police and Polish prison.

One is not safe even in own dorm, as hostels can charge extra ‘handling fee’ for each meal, extra pillows and alleged damage in the room. And here also the security plays an important role in the vindication process.

Have a nice vacation!