The great Riga rip-off

The plethora of cheap flights and subsequent tourist explosion in Riga has its downside. In recent years the city has had to contend with the rise in sex tourism, obnoxious stag parties, as well as fight off a growing image as a city of sleaze and crime.

There have been cases where male tourists have been enticed to bars of dubious repute by leggy blondzines, only to become victims of fraud, intimidation, extortion and even violence. There have been reports of tourists having their credit card details stolen, and assaulted.

The U.S. embassy recently released a blacklist of bars and clubs known to be involved in tourist scams.It’s also worthwhile to remember that many of the night spots and prostitution rings are controlled by the local mafia.

The full list can be viewed here:

http://riga.usembassy.gov/warden0811.html

Being a woman tourist to the Baltics is a completely different experience to that of the male one. While female tourists may find themselves fighting feeling of frumpiness alongside the local glamazons, men on the other hand will think they’ve died and gone to heaven.

One of the main reasons behind this is that women in Latvia significantly outnumber men, and competition is fierce. Foreign men in particular are seen as a good catch. That said most Latvian girls are intelligent, genuine and respectful.

As in all things, a bit of common sense goes a long way, and following a few simple guidelines can also help ensure your stay in Riga is fun and hassle free.

*Never accompany random women, no matter how beautiful and desirable, to a bar.
* Never, ever buy said women a champagne…unless of course you want to wind up with a 600 euro bill and a standover Russian bouncer demanding you pay up.
* Always ask the price of drinks before you buy. Pay upfront and avoid running up a tab.
* Avoid strip bars
* If you are paying by credit card always keep it in your sights and never let anyone else handle it.
* Don’t piss on historic landmarks or otherwise disrespect the locals
* Always negotiate your cab fare before getting in. This is one of the oldest scams in the book
* What made you think a club called Pussy Lounge would be respectable? If it looks dodgy, it probably is.
* Have fun, but behave responsibly – i.e- don’t get so pissed you can’t stand up
* And finally….remember guys….if it seems too good to be true, then it probably is….!!