One easy mistake that can cost tourists $300 in Europe
Not knowing about this tiny yellow machine can land tourists a huge $300 fine in Italy.
The requirement of an important yet easy-to-miss extra step after buying bus and train tickets in Italy is being labelled a “tourist trap” by travellers.
A viral TikTok video, which has been viewed more than 1.8 million times this European summer, informed foreigners that not validating their tickets can be a costly mistake.
Travel blogger Alaya Hablo, who goes by “La Turista Filipina”, warned: “Always validate your train and bus tickets in Italy! I’ve seen so many clueless tourists who had to pay a lot because they didn't know about ticket validation.”
Ms Hablo used Rome in Italy as an example, but many pointed out in the comments it was common in other countries throughout Europe as well.
“Once you have your tickets, always look for the yellow validation machines before boarding your train,” she wrote.
The machine adds a stamp to your paper ticket that will validate it. If you bought online, there is no need for this step.
Ms Hablo said she saw two couples have to pay a “big fine” on their train journey from Milan to Lake Como because they didn’t know they had to validate their tickets.
She said the machines are inside the buses in Rome, and she watched about 10 tourists be told they would need to pay a fine on just one bus ride.
Italia Rail explains on its website that when you purchase your ticket for Trenitalia, Italy’s largest train operator, online you need to choose a travel date and time, but regional tickets purchased at the station only come with a date and no time, requiring them to be validated before boarding.
“Should your ticket not be validated, you can be fined up to 200 euros when travelling throughout Europe,” Italia Rail warns. That is about $334.
Tickets for Trenitalia’s high-speed trains always come with reservations and don’t need to be validated.
Travellers who watched the video were shocked that they could be fined even after paying for a ticket.
“Imagine your ticket not being valid after you buy it. Such a tourist trap,” one person wrote.
“It’s a tourist trap, even the cities do it. It happened to us in Paris, we validated our tickets but left a certain zone. Had to pay 70 euro fine,” another said.
“Just left Rome and got stuck with a 54 euro fine and some rude cops to deal with! Def[initely] put a damper on the trip, wasn’t tourist friendly,” criticised a third.
“Can confirm, did not validate my ticket and was charged 40 euro,” added another traveller, supporting Ms Hablo’s warning.
“My daughter and I got bagged in Cinque Terre last summer – 50 euro,” someone else shared.
One person told of their huge fine from travel in Germany: “Happened to me on a train in Munich. I had to pay over 100 euro.”
Two people shared a further warning that the machines sometimes run out of ink, so you should write the date, time and station in pen.
“Don’t forget the format is DD/MM/YY,” one specified, who had been informed by their Italian teacher.
Some Europeans didn’t understand what all the fuss was about.
“That’s funny to me because it’s the same in my country and most European countries. How does transport work in your country?” one asked.
Ms Hablo explained it was confusing for tourists who were used to using transport cards they top up with funds as needed.
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