Freetings to all VT folks,

this is my first trip to US and to cincinaati
i am a bit concerned regarding the security there.
Is is safe to move around freely in day time in cincinaati (apart from downtown area which people say is a bit dangerous) ?

also, is it true that the blacks are a menace there..
people suggested me to give them a dollar/two if they threaten for money

also.. how popular and upto what extent is the custom of giving tips in Cincinaat...infact in Ohio ?

We live just outside of Cincinnati and go into town often, even at night. The city has gotten some bad press lately, but it is as safe or safer for the average person than any other city. If you won't be dealing drugs, picking up prostitutes, or the like you will stay out of trouble. People being in the wrong place for the wrong reason are the only ones who have problems here. By and large people in Cincinnati are friendly, helpful, and courteous, especially if you are the same to them.

Tipping is the same here as in all of the United States. Wait staff in restaurants rely on tips for their livelihood. About 15 percent is average, it's up to you, depending on the service you receive.
Stephen and Karen

Thank you for your response.
It eased out my anxiety reagrding the safety issues.
Take care
Vatsalya

P.S. Do you know any websites (apart form this site )from where i can get more information as a tourist about cincinnaati.. what things to buy from there..etc ?

How coincidental that I am responding to your mail again. In any case, I live in Colubus, about 100miles from Cincinnati. I will advise you to go to the Ohio public website and search for information on specific cities, if you type on Cincinnati, Ohio, tourism, on google, you're are likely going to get more information than you bargained for. Cincinnati is a relatively huge city. You should be able to find just about all of you needs in most cases around the clock. i was in Germany last summer and to my dismay, every place is shut down right before 8pm and you cannot buy most needs after that. I hated it!

Hello --

I live in the city of cincinnati a few miles from downtown. i have spent many hours downtown during the day, evening, night, etc. and have had almost no problems. at night, it would be wise to stay out of the neighborhood directly bordering downtown to the north ("over the rhine") but even there, if you stay on the main streets, you should be fine, day or night.

no black people will threaten you for money. we have some homeless/beggar types, but no more than any other city.

all in all, it is a nice place.

If I were you, I would stop talking about "black" people threatening others for money. I might talk about poor and homeless people persistently asking for help. What is it with you and "black" people! While in Cincinnati, how many black people have you seen in jail for threats and extortion from civilians? I will suggest you take away that stigma that has plague your mind and that you continue to broadcast to the rest of the world. Cincinnati, is one of the safest places to live in the world!!!!

sorry, i didn't mean to offend. the question that was asked was this:

"also, is it true that the blacks are a menace there?"

my answer was
"black people won't threaten you for money" followed by "the homeless beggar/types can be annoying"

if he had said, "are white people a menace" i would have said, "white people won't threaten you for money"

i was only trying to answer his question. sorry for any trouble i caused or implied racism.

Progmac, Actually, I never meant to address my posting to you as an individual. I also apologize if that is the impression that I gave. I meant to address my posting to the individual that posed the original question as you quoted. His/her email gave the impression that there was this phobia\general impression/pre-qualification/character portrait (whatever one might one to call it) out there about African Americans in Cincinnati. I will like to let this individual know that humans are also individuals. Each individual, no matter the race...has a personal character profile that shapes behavior. Anyone, no matter the race is influenced by such characteristics.

Back to what this site was meant for, one thing that we Americans are very proud of and that no nation can boast of, is the fact that we are a people made up of Caucasians, African Americans, Asians, Hispanics, Pacific Islanders, Arabs....come together as one free people with values that we respect and uphold, that no nation of the face of the earth can tresspass on. This is what you should expect to see in Cincinnati and the rest of the USA, something that no place else in the world could offer you-people with different background, different values but the same goals-freedom, Democracy and the respect for each other as demonstrated by Progmac, living together as one nation under God. That is what the world should know, that is what all visitors should know, that is what all travelers and tourists should know.

Cincinnati is as safe as London, Paris or Rome. In other words, the main metropolitan areas are perfectly safe but there are neighborhoods where you wouldn't want to go alone at night. The ordinary rules of carefulness apply.

Don't hesitate to go out and about in Cincinnati -- it's a beautiful city with lots to do.

Here's a good website - www.gototown.com