It’s easy to accept what’s on the web as gospel, frequently it’s a reflection of a one off event writ much larger than it need be. Example: ATM’s in Bulgaria chew up credit cards. Not my experience, but it happened to one person. The other squillion to whom it didn’t happen haven’t bothered to write about their positive experiences. Belgrade railway station is a dangerous spot. Not my experience, it’s busy and there were a lot of people around, but it was mostly people drinking coffee and waiting for buses, or trains. Also the French are not all rude, they’re pretty much like wherever you’re from. And not all taxi drivers are rip off merchants. From my recent trip, the night train from Belgrade to Sofia was interesting, but not dangerous. No Roma and not a single Balkan desperado in sight. Just people going home or travelling; seats were comfortable and the loos were no less clean than other trains I’ve been on, though the olfactory element was an issue. I suspect it has to do with technology and the age of the rolling stock. Bulgarian border people were also courteous and pleasant. Assess, don’t accept!