Most people fall for these common tourist traps, don’t be one of them!
One thing I discovered about traveling is that you can’t always rely on reviews on well-known tourism websites like TripAdvisor since they may claim that a location is awesome and the prices are super affordable, and when you get there, you might see that’s the total opposite.
In addition, I discovered that you can never avoid the tourist hordes at several well-known landmarks. That is the usual situation at many tourist traps since they tempt you with the guarantee of an outstanding cultural experience but neglect to inform you about the long lines and crowds (for instance, the Statue of Liberty, the Eiffel Tower, or the Acropolis).
Then what can you do to avoid all these common tourist traps and enjoy your vacation to the fullest? The first would be to do strong online research about the place you’re about to visit. My main advice would be to not stop on the first Google page; look further for less popular reviews.
After that, you can decide if the destination is worth it or not. But this is just the first step to having a brilliant vacation. Click on the next page to discover the rest of the details that have been tried and tested by yours truly.
1. Never book an Airbnb or a hotel room located in a crowded place
One of the easiest ways to avoid common tourist traps is to avoid booking your stay in a crowded place (near the beach, for example). Most tourist-dependent cities and beach towns have a hotel district or an area that is popular with chain hotels that are reasonably priced.
Next, do your research and locate an organized map of your location that specifies where you would like to book a hotel stay; locate the place that is referred to as “quieter” or away from “main tourist areas”—granted that public transit isn’t an issue, these are the areas you could like to get a room in. And trust me when I say that you will be surprised to see that these places are usually even cheaper than chain hotels!
This also applies to restaurants or fast food restaurants in the area. I usually ask locals around what the best places are to have a traditional dish instead of going straight to the ones most recommended by TripAdvisor users. And big tip to avoid common tourist traps and end up in a crowded restaurant: avoid the ones near huge landmarks. They are usually the most pricey ones!
2. Plan your vacation during the off-season
Probably you’ve guessed this one because it’s definitely one of the most common tourist traps. It’s true that summer is the best season to take a trip outside your town but is this a good idea? I’d say not. Why? Mostly because the prices are skyrocketing between June and August and literally everybody is going to have the same idea as you. Instead of having a peaceful vacation, you will end up being surrounded by thousands of tourists.
The ideal strategy is to research peak travel times in the city or nation you wish to visit and make your reservations outside of those times. You are bound to discover more authenticity and spaciousness during the off-season if you are open with your trip plans.
You may choose the “cheapest month” on Skyscanner, which is typically out of season, to get a decent idea of when to travel. Additionally, you will save more money during the off-season on travel, lodging, and activities. Do you agree that this is a situation where everyone wins? Let me know your thoughts.
3. Be careful when you hear the “broken taxi meter”
A couple of years ago, when I first got into the traveling hobby I wasn’t aware of all the common tourist traps and I ended up doing exactly the things I advise you to avoid today. One of them was to choose a taxi to move around the city from one landmark to another instead of just using public transportation or simply walking on foot. This is how I ended up paying more than I should on trips.
Anytime you want to travel overseas (or even in your own country), you must pay attention to any taxi driver who says that their taxi meter is damaged. Most likely they’ll probably offer an upfront fee for the entire journey, and you can bet this ain’t going to be affordable! To prevent paying for someone else’s prior journey as well as your own, I suggest you verify what the meter starts at.
…Psst! The list of the most common tourist traps continues on the next page.
4. People who offer to help you carry your bags
Among the worst common tourist traps is this one, and unfortunately a lot of people keep falling for it. People who have been to several locations in one vacation will understand how difficult it is to move their heavy luggage over. Although it may be alluring, you should always proceed cautiously when someone offers to assist you in lugging your suitcase onto a train or down a flight of stairs.
While many people may have good and sincere intentions, some will demand payment for their services. And trust me when I say they won’t be asking for just a few bucks! In any case, make sure you’re constantly in a position that prevents the assistant from just grabbing your stuff and running away.
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5. Avoid guided tours
If you’re anything like me, then you probably want to check out every little historical site on the list of must-see places. And that’s fine, but you must avoid getting into one of the most common tourist traps, which is guided tours.
Besides being super crowded, you will barely understand all the explanations the guide is trying to give, mostly because a lot of people won’t be quiet and you will hear mumbles instead of what the guide is saying. That’s quite a turn-off, right?
However, if you still want to pick a guided tour, read evaluations before making a reservation. As we have indicated, aim to attend these trips during the off-peak season. You’ll notice a significant difference, particularly in terms of cost!
And if you are looking to avoid all these common tourist traps, use your phone’s GPS and let it guide you through the city. Trust me, there are low chances of getting lost, plus it is worth it to walk more and enjoy the surroundings at your own pace!
If you consider this article about common tourist traps useful, don’t forget to recommend it to your friends too! Meanwhile check out another one that’s somehow connected with this one: Tourists Should Stay Away From These 8 Dangerous and Popular Attractions!
