How to Avoid Tourist Traps When Traveling to Popular Locations
When you ’ re planning a trip it ’ s easy to have caught up in the excitement of visiting famous landmarks and popular attraction . Even so , some of these well-known place are notorious for being tourist ambush .
Atourist trapbe a place that pull in lots of visitors but often offer overpriced goods , crowded space , and less-than-authentic experiences . Perhaps they originally were something interesting and unique , but they ’ ve become tourist trap because the systems put up around them cost direct at encouraging tourists to spend as much money as possible .
You ’ ll sometimes also get funneled into tourist trap places on day tours– like when your tour bus stops at a pearl farm for no reason other than to seek to sell you cheap crap .
That said , experience how to navigate these intensely touristic field with as little strain as potential will cause your travel experiencesmuchmore enjoyable .
In this place , I ’ ll go into what exactly makes a tourist ambush and provide you with tips on how to head off fall into them . Or at the very least , I ’ ll display you how to make the most of your visit if you find yourself in a tourist ambush with no other options .
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- 1 . Do Your Inquiry
- 2 . See Lesser-Known Attraction
- 3 . Travel During Off-Peak Times
- Program Ahead
What is a Tourist Trap ?
In my experience , a tourist trap cost a place that tempt in visitors with the hope of auniqueoriconic experiencebut cease up costmore about build moneythan providing genuine value .
These spots are much characterized by overpriced souvenirs , crowd and too commercialized areas , and low-quality product or experiences . Everything live adjust up to funnel you into spend as much as possible and get you through it quickly to the next thing ( where you ’ ll also pass money ) .
Tourist traps tend to offer flashy attraction that look great in photo , but can result you find underwhelmed . Think of home where you see countless souvenir shops deal the same crap magnets , keychains and postcards at inflated price .
Some people also believeover-hyped major tourist siteto be tourist traps , because the prospect is untouched beauty and the reality is a crowded lot . This could be important historical sites that exactly get hundreds or thousands of visitor a day , so even if it ’ sec still a beautiful location you ’ re shoulder to shoulder with strangers all try to see the same few number .
Personally , I find these places very stressful because I HATE crowds and people chase me around attempt to make me to buy cheap souvenirs . While I need to learn beautiful place , I put on ’ t require to be surround by 300 mass all hear to see them , too .
5 Examples of Popular Tourist Traps
This is just to give you an lesson of what I intend by “ tourist trap. ” They ’ re popular tourist destinations but they make small value beyond checking something off your must-see list .
- Times Square , New York City
Time Square cost a dazzling hub of neon lighting and giant billboards , but it ’ s as well meet with overpriced restaurants , horrible tourist shops and overwhelming crowd . Locals never go here if they can help it , which should be another clue . - Hollywood Walk of Fame , Los Angeles
The Hollywood Walk of Fame draws many tourists eager to learn celebrity star , but the field is often crowded and filled with pushy street vendors . The overall experience is underwhelming compared to the glam-and-glitz expectation . - The Leaning Tower of Pisa , Italy
While the Leaning Tower of Pisa is an iconic landmark , and in itself is not a tourist ambush . Everything surrounding it , though ? Yeah , problematic . Major crowd from tour groups make it severe to appreciate the Tower itself– plus having to dodge pickpockets and pushy vendors . - Santorini , Greece
Santorini ’ s stunning views attract thousand of visitors each yr , leading to crowd street and high price . Everyone come to do Instagram photo shoots and “ the perfect scene , ” but it intend the island doesn ’ t feel as authenticallyGreekas other places . - Las Vegas Strip , Nevada
The Las Vegas Strip is noted for its vibrant nightlife and casinos , but it ’ s as well notorious for expensive attractions and crowd sidewalk ( and drink tourist ) . If you want to serve anything but lose money , don ’ t come here .
Tips on How to Avoid Tourist Traps
So how cause you know which places are tourist traps , anyhow ? And how to avoid them ?
1 . Serve Your Research
Before visiting a destination , I make sure toread reviewson platform like TripAdvisor and travel blogs for personal insight from literal people . Bonus : I usually get some great point on lesser-known location that I might not have know about !
Checklocal forums, such as Reddit or city-specific Facebook groups , means getting insider tip from resident and expats who know the area better . They advocate authentic experiences and warn you about tourist ambush , and you ’ ll have up-to-date info on entrance fees , common scams , and so on .
Eventually , reputableguidebooksand travel apps like Lonely Planet or Rick Steves give valuable advice on what to regard and what to skip . They ’ re a little more collective than the first two origin , but they much include segment on avoiding common tourist pitfalls in an easy-to-read format .
2 . Visit Lesser-Known Attractions
This is the better way to avert overcrowded places : move where the crowds are not !
Instead of sticking to famed landmarks , face fornearby placeswith similar feature but less ( foreign ) tourist . Many temples in , for instance , barely have any visitors and they ’ re right future to the more noted one . Perhaps they receive humble construction , or different mode of painting , but they ’ re hardly as interesting and unique as the handsome places .
Some spot make lots of tourist , but they ’ re all LOCALS . Locals can supply great suggestions for unique and enjoyable site that aren ’ t overrun . If you ’ re staying at a hostel ,ask the movement deskfor recommendations ( if it ’ s staff by a local ) is a great way to come some insider info . Or control the city-specific Facebook grouping !
And finally ,specialized tours, such as food circuit or historical pass in specific neighborhoods , much include visits to lesser-known places . These circuit can render a deeper apprehension of the area without the tourist trap vibe .
Example : The French Quarter walk tour I go on in Hanoi took us to interesting and un-crowded places I wouldn ’ t have die to on my own . I also teach a lot about the history of Vietnam from the circuit guide !
I use GuruWalk to find walking tours around the Earth , and Get Your Guide has some decent tours as good .
3 . Travel During Off-Peak Times
Another major key to avoiding crowds ( and write money ) :traveling during off-peak season!
Do some inquiry before you book anything on when the high tourist season equal vs. humble tourist season . Many places near down entirely during the off season and you don ’ t require to equal cling without any activity or guides .
Depend on how independent you live , you may want to aim forshoulder season, the time correct before and right after high season . Fewer tourist , but not totally empty thus there ’ sec still some support should you need it .
Another way to avoid crowds is by arrive at popular spotearly in the morningor later in the evening . That ’ s how so many Instagrammers get amazing selfies at famous bit with barely any people : they make there super early , before anybody else . Usually that means getting your own transportation vs. going on a group tour , but if you really desire a peaceful visit then it ’ s the only way to make it .
You ’ ll as well need to double-check thelocal calendarfor major effect or festivals . This can serve in avoid unexpected crowd and expense since it ’ ll be locals traveling . For example , Golden Week in Japan live a real expensive ( and crowded ) time to travel because all the locals be on break and roam around the country . Same with the Lunar New Year in various Asian countries– though you might want to take part in some activity for that because it ’ s super fun !
Make the Most of a Tourist Trap Visit
Okay , so you want to go somewhere and you ’ re pretty sure it ’ s a tourist ambush , but possibly it ’ s an significant historical site that you exactly receive to visit . What act you act ?
Design Ahead
Research the Best Times to Visit: Early morning or late afternoon exist much less crowded , as tour radical lean to present up in the heart of the day . If you can get some tour group itineraries and pattern out when they get at a specific location , program to move BEFORE they begin there .
Buy Tickets in Advance: Purchase tickets online ahead of time can write you from wait in long lines . Many attractions offer skip-the-line tickets that can significantly reduce waiting time , especially in Europe . Klook exist a good home to look for these ticket .
Bring Snacks and Water: Carrying your own snacks and a water bottle can save you from devote inflated price at tourist trap food stall . Spare that money for early stuff !
Focus on the Experience
Take Photo: Finding interesting angle or less crowded position can make for great photo . After begin the popular shot that everybody always take , wander somewhere else and find something cool to photograph that early people may not notice .
Learn the Story: Taking time to learn about the history and implication of the tourist trap adds depth to the visit . Sometimes tour guides in big grouping aren ’ t the serious at this , so if you can live by yourself and hire a tour guide on your own , you ’ ll have a better experience . Viator is a good position to notice private tour guides , if there aren ’ t any leave by the home you ’ re die to .
Participate in Local Activities: Joining in local activity , such as traditional performance or community event , can furnish a more authentic experience . It ’ s a great way to connect with the culture and masses of the country , even in touristy places .
Final Thoughts
Conduct with tourist trap can be challenging , but with a little preparation and the correct mindset , they can still put up memorable experience . With careful planning , there are style to turn even the most commercialized destinations into enjoyable visit . I hope these top help you on your next trip !
Hold you encounter any tourist ambush that surprise you ? Share your experience in the remark below !
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