People who live in tourist traps have been sharing the things they wish visitors knew – 17 pearls of wisdom from locals
10.
‘When visiting NYC, step aside from the main flow of people walking when you need to look at your phone or take a picture, especially in the most crowded areas.
Imagine driving a car and just randomly braking in the middle of the street when you have lots of traffic behind you. That’s what it’s like!’
-NoSprinkles4366
11.
‘London – Don’t get in those bright musical rickshaw tuktuk things. Don’t wear nice jewellery or watches. Don’t get your phone out, wastemen snatch. Also you’re looking for TOWER Bridge, not London Bridge.’
-Eudaemonya
12.
‘Stay out of the damn waterfalls. The ER staff at the hospital runs a betting pool every year on when the first tourist is going to come in with something broken, cracked open, or both because they’ve done the year’s first header off a waterfall.
And while we’re on the topic, leave the bears alone. If you see one, even downtown, even in the hospital parking deck if you’ve gone there to see your friend who fell off a waterfall, leave it alone. Just go inside until it goes away. Don’t panic and don’t call 911.’
-TheTerribleTimmyCat
13.
‘That nobody–NOBODY–in the neighborhood where they’ve rented their Airbnb wants to see them, hear them, or talk to them.
The house they’re staying in used to be a home. The people who used to live there were our neighbors, trying to find an affordable way to live and work here. Then investors bought it, kicked them out, turned it into an Airbnb, and made our housing crisis even worse than it already was.
Please, when you travel, support the communities you’re visiting by staying in hotels, not homes.’
-madbear
14.
‘Alaska, Don’t fuck around with Moose.’
-arcticvalley
15.
‘If you’re flying in from somewhere with low altitude to a place with high altitude, please do easy sights for a few days. Don’t go straight up pikes peak or visit the mountain zoo as soon as you can! Make sure you drink enough please, I’ve seen too many people get altitude sickness by doing these things too soon.’
-DaniGeek
16.
‘For a long time I lived in Oxford, UK. I was in one of the Colleges, working on a Master’s/DPhil. I lost count of the number of times tourists would walk into my rooms or the library as if it was a stop on the “Oxbridge Experience Tour” talking, smoking and taking pictures. I would tell them to get out but was met with the declaration that they’d paid for this tour and were entitled to go anywhere they wanted.
People live and work here! Oddly, the worst were not Americans but Chinese who just wouldn’t go away.’
-AchillesNtortus
17.
‘Parisian here.
It’s a super general rule but, if you’re already seen the majors sites in Paris, just stay in the neighbourhoods that are NOT central.
Basically avoid the arrondissement 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 + Eiffel Tower area, or near major attractions.
Sure it might be less scenic but it will mostly prevent you from falling into tourist traps such as restaurants with multiple languages on the menu.You’ll enjoy more local Parisian life. Get a coffee, go to a street market, eat a pastry, try a restaurant with a small menu, sit in a park (like Buttes Chaumont), watch a movie at an indie cinema… You’ll have a much better experience than if you hang out in touristy parts.
And since avoiding those is hard, my rule of thumb is: the more central the arrondissement, the more tourist traps you’ll find. The more peripheral the arrondissement, the more slow-paced and authentic.’
-Vanouche6