30 Surprising Mistakes Tourists Make When Traveling Around The World, As Pointed Out By The Locals
After suffering immense losses during the pandemic, tourism is bouncing back this year. An increasing number of destinations, including the UK and Slovenia, are lifting all of their covid-related travel restrictions, and it's just what people need before their summer vacation—according to research by the World Travel & Tourism Council, the sector could generate as much as $8.6 trillion globally this year, which would be just 6.4% below pre-pandemic levels.
But before you pack your bags, we thought it would be a good idea to refresh our memory and learn something new about what not to do abroad. For that, we decided to take a look at a Reddit post that invited locals from all over the world to share the most common mistakes tourists make in their country and have a chat with Melissa about her blog on long-term travel, A Broken Backpack. Continue scrolling to check everything out!
This post may include affiliate links.
People think the Royal Guard in London are just men in silly hats that are not allowed to move.
They're military men who will knock you the f*ck out if you mess with them.
Most ceremonial guards everywhere are highly trained elite soldiers, no matter how ridiculous their uniforms may look. The Royal Guard looks positively tame if compared with Vatican City's Suisse Guard in their lavish colorful renaissance uniforms, but if necessary, both can absolutely kick your ?ss.
They mainly visit London. The U.K. has great seasides like Cornwall, Devon, Dorset etc and British seaside holidays have a unique charm. There’s also Scotland and Wales. The north of England has a lot to offer (castles, The Lake District, history etc).
Tourists, don't snub the north. The North remembers.
According to Melissa from A Broken Backpack, covid regulations should remain your top concern when you're deciding where to go next. "During the pandemic, it's important to look at the travel restrictions to enter the country, and also inside the country," she told Bored Panda. "Nobody wants to go somewhere where they need to stay in their hotel during a lockdown."
"Then, I always take a look at the distances between places I wish to visit, how to get there, and the average costs. The idea is to avoid being ripped off to reach our destinations, and to have realistic expectations," the traveler advised.
But there's more to consider, like "the visa situation, the currency exchange rate (I usually take a screenshot from the exchange rate so that I can quickly know the price of the things I wish to buy.), the language, how English-friendly the country is, how to get around the country, and of course, know the common scams," Melissa said.
"The idea is not to be scared, but aware and have a better experience at the destination."
-Doing the Hitler salute or making Nazi jokes while visiting WWII memorials. This could get you arrested.
-Going to the shops on sundays: not possible.
-Standing on bicycle lanes. Seriously: If you stand there, you're officialy hated.
(Germany, if you havent already guessed)
If you stand on the bicycle path in the Netherlands you'll either get run over or showered in expletives wishing you every possible terrible disease.
People come to the US expecting to see too much in one visit. Unless you're prepared to shell out thousands of dollars on very coordinated flights, you aren’t going to see the Statue of Liberty, the Grand Canyon, the Alamo, Hollywood and Yosemite Park all in one week. It's a big country, so pick a few states and stick to that.
While it's only natural that we search for a bargain when it comes to choosing where we stay on our trips, many of us also want the money we spend to do some good, according to research by the hotel booking platform Kind Traveler.
In fact, 96% of people surveyed told that it's slightly, fairly, or very important that their dollars make a positive impact on the destinations they visit.
The survey, which appeared in the 2022 Kind Traveler Global Impact Tourism Report, also discovered that nearly half (48%) of the 1,014 respondents think their greatest challenge in trying to travel sustainably is finding accommodations that are both “sustainable and socially conscious.”
I'll do my town, Austin TX.
A major common mistake tourists make here is wasting half a day for Franklin's BBQ. Look, his brisket is good, but it's not "waste half a day of your vacation in Austin standing in line" good. There are a plethora of bbq joints with just as good or better brisket that have no wait all day.
Most tourists who go to Marrakesh book a hotel room, but you should really stay in a riad (a traditional Moroccan house built around a garden) rather than at a hotel or hostel. Riads are a big part of the Marrakech experience. It's unique and the hospitality is awesome. Usually the staff or owners can show you around the chaotic and bustling medina, which is especially helpful.
It's good if you're also one of those people who's trying to do what's best for everyone, but you have to remember to keep your guard up.
"I always try to pay by card when I can, and research ATMs and fees before making any withdrawals. Unfortunately, there are tons of ATMs scams around the world where the ATM charges huge fees, and many travelers don't realize how much money they are wasting on them," Melissa from A Broken Backpack recalled a particularly common problem. "I personally use Revolut, and I have a plan that allows me to do withdrawals around the world with minimal fees."
She believes you should also always negotiate the price of a taxi ride before entering one (unless it has a meter) and check for the tipping culture of the country you're visiting—in some places, the tip is already included in the bills, in some, they are not expected, and so on. These things may not sound as much at first but your expenses can pile up really quickly if you don't pay attention.
WEAR SUNSCREEN WHEN GOING TO NEW ZEALAND! I have lived in New Zealand my whole life and holy f*ck the sun is strong. I burn so easily if I don’t wear sunscreen. A family friend of mine who is from Australia came over here for a holiday once. We were all getting prepped for a beach day and my mum tells us to put on sunscreen. My family friend (who is very very tan) says, ‘I don’t burn, I’m good.’ My mum then questions him, telling him the New Zealand sun is different to the Australian sun. He says, ‘It’s actually hotter in Australia so yeah nah, I’ll be fine. My mum doesn’t want to force this kid to put sunscreen on so she just lets it go and we all go to the beach. Fast forward to the end of the day and my family friend is burnt to an absolute crisp. Like he couldn’t move. The worst sunburn I have ever seen. I’ve never seen someone use that much aloe vera before. Always remember to listen to the locals, they know what they’re talking about.
Temperature has nothing to do with ultraviolet radiation crisping you.
Underestimating how expensive the cost of living is in Norway. I've seen jaws drop when tourists discover the price of the two beers they ordered.
Go on a winter cruise up the coast. All food and drink is included, choose the excursions carefully, take very warm clothing. It won't break the bank, you will visit many places and the scenery is stunning. You may even see the northern lights.
Underestimating the size of the country. No you can’t do a day trip to Cairns from Brisbane, it’s like a 2 day drive. Even Sydney is like a 12 hour drive.
Actually, same with NZ. People think you can do the whole country in a week. Spoiler alert, you can’t.
why did i read this in an australian accent? please tell me i’m not the only one
In Iceland, people don't realize how expensive everything is here, especially going out to eat. If you're going to a restaurant, expect $30–50 entrees everywhere. Mix in some cheap street food (like Icelandic hot dogs) or find accommodations with a kitchen so you can cook.
Did some googling. A 7 to 10 course tasting menu in some of the finer places was around 120€+90€ wines included. As mentioned here, the entrees seemed quite expensive indeed, often almost the same price as the main courses. Still, immediately wanted to visit Dill.
In Paris, tourists always fall for eating their meals in touristy neighborhoods. Restaurants in these areas are pricey and mediocre, serving tourists what they think is traditional French food. If you're in Paris, avoid restaurants around the main attractions like the Louvre, Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower, or the Champs Elysées. Instead, go find a cute bistro in the 9th, 10th, 11th, 19th, or 20th arrondissements, where locals actually go out and eat.
In Japan, tourists speak loudly to others or on the phone in public settings. But that makes you seriously stand out in Japan, where people are generally well-mannered and try not to bother anyone with loud talking, music, or games on their phones. If you have to talk, use your inside voice.
In Tokyo shopping districts you have to be quiet otherwise you’ll interrupt all the shop attendants yelling irasshaimase at people coming within 5 meters of a shop door.
Most people who travel to Taiwan just visit the capital, Taipei, or they go down the west coast. But locals will tell you this is a mistake because the magic is in the east. Yilan is an amazing county with all the allures of Taipei plus beautiful waterfalls and mountains, but a fraction of the cost. If you enjoy hiking, Hualien is the best place to see the amazing Taroko Gorge. Best of all, Taiwan's public transportation makes it easy to see these unique destinations beyond Taipei.
Beautiful country with a unique and independent people. Hope you dudes are doing well.
Foreigners often don't understand how big America is. One of my dad’s friends was planning a vacation here and was describing his itinerary. He wanted to drive cross-country from New York to Florida to California. He was planning on doing it in five days.
Not learning to say "Excuse me do you speak english" in their native language. I write it on my hand and everyone is nicer because of it. Basically, you can start the conversation respecting their culture or start it by saying "I speak english and its the greatest language so get with the program" People then say that the locals were rude not realizing that they were rude first.
I did that in finland and the answer was always "Everyone here speaks english" then when I'd explain that I just didn't want to disrespect them, people would bend over backwards to help me out.
In Italy, only tourists order their coffee to go. Italians drink their espressos at the bar. You'll never see a local carrying a tumbler filled with drip coffee, much less a to-go cup from a local café. Oh, and you won't find any frappuccinos here.
Um, if you get stuck on the "see it all in 14 day" tour group? You can't gulp espresso in the ten seconds you'll have to breathe, deal with the group photo, and be ordered baack to the bus. Worst idea evr was the "group tour". I got what I paid for: Cheap and stuck in a bus with strangers.
They trust taxi drivers.
Never trust one if you're in Greece, you're just asking to be overcharged. Stick to renting a car or at the very least, ask some locals for typical prices beforehand.
In Hawaii, tourists can be ignorant about swimming. ALWAYS check the beach conditions and respect the ocean. You could end up in brown water, getting sucked out to sea, being bashed against the rocks at Oheo Gulch. Also, don't underestimate the power of the ocean. Small shore breaks can seriously hurt you if you're not paying attention.
Make sure when addressing to someone in France to start with a greeting. Not saying Bonjour could be considered very rude.
Right, especially when entering a shop, it's rude not to return their greeting.
When you sit down to eat in a restaurant in Portugal, the waiter will usually bring you bread, olives, or some other snacks. I always see tourists get mad when they are charged for eating these seemingly 'free' snacks, but that's just how things work here. If you eat it, expect to pay for it. If you don't touch it, your waiter will take it away and pretend like [they] never existed.
"I flew into New York, figured I'd rent a car and take a quick day trip to Miami or Los Angeles."
Tourists visiting Los Angeles always underestimate the time it'll take to get from point A to point B. Our traffic is terrible, and you should add 30 minutes to an hour whenever you want to drive anywhere.
So. Cal native here lol can confirm! You'll be sitting on that damn onramp for an hour! Damn I do not miss that
I live in Rome. Tourists come and visit only the city centre, neglecting any other interesting historical sites (or other nice things) which are easy to get to, equally nice to visit, yet a bit far from the center.
And be careful,plenty of thieves and folks trying to sell you some free s**t,tickets to the Vatican museums or botlled water.Water running from taps is good to drink and free.Thieves usually working in crowded areas.Got mugged myself,stripped my wallet,by a Romani woman with a toddler on her hands,but noticed that in time and was able to retrieve the wallet.Otherwise it’s beautiful ancient city.
They assume any of us have actually seen "The Sound of Music".
I regret to inform you that most Austrians haven't even heard of it.
Also there's nothing special about Cafe Central, no need to wait hours to get in.
If you want a good Sachertorte, get it anywhere else than Hotel Sacher. Edit: I have now had excellent Sachertorte from Hotel Sacher, so never mind that.
Don't do Hitler impressions, they can get you arrested or fined. (To be fair, tourists mostly do that over in Germany, but it's illegal there too.)
I wish Hitler impressions were illegal in the United States and elsewhere. England comes to mind.
Australia: Thinking you can drive between Sydney and Perth for a day drip. Not so much
Hong Kong: Thinking it's a cheap south Asian tourist destination like Thailand. Not so much.
By road it is 1440 km (895 mi) from Perth to the nearest state border.
Coming to New York City and spending time in Times Square. Unless they're going out of necessity to see a Broadway show or something of the sort, tourists avoid this place like the plague. I understand the desire to see Times Square for a few minutes, but make it a quick trip. And don't even bother having a meal there. You'll find the same chain restaurants that exist all over America...only the same meal will cost you triple the price.
Mostly happens at bondi beach but this can happen at any beach all over Australia. People swimming out of the flags, most often these people will get stuck in rips or into waters where there are surfers.
I sometimes watch youtube videos of the lifeguards at Bondi and the amount of tourists that can't swim who go out to swim anyway is baffling. Like, I understand you want to go for a dip, but you can't even keep yourself afloat if you had to so why go out all the way where your feet can't touch the ground anymore?
Bringing winter clothes in the middle of summer. Some people don't realise that southern Canada actually gets quite warm in July (25-35 C). It's only permasnow up north.
Attempting to spend the whole afternoon shopping in Spain. It's fairly common for stores to close here from roughly 2–4 p.m. (it's called the siesta and it's prime lunch time for Spaniards). So get your shopping done in the morning or wait until stores reopen in the late afternoon.
In Thailand, those who don't know the local customs will often enter someone's home without taking their shoes off. In most places in Thailand (and actually in most Asian countries) it’s customary to take your shoes off before you enter someone’s home. Tourists will just brazenly walk into someone’s house without realizing the proper etiquette.
Nothing can kill you in New Zealand, the mistake is that while that's 100% true when it comes to wildlife, it's not true when it comes to the everyday stuff... e.g. the weather, the surf, the roads, yourself or your tinder date.
Sticking to the touristy neighborhoods in Paris and not exploring the rest of this huge city. Sure, the Eiffel Tower is iconic and Notre Dame is gorgeous, but make sure to spend some time exploring parts of the city where local Parisians hang out and tourists don't often go. These places are total gems.
That Amsterdam represents the Netherlands, they are soo wrong. I don't really like Amsterdam. It's just full of weed and everyone is speaking English. That's not my country at all.
Netherlands is a fantastic country, there's so much more to enjoy besides Amsterdam
Mistaking landmarks for other landmarks.
In London, Tower Bridge is the one with the towers and the roadway that can be raised up for ships to pass. London Bridge is the boring 1960’s concrete span slightly further upstream.
(Mostly because when I walked over Tower Bridge yesterday a group of tourists were loudly singing the nursery rhyme ‘London Bridge is falling down’)
The other London Bridge is in Lake Havasu, Arizona, USA. You can sing it there as well.
Scotland is apparently full of gingers wearing tartan kilts playing bagpipes
UK: On the London underground, chatting happily to each other instead of sitting down in moody silence hating everything.
Every year on April 30th we have tourists show up in our capital dressed in orange, to celebrate queensday.
But 5 years ago our queen abdicated and her son is now our king, the holiday was moved to his birthday, on April 27th.
“I’m going to Oslo, what’s your best advice for seeing the northern lights?”
Take a few days and go to Tromsø instead, the further north you are the more likely you are to see them tbh. Though you could theoretically see them in Oslo if you were lucky. I saw them In Estonia, though they weren't super bright then. (though the first time I saw them, a fair bit brighter, was in the North of Finland xP)
Asking someone on the streets of Oxford “Where is Oxford University”? Always tempting to send them to the dingy central office building in Wellington Square.
They often don't wear sunscreen... The amount of burnt tomato people I see...
This applies to anywhere people. Skin cancer isn't that fun. Take pictures to prove to have been on holiday, not a melanoma.
We don't have igloos.
We aren't covered in snow 12 months a year.
Our cities are a long way apart.
In Chicago a lot of people go to the Sears tower for a view of the city. It's really not that great, what is great though is going to the Signature Room at the top of the Hancock. You can grab some food and a drink and enjoy the beautiful view from up there. It really is a much more enjoyable experience
In Canada, don't you dare try to put ketchup on our poutine. Look, I'm a huge ketchup fan, but poutine is already covered in gravy and cheese curds, ketchup doesn't belong anywhere near it.
Ketchup on fries is just - wrong. If they’re not good enough to eat plain, vinegar and salt is acceptable. Ketchup is for hot dogs and overdone steak.
I'm québécoise and I sometimes put ketchup on my poutine. As long as you say it comes from Quebec, not Canada, there's no gatekeeping.
Driving on the wrong side of the road. Also not leaving enough time to explore the South Island.
Assuming you are meaning New Zealand. At least they changed the give-way rules to match the rest of the world recently.
Flying into Manila and spending your whole trip there. Manila might be your typical point of entry to the Philippines, but if you really want to enjoy this tropical country, you need to think beyond the capital. The Philippines has 17 regions, so Manila is hardly representative of the entire archipelago. Each one of the regions has something unique to offer — from tropical beaches and breathtaking mountain ranges to unique cuisine and culture — so it's best to see as much of this diverse country as you can during your stay.
That you think you can cover everything you want to see in America in a single week... America is big. Stupid big. And probably expensive, depending on where you come from.
Thinking you can explore any country in week is stupid, even if it's small country.
In Hungary, people like spicy food. I was in a restaurant with my gf and haerd from a table, that he wants (the tourist) his food spicy. The waitress went to the kitchen and the tourist said i can handle the spice. I doubt that. He put a little bit of food in his mouth, and started screaming HOT HOT HOT HOT HOT, and went to the bathroom. If you order spicy food, then it will be spicy.
Indonesia. Tourist (white) ‘life-altering hot’ isn’t even ‘mild’ on their scale. You’ve been warned, lol
Thinking all the airports with London in their names are in London. I imagine Southend is a bit of a shock for someone expecting a cosmopolitan megalopolis
Norway. Tourists arriving by Cruise ships, they bus to where the path to popular mountain treks begin, then they start out in sandals or high heels and wearing shorts and T shirts.
Most make it part of the way, and then local volunteer rescue services have to help them back down as they are cold and exhausted(we've even flown in Nepalese Sherpas to build stone steps up the hardest parts some places). Some make it all the way up and by then it's dark and they get lost, and again we'll have to send out volunteer rescue crew or a rescue helicopter.
There are signs where the buses drop them off warning them to be dressed properly, and there are volunteers stationed there during high season actually telling them that they should not be doing the hike because of weather, or because of what they are wearing.
We also get a lot of fishing tourists(sports fishing in salt water is free here, and there are a lot of great places to fish). They will go out in groups of 5-7 people in a single small boat, they have no idea of the local weather or geography, and they tend to either fall in, get themselves completely lost, or hit a reef and start to take in water. They also tend to not be able to speak English or Norwegian so communication with rescue services are extremely difficult.
Tl:Dr: Tourists come to Norway, underestimate our nature and weather and then they die or need to be rescued.
Thinking every girl is willing to go with them for money.
I live in Thailand.
talk very slowly to try to get people who don't speak their language understand them.
And, I am sure they spoke English (most Dutch do), but my ex was so arrogant in his approach, I am sure they suddenly did not understand what he was saying. This made me secretly happy at the time.
Eating only at upscale restaurants in Mexico City. It's an amazing city and there are sooo many amazing restaurants to try, but ignoring Mexico City's incredible street food scene would be a huge mistake. Street food stands are literally everywhere, serving the best blue corn quesadillas, life-changing al pastor tacos, and enormous tortas. When planning out your meals, prioritize finding a balance between restaurant dining and street food.
They think everybody is nice and traditional and walk around in kilts all the time but really we just go out drinking half the time
Spain's "trap" restaurants. They lure unaware tourists with the promise of low prices and traditional dishes or tapas, and what they get is terrible food with so many hidden charges that you end paying more than in a regular one. If you want to eat for cheap go to a fast-food joint or try your luck with an out-of-the-way rundown bar that has a set menu only written in Spanish. If you want good food (like a decent paella with edible rice and fresh ingredients), then research the area and make a reservation in a good restaurant, even if it costs more and you have to eat at 2:30PM.
France : Only visit Paris.
As a french person I hate Paris and I would rather visits some parts of France that I've never seen instead of having to go to Paris again.
I went to France and my friends were all: You're going to Paris ?!?. My answer: "Fûck no!" and went toward Bayonne and visited some friends living not far in Saint-Jean-de-Luz. I spent my weeks visiting small towns in the mountains (lots of local artisans with great fresh products), hiking, spending days at the beach and visiting small museum here and there with them, watching the rugby world cup at a local bar (was cheering for Ireland at the great displeasure of my friends). I don't regret it at all!
Eating pretty much anywhere on Las Ramblas in Barcelona. Besides La Boqueria, the city's most famous covered marketplace, there isn't much to be found on busy Las Ramblas in terms of decent food. In fact, most places are huge tourist traps that will lure you in and then charge you a premium for a very bad meal. Instead, walk a few minutes to the Gothic Quarter or El Born neighborhood for amazing restaurants.
Trying to use American money (it's Canada)... Common enough that it's often accepted in tourist areas but they usually get screwed because they'll take it at par
Buying the tiny overpriced bottles of maple syrup (go to a f*ckin' grocery store! Any one!) or paying the ridiculous price for fake "Native American" ""sculptures"" and other miscellaneous tourist schlock
Expecting anyone to actually speak French outside of Quebec
I've heard stories of people who expect to go skiing in July or August but I'm not totally sure that isn't an urban legend
I had the chance to work at a museum and be a local guide for tourists in Old Montreal. I had fun pointing out the phony stores around the district and restaurants to avoid (most of them: overpriced and overrated). I had, on my person, a list of great restaurants outside the Old Montreal District depending what the tourists were looking for: excellent poutine (after all, Quebec invented that dish), pizza, brunch, fancy brunch, fancy restaurant, Quebec cuisine, experimental, place to watch a Habs game etc. Most of those places, easily accessible via the subway system. Edit: seriously, ask a local or a guide. A lot of them have great insight that they will share.
Queuing. If England if you cut a queue, there won’t be any consequences, but you will receive some harrowing death glares.
Norway, visiting the bigger cities in the south and the capital. There is nothing there other than a flat land with a few houses. Instead people should go visit the westlands, as we call it, thats where the big mountains and sh*t you see on pictures are located. If you are driving you should rent a car there and drive through the region a bit before driving further north where you will see a ton of beautiful sh*t, aswell as the northern lights if you are lucky.
Australia...
They under estimate the capabilities of some of 'our' native wildlife...
New Zealands have a unanimous hatred for people renting juicy campers and doing 20km under the speed limit. We get tourists that have never driven before or have super limited experience who are legitimately dangerous.
Sooo inexperienced driving a campervan?
For what it's worth, sometimes you literally can't go faster. If there's a lot of weight in the vehicle, especially older vehicles, and if you're towing a car, etc...they don't have good pickup and speed. I moved cross-country and rented a camper-style vehicle so I could save money and sleep in it rather than getting hotels every night. I was shocked at how slow it was. Peddle to the floor and I could barely get it above 65.
Buy water in bottles when it is expensive and exactly the same water as we have on tap.
US - Only visiting New York and/or Florida and then believing they've seen "America."
Obviously you're not going to be able to visit every state and eat in every rural diner, but don't just come to Times Square and then believe you've formed an opinion about life in the US.
1) Parking in the middle of the road on a blind corner to take photos of wildlife.
2) Standing five feet away from two grizzly bear cubs to snap a few photos with the mother nowhere in sight.
3) Pitching a tent in the middle of tidal flats on low tide.
4) Stopping in the middle of a one lane care/train tunnel to take photos, and holding up all other traffic.
(Yes. I have seen all four)
They think they can drive around London. Why would you do that
Tbf, it would make more sense using that car to gtfo of London and see better places.
Walk on cycling paths. Expecting ice tea to have ice in it.
They think that the guys and girls looks like kpop idols. Boy were they wrong the moment the aircraft landed.
Backstory: It was a thing in the netherlands that on the 30th of april we celabrated our queen beatrix’ birthday. It is printed in all tourguides in other countries. Her actual birthday is in januari, but they put it in april because that was the birthday of our late queen juliana (beatrix’ mother). And also because the weather is better in april.
A few years ago Beatrix abdicated the crown and now we have a king. His actual birthday is on the 27th of april so now our ‘kingsday’ is actually on the 27th. This has not been amended yet in tourguides across the border. So every year we see tourists dressed in Orange, which is the colour of our royal house. Hey are super drunk in the streets looking for the parties, while those were 3 days prior. And because most tourists only stay for a day or 2 there is no way for them to know.
Go on hikes, bush walks when they don’t understand how huge the country is, how hot is gets, don’t take water basically some aren’t really prepared at all.
Also try to swim in the ocean when they don’t understand rips and aren’t strong swimmers
Australia: underestimating the stupidly large distances between places combined with a pretty sh*tty public transport network.
Not expecting it to be so cold. Australia gets cold in winter too, guys!
A day in Canberra during winter would simply kill someone from a warm country. No mercy, just a human Zooper Dooper.
Walking slowly in front of people trying to get to/from work.
Pausing at the top/bottom of escalators to extend the handle on their suitcase.
These are problems that exist in all places visited by tourists. Many of them do not realise that despite the fact they are on their vacation, locals still have to go to work. If you live in a touristic place, that does not mean that you also live as a tourist all of the time.
Once I was on the plane going back to where I live, and I was sitting next to a woman in her mid-30s, she asked if we ride camels to get to places. I live in Saudi Arabia.
Think that because the flight was cheap, the hotel will be cheap as well. Forget most shops are closed on Sundays and cant buy alkohol.
In the US I see a lot of East Asian and Indian tourists at national parks. They tend to be dressed in really bad clothes for hiking and not prepared well (compared to Americans). I see girls in high heels and guys in flip flops trying not to slip. Worst one was this Indian guy in the Grand Canyon... he only had one bottle of water and was on his way back up. The guy was incoherent, stumbling next to thousand foot cliff, and refused our help. I hope he made it out alive.
Get drunk and jump from balconies (Spain).
Not bringing the appropriate clothing- Scotland is a country where it rains a lot and is often cold, even in the summer months. Many tourists forget to bring adequate waterproofs and warm clothes. Without proper clothing, it can mar the enjoyment and natural beauty that Scotland has to offer.
Getting out of their vehicle/tour bus to take pictures/feed wildlife... especially babies (whose mother is probably nearby).
Not only is it dangerous, but it puts animals at risk if they become too acclimated and are deemed a threat, leading to them being “destroyed” by authorities.
Also, not sure how commonly people actually do this, but a big misconception is that you can travel across Canada quickly and affordably. Domestic flights are horrendously expensive, and driving would take an insanely long time. Train service is very limited and expensive once you get out west. Pick a region and stick to it.
I did a combination of bus and train to get across Canada, from Vancouver to Toronto.
Maybe underestimating how crazy expensive Norway is.
Also safety stuff when it comes to mountain climbing, toilet situation in Lofoten.
I live in the US, very close to NYC so I'm always down there for a show or something. I see LOADS of tourists in Times Square. They are packed in there like sardines just to see a few LED billboards. They are clawing over each other to see ADS, f*cking ads being displayed to them by some corporation. There are so many cool places all over the city, great places to eat, etc and they are packed into the Olive Garden and TGI Fridays eating microwaved food at $50 a person looking out the window at ads.
I get going to TS if you've never been to NYC before. I remember my first time when I moved there and getting off the bus and it was so magical for me. But it gets old fast, lol. But it always drove me crazy when i saw tourists eating at the mcdonald's in times square. I mean... i get maybe you're trying to save money but there are so many places that are cheap to eat that are not the same as you can get at home. Just start walking around there are soooo many restaurants in NY! Not to mention that mcdonald's...the prices are super jacked up! It would be tastier and cheaper elsewhere and you'll get bigger portions.
Judging the entire population based on an interaction with a waiter in a busy café in the capital which was almost entirely their own fault.
A lot of tourists who travel to America make the mistake of trying to see too much of it at once. I honestly tell people that if you want to travel to New York, and feel like you got the proper New York experience, you should spend at least a week there. I know that's a bit extreme, but hey, I really rate the city.
My point is, the people who try to see New York, LA, Texas, and Florida on one holiday are all insane.
Fail to greet us properly, assume we all must speak English well, and then call us rude.
Not watching out for the drop bears.
Everyone also forgets about wild Haggis. Please help us protect our national animal.
USA. Not tipping.
Really need to lobby your government for fair wages that don't include tips and stop blaming the tourists.
You can't base yourself in Alice Springs and do day trips to the capital cities. You'd struggle to do that with a private jet.
They buy stuff from people on the street/walking up to them in Manhattan. Tickets, coke, whatever- it’s all a ripoff and it’s all fake.
Walking with their phone out in the streets. That's just asking to get robbed.
I see people waiting hours in line to go to the top of Empire state building or the ferry to statue of liberty etc when there's tons of other cool neighbourhoods to be in, museums to visit and bars/food joints to try in NYC that don't require standing in the sweltering heat for 4 hours in the summer.
There is only one Empire State view, and there is only one iconic symbol of America that is the Statue of Liberty. It matters not that "there's tons of other" stuff. They are all, with the exception of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, of lesser magnitude. I've visited the above and much more in NYC.
Assuming the biggest city in our nation is the only city you should visit
Going to the beach when you're an Asian tourist who's never been near water before and then ending up on Bondi Rescue
No need to be racist, I know plenty of non Asians that can't swim that could just as easily end up on Bondi Rescue.
No mention of Ireland here at all. We do not fight and drink constantly. And we don't talk like the leprechaun from the Simpsons. Also, keep away from the rip-off places like Temple Bar. 10 minutes walk and you'll find bars that are almost half the price.
I just found out I'm 20% Irish. I really want to visit! I'm in my 50's and never dreamed in a million years I had any Irish in me!
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I think they are recycled from one of those "tell me where you are from without telling me where you are from"-posts. I had the feeling I had already seen most of those somewhere on Bored Panda before...
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Advice from a tourguide that goes contrary to the posts, here: Stop worrying too much about what you should or shouldn't do. If you are in a place for the first time, DO walk the beaten paths, at least for a while, because they will have to most astonishing sites. You do want to visit the Eifeltower, the colosseum, the sistine chapel and the pyramids, because they are incredible. That's why they are the main sights. And, yes eat less than great food on those days when it's near, instead of wasting hours to find a place where locals hang out. Be safe, be aware, be polite, don't litter, but accept that you are a toursit and do touristy things. And THEN, if you have time left over, go and explore the less travelled corners. Take the time to just sit in a cafe and watch the world go by. Oh, and whenever you have the chance: Take the river tours. They are relaxing AND you get to see great stuff while sitting, drinking a coffee. This whole 'Don't be a tourist' stuff is neurotic and pointless
I agree very much! If I visit a foreign country I AM a tourist on holiday - I do not know every custom of the country, might not speak the language, and maybe am an easier target for dishonest taxi drivers and pickpockets. As long as I try my best to not make an absolute nuisance of myself for the locals this is fine by me.
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The one about taxis in Greece - gotta disagree - we were in Athens minutes after the second Tower went down. Our cab driver took us to the American Embassy and waited with me while my husband ran in to see if he could get any more information. He spoke with the heavily armed Greek guards at the checkpoint and assured them we were good Americans. He also got us to our hotel and waited until we had checked in to make sure we were ok. We would have had a serious mental breakdown if he hadn't been there.
I'm sorry but how can anybody not understand how big the USA is? Have you never seen a map? Or a globe? They're literally everywhere in every school
With so much information readily available online, how do tourists make so many mistakes? I'll add a safety suggestion. If you're on Hollywood Blvd. in Hollywood, California, do not expect or try to take photos of people impersonating celebrities or movie characters WITHOUT tipping them. Some have gotten very aggressive.
The posts that advise avoiding tourist areas because they’re pricey are funny to me. Often, we know we’re being charged more because we’re tourists, and we’re fine with that. We knew what we signed up for when we ordered a €15 can of Coke so we could sit on the canal at Piazza San Marco.
Or the posts making fun of tourists buying shitty souvenirs - I do not need the kitsch police monitoring my holiday shopping, thank you very much!
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Basically, you don't have to visit the tourist hot spots, other places are great too, don't underestimate the size of the countries you are going to, follow the customs of the country, and be prepared.
With Wales theres always tourists every summer having to get rescued by the mountain rescue helicopter for climbing mountains in Snowdonia wearing flip flops and t shirts, the weather can change really quick and a lot of the trails are quite dangerous for inexperienced climbers
Same here, in the Blue Ridge of the US. Just because it isn't the Rockies or Alps doesn't mean it isn't dangerous!
Load More Replies... UK and Ireland - coming and saying you’re “Scottish/Welsh/Irish” because you’re cousins dog 18 places removed once ate a haggis. Also hardly anyone claims to be English for some reason.
For tourists going to Amsterdam expecting drugs and prostitutes: you might think you're supercool but the Dutchies think you're sad and a nuisance. Please visit the rest of the country instead to see what else we have to offer :)
Croatia is not only Dubrovnik (Game of thrones ) - Dubrovnik is most expensive city in Croatia - ok nice walls an sea but you can see much more and spend much less in any other part of Croatia - coast is 1777km long and has many interesting towns and many islands and you won't be wrong even if you leave the coast
I live on the No. Coast 300 miles No.of SF. We get tourists for big trees, the ocean, cute old town. We can always spot tourists, but we don't really bother them. What bothers US is when they figure we're a small town, so they don't have to pay attention to niceties or treat locals with respect. I've gotten "You're just a small town filled with hicks" more than once. OK, I'm not going to warn you about the Sneaker Waves on the Jetty. Have fun (there are plenty of warning signs, but we try to make sure people, know, ya know).
In San Francisco it's easy to spot the folks who haven't done their homework when they visit in the summer- they're wearing shorts, t-shirts, and goosebumps. (And no, Mark Twain didn't say, "The coldest winter I ever spent was summer in San Francisco." It first appeared about 20 years after his death.)
In some majority/entirely Muslim countries, shops close during prayer times. So I suggest you check the prayer times of the place you are visiting before you go shopping there, because you might end up visiting at prayer time just to see that all the shops are closed.
France - you will struggle to find shops open on a Sunday. Evening meals aren't really a thing, most restaurants outside of the city mainly cater for lunchtimes. The bread they bring to the table is free. Restaurants in the city will do vegetarian meals but out in the countryside the set menu is going to be either meat or fish. Supermarkets will sell meat that still resembles the animal, as they should do and that's not a pretty aquarium of crabs - they are live crabs/lobsters for sale to eat. Oh and some of the street markets will sell live chickens - again mostly for you to take home and eat.
Thailand - If you live somewhere with well-enforced road safety and you think you can drive on Thai roads, you're an idiot. Australia - Stay within sight of the goddamn lifeguards, between the assigned flags - most of the people who have to get rescued are tourists who have greatly overestimated their swimming abilities. Also, clean your shoes and don't bring over anything alive or buggy if you want to get past the border force officers without attracting their murderous (and costly) intent.
No mention of Ireland here at all. We do not fight and drink constantly. And we don't talk like the leprechaun from the Simpsons. Also, keep away from the rip-off places like Temple Bar. 10 minutes walk and you'll find bars that are almost half the price.
I just found out I'm 20% Irish. I really want to visit! I'm in my 50's and never dreamed in a million years I had any Irish in me!
Load More Replies... I think they are recycled from one of those "tell me where you are from without telling me where you are from"-posts. I had the feeling I had already seen most of those somewhere on Bored Panda before...
Load More Replies... Advice from a tourguide that goes contrary to the posts, here: Stop worrying too much about what you should or shouldn't do. If you are in a place for the first time, DO walk the beaten paths, at least for a while, because they will have to most astonishing sites. You do want to visit the Eifeltower, the colosseum, the sistine chapel and the pyramids, because they are incredible. That's why they are the main sights. And, yes eat less than great food on those days when it's near, instead of wasting hours to find a place where locals hang out. Be safe, be aware, be polite, don't litter, but accept that you are a toursit and do touristy things. And THEN, if you have time left over, go and explore the less travelled corners. Take the time to just sit in a cafe and watch the world go by. Oh, and whenever you have the chance: Take the river tours. They are relaxing AND you get to see great stuff while sitting, drinking a coffee. This whole 'Don't be a tourist' stuff is neurotic and pointless
I agree very much! If I visit a foreign country I AM a tourist on holiday - I do not know every custom of the country, might not speak the language, and maybe am an easier target for dishonest taxi drivers and pickpockets. As long as I try my best to not make an absolute nuisance of myself for the locals this is fine by me.
Load More Replies... The one about taxis in Greece - gotta disagree - we were in Athens minutes after the second Tower went down. Our cab driver took us to the American Embassy and waited with me while my husband ran in to see if he could get any more information. He spoke with the heavily armed Greek guards at the checkpoint and assured them we were good Americans. He also got us to our hotel and waited until we had checked in to make sure we were ok. We would have had a serious mental breakdown if he hadn't been there.
I'm sorry but how can anybody not understand how big the USA is? Have you never seen a map? Or a globe? They're literally everywhere in every school
With so much information readily available online, how do tourists make so many mistakes? I'll add a safety suggestion. If you're on Hollywood Blvd. in Hollywood, California, do not expect or try to take photos of people impersonating celebrities or movie characters WITHOUT tipping them. Some have gotten very aggressive.
The posts that advise avoiding tourist areas because they’re pricey are funny to me. Often, we know we’re being charged more because we’re tourists, and we’re fine with that. We knew what we signed up for when we ordered a €15 can of Coke so we could sit on the canal at Piazza San Marco.
Or the posts making fun of tourists buying shitty souvenirs - I do not need the kitsch police monitoring my holiday shopping, thank you very much!
Load More Replies... Basically, you don't have to visit the tourist hot spots, other places are great too, don't underestimate the size of the countries you are going to, follow the customs of the country, and be prepared.
With Wales theres always tourists every summer having to get rescued by the mountain rescue helicopter for climbing mountains in Snowdonia wearing flip flops and t shirts, the weather can change really quick and a lot of the trails are quite dangerous for inexperienced climbers
Same here, in the Blue Ridge of the US. Just because it isn't the Rockies or Alps doesn't mean it isn't dangerous!
Load More Replies... UK and Ireland - coming and saying you’re “Scottish/Welsh/Irish” because you’re cousins dog 18 places removed once ate a haggis. Also hardly anyone claims to be English for some reason.
For tourists going to Amsterdam expecting drugs and prostitutes: you might think you're supercool but the Dutchies think you're sad and a nuisance. Please visit the rest of the country instead to see what else we have to offer :)
Croatia is not only Dubrovnik (Game of thrones ) - Dubrovnik is most expensive city in Croatia - ok nice walls an sea but you can see much more and spend much less in any other part of Croatia - coast is 1777km long and has many interesting towns and many islands and you won't be wrong even if you leave the coast
I live on the No. Coast 300 miles No.of SF. We get tourists for big trees, the ocean, cute old town. We can always spot tourists, but we don't really bother them. What bothers US is when they figure we're a small town, so they don't have to pay attention to niceties or treat locals with respect. I've gotten "You're just a small town filled with hicks" more than once. OK, I'm not going to warn you about the Sneaker Waves on the Jetty. Have fun (there are plenty of warning signs, but we try to make sure people, know, ya know).
In San Francisco it's easy to spot the folks who haven't done their homework when they visit in the summer- they're wearing shorts, t-shirts, and goosebumps. (And no, Mark Twain didn't say, "The coldest winter I ever spent was summer in San Francisco." It first appeared about 20 years after his death.)
In some majority/entirely Muslim countries, shops close during prayer times. So I suggest you check the prayer times of the place you are visiting before you go shopping there, because you might end up visiting at prayer time just to see that all the shops are closed.
France - you will struggle to find shops open on a Sunday. Evening meals aren't really a thing, most restaurants outside of the city mainly cater for lunchtimes. The bread they bring to the table is free. Restaurants in the city will do vegetarian meals but out in the countryside the set menu is going to be either meat or fish. Supermarkets will sell meat that still resembles the animal, as they should do and that's not a pretty aquarium of crabs - they are live crabs/lobsters for sale to eat. Oh and some of the street markets will sell live chickens - again mostly for you to take home and eat.
Thailand - If you live somewhere with well-enforced road safety and you think you can drive on Thai roads, you're an idiot. Australia - Stay within sight of the goddamn lifeguards, between the assigned flags - most of the people who have to get rescued are tourists who have greatly overestimated their swimming abilities. Also, clean your shoes and don't bring over anything alive or buggy if you want to get past the border force officers without attracting their murderous (and costly) intent.
