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Have you dreamed of moving to the Big Apple your entire life? Starting each morning with a bagel in your hand and the sound of angry New Yorkers shouting at taxis and slow-walkers as you make your commute to work. Or perhaps Paris is more your speed? A buttery croissant and the scent of urine on the streets might be your preferred way of waking up. As much as we enjoy taking vacations to these popular tourist destinations, the experience of being a local is quite different than what we might imagine.

So to help visitors understand what the locals are begging them to stop doing, we’ve consulted this Reddit thread where the residents of popular getaways dished about what drives them crazy, and even reached out to the person who sparked this conversation in the first place, Winterbeers on Reddit. Below, you'll also find interviews with travel expert and creator of the blog The Invisible Tourist, Alyse, and a representative from the sustainability organization, The World Counts. So if you’re planning your summer holiday right now to a tropical beach or a sprawling city, keep these tips in mind to avoid being angrily chased out by locals. And then if you’re looking for even more insight from residents of popular vacation spots, check out this Bored Panda piece next.

#1

30 Of The Most Annoying Tourist Moments Shared By People Who Live In Holiday Destinations Caribbean island ... people who complain that they can't get a Heineken or a Bud Light here. People who complain that they can't get fast food or chain food here. People who basically are angry that a tiny sland in the Caribbean isn't just like the Houston suburbs.

If you want everything you have in the US, stay the f**k in the US.

Also infuriating during the pandemic: "Your island requires masks and negative tests!? Well if you keep that up we will NOT be visiting and will take our money elsewhere!"

Fine. Go elsewhere. We don't want you on our island, where the entirety of our healthcare is a small clinic with five beds. Don't threaten people with money, f*****g entitled assholes.

SpicelessKimChi , Asad Photo Maldives Report

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DennyS (denzoren)
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I feel this to my core. Just have a Red Stripe or a Carib with some Royal Castle and mellow on a beach somewhere. Always with the complaining. Not to mention being surprised when we all have regular 8-5 jobs. Like yes, we work too.

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We all know what it’s like to be a tourist. You’ve been looking forward to this vacation for months, possibly even years, and you finally have the chance to visit the Colosseum or swim in Thailand’s most beautiful beaches. The excitement of traveling can lead some of us to forget that there are plenty of people in that city or town who are not on vacation. They are just minding their own business, going to school and work and the grocery store, with a massive amount of tourists around. 

Tourists have to try to put themselves in the shoes of the locals of wherever they are visiting and remember that they probably would not be too happy to find litter in their backyard or in their favorite park. They likely would not be thrilled to find drunk tourists wandering through their neighborhood loudly at 3am either. And there is no way they would want to find a visitor sitting on their property. It is a wonderful thing to live in a beautiful city that can make a lot of money from tourism, but it is crucial that tourists don’t leave a mess for someone else to clean up after they’ve gone home.  

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#2

30 Of The Most Annoying Tourist Moments Shared By People Who Live In Holiday Destinations Leave. The. Wildlife. Alone.

And this doesn't just extend to tourists but to people that live here too. 45+ coyote attacks last year in no small part because of people giving them food leading to a cull, bears getting habituated to people because they're being given food leading to them getting killed, otters and sea lions getting fed. They're not cute cuddly things. They're wild animals and will kill you and then, because they're doing what they do, they'll get killed because they're "dangerous to humans". When in reality they're only dangerous to ignorant rubes with no respect for nature.

Jennyferr0412 , Becca Report

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Caro Caro
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There was a sign in a park in South Africa "you feed 'em, we shoot em" because tourists fed the wild animals and the animals became too familiar with the cars and people.

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We reached out to Winterbeers on Reddit to hear what inspired them to start this conversation in the first place. We asked if they had ever lived in a tourist destination or had recently been traveling, but they told us they're just a nosy person. We also wanted to know why they think locals often find tourists obnoxious, and they said, "If you have to ask, you don't live in a vacation spot." I might not currently, but I have lived in Los Angeles, so all I can say is, fair enough.

Lastly, we wanted to know if they learned anything from this thread that they will remember the next time they plan a trip. "Yes, actually people posted some really good information I think," they told us. "Not just what not to do (which mostly seems like common sense) but some even offered information on destinations. You have to really sort through the comments but next time I travel I’ll probably look into some of the things various people have mentioned."

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#3

30 Of The Most Annoying Tourist Moments Shared By People Who Live In Holiday Destinations I live in Alaska. My home is a rustic log cabin build and sits about 1/2 a mile off a major hiking trail. Despite the NUMEROUS no trespassing signs and a gate, I still get tourists coming on my property and even getting so bold as to sit in my rocking chairs on my porch. My house overlooks the chugach mountains and has a great view….but that’s my view… that I pay a mortgage on.

ALASKAHAIRY , Claudette Bleijenberg Report

What is it about traveling that makes some people lose all sense of judgment? Perhaps it’s the excitement of finally being away on holiday and trying to make the most of their week off from work. Or maybe visitors feel entitled to do whatever they want if they've paid a large sum of money for their trip. Traveling internationally might also lead to tourists acting particularly ignorant when they don’t understand the language or culture of wherever they are.

But these are not valid excuses. The internet is an amazing tool that can provide travelers with plenty of information about their destination and how to get around seamlessly. Countless blogs can teach tourists the best spots to see that won’t charge them an arm and a leg, and a quick Google search can usually help visitors learn enough about the culture of any location to avoid being offensive. Just because tourists benefit the economy of wherever they travel to does not mean that their actions have no consequences. The least they can do to enhance their experience, and to prevent disrupting locals, is do a bit of research before traveling. I promise, it’s not very hard. In fact, you will likely find it exciting!

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#4

30 Of The Most Annoying Tourist Moments Shared By People Who Live In Holiday Destinations Clean up your f*****g trash.

I used to live in a spring break destination which was a small surf town. After spring break, people would be cleaning up pounds upon pounds of beer cans, broken bottles, needles, used condoms...f*****g revolting.

Edit for you nitpickers: I meant "stop throwing your garbage on the ground." There, now get off my cheeks.

MiniatureWendigo , The Tampa Bay Estuary Program Report

We got in touch with travel expert and creator of the blog The Invisible Tourist, Alyse, to hear her thoughts on this topic. When asked why locals tend to dislike tourists, Alyse told us, “Tourists can sometimes forget people need to live and work at their vacation destination. They can be loud, get in the way and do disrespectful things in public they likely wouldn't at home. A lack of understanding of their culture means tourists can also unintentionally offend locals.”

Alyse also explained how her idea of being an “invisible tourist” can prevent upsetting locals. “Traveling in this way helps to preserve the local cultural heritage. Making a conscious effort to ‘blend in’ helps to minimize any negative social, cultural and economical impacts of tourism,” she says. “Learning local customs, etiquette and basic language before our trips will lead to more positive encounters with locals once we're there. What may seem like small things can actually make a big difference!”

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#5

30 Of The Most Annoying Tourist Moments Shared By People Who Live In Holiday Destinations There are a lot of really good points and suggestions, but people forgot to mention the most important thing.

Don’t expect everything and everyone to be or behave the same as where you came from. I see so many tourists complain they can’t have this or that, how shocked and insulted they are by someone’s behavior… You came to a different country with a different culture and no you can’t have a free refill just because that’s how you do it in USA Karen.

tranc3rooney , Erik Mclean Report

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Karin L
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You'd think they would go there to experience something new or different, but hey maybe not..!

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We also asked Alyse what she thinks tourists need to keep in mind when visiting extremely popular destinations. “Consider staying longer in busy places to experience more. While it sounds counter intuitive, staying longer means we can visit popular places before day trippers arrive and after they leave for a less crowded experience,” Alyse explained. “Staying in locally-owned accommodation and spending at small businesses means giving back to locals, rather than contributing to economic leakage (where tourism money is sent abroad from the big global chains, not trickling back down to local communities).”

Lastly, Alyse added that, “We can experience more from our trips by being prepared: Pre-purchase any popular tickets days (if not weeks or even months) beforehand to avoid disappointment; Research in advance how to get around at the destination to avoid winging it and wasting precious time when we're there; participate in cultural experiences to learn new ways of thinking and enrich our trips. And most importantly, travel with an open mind - it can change our lives!”

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If you’re interested in hearing about Alyse’s personal travels or getting more tips from her, be sure to check out her blog The Invisible Tourist right here and her book How to Not Look Like A Tourist: Unlocking Your Hidden Power for Overtourism Solutions right here

#6

30 Of The Most Annoying Tourist Moments Shared By People Who Live In Holiday Destinations Don't fricking carve your name on stuff!!!

The amount of people who need to carve their names onto historical buildings and statues are just crazy. Don't be an a*s. You are ruining the place.



And respect peoples properties. Yeah, it's a cute street with cute houses and charming gardens. But that does NOT give you the right to enter peoples private properties to peep in their windows, walk in their gardens and try to open their doors. A colleague is selling his house because he's tired of people peeping in their windows and trying to open their door to have a look inside. He got yelled at for beeing inappropriate while he was sunbathing in his own garden by a tourist who let themself in the gate and walked around the house to have a look at his garden.

Frequent_Artichoke , zeze57 Report

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Sinkvenice
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People let themselves in?! My god, what is wrong with people?? It's so sad that that person is selling his house because of these utter fools. That's made me incredibly angry. People can be such c*nts!

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We also reached out to The World Counts to hear about some of the ways tourism can be harmful to the environment. They told us, "Tourism can put enormous pressure on local use of land and natural resources, and can lead to soil erosion, increased pollution, natural habitat loss, and increase the pressure on endangered species. These effects can gradually destroy the very basis on which tourism itself depends. On the global scale tourism is also a major contributor to CO2-emissions."

They went on to explain that, "The harmful impact of tourism is partly explained by the massive growth of the industry in the past decades." They also provided us with some harrowing statistics about the tourism industry. For example, "There are 1.4 billion tourists arriving at their destination every year. That’s 45 arrivals every single second."

#7

30 Of The Most Annoying Tourist Moments Shared By People Who Live In Holiday Destinations I live in Berlin and this goes for German and international tourists: please don’t run, take selfies, play hide and seek or sit on the holocaust memorial ffs.

Lenaturnsgreen , Chad Greiter Report

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The Scout
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The architect that had built it would probably disagree, as he told in an interview in the "Spiegel" in 2005: "People will picnic in the field. Children will play catch in the field. There will be mannequins posing here, and movies will be shot here. I can well imagine how a shootout between spies will end in the field. It is not a sacred place."

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"The number of tourists arriving at a destination somewhere in the world has grown by a factor of 56 between 1950 and 2018 - from 25 million to 1.4 billion. The level of tourism worldwide has seen a drop in recent years due to COVID 19, but numbers are expected to catch up again," The World Counts explained.

"Transport-related emissions from tourism are expected to account for 5.3% of all man-made CO2 emissions by 2030, up from 5% in 2016. This means that by 2030, transport-related CO2-emissions from tourism will reach 1,998 million tons. The level of tourism is very likely to keep growing together with the growing number of consumers globally. By 2030, we will be 5.6 billion consumers (compared to 3.5 billion in 2017)."

#8

30 Of The Most Annoying Tourist Moments Shared By People Who Live In Holiday Destinations For your sake, STOP TRYING TO PET THE BUFFALO! Or don't, some of us are entertained by the videos of you flying through the air.

WyoPeeps , Vincent Ledvina Report

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Ka Se
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I like the second part. It also made me think of cows on alpine pastures, which have also transported some tourists to the afterlife.

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#9

30 Of The Most Annoying Tourist Moments Shared By People Who Live In Holiday Destinations Deciding they like it so much here that they are going to purchase our homes for over market value so they can turn them into AirBNBs. And in turn, pricing the locals out of ever owning homes in their own town.

IowaAL , Karsten Winegeart Report

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Celeste Grant
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Or evicting long term tenants in favour of doing short stay Airbnb. That's been a massive issue close to where I live, and it's also making it so hard to find anywhere else for people to rent. Those who do live there find these short term tenants noisy and that they don't respect the surrounding communities as they are just there for a short holiday.

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We asked if The World Counts would advise that people stop traveling altogether. They told us, "No, but we do recommend that people think about ways to travel in more sustainable ways, including: take the train instead of flying, look for 'eco-tourism' options at the destination that offer greener practices/alternatives compared to traditional traveling, make an effort to buy local products and support local businesses that are environmentally conscious, travel locally instead of going across the globe, observe earth-friendly habits also when travelling, i.e. paying respect to nature, stop littering, no excessive use/consumption."

"It is also worth mentioning that while tourism certainly can have negative impacts on the environment, eco-tourism can promote sustainable awareness and solutions in travel destinations, which in turn can help to both conserve natural resources and contribute to local economies," they told Bored Panda. "And not to forget, embracing eco-tourism can also help us adopt better and more earth-friendly habits at home as well."

#10

30 Of The Most Annoying Tourist Moments Shared By People Who Live In Holiday Destinations Stop trying to hike up a mountain in flip-flops!
Also, don't try to use an air mattress as a mode of transport between islands.

Several of these every year...

JoetheGrim , Evan Krause Report

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piruoztek
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So many foreign people do it in Slovak mountains and then there are news how helicopter had to save foreign tourist or that they didn't survive. Also they went there in shorts, but while in valley is heat, up there is much colder and weather can change in few minutes.

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#11

30 Of The Most Annoying Tourist Moments Shared By People Who Live In Holiday Destinations Deface world heritage sites for souvenirs or internet clout.

For example: **The Colosseum** in Rome has graffiti carved into it's walls by arsehole tourists and **Stone Henge** is closed off to the public because arseholes were chipping pieces off for souvenirs.

Bedlamcitylimit , Faith Crabtree Report

#12

30 Of The Most Annoying Tourist Moments Shared By People Who Live In Holiday Destinations Amsterdam. Walking around like they're at Legoland, blindly stepping into traffic, oblivious to the fact that people actually live here. We use the bike to get to work, to get groceries, we're not just aimlessly cycling around for the fun of it.

bidluf , Robin Ooode Report

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Caro Caro
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've had people peering into my house! I have curtains but they are not closed in daytime. I caught them at it and sent them impolitely on their way.

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Lastly, we asked The World Counts what they think travelers should keep in mind before making their next trip. They told us, "That our choices of products and services have global consequences that are very real. This is true at home, but certainly also (and maybe more so) when it comes to travelling. Put an effort into making your next trip contribute to your own understanding of sustainability and habits, and how it contributes to our planet’s health."

"To illustrate the pressure, consumers in western countries put on the planet: If everyone lived like the average American consumer, we would need 5.2 planets to support us." 

If you'd like to learn more about how to protect our planet and live a more sustainable life, be sure to check out The World Counts right here.

#13

30 Of The Most Annoying Tourist Moments Shared By People Who Live In Holiday Destinations [Bangkok - Thailand] dating and f#cking girls half or less your age.

Yes, there are many, many old pervert men here.

Koetjeka , Crew Report

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Libstak
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When an older man tells me he has holidays in Thailand with mates I steer clear of him and his mates every time.

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#14

30 Of The Most Annoying Tourist Moments Shared By People Who Live In Holiday Destinations Stopping dead in a crowd in the middle of the sidewalk.

ScoobyJoobyDigDog , Hert Niks Report

#15

30 Of The Most Annoying Tourist Moments Shared By People Who Live In Holiday Destinations Please visit local businesses. COVID hit them hard. I know they aren't as big and well known as Disney and Kennedy Space Center but they have a lot of charm, too.

lilybear032 , Mike Petrucci Report

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Lisa H
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yep. A local roller rink that has been around for decades and has been hanging on by a thread for YEARS is finally closing for good at the end of the month. Covid hit them hard, too.

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We consulted Ecotourism World to find out their best recommendations for traveling more sustainably, and you might be pleasantly surprised to hear how easy some of their tips are. The first one is to be mindful of where you’re going. Traveling to a lesser known destination is a great way to reduce the strain on resources in more popular sites. And if you are really determined to see that famous landmark or national park, consider going during the off season. With less tourists around, it is easier for the environment and the locals to handle visitors then. Plus you're likely to encounter much smaller queues and crowds, and might even get to pay less for accommodation and tickets.  

#16

30 Of The Most Annoying Tourist Moments Shared By People Who Live In Holiday Destinations Stop buying all the houses and pushing out locals.

soulsteela , todd kent Report

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TeenieMeanie
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Add to that, stop supporting Air BnBs and companies like it. It’s no longer what it was when it started and it’s make life everywhere miserable.

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David Furr
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Truth, want to see rents become affordable again? Ban Air B&B in your locale!

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Šárka Horneková
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would say avoid professional hosts on Airbnb - support local owners. When you rent your cottage or summer house and make some extra money - I don't see anything wrong about it

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James G. Currie
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Happened in Nova Scotia about 15+ years ago... Rich buyers from Europe and Eastern US would buy a property for 3-5x market value, causing taxes to go up to the point that freeholders had to sell and leave the community their families had been in for generations.

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Janet Graham
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Every place of beauty or quiet eventually attracts so many tourists that it loses all of its attractiveness.

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RoanTheMad
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In my town, second home (aka holiday home) ownership is so stupidly high that people voted to ban/end ownership of second homes, aka: "all new-build and additional housing should be restricted to full-time local occupation as a primary residence" ... there is also a lot of guesthouses here too, but they at least have people in them throughout the year.

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James G. Currie
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some silly people were thinking you were a liar and downvoted you... Here's an upvote to counteract one...

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James G. Currie
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, if it is a question of sell, or have the land siezed for inability to cover Property Taxes, are you going to tell them to not sell?

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Seadog
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Been renovating a 1920 bungalow for 4+ years. I've lost count how many idiots have wanted to buy it. One for the assessed value before work ever began, couldn't understand why at that time we would sell as is for $300K when assessed value was $78500. He actually asked "how did you arrive at that figure?" Do you really think I don't know how much I have invested in it? Not to mention 5000+ man hours. Last person who pestered me I finally told him $500K as is. That finally shut him up. There are plenty of houses around for sale, go buy one of those and pour your own money into it's reno. It's my sons house and he really isn't interested in selling, why is that so hard to understand? And the number of people that stop and want us to work on their house. OMG. We work for a living 5.5 - 6 days a week, and we're not licensed contractors. You acknowledged you only see us working on the house on the weekend. When do you think we'd have time to do anything for anyone?

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#18

30 Of The Most Annoying Tourist Moments Shared By People Who Live In Holiday Destinations Stop disrespecting the spot you're visiting. Every time I go to places after tourists have visited all I see is rubbish, names carved into monuments, gum stuck to the path and I especially hate it when they're loud

Wryxon , John Seb Barber Report

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WordWeaver
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

All the way to the top of Mt Everest. We left junk on the Moon and Mars too.

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After choosing your destination, you’ll need to find accommodation. Nowadays, there are plenty of eco-friendly options from hostels to B&Bs to hotels. Opt for locally owned establishments over chain hotels, as your money will be doing more for the community in the hands of the locals. Do your research about how where you’re staying handles waste and how they manage to cut down on water and electricity usage. An added bonus of staying in smaller, locally owned accommodation means you are more likely to have an authentic experience. Being around locals gives you the opportunity to learn about their culture and cuisine and avoid the masses of tourists that would be staying at a larger hotel. 

#19

30 Of The Most Annoying Tourist Moments Shared By People Who Live In Holiday Destinations Edinburgh Scotland- I do not want to hear your best attempt at imitating my accent to my face, American Tourists.

The castle is on a hill in the middle of the city, if you can’t see it, turn in a circle. It’s that big thing on the hill. Walk towards it. I’m late for work, please, just read the bus timetable and don’t stop and quiz the driver of EVERY BUS “do you go to the castle?!”

Fatherchristmassdad , Marjan Blan | @marjanblan Report

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Mrs. Jan Glass
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It is not cute or funny to ask locals about their kilts and what they wear under them, either.

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#20

30 Of The Most Annoying Tourist Moments Shared By People Who Live In Holiday Destinations I used to live and work in one of the UK'S university towns. Most of my research work was in one of the college libraries which was built in about 1580. In the summer especially we would have endless streams of tourists trooping through, shouting at the top of their voices. The library was in a private/no access zone and marked clearly with "Private - No Admittance" signs.

The tourists could be quite abusive when asked to leave because they had 'paid' for their tour; which meant they were entitled to go anywhere they wanted, take pictures of all the students and shout to each other about how 'old and cute' everything looked.

People live and work here you morons! Can't you understand that?

And the littering and smoking. In a library full of rare books.

AchillesNtortus , Trnava University Report

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Mrs. Jan Glass
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Me too! And they MEAN it when they say to keep off the grass. I don't care if you think it's classist or "just want a quick picture," you KEEP OFF THE GRASS. My favorite is when someone would ask "Can you tell me how to get to the University?" as if it's one building, and not, you know, 39 colleges over the entire city with the exception of some of the businesses.

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#21

30 Of The Most Annoying Tourist Moments Shared By People Who Live In Holiday Destinations Haggle on every single item you buy.

I've seen tourists wearing Rolex's try haggle down a price for a painting from a street artist. Wanted to pay 2 dollars for a piece he had likely spent an hour working on.

It's f*****g embarrassing and insulting for everyone involved.

russel0406 , Andrea Natali Report

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Two_rolling_black_eyes
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Culturally dependent. If there are no prices posted and I see the locals haggling, I haggle. If it's just tourists, there are prices posted, or I hear the same price twice, I pay whatever the merchant says.

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Another way to be an eco-tourist is to seek out eco-tours operated by locals. “Not only will this return some profits back into the local community, but it’s even more beneficial for you because the locals always know the most ideal locations to offer you the best possible experience,” Ecotourism World notes. The best way to learn about any place is to hear from the locals, and you are likely to be more welcomed when they know you care as much about their environment as they do. Do a little research online for the best eco-tours wherever you are traveling to, and you will be sure to find a unique and meaningful experience.  

#22

30 Of The Most Annoying Tourist Moments Shared By People Who Live In Holiday Destinations Iceland here. Stop s******g absolutely everywhere.

Nobody likes your f*****g drone.

Learn to drive and do not stop in the middle of the road after a blind hill and turn off your lights to watch the northern lights in the dark.

Do not park your camper vans in residential parking.


Respect the landscape and for f***s sake listen to the warnings about sneaker waves in Reynisfjara. People risk their lives to save you when you can't listen and respect nature

G3ML1NGZ , ArtHouse Studio Report

#23

30 Of The Most Annoying Tourist Moments Shared By People Who Live In Holiday Destinations Stopping their cars in the middle of the road to take in a view. WTF?

Duality_is_my_prison , Nathan Dumlao Report

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Chich
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Came over the crest of a hill in the winter to find a vehicle in the middle of the road, both doors open and people standing around taking in the scenery. Made it past without hitting anyone but I am sure I added some good descriptive terms on questionable ancestry to their vocabulary.

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#24

30 Of The Most Annoying Tourist Moments Shared By People Who Live In Holiday Destinations Taking pictures of locals (African)

judymaina , Annie Spratt Report

With all of this being said, tourism is not inherently bad. I love traveling as much as the next person, possibly even more, and I do not intend to demonize it. Tourism can have wonderful benefits for economies, as it is one of the top 5 exports of 83% of countries in the world and employs 7% of the world’s workers. It is also a great way for us to understand our planet better. What better way is there to learn about another culture than to experience it? We just have to be mindful when visiting other places. Let’s keep the golden rule in mind when traveling, treat your travel destination the same way you would want your home to be treated. 

#25

30 Of The Most Annoying Tourist Moments Shared By People Who Live In Holiday Destinations Generally being loud. A big party or multiple families just don’t care when in your favorite restaurant, park or attraction. Live in a tiny town with a resident-only beach on a lake that is very quiet. Second home owners come in and just are loud and don’t control their hoards of kids. You can just tell who is local who is not.

Also airbnbs are ruining the area. People living for 30+ years in very wooded/private lots but have to hear constant partiers every summer night now. Literally is ruining peoples lives…

Shrinking_Violette , Hannah Popowski Report

#26

30 Of The Most Annoying Tourist Moments Shared By People Who Live In Holiday Destinations Driving drunk. I live in Sonoma County, California. Make sure you’ve got a sober driver ffs. The roads around here are never more dangerous than winery tasting room closing time on a sunny weekend.

Edit: So many fellow locals in this thread! Hello neighbors!
Be safe out there, no matter where you are.

XinaRoo , Maxwell Ridgeway Report

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#27

30 Of The Most Annoying Tourist Moments Shared By People Who Live In Holiday Destinations Using Airbnb. I live in a tourist city which has basically been taken over by Airbnb. Rental occupancy rate is something like 0.3%. It's a mess.

Cheduss , Stock Catalog Report

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b_nut137 avatar
Pheebs
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I live in a tourist area that managed to pass a law that will not allow temporary rentals line Air BnB. There are still temp rentals, but I think they have to be registered through some local organization or something. We have a lot of hotels, resorts, and condos that will more than support any size party. No need to rent a house 2+ miles away from where you want to be.

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We hope you’re enjoying this list of insight from locals and that you’ve learned something useful for your next trip. No matter where your travels take you, remember to make as small of an impact as possible and to support the natives as much as you can. Even if you would never want to live in a tourist destination, it's important to be empathetic to people who do. They love their homes, and they shouldn't have to work overtime trying to preserve them. Be sure to upvote the responses you found most informative, and then let us know in the comments if you have ever lived in a tourist destination. We would love to hear about your experiences.

#28

30 Of The Most Annoying Tourist Moments Shared By People Who Live In Holiday Destinations Stop walking out into the middle of an active downtown street to take group pictures of yourselves in cheerleading outfits on the spot where Kennedy was shot.

stupidlyugly , Cristina Zaragoza Report

#29

30 Of The Most Annoying Tourist Moments Shared By People Who Live In Holiday Destinations Stop laying down next to the stars on the Hollywood walk of fame! Hollywood is filthy. Oh you laid down next to your favorite star? Congratulations. You’re now covered in homeless person p**s and jizz. You should burn those clothes.

Shotgun_Rynoplasty , Ekaterina Belinskaya Report

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WordWeaver
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not interested enough in so called " stars" to even go there.

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#30

30 Of The Most Annoying Tourist Moments Shared By People Who Live In Holiday Destinations Forgetting that people live in the community. We had to move out of a sorta-touristy area because visitors were out of control. Endless partying at short term rentals in the neighborhood. Feeling unwelcome at our regular spots because we have (very polite) kids—the staff was always cool but out of town people always acted like how dare we bring a kid out for pancakes on a Saturday morning.

Good_parabola , cottonbro Report

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Janet Graham
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We took our family out for a family dinner at a family restaurant and they were very busy. Our little guy was hungry and got fussy. I had a man come up and ask me to take him outside because he was ruining his dining experience. It was 2 couples seated 2 tables over. Now, the restaurant was full and noisy and no one could hold a regular conversation. I told him that no, this was a family restaurant and if he did not like to eat around families he should go to a restaurant that was not family friendly.

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