World Travelers Are Sharing The Worst Tourist Traps They Have Encountered, And Here's How To Avoid Them
When it comes to traveling, there are always things you want to see — and even more you'd like to avoid. Reddit user Braves_Fan96 asked, "World travelers, what are some of the worst tourist traps you have encountered? What can be done to catch it beforehand?" Here are their tips:
1."So, you're in a popular touristy hub and looking for a nice sitdown to dine at? First rule: avoid chain restaurants. If you've heard of it, and you're from way out of town, chances are you've not heard of it because it's good, but because it's commercial. The next big one is to avoid places on the main strip of either walks or roads. If it seems easy to find or get to, chances are they do large volumes, and that rarely means higher quality. Your best bet is places that are a block away from the main hub. The best advice is to consult a local. Don't be too annoying about it — remember, they don't want their local spot to get flooded with yuppies, but they want the business to do well."
2."My wife and I went to Rome for our honeymoon. This was my first time traveling abroad, but my wife had traveled her entire life. We were walking from the Trevi Fountain to the Spanish Steps when we were approached by a man, who gave my wife a rose and was very friendly to us. Immediately, I told my wife to return it, and she was irritated with me, saying that he gave it to her as a gift. He was asking if we were from the US, if we were married, and if he could take our picture using our camera. While saying no to him, I kept telling my wife to give it back. She refused."
"After a few minutes, his friendliness disappeared, and he jabbed me in the shoulder and pressed his index finger and thumb together, demanding money. We had been married for five days, and our first fight as a married couple was when I yelled at her, 'Give him the rose back now!' She didn't believe it was a scam until I pointed out other men doing the same thing to other tourists. It doesn't matter where you go, keep your head on a swivel."
3."Las Ramblas in Barcelona. It's a lovely city, but everybody hypes up this one street that's crowded and full of people. It's practically highlighted in every tour guide of the city yet I still don't understand the draw. Every restaurant and shop on the street is a tourist trap as well. They're overpriced and under-quality. It's much more worth your time to stroll around the Gothic Quarter than Las Ramblas."
4."In India, photographers will compliment you and start taking pictures of you in popular tourist spots. They'll ask you to pose this way and that, and then they charge an exorbitant amount for the pictures. You have to be rude because they are very persistent and will start following you."
5."Most restaurants in Italy are great. The key is to avoid ones within 100 meters of a major tourist site or any restaurant with menus in six languages and go to places that look local."
6."Fiji. Walking along the street friendly locals will greet you with 'bula vinaka' (meaning hello) and beautiful smiles. Now and then, one will start a conversation with you and ask you for your name. Before you know it, they are carving your name into 'traditional' wooden spears and shields then asking you for money for the work you never asked for. They will look upset when you tell them you don't want it and they will explain that now they can't sell the item because they carved your name into it. They will follow you down the street reducing their price until you finally agree. Best advice: be friendly, say hello, and don't give anyone your name."
7."At the pyramids in Egypt, people with fake badges will tell you it's required to pay them extra to see the Sphinx. It's included with your park ticket."
8."In Turkey, shoe shine operators 'accidentally' drop the brush in front of you and then offer to clean your shoes after you stop to pick it up, followed by charging an extortionate price for the job."
9."Look up exchange rates before arriving at your destination, and use ATMs inside bank branches. Some companies operate ATMs in airports and train stations that want to take advantage of confused tourists, offering them bad exchange rates and setting the default amount for withdrawal too high."
10."In many places in Europe, the waiters set water bottles down on the table without asking and then charged us exorbitant prices for the bottles. Ask them to take it away, or you will likely be charged for it."
11."I had a woman in NOLA put a bunch of Mardi Gras beads around my neck, an encounter to which I did not consent. She got really mad when I refused to give her money. I watched her walk off and realized she had picked up the beads from the ground. Nasty."
12."If someone offers you something for free, don't take it! They will dump it on you. Make it as hard as possible to take it back, and then pressure you for money. I am talking about how, in Italy, people will approach you offering a bracelet, attach it tight, and then ask you to pay them. Also, any restaurant that has watermark pictures on their menus."
13."I worked in Times Square at a Broadway theater. If you take a picture with one of those characters on the street, more of them will come out of nowhere, get in the shot, and all expect money. I see it all the time. Times Square is something to be seen, especially at night, but I suggest avoiding the costume characters."
14."PSA: The Staten Island Ferry is FREE. If people try to charge you for tickets, they're scam artists. If you're traveling to New York, it's worth visiting for the views, especially considering the cost or lack thereof."
15."When I was in China, we went bar hopping in Shichahai and stayed out past when the subway closed. We couldn't get a cheap way home and the taxi cabs knew they were the only way home and charged us four times the usual fare. Know the transportation system."
16."While in uni, I went to London with my friends for the weekend. We wanted to go to a nightclub in London so we pulled up Google Maps and were discussing the club. A local man in his early 20s overheard us and offered to bring us there. We were cautious and stayed behind him while he walked us through the streets. He brought us to the nightclub and we thanked him profusely. We joined the queue and upon entry had to pay £15. While paying, we noticed this man had taken a few more girls to the club and winked at the doorman. Later in the club, we spoke with locals who were bewildered that we paid £15 for entry. The club had no entry fee."
17."Rome's touristy areas are unbearable. Every popular site or place features the same mob of sketchy and all-around annoying characters. There are friendship bracelets, fake petitions, fake charities, toys, and souvenirs. You can't take two steps without somebody trying to hassle you. The Vatican isn't even immune to this. While approaching it, you still have scammers dressed in outfits to trick people they are part of the staff. They scam the elderly and others into believing they bought the wrong ticket. We joked that the Vatican felt like Hollywood Blvd, but religious. On top of this, the food around these areas is a scam designed to trick gullible travelers out of their money. I ate the best pasta I've ever had in Rome, and I've eaten the worst. Don't get me wrong, I love Rome as a whole. But man, do their tourist areas suck."
18."Do not go with the guy who says his friend owns a nice hotel nearby. It most likely won't be nice or nearby."
19."If you are in New Orleans and someone says, 'I know where you got them shoes at,' you should answer, 'on my feet' or 'I got my shoes on Bourbon St.' (or whatever street you are on) then keep walking. They want to bet you they know where you got them shoes. It's a quick way to lose $20. Also, the shot girls on Bourbon are not giving you a free shot. It costs money. If they had you a drink, hand it back or say no thank you and keep walking. The best advice in New Orleans: if someone yells for you, keep walking."
What's the worst tourist trap you've run into? Share your story in the comments!
Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.
