Nothing is quite thrilling and exciting like jetting off to your dream destination, exploring breathtaking sites, connecting with the most wonderful people, indulging in new foods, and expanding your cultural horizons. It’s all rainbows and sunshine – unless you fall into some elaborate tourist trap.
Yeah, that’s the kind of travel experience that’ll turn you from a spirited traveler to a world-hating homebody real fast. And it doesn’t matter how experienced you are, how much you think you seamlessly blend in with all your surroundings. You’re never too savvy to avoid being tricked – it happens to the best of us unless you’re Sherlock Holmes.
Fortunately, you don’t have to resign to being duped or swearing off traveling altogether. Here are a few tips to help you avoid falling into tourist traps as a Black traveler.
Do Research, But Leave Room For Spontaneity
Before traveling anywhere, always make sure to do research on the best place to stay (locally-owned inns, Airbnb, hostels, or VRBO stays rather than hotels), the best activities (places where most locals like to go for an authentic experience), where to eat (again, where the locals like going to when they feel peckish), and of course, where to get the best coffee (not Starbucks).
The key to top-notch destination research is to think like a local rather than a tourist. Trash the travel guidebooks and do a social media dive for local recommendations.
Check out local influencers and view the latest posts from various locations to see what’s popular daily. That’ll help inform your packing list, budget, and itinerary. Not to mention, helps you avoid the notorious tourist traps.
Aim For Off-Season
Sure, it’s fun and exciting to hit up the hottest destinations – but not when it’s peak season. At best, you’ll end up being surrounded by other trend hoppers, falling for bogus deals and tourist traps, and a whole host of anxiety-triggering shenanigans.
Instead, opt for off-season trips or shoulder seasons (the periods just before or after peak tourist seasons) if you can swing it. You’ll enjoy some quiet, milder weather and often lower prices on activities and accommodation. Not to mention, get to explore at your own pace and be privy to deals and savings typically reserved for the locals.
This is every veteran traveler’s best-kept secret to vacationing like a star but on an affordable budget while avoiding the notorious tourist traps!
Be Patient
It doesn’t matter how hard you try. There are tourist spots you’ll always be tempted to check out, and as much as you channel your inner Sabrina, so will everyone else. So, when you decide to check them out – Eiffel Tower, Times Square, The Hollywood Strip, Monalisa – be prepared to wait.
Don’t be fooled into paying for ‘faster access’ by some chump in the line or some fishy website promising you the best Monalisa experience. Time your visit during the off-season, and if you don’t have a choice, check out the crowd and see how long the wait is.
Whatever the case, be patient and bring some activities (card games with your friends or the Fourth Wing novel) to keep you engaged while you wait. Yes, some spots will test you – but we promise your patience will be amply rewarded.
But if you’re not into the cliché locations, go to the same places you frequent when you’re at home – small boutiques, farmer’s markets, or local bars – you’ll get to experience something you love through a whole new lens, save a lot of money, and yourself the anxiety and headache that comes with tourist traps.
Eat Where The Locals Eat
For the most delicious and authentic local food, don’t default to what your guidebook suggests or join the lining forming around some restaurant block – go where the locals go.
Not sure where to start? Ask your host or local acquaintance, check tags on social media, or simply explore. More often than not, you’ll stumble on some hidden gems that are a fraction of what those star-studded restaurants would cost.
Brush Up On Common Local Phrases
To truly immerse yourself in your destination of choice and avoid getting looped into tourist traps, try and learn a few basic local phrases. You don’t have to become fluent in Italian or Swahili, but taking your language skills further than just a ‘ciao’ and ‘asante’ can make all the difference.
And hey, you can add ‘can speak five or more languages’ to your resume by the end of your trip. Duo Lingo is a great place to start if you want to brush up on some phrases or familiarize yourself with new languages.
Use Public Transit
There’s no better way to view a town or city and avoid tourist traps than by taking public transit. Most must-visit locales have robust subway or bus systems that can take you wherever you want to check out, so why blow all your cash and risk your safety by using cabs and rental cars?
And if buses and trains aren’t your thing, you could always try renting a bike. They’ll save you a lot of coins and provide you with a whole new perspective on the city you’re visiting. Plus, you might even stumble across a hidden gem on your way!
