10 Easy Ways to Be Traveller And Not A Tourist

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Looking for ways to have more authentic and genuine experiences while travelling? Discover all the ways to become a better traveller, and not just a tourist.

Anthony Bourdain once stated, “Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable.” As travellers, we wholeheartedly agree with this sentiment and wouldn’t change a thing about it.

To travel, really travel, and be a traveler is to not be a tourist that hops around from one hot spot to another. Contrary to popular belief, collecting photos of yourself “touching” the Eiffel Tower and “holding up” the Leaning Tower of Pisa is not travel.

To be a traveler and not a tourist isn’t always natural if you are not experienced. As with all great things, it takes some time but the important thing is to take the first step. In this guide, we’ve compiled the essential tips and ways for anyone to be a traveler and not just another tourist.

The Difference Between Tourist vs. Traveller

We will gladly admit that the term “tourist” is not one which we ever want to associate with. If you’re a frequent traveller, you already know why this is, but if you’re not, it’s completely understandable to perhaps not even know there is a difference between the two terms.

Some will have their own definitions, but to us, the biggest contrast between a tourist and a traveller is an appreciation of authentic experiences, understanding real culture, and willingness to get off the beaten path.

On the other hand, tourists are more inclined to visit a destination just for the top sights, eat at an Instagram famous restaurant, stay in a fancy hotel, and snap some iconic photos to showcase back home.

Before anyone thinks that we’re sitting on a high horse, we must assure our readers that at some point during every experienced traveler’s early days, we were all once tourists ourselves.

To improve at anything, and in our case, become better travellers, we once had to be bad tourists. At times, we learned the hard way but with those experiences, we’ve been able to transform into travellers.

Why Is It Better to Be a Traveller and Not a Tourist?

Let’s back up and highlight why on earth you’d even want to be (or at least look like) a traveler rather than a tourist. These tips will benefit many major aspects of your overall trip and allow you to have better experiences, regardless of where you are in the world.

Showing Respect Results in Better Treatment

The logic with this one is quite simple. Show respect and it will be reciprocated. Unfortunately, there are many destinations where tourism has gotten out of hand.

For the residents that actually live in the place you traveled across the world to visit, certain things can become unbearable because of how some tourists act.

Gaining respect instead of contributing to the bad reputation of careless tourists should always be the goal. By doing this, it only makes sense that you will be treated better and more genuinely in return.

These don’t have to be grand gestures: ordering coffee in the local language or ensuring you are respectfully dressed in a church are two easy examples.

Be Less Sought After by Scammers

Some of the most popular destinations in the world are unfortunately the places where you’ll most likely to get scammed. By looking, speaking and acting less like a typical tourist, you are more likely to get ignored by scammers and potential petty theft.

If you seem like an easy target, scammers are more inclined to seek you out and bother you over someone who is privy to their tricks.

Pickpocketing in crowded areas will always be an issue, whether you’re a traveler or tourist. However, there are really easy ways to not give thieves a reason to target you, such as unzipped bags, flashy jewelry, and expensive tech gear out in the open.

Always ask yourself “How can I blend in?”

Gain Authentic Experiences

There’s something unsettling about sharing the exact same stories with someone who has visited the place you just got back from. Travel to popular destinations can be repetitive but if you’re mindful, doesn’t have to be.

Choosing to be a traveler and not a tourist will naturally result in gaining more authentic experiences during your travels. Opting for locations off the beaten path, unique activities and homemade meals over the “top 10 must-see” attractions will open the door to experiencing a destination unlike every other tourist.

If you want to be different while traveling, you must be willing to throw out the guidebook from time to time.

Cheaper Travel

Scoring better deals and keeping the overall costs of your trip are among the best results of avoiding tourist traps.

By spending your money where most tourists don’t, it’s probable to spend way less. This applies to nearly everything from choosing where you eat, the location of your accommodation and even attractions or activities.

The most popular things to see and do in any destination are likely to be the most expensive. Instead of buying a slice of pizza on the main avenue of a city, head a few blocks over and enjoy even better food for a fraction of the cost.

What Is a Tourist Trap and How to Avoid Them

A tourist trap is an establishment with one primary intent: to overcharge tourists who don’t know any better. Tourist traps can show up in all shapes and forms, ranging from restaurants, taxi rides, hotels, and attractions.

🔑 More often than not, there is one golden rule to follow: anything written in English in a non-English speaking country = tourist trap.

If you are not a frequent traveler or it’s your first time abroad, you may not be aware that tourist traps exist or how to recognize them. Use these essential tips as a start!

Restaurants

Tourist traps are most commonly found and easiest to spot out in popular destinations. For example, in Prague, every single restaurant, bar or cafe you find in the Old Town Square is a tourist trap.

I know, this is a huge let down but as tourism booms, this is the sad truth. The reason for this is because it’s a highly frequented area of Prague, is beautiful and therefore, an easy way for business owners to charge more for the experience.

Restaurants are the biggest tourist traps for beginner travellers. Our biggest tip is to avoid eating at places where the menu is in multiple languages and has photos of the dishes. A massive menu with food items that aren’t even relevant to where you are is also a huge red flag.

These are indications that the food will be average in quality, inauthentic, and overpriced.

Souvenirs

Souvenir shops are a major department in the world of tourist traps. Think and look twice before you buy something that you believe is handmade or local. You could very well be buying a trinket that’s not even made in the country and mass-produced for the hundreds of souvenir shops around town.

🎨 One of our favorite souvenirs to purchase while traveling is ceramics. To ensure we’re not buying something that’s mass-produced or artificial, we only shop at ceramic studios where we can see the items being made with our own eyes.

Things to Do and See

Unless you are particularly interested in kitschy attractions, it’s OK to be suspicious of inauthentic experiences that don’t seem to match the place you’re visiting. For example, you’ve likely seen “fish pedicures” in salons of major European destinations.

We hate to break it to you, but no, this isn’t how locals are spending their time in Santorini or Vienna.

Outdoor landmarks or natural wonders that charge a ridiculous amount of money are also likely to never be worth it. As a good rule of thumb, avoid paying a large entrance fee for any site that’s outside.

If there is an admission for an outdoor attraction, it is very likely that unauthorized locals decided to start charging money for something they have no right to.

Lastly, never provide payment upfront for an agreed-upon tour. If you come across a situation where you’re being sold an activity for a future date and are requested to pay first, this is reason enough to be cautious.

How to Not Look like a Tourist

To keep your appearance from screaming “I’m a tourist!” will depend on where you are traveling. Different parts of the world have various trends, customs, and normalcies, so it may be impossible to always hit the mark exactly.

However, there are a few basic essentials to be aware of when doing your best to look like a traveler and not a tourist, regardless of the destination.

Tourist Clothing

One of the most common scenarios where people don’t want to look like a tourist is in Europe. To not look like a tourist while visiting Europe, there’s a couple of rules to stick to.

Although fashion is constantly changing, we would still recommend to avoid wearing a backpack, activewear or hiking gear while in a city, wide-brim hat with string (classic tourist hat), plaid shorts, and walking sandals.

Additionally, nothing gives away that you’re a North American tourist than by hauling around enormous and multiple rolling suitcases.

If you are visiting a religious country or landmark, it’s critical to dress appropriately by covering up. For women, this can most easily be done by carrying around a light shawl or even a compact skirt you can throw into your purse.

Always research what is appropriate to wear if you are not sure, particularly as a woman.

🇲🇦 While visiting Tangier for the first time, I wasn’t entirely sure what would be accepted as a dress code for women. To be safe rather than sorry, I avoided tight clothing at all costs and showed as little skin as possible.

Tourist Behaviour

Aside from controlling what you wear, there are other actions to steer clear of when you don’t want to look like a tourist. First, constantly checking your phone for directions is a clear sign that you are not from there.

By doing this, you may also cause foot traffic by standing in the way or walking too slowly while figuring out where you are going. Always pull to the side to sort out directions or try to study the route before you leave so you have a better idea of where you’re headed. As an overall theme, tourists are less likely to look confident.

Unfortunately, this stereotype often lives up to its reputation and is one of the easiest ways to spot tourists. LOUD VOLUME.

For some reason, the volume knob on a tourist is at an all-time high and is a clear indication that this person is on holiday or not from around here. Unless you are being loud for a reasonable purpose, keep your voice down or at least ensure it doesn’t reach an obnoxious level.

10 Easy Ways to Be Traveler and Not a Tourist on Your Next Trip

1. Seek Out Free or Cheap Things to Do

While tourists stay on a laid-out path, travelers get creative with itineraries. Finding cheap or completely free things to do while traveling is enlightening in many ways but mainly allows you to experience a place without the frills.

Whether or not it gets you thinking outside of the box, this tip manages to accomplish two things: spending less money and avoiding tourist traps.

Lining up to only the major attractions and activities is a sure sign that you are a classic tourist. Keeping an open mind to book a tour of a lesser known or offbeat site shows that you are interested in exploring beyond just the “best of” travel guides.

2. Use Public Transportation or Walk

If you’re visiting a destination outside of the U.S., chances are that it’s very walkable or well connected by public transportation. Travelers utilize metro systems, trams, and trains to get around, just as a local or the general population would.

Tourists, on the other hand, may opt for a pricey taxi ride or tour bus just because it seems more convenient.

In reality, public transportation systems in big cities often have stops at all the major landmarks you may want to see, in addition to non-touristy residential areas where you’re bound to find the best restaurants.

Travellers also know that using public transportation minimizes the possibility of scams and overpaying for a ride, especially if you do not speak the language and are clearly a visitor.

🚇 Rome’s metro system is the cheapest and quickest way to get around all the top sites including the Spanish Steps, Colosseum and Vatican City.

3. Ditch the Itinerary

To be a traveler and not a tourist, you must be comfortable with throwing out the itinerary (at times). Getting lost should not be seen as a bad thing, but instead, an opportunity to explore without an agenda and preconceptions.

While you’re walking around, let impulse guide you and turn down a certain street because you want to. And not because a guidebook is telling you that you have to see a certain statue.

We can’t tell you how many times the best highlights of our travels happened without a plan.

4. Book Accommodation Outside of the City Centre

When looking at a map of your upcoming destination, consider staying in the surrounding residential neighborhoods as opposed to the central districts. Travelers know that staying in the suburbs will often surprise you with better food, friendlier locals and cheaper accommodation.

If you’re sincerely interested in what every day life and culture is like in the place you are travelling to, you’ll find it in the outskirts and not in the city centre.

In extreme (but not that rare) situations, many popular destinations are inhabited by very few locals because they’ve been priced out. Who wants to stay in a condensed area with only other tourists around? Not travellers, that’s for sure!

5. Join an Unplanned Activity

To be a traveler and not a tourist, don’t be shy or afraid to mingle with the locals. Do you see someone practicing an unusual craft in their garage? A fisherman in the river casting a net with a smile? It doesn’t have to be a significant interaction as even the smallest exchange can be impactful.

Engage, ask questions, learn something and thank them for their generosity of sharing their time with you. More often than not, locals are happy to know that you are curious and excited to share with travelers.

This tip requires some ability to read the room, but if you feel like the timing is right, “tagging along” is usually how we fall into some of our most memorable experiences.

6. Rely on Recommendations From a Local

One of the most common methods of not traveling like a tourist is knowing where to eat. Yes, you can follow recommendations online, travel blogs, or even magazines, but the best insight on restaurants will always be found from someone who lives there. Everyone eats, right?

Well, chances are that everyone has a favorite restaurant or food cart within the area. Take it a step further and ask about which dish in particular you should try.

If a hotel concierge or even an Airbnb host begins to recommend a restaurant by saying “many guests enjoy…” then try to instead ask “where do you enjoy going out to eat?”

7. Be Respectful and Be Informed

Travellers, opposed to tourists, are well informed of a few things to ensure they are being respectful during their trip. It is common for tourists to travel with the idea of being able to get away with everything because they are on holiday and contributing to the tourism industry.

Unfortunately, we’ve seen too many tourists exercise entitlement and not follow even the most basic of ways to remain respectful.

• Don’t get really drunk in public. This is not respectful in any culture and the quickest way to shine a light on you for being a rowdy tourist.
• Have respect for the religion. Whether it’s related to covering up in places of worship, not showing affection in public or withholding certain words, do your research beforehand.
• Know of any cultural customs and etiquette. Be mindful of any rules you should follow in public such as using your hands to eat a certain dish or never taking a sip of alcohol without someone joining you (true story from Vietnam!)

Tourists will not take the time to become informed but travellers are cognizant of every opportunity to be respectful.

8. Take an Interest in Food and Language

Food and language are some of the core components of one’s culture. To be a traveler and not a tourist, do not expect everyone to understand your language and have the same food preferences as you.

Embrace distinct differences in cuisine and eat at places where you don’t even understand the menu.

Go beyond just learning a few basic phrases in a new language and continue to ask locals for help on how to say certain words while you’re there. Being curious and open is what sets travellers apart from tourists and locals recognise this.

As a traveller and at the very least, learn how to say hello, goodbye, thank you and please.

9. Keep Your Wits About You

Travellers are less likely to get taken advantage of and scammed because they know what to look out for. On the other hand, tourists are often found to be more distracted and therefore, not alert of potential pickpocketing or other known tricks on tourists.

Travellers are aware of their surroundings and continue to use common sense in situations that don’t seem just right. Although you are travelling or looking to relax on vacation, doesn’t mean you should leave all sense of judgement behind.

If a scenario seems weird and you’re being approached for no reason, chances are that it’s not a positive thing. Many tourist scams tend to begin with a “harmless” conversation or attempt to sell you something.

Do not expect everyone to be kind, genuine, and looking out for your best interest just because you are a tourist and spending money.

10. Lose Your Expectations

Having an open mind is a traveler’s most distinct characteristic over a typical tourist’s mindset. Preconceived ideas will only diminish your overall travel experience and to nobody else’s fault than your own, cause you potential disappointment.

As a traveler, we do not compare and instead, accept each and every destination for its own uniqueness.

💤 In Italy, many businesses will shut down after lunch for riposo (midday rest). Countless times, we’ve heard the murmur of complaints among tourists that find it to be an inconvenience during their trip. Don’t be like these whiners. Instead, understand that you are in a completely different country that has their own practices.

BONUS: Let Your Kids Break the Ice

Getting into the habits of a traveler instead of a tourist doesn’t happen overnight. It’ll take a couple of tries and some experience. However, if you are traveling with kids, don’t be afraid to use them (in a good way).

If there’s one thing that’s consistent with anywhere that we’ve traveled to, it’s that kids are kids all over the world. Take your child to a playground, let them interact with other kids, local games and activities. If you’re open to it, introduce yourself to the parents and strike up a conversation.

It is the most natural way to blend in as a traveler opposed to a tourist when we let the unbiased ways of our children do the work.

Final Thoughts on Choosing to Be a Traveller and Not a Tourist

• Tourists collect souvenirs. Travelers collect unique experiences, knowledge, and insight into other cultures.
• Travelers don’t need flashy tours or big entertainment to enjoy a destination. They find admiration and appreciation in even the smallest of details when it comes to experiencing a different culture.
• To be a traveler and not a tourist means you will eat better quality, authentic, and less expensive food than a tourist.
• By being respectful of another culture, travelers are more likely to be treated better by locals.
• Travelers are less likely to get scammed or taken advantage of because they don’t look or act like tourists.
• A typical tourist is more likely to overpay for everything while traveling, including accommodation, activities, and transportation.

Travel Resources for Travellers

☔️ TRAVEL INSURANCE: EKTA or VisitorsCoverage

✈️ FLIGHTS: Skyscanner, CheapOair or Kiwi.com

🚙 CAR RENTALS: Discover Cars or Rentalcars.com

🚊 TRAINS & BUSES: Busbud, Trainline or Omio

🛳 FERRIES: Direct Ferries

🛌 ACCOMMODATION: Booking.com, Agoda or Trivago

☎️ ESIM / CELL PHONE DATA: Airalo

📸 TOURS & ACTIVITIES: GetYourGuide or Viator