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I like a good blend of tourist traps and local flavor. We took a trip to Hawaii as a family and spent part of the time in a non-touristy area and the other part in the well-developed touristy area. I did the same in Chicago. Went to a Cubs game and ate at Michael Jordan's but also got to go to a mom and pop pizza place. It's good to have a balance on a vacation.
hmm..I guess we all can be categorized as either TOURISTS or TRAVELLERS or probably a combo of both, no? In any case, it's tough that a 'tourist' usually gives off pejorative connotations. I always wonder about that. What say is the problem if one wants to really see and drive the Karkoram Highway? I have the feeling tourists got a bad rap when they started to deface the Pyramids! Not nice and we pay for it today.
'The traveller sees what he sees, the tourist sees what he comes to see'.
Remember this statement..... "if there is not walls with a gate you are not at the entrance". this means anything before the gate and locked entry way is not the main event or entrance. these are additional sales marketing that you could probably see or do on your own. And avoid the wild goose chase they send you on. i have found that most advertising only gets you lost. Especially MEXICO, Jamaica. GOTO the main event first then decide if you want the extra. you will most likely end up having to use a alternate parking and entrance location (usually not more convenient than primary entrance). The "adds" for parking and Lunch are usually out of the way. ONLY BUY ANYTHING ON YOUR WAY OUT, IT WILL BE THERE WHEN YOU GET BACK. One of the biggest hot spots for this is right when you get off the airplane, there are sometimes as much 50-100 agents trying to sell. Don't be fooled by uniforms or professionalism. The less aggressive they are the more helpful they are. It is best to wait and talk to the agents at your hotel. They are a little less aggressive and more helpful, with maps. If you feel like your being scammed or spot a scam - turn the tables and use these aggressive agents for information and maps, but don't buy anything. Politely say "is this the main entrance? - If you don't mind we would like to visit the attraction first and we will visit you on our way out". Usually you can tell how scammish something is because those quotes are immediately followed by "you wont be able to catch the bus, or eat, or park, or see the dolphins, or pet the iguana, or..... etc.. when you get inside". Don't be fooled!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I figured I would take him around to show him the local spots, but he was more into seeing the local attractions.
What's the difference between a "spot" and an "attraction"? It sounds like a "spot" is a lesser known place that you and other locals like, and an "attraction" is a place that all the tourists know about, right?
There's a time and place to see the "attractions" and a time to avoid them. For example, go to Yellowstone once and you have to see Old Faithful even though it's very crowded and not that pretty compared tot he rest of the park. Go to Yellowstone ten times, and there's no need to go back to Old Faithful each time unless you're bringing someone else with you for their first time.
I often hear people saying that they prefer "locations that aren't popular to visit", but when I offer to take them with me to southwestern Kansas to stay at Motel 6 and visit every soybean farm in a 4-county area, I don't have a lot of eager takers. So when most people say that they like to go "off the beaten path" I think what they really mean is that they want the best of both worlds. They want to see something beautiful, interesting, and spectacular, but they don't want to feel like they have to share it with a million other tourists. It's possible to have that, but it usually means you have to travel to someplace where it's very difficult (and expensive) for normal tourists to get to. Or else just backpack in a couple of miles in someplace, which is also very difficult for normal tourists.
Last edited by otterprods; 11-19-2013 at 09:22 AM..
There is a spot I like to take trips to in the mornings following work , and weekends during the coldest months. I used to enjoy going in the summer , but since Finding Bigfoot was shot there , it has become too much on the weekends. Looking at a map , though , I have found other parts of the same geographical region that never see tourists , or anyone too often. Those are the places I seek. Usually by myself , on a whim , as they are within a 150 mile radius of home. Yeah , it uses a lot of gas in a 35 year old car , but I enjoy it. Sitting in the car , windows open , and the open road/music can't be beat IMO. Especially going by myself , as my counterparts and I don't see 'eye to eye' on the planned activities/musical tastes.
Also , for those who operate in similar fashion , departing in the late night hours is rewarding as well , as there is no traffic once I leave town , and I can travel at whatever speed between 35 and 55 if I want.
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Identifying and Avoiding Traps
