To avoid any tourist shaming, here are some things you should do when in an unfamiliar area. Here are three do not's when traveling!
1. Wander
Maris Ackerman
Wandering is a tell tale sign of being a tourist. Have a plan. Walk with a purpose. It kills me when I am walking down the street and there is a group of people stopped staring at a map or just gazing around. If your group is completely lost, then stop to the side of the street out of the way of others and make a plan, nobody Likes when massive groups block the path. Keep in mind people live in the place you are visiting, they want to get to their destination without having to be stopped by confused tourists.
2. Overpack
Maris Ackerman
Bring the bare minimum necessities when traveling. Most likely, you are going to want to buy things and take things back. Over packing will also cause an extremely embarrassing moment at the airport when you have to dump out the contents of your bag to try and make it below 50lbs. One way I cut down on clutter is bringing disposable toiletries. Or you could just bring an extra empty bag to fill with all of your goodies from the trip!
3. Wait until the last minute
Maris Ackerman
With any good vacation, you need to plan. Don't wait until the last minute to plan dinner, hotels, flights and activities. Doing this will make your vacation more enjoyable and stress-free. Without having a plan before you get to your destination, everyone will be stressed about trying to entertain themselves instead of actually enjoying the vacation. Nobody enjoys frustration on what's supposed to be a relaxing getaway.
Don't forget these three details when preparing for your next adventure! It could save you a lot of embarrassment.