Pop quiz!
What is the most visited tourist attraction in the world?
Is it...
A) Disney's Magic Kingdom
B) The Las Vegas Strip
C) Times Square
Scroll past the baby animal gifs to see the correct answer.
If you guessed B, you are correct! Your prize? The satisfaction of knowing that all those years of watching Jeopardy! weren't for naught. Trebek is proud of you.
That's right folks, according to lovehomeswap.com, Sin City gets a whopping 39,668,221 visitors each year looking to forget their troubles, gamble away their life savings, and be married to strangers by Elvis/Cher impersonators. If that isn't a tourist trap, then the ocean is dry.
Coming in second place is The Big Apple, with 39,200,000 visitors, and Magic Kingdom comes in eight with 17 million tourists, making it the most popular (or should I say, fairest?) Disney park of them all.
While all of these places are great and should be on everyone's bucket list, they share something in common: they fully embrace the Tourist Experience.
If you've ever been to Disney, then you're probably familiar with this sensation. You went to the parks, you waited in line for hours to go on a 45 second ride, saw the "Disney Magic" of pristine streets and impeccable performers, and slowly started to realize something unsettling: it's all fake. Yes, the fun and excitement you are feeling is real and the trip can be satisfying, but there's a strange feeling in the pit of your stomach when you leave the park and all it's magic behind. Disney is meant to make you feel like a child again, but once you leave that wonderful world, reality hits you like a cartoon piano.
There is a difference between Tourists and Travelers. There are those who go on vacation to an exotic place and immediately head to the souvenir shop. They get off the cruise ship, grab a taxi, pull out their guidebook and start hitting every Instagram worthy landmark. They don't go on vacation because they enjoy learning about other cultures and immersing themselves in how other people live. They go to check off one more box, then hop off to the next TripAdvisor suggested spot. Those people are Tourists. A Tourist can travel the world and not have seen anything. They were so distracted by bright lights and shiny things that they forgot the purpose of traveling- to experience life from a different perspective. For one to truly travel, they must break out of the artificial bubble of tourism and embrace a new culture and everything it has to offer.
So how does one avoid the Tourist Experience?
Allow me to present Valeria's Top Eight Do's and Dont's of Avoiding the Tourist Experience™!
1) Do prepare for your trip
Wanderlust is a wonderful thing and should be embraced, but don't itch that travel bug without thinking it through first, or else you might end up spending the night in the airport hotel because you were so sure the shampoo bottle was small enough to pass through TSA and missed your flight because you were getting your bag searched. The key to becoming a savvy Traveler is to pack light. There are pharmacies everywhere that have the basics, and if you're planning to travel for more that a week, you'll want to wash clothes instead of carrying around a suitcase of dirty laundry. Do your research, find out what other people who took the same trip you will found interesting, and if you're heading to a country that speaks a different language, teach yourself the basics. You'll be able to fend for yourself if need be and natives will find your accent endearing.
2) Don't rely on TripAdvisor
On my last vacation, there was only one thing I was dying to do: Go salsa dancing in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. Being the good Traveler I am, I searched the internet, magazines, and travel guides to find the best salsa club on the Island of Enchantment. Unfortunately for me, advertising got in the way of good research and I ended up going to an over-hyped and underwhelming tourist trap that didn't meet my unrealistically high expectations. Of course, this could have been avoided by following the next rule...
3) Do ask locals what they do for fun
The people who have lived in tourist destinations their entire lives know where the real stuff is and love it when visitors are interested in seeing the less polished side of their communities. Ask your waiter about what they like to do on the weekends. They'll be happy to point out a secret treasure for you.
4) Don't be afraid to try something new
Whether it be ziplining through the rainforest, eating crickets, or going dancing, allow yourself to be free of the inhibitions of home. Feel free to let loose knowing that no one at that dance club will be at the conference table next Monday morning.
5) Do ask your cab driver where they eat lunch
The concierge at your hotel will recommend to you some great restaurants, but they're usually expensive and "Tourist-friendly", which is what we are trying to avoid. Cab drivers know the entire city and every little whole in the wall that serves the best local food for much less than the most popular restaurant. For the best gastronomic experience of your life, all you gotta do is ask.
6) Don't spend money on frivolous gifts
You know those gift shops filled to the brim with 3 for $10 t-shirts and mugs with (insert name of city here) emblazoned on them? All that stuff was most likely made in China. (But what if I'm visiting China?)
If you're looking for a little souvenir for yourself, that's fine, but don't spend all your money on silly gifts for your friends. It'll just take up space in your suitcase and make it too heavy for the overhead compartment. Decide ahead of time who you want to bring back a gift and take the time to pick something with meaning. They will appreciate it much more.
7) Do keep an open mind
You may have a moment of culture shock while on your travels and it's to be expected if you're in a foreign country. Embrace the fact that you are in a place you've never been before and respect the traditions of that place. Acceptance and respect are the most important things we can offer one another. You are only here for a short period of time, make the most of it.
8) Don't have any regrets
Whether it be three days or three months, you won't be traveling forever. If you want to do something that you can't do anywhere else, go for it. If you find yourself becoming bored, go do something, the first thing that comes to your head! Learn something new, eat something gross, dance like a fool, and enjoy every minute of it.
The world is big, go explore it while you can. Start planning your next adventure, and if you need a buddy, sign me up!
