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‘authentic experience' mfs when they turn the wrong corner in mexico and get stabbed and robbed
I think there's a difference in advice given and why. I've been to Paris, for instance, and would definitely recommend the Louvre while still telling people to focus on a ton of wonderful art displays instead of the Mona Lisa - its a waste of time because it has terrible presentation, is small, and in a room with a long twisty line where you can barely see the painting when you get to the front.
Similarly, I tell people to go see Bangkok while in Thailand, but to limit their time there and spend more time in the coastal countryside, as it's absolutely beautiful and maybe the second best looking area I've been in next to Uganda.
A lot is just advice from seasoned travelers that have been places and know what you see in pictures is not how you imagine it and you're spending rather limited time on letdowns when better options exist. Unless you just absolutely want the photo op!
If you want the Amsterdam Experience with a lot less tourists, go to Rotterdam instead
Exactly. Most of what OP is complaining about is people wanting to do things other than basic touristy stuff.
I don't think anyone actually feels more authentic because they did something non-touristy in a foreign country.
Isn't this kind of like a feature of an art museum, not a bug? Like the whole draw is that it's the real original lol, not that it's some high resolution stunner. If you want to look at it closely, look at a photograph of it on the internet.
I do believe there's a difference between a tourist and a traveller in terms of experiencing a journey. Too many tourists want to eat their own food, speak their own language and stay as close to sitting on their own couch and sleeping in their own bed as possible. You don't have to become best friends with the locals and invite them over to your house, but visiting a country and only leaving your hotel for a guided tour through a view hotspots to me feels like a waste of an experience. Walk the streets, go to the local markets, eat in traditional restaurants. Broaden your horizon a bit, that's what travelling is for. Hunter S Thompson called them the "beasts of obesity" and this phrasing has stuck with me to symbolise all the tourists who get shuttled from one place to the next without really smelling the air outside of their bubble.
Maybe it's the difference between wanting to have the experience, versus wanting to have the story about the experience.
I'm just grateful for whatever I get to do/see lol.
I think this movement in tourism is a counter to all the Americans parental generation. That went to Greece or Mexico but never left the resort with an Olive Garden you know, not the ppl who take guided tours of the Vatican. There is a difference I would agree with, and I wouldn't say that you have been to Mexico if you only been at a resort really. But I'm also thinking - to each their own.
Yeah, enjoy yourself and do what you want while being polite and respectful seems like a no brainer, universal way to travel. People are very prescriptive in how they present their experiences! (This is the best way versus this is what works for me)
Would I somewhat side eye a person who goes to Japan and never tries local cuisine? Privately, yes. Would l lecture them on it? Nope.
I like to not stick out. I also prefer not to go to destinations where ill see other Americans. So I seek off the beaten tourist paths. I don't make a big deal about it, I just do it. I lived in Mexico City for two years in a neighborhood with no Americans. Why is that annoying to you that people do that? If they are yapping about it constantly then yeah that's probably annoying. I rarely tell people unless they ask. I just want a different experience and keep to myself and enjoy that.
Why should I be concerned about how others want to travel? And why would I care about how others think I should travel? I'm keeping my eyes on my own paper.
I really dont get how traveling can be part of one's personality. Feels sad to me, everybody do it, and where the personality ?
I agree. We've been to 22 countries and almost always focus on seeing the big ticket items. And I love it. Don't need to chill in a village for a week...
I spent a semester in Greece. It took me half the semester before I figured out how to find the local restaurants instead of the ones for tourists. They were usually in the middle of residential neighborhoods. I doubt anyone getting an "authentic experience" would find them.
Just let people do their own thing. Do Whatever makes you happy so long as it doesn't negatively impact anybody else.
Tourists are tourists are tourists. Authentic or kitchy they are all the same.
I disagree, annoying entitled tourists who demand everything catered to their cultural norms are much worse than one who tries to blend in and follow local customs
But are they local? No, they are their for a short period, or, tourists. I'm speaking in literal terms
So length of stay is the only thing that matters? That's pretty reductive
I live in a touristy city, and I can tell you first hand that the tourists who blend in and mind their business are fine. The entitled ones (think Karen energy) who want things their way and get mad when something is different than they expect are much worse
You will have to pardon my ignorances, I took live in and work in tourist city but I am not American. I'm not familiar with the term karen
I'm pretty sure the argument isn't that their better, it's just that they're seeing a more authentic side of that place, whereas people who go just as tourists see the most stereotypical and whitewashed version of everything. It's not that they feel superior, they just want other people to understand that what they're seeing doesn't represent the place as a whole or even any aspect of it, it just represents what tourists want to see when going there.
More annoying yes, but locals are usually very appreciative of someone's genuine curiosity in their actual culture.
Yes. Nothing to disagree with here.
What about expats who work in the country for a living? They do need to live like the locals since they are living in their country and therefore need to follow the customs and rules. Also they need to buy in the local markets for their main needs.
What a stupid word to refer to immigrants
I take those grey line tour busses when I go on vacation to a major city in another county. If I was an authentic experience, I go somewhere less popular.
The part that I don't understand is the tourists who seek out places where no one speaks English even though they don't speak the local language.
What does that even mean 😂 authentic traveling?? I just travel to have a good time. Nobody should tell you how you should travel lol unless it's rational advice so you don't get in dangerous situations.
It's also inconvenient if you just want to chill. I just walk around whenever and wherever I want. I never join tours.
This is why I try to avoid tourist places altogether. Don't go to Paris, France, or Hawaii, or the usual crap. Fly to Erbil, Iraq, rent a car and go see Kurdistan. You'll learn a lot more and get to have completely different experiences.
This is unpopular?!
It's funny when you look at travel advice on blogs or something 9 times out of 10 it's like "hot to NOT look like a tourist when visiting _"
But like, I am a tourist though. What's wrong with that? Even if I make an effort to blend in seamlessly the illusions gonna be broken the first time I open my mouth. I'm more concerned with not stepping in any cultural toes than fitting in
Some people are trying to avoid pickpockets.
Also in some touristy places they find tourists annoying.
You don't need to go through all that to avoid pickpockets tho. Cut the inside of your pockets out entirely, don't wear underwear, when they go to reach in they grab your bare ass/genitals instead, literally couldn't be simpler.
Depending on where you're traveling, this isn't a good idea at all. Europe has a lot of child pickpockets, sooooo...yeah.
Not sure if I should be concerned or aroused
Or assaulted
You don't need to travel to a foreign country for that experience, you can usually get that at the Greyhound station.
yeah, from 10 am to 2 pm monday to friday, rain or shine. call first.
dont get pickpocketed and get a free handy. i like the way you think.
And scammers, especially scammers. When they see a tourist, they see a prey.
Traveling like a tourist usually means having a very curated experience, overpaying to see things, eat, drink, etc at places locals avoid like the plague.
I like a mix. I like the history and culture of a place and often times the touristy stuff fulfills that. But people also live their lives in these places and I'm equally curious about where is cool and fun to go if you aren't limited to 36 hours of cramming adventure in.
Some places aren't very safe for tourists due to thiefs and tourist traps.
this is about security lol not about some social perception lol
A lot of times, yeah. Those are fine. However there are articles about this very thing that are more geared towards actual sights and experiences as well
The only time looking like a tourist matters is when they use it to emphasize street smarts- like not wearing flashy jewellery, being mindful of night travel, don't flash cash, and above all use your head and remember to be safe. The problem is that it's not acting like a local. That's called not acting like an idiot
Its funny because tourists almost ALWAYS look at these things, so 9x out of 10, you're still going to look like a tourist. These "real deal, local" experiences are almost always considered by other tourists as well. You're going to look like one no matter what, so you may as well embrace it and look the part while having fun rather than looking like the try hard type. Thats also not me saying its bad to do more "authentic" stuff or to never seek them out, or not to go to more smaller unknown areas. Not at all, its absolutely great to do that too. Im also not saying dont follow local customs or traditions. Definitely do it! My gripe is simply just when people avoid touristy things because of how it looks or sounds, as opposed to actual enjoyment. If youve never been to that country, and never experienced that thing yourself, why avoid it simply because everyone else visits it?
The only time I can really condone those type of articles is when actual safety is involved, since some people prey on obvious outsiders. Otherwise, whichever type of tourist you are, its all good as long as you're being respectful to the country and culture and doing it for you, and not for perception.
I totally agree. When I was in Rome I did all the "tourist trap" things. Coliseum, Vatican, Forum, Pantheon, Spanish Steps, etc. They're tourist spots for a reason. An Italian village with 30 people in it isn't going to have what Rome does.
When in Rome...
If it's my first time in the city I'm doing all the tourist stuff forsure but 2nd and 3rd time I'm doing more low key stuff
Counter point.
Rome may have good wine, but you'll have to go to Chianti region to enjoy drinking wine while enjoying the view of the vineyard it came from.
Sometimes it's nice to get away from the big city and enjoy where all the good ingredients come from around the country in a more quiet setting.
LOL why would you even go to that village, unless it had something interesting like agrotourism or something that is cool but not well advertised
Wanna have the authentic experience? Get a crappy job there and work throughout your holiday lol
There are definitely better ways to travel (I wouldn't fly to Europe to sit on a bus for a week), but I do agree that people who brag about experiencing "the real <place>" are mostly pretentious narcissists.
If I had a dollar for every person who's told me they wanna see the "real" Puerto Rico, I would still be able to afford to live in Puerto Rico.
They become even more annoying when they obviously didn't like the experience but then rave about it when they get home, act like it was the best time of their life and that everyone else needs to do it like it's the only way to have an authentic holiday.
What I can't stand is anyone who says they've "done" or plan to "do" any city or country in a day.
Hah hah hah hah I'm going to do Rome next Thursday. I assume that's a thing. I lived in nyc and I'm sure people do that in a day. 😂
Currently wearing a cowboy hat in Japan. I don't know a lick of Japanese. I'm a tourist for sure. That's ok, it doesn't have to be instagramable. I'm the first person in my family to willfully travel this much. I'm already blessed.
I don't necessarily agree or disagree, because you never really brought up the aspect of resorts. I know people who travel all over the place, but they always stay in all inclusive resorts (like a Sandals resort where you can do scuba, jet skiing, etc ) and never leave the compound. Like, no…you're not really traveling…you're just changing the ethnicity of the staff and then saying "I've been to x, y, z…my passport is stacked…" when really, you haven't experienced anything other than spending money…
This and cruises, and they often tie directly together. They are just saying they went somewhere, while staying immersed in the same thing they left at home. It's really weird.
True. However the worst pairing are people doing the shamelessly tourist things and then claiming to have gotten the "authentic experience".
Found the cruise line boomer.
What's wrong with being a tourist that we have to shamelessly embrace it?
After traveling like a tourist is nice going back and experiencing a place in a different, often more authentic, way.
We go local when we travel if at all possible, but local tourists.
I've actually talked to people who go the little town B&B route and they rave about where they stayed and the little things, and they failed to go to or see any of the major tourist spots.
Hose are major tourist spots for a reason.
I've always gone the ‘auberge' B and B route and getting buses everywhere instead of the package tours type but I didn't ever think that that there was a proper or authentic way. Doing it the way I do means I can afford it.
Taken to an extreme, then yes. I wouldn't necessarily apply this to those who seek out local, non touristy restaurants and such in areas where it's safe to do
I remember some friends from the UK visited me in South Africa and wanted to do a game drive but wanted to do an "authentic" drive with a ranger in one of their vehicles.
I can't speak for all South Africans of course but willing to bet most have done the majority of their game drives in their own vehicle.
Sort of had a light bulb moment that sometimes "authentic" is more about aesthetics than it is about being like a local.
At the end of the day, travel the way you want to. See the things you want to. Just let others do the same. More importantly remember to enjoy it.
Pretty much anyone who obsesses about anything is annoying, but Im not sure where OP is finding folks obsessing about fitting in. Travel is a personal experience to be enjoyed as you wish.
I've done the 6 cities in 13 days with air conditioned tour buses, but now being retired, I prefer spending a month or 6 weeks in a place. Don't have the energy or requirement to pack and move every few days.
I mostly go for the cultural stuff, but I've trooped through my share of cathedrals and museums as well.
You're a tourist, whether you like it or not. Just embrace it!
I don't know. I went to resort recently in Mexico(not my choice) and honestly it was pretty insufferable. Definitely preferred an Airbnb in a sleepy mezcal town. The entire point to go to another country is to see and experience that country. Not be surrounded by obnoxious morons that I'm trying to be away from and eat food catered and designed for tourists.
To each their own. Travel the way you want to, the way you enjoy, and leave it at that.
When travelling to a foreign country it helps to have friends who are from that country or speak the language. In fact, it's a good idea to be familiar with the place you are travelling to, and know more about the history, biodiversity, geography and culture beforehand.
I have friends who are Italian or Nicaraguan and I can just visit them in their place - it's different when you just go as a tourist
Not to mention, tourists can get scammed easily.
I don't think it's a superiority complex or cosplay.
They're not trying to BE a part of that country and it's people.
Authentic experience just means they don't want the mass produced tourist aspect with items imported from China.
They aren't there for Mcdonalds, they are there to eat the local cuisine and not the dressed down kind for tourists who can't take spicy foods.
I see nothing wrong with someone wanting to experience the actual country as opposed to a tourist resort in that country.
Exactly, that's how I do it. I actually went away with my mom a few years ago for the first time as am adult and had to argue with her wanting to get McDonald's and go to generic chains for dinner, like were in a completely different place let's just go try some local joints lol we still go see the landmarks and do tourist stuff but I feel you should try things you can't at home when you travel
Depends on what's the reason behind your desire to get the authentic experience. Sure if you do it just to feel superior to everyone else then it's a strange thing… But personally I want to get an authentic experience because I'm a photographer and I want to take photos of authentic villages and locals not of streets full of souvenir shops and tourists walking around wearing their silly hats and cargo shorts. I have no interest in taking photos of that. I want photos of Vietnamese farmers working in the rice fields not photos of British teens getting drunk in Khao San street in Bangkok. People travel for different reasons and it's okay. But just because you don't want to do the mainstream tourism doesn't mean you are pretentious.
Just let people enjoy their vacations.
As someone who grew up across several continents I disagree.
If you traveled somewhere to sit in a resort you might as well stay home, you know nothing about where you went, it's people or culture. There is travel and there is travel.
I just see it as a preference. I was in Paris, I didn't like it.
When I went to small cities, I felt like I could walk and experience France in the same way that a lot of french do.
That's what I like about authentic experiences. It just feels real. Like I'm living and walking in a slice of what life is like for the locals.
It's just a preference. You don't have to feel insulted by it
No honestly people who shamelessly embrace being tourists make the experience far worse and I would rather have someone who wants the Authentic thing.
I went to Italy and saw everyone walking around in shorts and Nike shoes when I was dressed nicely with ironed clothes and shined shoes. I was dressed like a real European when everyone else was dressed like Americans and it ruined the experience.
My perspective is if you have only a short time then go and see all the tourist stuff.. But I never do that. I take a few months of work and live there for a while. I realize many have careers and mortgages and cant do that. To those peolle I say... Haha.
Just joking but I am one of those people who goes somewhere and lives there for 6 months. And do touristy things and non touristy things. Just mix it up and have fun. It doesnt matter what other people think anyway.. But yea those people who love to ramble on about their travel tales can be a bit annoying.. The ego trippers.
I disagree with this, if a foreigner traveled toy town and I ran into him I'd show him everything we do locally and let them embrace it. Just clumping into touristy areas and traps sucks, idk if I'm there just for a few days
I suppose its how you sell it.
I have no interest in just hitting a tourist gauntlet. But finding some cool hidden spots or a local dive bar and meeting some locals from a completely different world from your own? Thats something thats fascinating to me.
I won't judge or brag, personally. But I will make it known if we are travelling together that pure tourism isn't for me, and will likely lead me to being a downer on your trip if we happen to go on a joint vacation.
Similar to how I won't be super negative if you had a great time watching a movie that I would 100% dislike. I'm just not gonna end up enjoying if Im there and then Im gonna pull the mood down.
I'd agree with that. While I definitely try to eat authentic local food when I travel but I'm under no illusion I'm anything but a tourist.
I'm not trying to get the authentic brazil experience dawg
I like to do my own itinerary but I still wanted to see the stereotypical tourist spots. In fact, Tokyo Tower was honestly pretty empty and I loved it. I loved my whole holiday in fact. Seeing Mt Fuji was absolutely worth it, doing the nakasendo trail was worth it, checking out Osaka's aquarium was worth it, even the theme parks were awesome.
If social media have taught us something is people like to do what everybody else does but at the same time feel special.
I liked doing that before it was cool.
So true. It's kind of a stupid strategy as well bc you'll come back home without visiting the obvious landmarks most people visit, wondering what it's like, and occasionally even lying to people that you've been there too lol
I mean, that's probably fine for the very rich who can afford to go back to the same destination multiple times, but when you're not one of them it's dumb to follow their advice on avoiding "touristy" stuff. You'll end up missing out, not enjoying yourself as much as you could have, and often just wasting money.
Locals tend to hate tourists, hence why its nice to blend in.
My experience of travelling around India was avoiding middle class kids trying to 'find themselves'.
"finding myself" meant going to the slums and indulging in the rudest kind of poverty voyeurism imaginable.
Found the dumb tourist.