Article created by: Mindaugas Balčiauskas

After suffering immense losses during the pandemic, tourism is bouncing back this year. An increasing number of destinations, including the UK and Slovenia, are lifting all of their covid-related travel restrictions, and it's just what people need before their summer vacation—according to research by the World Travel & Tourism Council, the sector could generate as much as $8.6 trillion globally this year, which would be just 6.4% below pre-pandemic levels.

But before you pack your bags, we thought it would be a good idea to refresh our memory and learn something new about what not to do abroad. For that, we decided to take a look at a Reddit post that invited locals from all over the world to share the most common mistakes tourists make in their country and have a chat with Melissa about her blog on long-term travel, A Broken Backpack. Continue scrolling to check everything out!

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#1

Coastal cliffs with a large building, showcasing a common tourist mistake of overlooking local landscapes. They mainly visit London. The U.K. has great seasides like Cornwall, Devon, Dorset etc and British seaside holidays have a unique charm. There’s also Scotland and Wales. The north of England has a lot to offer (castles, The Lake District, history etc). Tourists, don't snub the north. The North remembers.

FloppyEaredDog , pexels Report

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    #2

    Tourists overlook Hollywood sign from a viewpoint beside a James Dean statue. People come to the US expecting to see too much in one visit. Unless you're prepared to shell out thousands of dollars on very coordinated flights, you aren’t going to see the Statue of Liberty, the Grand Canyon, the Alamo, Hollywood and Yosemite Park all in one week. It's a big country, so pick a few states and stick to that.

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    #3

    Tourists lining up outside Franklin Barbecue, highlighting common travel mistakes noted by locals. I'll do my town, Austin TX. A major common mistake tourists make here is wasting half a day for Franklin's BBQ. Look, his brisket is good, but it's not "waste half a day of your vacation in Austin standing in line" good. There are a plethora of bbq joints with just as good or better brisket that have no wait all day.

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    #4

    Courtyard with a tiled pool and lush plants, illustrating common tourist mistakes like overlooking local beauty. Most tourists who go to Marrakesh book a hotel room, but you should really stay in a riad (a traditional Moroccan house built around a garden) rather than at a hotel or hostel. Riads are a big part of the Marrakech experience. It's unique and the hospitality is awesome. Usually the staff or owners can show you around the chaotic and bustling medina, which is especially helpful.

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    #5

    Scenic coastal town at sunset, highlighting common travel mistakes tourists make globally. Underestimating how expensive the cost of living is in Norway. I've seen jaws drop when tourists discover the price of the two beers they ordered.

    TheYoupi , unsplash Report

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    #6

    Kangaroo crossing a sunlit rural road, highlighting travel mistakes made by tourists worldwide. Underestimating the size of the country. No you can’t do a day trip to Cairns from Brisbane, it’s like a 2 day drive. Even Sydney is like a 12 hour drive. Actually, same with NZ. People think you can do the whole country in a week. Spoiler alert, you can’t.

    trumpstinyhandssayhi , pexels Report

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    #7

    Coastal village with red-roofed church, surrounded by cliffs and ocean, highlighting common tourist travel mistakes abroad. In Iceland, people don't realize how expensive everything is here, especially going out to eat. If you're going to a restaurant, expect $30–50 entrees everywhere. Mix in some cheap street food (like Icelandic hot dogs) or find accommodations with a kitchen so you can cook.

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    #8

    Crowded street with bright signs and vibrant lights in an Asian city, highlighting common tourist mistakes abroad. In Japan, tourists speak loudly to others or on the phone in public settings. But that makes you seriously stand out in Japan, where people are generally well-mannered and try not to bother anyone with loud talking, music, or games on their phones. If you have to talk, use your inside voice.

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    #9

    Tourist walking alone on a misty mountain path, surrounded by lush greenery and fog. Most people who travel to Taiwan just visit the capital, Taipei, or they go down the west coast. But locals will tell you this is a mistake because the magic is in the east. Yilan is an amazing county with all the allures of Taipei plus beautiful waterfalls and mountains, but a fraction of the cost. If you enjoy hiking, Hualien is the best place to see the amazing Taroko Gorge. Best of all, Taiwan's public transportation makes it easy to see these unique destinations beyond Taipei.

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    #10

    Tourists enjoying a sunny day in a European square, highlighting common travel mistakes observed by locals. In Italy, only tourists order their coffee to go. Italians drink their espressos at the bar. You'll never see a local carrying a tumbler filled with drip coffee, much less a to-go cup from a local café. Oh, and you won't find any frappuccinos here.

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    #11

    Yellow taxi parked on a busy street, highlighting common tourist mistakes while traveling globally. They trust taxi drivers. Never trust one if you're in Greece, you're just asking to be overcharged. Stick to renting a car or at the very least, ask some locals for typical prices beforehand.

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    #12

    Tourist enjoying local cuisine, featuring a plate with olives and dips, highlighting common travel mistakes. When you sit down to eat in a restaurant in Portugal, the waiter will usually bring you bread, olives, or some other snacks. I always see tourists get mad when they are charged for eating these seemingly 'free' snacks, but that's just how things work here. If you eat it, expect to pay for it. If you don't touch it, your waiter will take it away and pretend like [they] never existed.

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    #13

    View of busy city street with skyline, highlighting common tourist mistakes. "I flew into New York, figured I'd rent a car and take a quick day trip to Miami or Los Angeles."

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    #14

    Heavy traffic at night in a bustling city, highlighting common tourist mistakes during world travel. Tourists visiting Los Angeles always underestimate the time it'll take to get from point A to point B. Our traffic is terrible, and you should add 30 minutes to an hour whenever you want to drive anywhere.

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    #15

    Colosseum in Rome with surrounding buildings, capturing common tourist travel mistakes highlighted by locals. I live in Rome. Tourists come and visit only the city centre, neglecting any other interesting historical sites (or other nice things) which are easy to get to, equally nice to visit, yet a bit far from the center.

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    #16

    Busy street with colorful neon signs in an Asian city, highlighting common tourist mistakes when traveling globally. Australia: Thinking you can drive between Sydney and Perth for a day drip. Not so much Hong Kong: Thinking it's a cheap south Asian tourist destination like Thailand. Not so much.

    DongLaiCha , pexels Report

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    #17

    Traveler in a bustling city scene, surrounded by illuminated billboards and vibrant crowds at night. Coming to New York City and spending time in Times Square. Unless they're going out of necessity to see a Broadway show or something of the sort, tourists avoid this place like the plague. I understand the desire to see Times Square for a few minutes, but make it a quick trip. And don't even bother having a meal there. You'll find the same chain restaurants that exist all over America...only the same meal will cost you triple the price.

    hannahloewentheil , pexels Report

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    #18

    Coastal view with waves and distant cityscape, highlighting common tourist mistakes made when traveling. Mostly happens at bondi beach but this can happen at any beach all over Australia. People swimming out of the flags, most often these people will get stuck in rips or into waters where there are surfers.

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