When you take a holiday do you try to avoid looking like a "stupid tourist"?

[Locut0s]

Of course no one wants to look stupid but that's not quit what I mean. I mean the type of tourist who does little or no research before entering a country and basically makes do by asking how everything works on the spot. I understand some of this is normal to any vacation but I think most at least do some reading up to understand say how the transit system, daily monetary system, government, street signs etc etc.. work. I know I usually like to keep informed about these kinds of things when visiting a foreign country. However I also know a lot of people seem completely oblivious to how things work even on the most basic of levels. They basically just ask as they go how such and such works sometimes getting confused and upset when they can't make themselves understood. Stupid is probably too harsh a term but you get the idea.

When you go travelling do you do your research before hand or do you not mind going completely blind?

 

[Fritzo]

Nope. I wear a giant camera around my neck, a big Disneyland visor, sandals and socks, bermuda shorts, a hawaiian shirt, and slather white sun screen on my nose, causing my oversized black sunglasses to keep slipping down.

All this while eating an ice cream cone.

 

[Locut0s]

Originally posted by: Fritzo
Nope. I wear a giant camera around my neck, a big Disneyland visor, sandals and socks, bermuda shorts, a hawaiian shirt, and slather white sun screen on my nose, causing my oversized black sunglasses to keep slipping down.

All this while eating an ice cream cone.

I hate you 😉

 

[RoloMather]

So one doesn't look like a noob.

 

[TallBill]

I don't "take a holiday". And I don't really care what people think of me.

 

[Q]

Originally posted by: TallBill
And I don't really care what people think of me.

Is that why you love posting videos of yourself without a shirt on lifting weights?








jk i love you

 

[Fayd]

Originally posted by: Fritzo
Nope. I wear a giant camera around my neck, a big Disneyland visor, sandals and socks, bermuda shorts, a hawaiian shirt, and slather white sun screen on my nose, causing my oversized black sunglasses to keep slipping down.

All this while eating an ice cream cone.

yup. live the stereotype to its fullest.

 

[MoPHo]

I tried to blend in when I was in China. However, being almost 6' tall, white and not fluent in their language I found it quite difficult...

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: Fritzo
Nope. I wear a giant camera around my neck, a big Disneyland visor, sandals and socks, bermuda shorts, a hawaiian shirt, and slather white sun screen on my nose, causing my oversized black sunglasses to keep slipping down.

All this while eating an ice cream cone.

And bitch about local cultures and how backwards they are 😉

 

[Locut0s]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: Fritzo
Nope. I wear a giant camera around my neck, a big Disneyland visor, sandals and socks, bermuda shorts, a hawaiian shirt, and slather white sun screen on my nose, causing my oversized black sunglasses to keep slipping down.

All this while eating an ice cream cone.

And bitch about local cultures and how backwards they are 😉

So long as you're not this guy:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com...43407_f6b6e90894_o.jpg

😉

 

[nanette1985]

I find that as a tourist, no matter how much research I do, things aren't going to be like the research says. So yes, I do rely on "the locals" to find out how things REALLY work. It's nice to chat with people. Some of them turn out to be very nice and helpful.

And I do rely on the locals to find great food. Tour books send you to touristy places.

 

[imported_Imp]

Originally posted by: MoPHo
I tried to blend in when I was in China. However, being almost 6' tall, white and not fluent in their language I found it quite difficult...

rofl

If you have a camera, and taking pictures of anything that doesn't look artsy, I'm assuming you're a "stupid tourist". So, who gives a shit then.

 

[IronWing]

I figure I'm an American, I got the yankee dollar, they want the yankee dollar, so they should do it my way.

 

[skim milk]

no, I like to go to a new place with no prior research and use street smarts to get through

 

[magomago]

Originally posted by: skim milk
no, I like to go to a new place with no prior research and use street smarts to get through

Try it in Compton...I dare you.

Chances are they will recover your body in Modesto.

 

[onlyCOpunk]

depends where i'm going.

it's not really about researching, it's just paying attention to things.

taking a few minutes to sit back and watch how things work instead of rushing in and getting frustrated when you can't figure things out.

 

[shopbruin]

Considering I plan out every minute of my day to make sure I hit the things I want to see, I research pretty thoroughly, not just times they are open, times of tours (in English), but also the public transit routes there.

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: Quintox

Originally posted by: TallBill
And I don't really care what people think of me.

Is that why you love posting videos of yourself without a shirt on lifting weights?


jk i love you

My shirt is on brah 😉

 

[TruePaige]

Originally posted by: magomago

Originally posted by: skim milk
no, I like to go to a new place with no prior research and use street smarts to get through

Try it in Compton...I dare you.

Chances are they will recover your body in Modesto.

The million dollar question is..

"Who the fuck vacations in Compton?"

Seriously this is a thread about being a tourist, where in the world do you live that Compton is a vacation hot-spot?

 

[TecHNooB]

Originally posted by: Fritzo
Nope. I wear a giant camera around my neck, a big Disneyland visor, sandals and socks, bermuda shorts, a hawaiian shirt, and slather white sun screen on my nose, causing my oversized black sunglasses to keep slipping down.

All this while eating an ice cream cone.

you forgot your fanny pack 🙂

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: TruePaige

Originally posted by: magomago

Originally posted by: skim milk
no, I like to go to a new place with no prior research and use street smarts to get through

Try it in Compton...I dare you.

Chances are they will recover your body in Modesto.

The million dollar question is..

"Who the fuck vacations in Compton?"

Seriously this is a thread about being a tourist, where in the world do you live that Compton is a vacation hot-spot?

Somalia. Compton's nothing.

 

[JDub02]

a number of years ago, right after college, i took a trip to canada with my parents. we were walking around a market and my dad went to buy something, pulled some canadian money out of his pocket, and told the woman that he doesn't know how their money works.

palm --> face

i told him to look at the numbers printed on the bills, add them up, and give the correct amount to the woman.

i've never felt like such a stupid tourist in my life.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Originally posted by: Fritzo
Nope. I wear a giant camera around my neck, a big Disneyland visor, sandals and socks, bermuda shorts, a hawaiian shirt, and slather white sun screen on my nose, causing my oversized black sunglasses to keep slipping down.

All this while eating an ice cream cone.

what, no fanny pack?


I blend in pretty well...when over in europe, people say we look like we are from another country, but when we talk...we are American, haha. It happens 😛.

I like to travel really light, for a 2 week trip, a backpack, and maybe a small duffel bag.

 

[Lola]

I research the destination very well first. I respect the people that live there. I am a guest in their "home". I try to go with the flow and if I have any questions, I ask when appropriate. I appreicate they might have different views on life and living.

 

[D1gger]

I try very hard not to look like a tourist when I am on holidays. I have always been lead to believe that walking down the street with an open tourist map looking lost is an invitation for someone to attempt to pick my pocket, mug me or otherwise "take advantage of the dumb tourist". On the other hand, I have no problem with approaching people and asking them about the best places to see and the best restaurants to try.