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30 Of The Most Annoying Tourist Moments Shared By People Who Live In Holiday Destinations
TravelJUL 13, 2022

30 Of The Most Annoying Tourist Moments Shared By People Who Live In Holiday Destinations

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Have you dreamt of moving to the Big Apple your entire life? Starting each morning with a bagel in your hand and the sound of angry New Yorkers shouting at taxis and slow-walkers as you make your commute to work. Or perhaps Paris is more your speed? A buttery croissant and the scent of urine on the streets might be your preferred way of waking up. As much as we enjoy taking vacations to these popular tourist destinations, the experience of being a local is quite different than what we might imagine.
So to help visitors understand what the locals are begging them to stop doing, we’ve consulted this Reddit thread where the residents of popular getaways dished about what drives them crazy, and even reached out to the person who sparked this conversation in the first place, Winterbeers on Reddit. Below, you'll also find interviews with travel expert and creator of the blog The Invisible Tourist, Alyse, and a representative from the sustainability organization, The World Counts. So if you’re planning your summer holiday right now to a tropical beach or a sprawling city, keep these tips in mind to avoid being angrily chased out by locals. And then if you’re looking for even more insight from residents of popular vacation spots, check out this Bored Panda piece next.

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#21

30 Of The Most Annoying Tourist Moments Shared By People Who Live In Holiday Destinations
Haggle on every single item you buy.
I've seen tourists wearing Rolex's try haggle down a price for a painting from a street artist. Wanted to pay 2 dollars for a piece he had likely spent an hour working on.
It's f*****g embarrassing and insulting for everyone involved.
141points

Another way to be an eco-tourist is to seek out eco-tours operated by locals. “Not only will this return some profits back into the local community, but it’s even more beneficial for you because the locals always know the most ideal locations to offer you the best possible experience,” Ecotourism World notes. The best way to learn about any place is to hear from the locals, and you are likely to be more welcomed when they know you care as much about their environment as they do. Do a little research online for the best eco-tours wherever you are traveling to, and you will be sure to find a unique and meaningful experience.  

#22

30 Of The Most Annoying Tourist Moments Shared By People Who Live In Holiday Destinations
Iceland here. Stop s******g absolutely everywhere.
Nobody likes your f*****g drone.
Learn to drive and do not stop in the middle of the road after a blind hill and turn off your lights to watch the northern lights in the dark.
Do not park your camper vans in residential parking.
Respect the landscape and for f***s sake listen to the warnings about sneaker waves in Reynisfjara. People risk their lives to save you when you can't listen and respect nature
134points

#23

30 Of The Most Annoying Tourist Moments Shared By People Who Live In Holiday Destinations
Stopping their cars in the middle of the road to take in a view. WTF?
125points

#24

30 Of The Most Annoying Tourist Moments Shared By People Who Live In Holiday Destinations
Taking pictures of locals (African)
122points

With all of this being said, tourism is not inherently bad. I love traveling as much as the next person, possibly even more, and I do not intend to demonize it. Tourism can have wonderful benefits for economies, as it is one of the top 5 exports of 83% of countries in the world and employs 7% of the world’s workers. It is also a great way for us to understand our planet better. What better way is there to learn about another culture than to experience it? We just have to be mindful when visiting other places. Let’s keep the golden rule in mind when traveling, treat your travel destination the same way you would want your home to be treated. 

#25

30 Of The Most Annoying Tourist Moments Shared By People Who Live In Holiday Destinations
Generally being loud. A big party or multiple families just don’t care when in your favorite restaurant, park or attraction. Live in a tiny town with a resident-only beach on a lake that is very quiet. Second home owners come in and just are loud and don’t control their hoards of kids. You can just tell who is local who is not.
Also airbnbs are ruining the area. People living for 30+ years in very wooded/private lots but have to hear constant partiers every summer night now. Literally is ruining peoples lives…
120points

#26

30 Of The Most Annoying Tourist Moments Shared By People Who Live In Holiday Destinations
Driving drunk. I live in Sonoma County, California. Make sure you’ve got a sober driver ffs. The roads around here are never more dangerous than winery tasting room closing time on a sunny weekend.
Edit: So many fellow locals in this thread! Hello neighbors!
Be safe out there, no matter where you are.
117points

#27

30 Of The Most Annoying Tourist Moments Shared By People Who Live In Holiday Destinations
Using Airbnb. I live in a tourist city which has basically been taken over by Airbnb. Rental occupancy rate is something like 0.3%. It's a mess.
113points

We hope you’re enjoying this list of insight from locals and that you’ve learned something useful for your next trip. No matter where your travels take you, remember to make as small of an impact as possible and to support the natives as much as you can. Even if you would never want to live in a tourist destination, it's important to be empathetic to people who do. They love their homes, and they shouldn't have to work overtime trying to preserve them. Be sure to upvote the responses you found most informative, and then let us know in the comments if you have ever lived in a tourist destination. We would love to hear about your experiences.

#28

30 Of The Most Annoying Tourist Moments Shared By People Who Live In Holiday Destinations
Stop walking out into the middle of an active downtown street to take group pictures of yourselves in cheerleading outfits on the spot where Kennedy was shot.
103points

#29

30 Of The Most Annoying Tourist Moments Shared By People Who Live In Holiday Destinations
Stop laying down next to the stars on the Hollywood walk of fame! Hollywood is filthy. Oh you laid down next to your favorite star? Congratulations. You’re now covered in homeless person p**s and jizz. You should burn those clothes.
101points

#30

30 Of The Most Annoying Tourist Moments Shared By People Who Live In Holiday Destinations
Forgetting that people live in the community. We had to move out of a sorta-touristy area because visitors were out of control. Endless partying at short term rentals in the neighborhood. Feeling unwelcome at our regular spots because we have (very polite) kids—the staff was always cool but out of town people always acted like how dare we bring a kid out for pancakes on a Saturday morning.
91points
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