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]]>The Cab Trap
If you’re without transportation, chances are you’re going to try and hail a cab or Uber to take you wherever you need to go. The good news is, there’s a system in place at the airport that sets you up with an official yellow taxi driver of New York City, as long as you wait in the right line. The bad news is, there are many other drivers who may try to swindle you into a ride for much more money.
The Lurkers
If you’re a tourist, you may not know that the cheapest and best option is to wait in the official taxi cab line. These separate private drivers lurk around and pounce on you, knowing that you don’t really know how things work. They’ll sway you into hopping in their car, but their fare will be considerably more expensive than that of a yellow cab. Whatever you do, don’t get convinced to go with them. Not only are the official yellow cabs much cheaper, but they get you there in the exact same amount of time!
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]]>The post Don’t Fall for These Tourist Traps When During Your Visit to Chicago, Illinois appeared first on Traveler Dreams.
]]>Magnificent Mile
Sure, Magnificent Mile is Chicago’s most famous shopping district. But due to its popularity, the neighborhood became packed with luxury brands that you can find in most other big cities, upscale hotels, and pricey restaurants. You are better off visiting Fashion Outlets of Chicago or Wicker Park instead.
Navy Pier
Navy Pier holds the title of Chicago’s second- most visited tourist attraction, with close to 10 million tourists flocking here each year. However, the place has all the makings of a tourist trap. First of all, it is crowded all the time, and you will hardly get a proper feel of the place. Also, everything is super expensive, and you find your wallet empty in no time.
Skydeck Chicago at Willis Tower
Skydeck Chicago at Willis Tower is a place most people go to get a look at Chicago’s skyline. However, the tickets are far more expensive than they should be and you will have to wait in long lines. You are better off checking out some of the city’s other observation decks, like 360 Chicago in John Hancock Center.
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]]>The post Tourist Traps to Avoid in Paris, France appeared first on Traveler Dreams.
]]>Restaurants and Bars Near Major Touristic Attractions
Having a meal or a drink near the Louvre Museum, Eiffel Tower, or Arc de Triomphe surely sounds tempting. However, you might want to resist this temptation and stick to sightseeing.
Visiting most of these establishments will not only make a big dent in your budget, but the service and the quality of the food will most likely be sub-par, according to locals. Instead, you’re better off saving your money and hitting some authentic restaurants and bars away from the touristic attractions where you’ll get a much more enjoyable experience.
Top of Eiffel Tower
The top of the Eiffel Tower is almost unanimously labeled as one of the biggest tourist traps in Paris. And for a good reason.
Checking out the Eiffel Tower itself is a one-of-a-kind experience. However, you have no business entering the tower itself or going to the top, no matter how hard the tour sellers try to convince you. The ticket prices are high while you’ll also have to wait hours in line to get there. Once you’re on top, you only have a great view working out for you. And, according to locals, you can get the same if you visit Maine-Montparnasse Tower.
Cruises and Bus Tours
We understand that you want to have the best time when visiting Paris. But cruises on the Seine and bus tours won’t actually give you that. They are not only notoriously expensive but also come with noisy tourists, frequent stops, and potential sunstroke.
Instead, you are better off devising your own tour and hitting the city on foot, by bicycle, or electric scooter. You experience much less hassle while getting a much better feel of Paris.
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]]>The post Most Common Tourist Traps You’ll Encounter in Cairo, Egypt appeared first on Traveler Dreams.
]]>Tourism Board Trap
You may encounter one of the tourist traps as soon as you land at Cairo airport. Individuals may approach you and introduce themselves as members of the tourism board. They will welcome you to the country and then try to convince you to arrange a tour with them. However, these people are usually not affiliated with the tourism board and are just trying to sell you an overpriced tour.
Tipping Trap
Tipping in Cairo isn’t as straightforward as you might think. It isn’t uncommon for service staff to ask for tips and even try to haggle about it by telling you the tip is too low. To avoid uncomfortable situations, do a bit of research on the appropriate tipping amount.
Shopping Traps
Taxi drivers, tourist guides, and hotel staff will often try to recommend you specialized shops for perfumes, carpets, or papyrus. You should look to avoid those as they often have inflated prices for poor-quality goods. The best place to do your shopping in Cairo is at one of the city’s markets.
Camel Ride Traps
Embarking on a camel ride might sound fun, but it comes with its own set of potential issues. A number of tourists had negative experiences that included being overcharged. Some even got taken to the desert and asked for more money to get a ride back to the city.
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]]>Flamenco Shows
The streets of Barcelona are full of promoters and billboards that promise great flamenco shows. However, you will rarely be satisfied with the experience if you decide to check out one of them. The city isn’t even considered to have a rich flamenco tradition considering the art form originated in Andalusia.
Sangria
Sangria is Spain’s most famous alcoholic beverage consisting of red wine, fruit, and several other ingredients. However, you will have a hard time finding a good one in Barcelona. Most establishments sell poor-quality sangria made with cheap wine, so you will likely be disappointed. If you are set on trying the drink, hit some bars where locals gather. Here you might have better luck.
Most of the La Rambla’s Offerings
You should definitely check out La Rambla, the city’s most iconic street. However, you should limit yourself to sightseeing and skip the street’s other offerings. La Rambla is notorious for its overpriced food, expensive souvenirs, and various tourist scams.
Beaches
If you decide to hit one of Barcelona’s beaches, the chances are that you’ll end up being disappointed. The city’s beaches, while tempting, are often overcrowded and full of pickpockets. The beaches in the surrounding towns, however, are much more welcoming.
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]]>The post Tourist Traps to Avoid in Italy appeared first on Traveler Dreams.
]]>Restaurants on Big Squares
A general rule of thumb you can follow is to avoid restaurants located in big, popular squares or near tourist attractions. Most of these restaurants, with waiters outside beckoning people to sit down and photos of food on the menu, are definite tourist traps with mediocre food and high prices.
Torture Museums in Tuscany
Scattered all around various Medieval towns in Tuscany are various torture museums, which are built specifically to attract, scare, and scam tourists. They’re not that interesting and not worth your money.
Venice
Unfortunately, a lot of things in Venice are tourist traps including extremely overpriced gondola rides and souvenir stores on every corner.
Fish a la Carte
Watch out for ordering seafood a la carte, as the prices are often listed per 100 grams rather than per plate and your meal may come out to cost much more than you expected.
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]]>The post Tourist Traps to Avoid in Prague, Czech Republic appeared first on Traveler Dreams.
]]>Exchange Offices with Big “We Sell” Advertisement
One of the most common tourist traps in Prague is exchange offices that look to exploit tourists who didn’t do their research. You’ll usually recognize them by the big signs that advertise what seems to be a good rate. However, once you take a better look, you will notice the small lettering that says “we sell.” This means that the “great” rate they are offering isn’t actually what you’ll get to exchange your money to Czech koruna. It is what you would get if you would buy some other currency using the Czech koruna.
You should always research the internet to see what is the common exchange rate for your currency at any given moment and then look for exchange offices that offer something in that range.
Karlova Street Shops
Many Prague locals recommend avoiding Karlova Street which connects the Old Town with Charles Bridge, and its food and souvenir offering. According to them, the souvenir shops and restaurants charge twice as much for their products, which are also low quality, compared to the price you would usually pay at some other place in the city.
Taxis
The taxi industry in Prague has a bad rap, and rightfully so. They are known to overcharge tourists and take routes that are a lot longer than they should be. According to recent anonymous buyer research, only 20 percent of taxi drivers took the shortest route between point A and point B.
The better option is to use public transportation, which is well connected and cheap or call an Uber. If you can’t avoid taking the taxi, then it is recommended to negotiate the price before you start the drive.
Overpriced Food and Drinks
It is always good to inform yourself about food and drink prices before you even step a foot in Prague or anywhere else, for that matter. There is a lot of great and affordable food joints and restaurants in Prague, but there are also some that will look to overprice you.
This is especially the case with stands on the main square that sell Czech ham on weight. They regularly try to sell more than you can eat while also trying to make you get a drink with your food even if you are not in the mood for one. You can learn more about it in this helpful video by Honest Guide.
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]]>The post 3 Notorious Tourist Traps Not Worth Visiting appeared first on Traveler Dreams.
]]>The Blarney Stone
The Blarney Stone near Cork, Ireland is known for being a rock that you kiss. The legend is that you will receive the gift of Blarney, that is if you can bend over backward to kiss it. Unfortunately, the lines are several hours long and it’s not exactly hygienic. In the times of coronavirus, this one is a pass.
Plymouth Rock
Another famous rock, Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts is known for being the place where the pilgrims first landed in America in 1620. The problem is that the attraction is just that—a rock. You won’t be missing out if you skip it.
Niagara Falls
Okay, the Niagara Falls themselves are just as majestic as you think they are. But the New York cities that surround it are the definition of a tourist trap full of gift shops and tacky restaurants. You’re much better visiting from the Canadian side if you do want to stop by.
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]]>The post Tourist Traps to Avoid in New York City appeared first on Traveler Dreams.
]]>Pedicabs in Central Park
While taking a stroll through Central Park is something that you absolutely must do in New York, paying for an expensive pedicab ride through this urban paradise isn’t worth it. Extremely expensive, you won’t see anything different in a pedicab than you would by simply walking.
Madame Tussauds
Wax museums are often something that can be found in major tourist cities, and they are almost never worth the price you have to pay to enter. Why spend money to see a place like Madame Tussauds in New York when there are so many other more interesting things to do?
Times Square
You might think I’m crazy for saying this, but Times Square is an overrated part of the city that you shouldn’t feel bad for skipping. Yes, the huge advertisements and masses of people make this an electric spot, but it’s also overwhelming and prime territory for pickpockets. My recommendation is to stay away.
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]]>The post Skip These Tourist Traps in Amsterdam appeared first on Traveler Dreams.
]]>Heineken Experience
Heineken is one of the world’s most famous beers, and it hails from Amsterdam. The “Heineken Experience” is a popular activity for tourists, offering up a visit to the former company brewery which tells the story of the beer. Unfortunately, it really is not that interesting and it’s also pricey at 18 euros.
Canal Boat Tour
You might be tempted to book a boat tour through Amsterdam’s canals, but this expensive experience almost always ends up not being worth it. If you really want to see the city from the perspective of its canals, you are better off renting your own boat.
Flower Market
Many tourists end up at the Amsterdam Flower Market and leave disappointed when visiting the city. Why? Overpriced flowers and bulbs, some of which are notorious for not ever producing flowers, are the bulk of what you will find at this uncomfortable, crowded spot.
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