Five Ways to Avoid Looking Like a Tourist When on the Road

While most of the people you meet on the road will have an open and welcoming attitude, the sad reality is that there are people looking to take advantage of your traveler status.  In many places around the world (whether you are traveling domestically or internationally) travelers are targets for scams.  Below you’ll find five helpful hints to help blend in with the crowd.

1.    Don’t Wear Jeans:  In many cultures, it is custom to dress up in nicer clothing when you leave the house.  Really, it is only custom in a few counties around the world (Canada, U.S., Japan included) to wear jeans in the first place.  This makes it easy for someone to identify you with a country other than their own and mark you as a traveler.

2.    Don’t Wear Thongs (Flip-flops): Flip-flops are almost solely an American fashion, and to be quite honest, are extremely annoying, with their flipping and flopping.  Not to mention, close-toed shoes also reduce the risk of injury.  Win-Win.

3.    If you must use a map, try to keep it out of sight:  Maps scream, “I’m not from around here!”, so naturally, you should try to keep it out of sight when you lose your way.  A good technique is to keep your map inside of a newspaper.  You give the impression that you are reading the paper rather than looking at a map.  Also, if you are going to carry around a guidebook, I’d suggest putting a different sleeve on the cover (if it’s hardcover) or wrapping the cover to hide the book’s identity.

4.    Carry a copy of a local newspaper: Not only is a newspaper useful for hiding your map, but it also gives the impression that you are a resident in the place you are visiting.  It also helps if it is in the native language, even if you can’t read it.

5.    Don’t use a traditional camera bag: We are avid photographers, so we would never dream of asking you to leave your camera at home… just your bag.  Most people don’t carry around traditional camera bags—unless they are visiting a place away from home.  Keep your camera tucked away in your day bag, and when you are not using it replace it.  Avoid bringing bags with name brands plastered on the outside like Nikon, Canon, Fuji etc…as you can quickly become a target for a scammer.

If you keep your wits about you and keep a low profile, you shouldn’t have any trouble when you are traveling away from home.    There’s no reason to be paranoid, but following these tips will make your trips hassle-free.

-Safe Travels