Travel has become more accessible for a variety of reasons: increased disposable income, more frequent flights, better infrastructure to support tourists, etc. While this can be seen as a good thing (more opportunities to see the world!) and a bad thing (overload of crowds in many places), it doesn’t look like tourism, particularly in Europe, is slowing down anytime soon. Tourism is a major industry in Europe, contributing hugely to the economy, employment and development of the continent. As it's such a big business, many cities capitalize on tourists as much as they can, selling tickets, experiences, souvenirs and more on every corner.
Rick Steves, a long-time travel expert, TV personality and travel author, has been traveling to Europe regularly for over 50 years, and he now spends an average of 4 months there every year. He’s the expert on all things European travel, and he’s had a front-row seat to witness how the tourism industry has changed many countries over the years. City centers are now full of travel agencies selling tickets and tours to what they call "must-see" attractions. In his one-hour special, “Experiencing Europe,” Steves reminds his audience that, as tourists, we are consumers. “You need to be a smart consumer,” he says. His main advice to avoid tourist traps? Make sure you're able to sort through all the promotional offers and tourist experiences being waved in your face to determine what’s worth your “precious vacation time,” as he calls it. Here are his tips on how to do so.
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Rick Steves’ Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your European Vacation
In the video, Steves explains that the “must-see” attractions you see advertised everywhere are just that: advertisements. This stuff is what pays to be in your line of vision (i.e., as fliers in your hotel lobby or in a travel agency shop). The tickets are often overpriced, the experiences inauthentic and the food bad! While he acknowledges that many of these activities are fun and acceptable to do, he says that some of the best experiences in every city won’t be advertised. Steves suggests you find a balance between seeing tourist Europe and the reality of Europe. How do you find the latter? You have to venture outside of the main tourist areas, neighborhoods and city centers.
Related: The One Travel Essential Rick Steves Never Leaves the Hotel Without
Look for the places where the locals go to work or shop, the business districts. Sure, these places may not be as grand or magnificent as the churches in the city center or the streets with the luxury stores, but this is where you’ll get the best glimpse of what it’s actually like to live in Europe. After all, unless the locals work in the tourism industry (which many of them do!), most aren’t flocking to the jam-packed tourist attractions daily. Visit a quiet park outside the city center and find a restaurant around there. Walk through a neighborhood (a safe one, of course), and observe the houses. He sums it up well when he mentions that the advertised gimmicks, like the ice bar or Heineken Experience in Amsterdam, are fine to do, but “don’t think that’s the whole menu.”
Related: 3 Best European Destinations for Budget Travelers, According to Travel Guru Nomadic Matt
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