Restaurant Red Flags
Menu photos outside = tourist trap. Staff aggressively recruiting from the street = tourist trap. Tourist menu in 6 languages = tourist trap. Location directly facing a major monument = tourist trap. These restaurants survive on one-time visitors who won't return—quality doesn't matter to them.
Pro Tip: Walk one block away from any major attraction and quality doubles while prices halve.
Where Locals Actually Eat
Google Maps reviews help, but filter for local-language reviews. Check if the place is full at local meal times (2 PM lunch in Spain, 8 PM dinner in Italy). Restaurants without English menus often have the best food. Markets with seating areas serve authentic, affordable meals. Ask hotel staff where they personally eat.
Common Scams by City
Paris: bracelet sellers at Sacré-Cœur, petition clipboard scams, gold ring trick. Rome: gladiators charging for photos, overpriced roses at restaurants. Barcelona: soccer jersey sellers distracting for pickpockets, fake charity collectors. Prague: taxi overcharging, unfavorable exchange rates. Amsterdam: drug dealers in touristy areas selling fake products.
Overrated Attractions
Some famous sights disappoint: the Mona Lisa (tiny, behind glass, massive crowds), the Little Mermaid (small statue, zero context), Checkpoint Charlie (tacky museum), the Trevi Fountain (beautiful but impossible to enjoy peacefully). Research attractions before queuing—sometimes the alternative is better.
Hidden Gems Strategy
Search "local favorite" + city + your interest. Read travel blogs from people who lived there, not just visited. The second-most-famous version is often better: Musée de l'Orangerie instead of the Louvre, Santa Maria del Popolo instead of St. Peter's. Neighborhoods without hashtag names are usually more authentic.
The Authenticity Trap
Here's a twist: obsessing over "authentic" experiences is itself a tourist behavior. Locals eat at tourist restaurants sometimes. Famous sights are famous for reasons. The goal isn't avoiding every tourist—it's avoiding bad value and scams. Some touristy things are worth doing once.
