Avoid Looking Touristy Like So
Become less prone to scammers, experience a city better, and avoid attention seeking
Why Blend In
The stereotype of a man in a Hawaiian shirt with an oversized camera dangling over his chest is unfortunately quite true. However, you do not need to look that obvious to be recognized as a foreigner. There are some details you should pay attention to for blending in, but why do that in the first place?
- You become a harder target for scammers.
- Your foreignness does not skew your experience.
- You avoid seeking attention solely based on your foreignness.
In other words, it is more time efficient for the scammer to target the man in the Hawaiian shirt, you being foreign may influence locals to treat you better or worse, and some foreigners bask in the glory of their rarity by flaunting it while abroad, which is not the best habit.
So, how does one simply blend in?
The Rundown
Pick a fitting city
Of course, this should not be an absolute criterion, but you can obviously blend in easier by picking a city with a similar ethnicity. If not, you can at least try to look like you know your way around.
Dress like locals
You do not have to copy them painstakingly, but realize that Hollister is no longer trendy in Los Angeles!
Ditch the backpack
Why do you need you this accessory if you didn’t back home? Usually, all you need are your phone, wallet, key, and some mints to freshen your breath, all of which should easily fit into your pockets.
Ditch the camera
Unless you are a photographer by profession, you can find dozens of high quality pictures of major cities online. If you want to be in a picture, phones nowadays take fantabulous pictures.
Ditch the map
While it’s nice that maps need no internet, Google Maps is more convenient and can even work offline, but keep an eye on the battery. You can download most maps offline and do not need to buy a sim card with data.
Do not glance at your phone too much, though, as it would be obvious that you are using a GPS to traverse the cityscape.
Learn some words
Usually, you can get by just knowing:
- Yes /no
- Thanks/welcome
- Today/tomorrow
- Cash/card
- Greetings and farewells
- The numbers one to ten
For example, supermarket cashiers will usually greet you, ask you if you have a membership card, ask you if you need a bag, tell you the final amount, ask you cash or card, and then farewell you.
Speak your language quietly
You may want to speak your language with your travel buddies or when on the phone. If the chat cannot wait, speak quietly, preferably when no one is close.
Walk briskly
Walking too slowly may make it seem like you are taking in everything or are simply lost. Walking too fast might make it seem like you are heading to your next tourist attraction. Find a pace in between, which should be inspired by how the locals walk.
In a new country, even a dry cleaner might look fascinating to you. Be subtle with your glances, and consider wearing sunglasses if you really are that curious.
Deprioritize tourist attractions
Sometimes, exploring the nitty gritty parts of a city is as memorable if not more memorable than tourist attractions. You can act the same way in Manhattan as you do in Queens, but the tourist radar is higher in Manhattan, although you might stick out like a sore thumb in the less touristy Queens.
It is a tricky science!
Parting Words
In the end, it all boils down to what you want out of your trip. Apply a couple of the pointers above and see if you enjoy your trip better. A trip may feel more wholesome if you feel like a part of a new crowd instead of being an outlier. You should be able to apply a healthy balance without sacrificing fun!
