| When you to travel to a destination are you a | | | | tourist who just does not know any better. |
| tourist or a visitor? Do you assimilate into the | | | | If you are staying in a hotel, utilize concierge |
| culture or do you instantly brand yourself as a | | | | service. With their help, you will know exactly |
| tourist. Unfortunately Americans have the | | | | where you are going. If you have opted to rent a |
| international reputation for not blending into the | | | | vacation apartment, prior to arrival find out if you |
| local culture and sticking out in the crowd. | | | | can hire a guide to orient you to city so that you |
| If you travel with a fanny back, you can rest | | | | do not have to wander around aimlessly. |
| assure that you will instantly be branded as a | | | | Please make an attempt to learn the basics of |
| tourist. I have yet to see a non-American tourist | | | | the language. Do not assume that everyone |
| sporting the fanny. Get rid of the fanny pack, it is | | | | speaks English. The French especially Parisians |
| aging, cheesy and worse of all just plain ugly. | | | | appreciate the effort and will encourage your |
| I know this sounds obvious but I have no idea | | | | learning. A few keywords in the local language will |
| why so many people open an oversize map in the | | | | open many doors. No one is expecting you to be |
| middle of the street. Study the map before | | | | fluent but you will be surprised at how the service |
| leaving the hotel or even better leaving your | | | | improves when you memorize a few key |
| home. That way, a quick glance while walking | | | | phrases in the local language. |
| around is all you need to re-orient yourself. | | | | For some reason, tourists love to look up so if |
| If this is impossible, how about taking a break at | | | | you want to look like you belong do not look up. |
| a local restaurant or even pulling into a store to | | | | This simple unconscious act is a dead giveaway |
| regroup. If you must travel with a map, try to | | | | that you do not belong here and are on borrowed |
| get a small discreet one. Anything is better than | | | | time. |
| pulling out the map with the fanny pack around | | | | How you dress speaks volumes to who you are. |
| your waist in the middle of lots of foot traffic. | | | | If you witnessed someone dressed in shorts, a |
| When you visit glorious culinary cities such as | | | | t-shirt with a logo, baseball cap, back pack and |
| Rome or Paris, do not eat at KFC, McDonalds or | | | | athletic shoes, would you not think they were an |
| any other predictable American chain. Eat the way | | | | American tourist? The universal color for chic |
| the locals do, grab the street food, do not | | | | attire is black. The population of Paris, London, |
| assume that it is dangerous it will most likely be | | | | New York and other sophisticated cities tend to |
| delicious. | | | | wear lots of black. |
| Leave the flashy jewelry at home. We expensive | | | | I recommend packing few clothes, then |
| draped around your neck and the expensive ring | | | | immediately shop the local stores, and buy what |
| adorning your finger, you are asking for trouble. | | | | you find there, buy the clothes the locals wear. |
| You will be an easy target for local thieves or a | | | | You will instantly blend. |