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These are the tourist traps that you really need to skip

FOR a destination or attraction to qualify as a tourist trap, it must be overpriced and filled with hordes of sightseers.

And if it’s really bad, most guests will leave thinking, “Why did I come here again?”

The worst part about tourist traps, however, is that they are a waste of both time and money. Raise your hand if you have ever visited a place then wondered when the hell you were thinking.

The reality is, most of us have done it — and most of us have lived to regret it. If you want to get the most “bang for your buck” and potentially avoid an annoying situation, you should avoid these money and time sinks at all costs.

 

Massive crowds, tacky souvenirs, people flogging overpriced tours, and not much else — the Walk of Fame on Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, is the world capital of tourist traps.Source:istock
Massive crowds, tacky souvenirs, people flogging overpriced tours, and not much else — the Walk of Fame on Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, is the world capital of tourist traps.Source:istock

The Hollywood Walk of Fame, LA

It’s hard to find anywhere more “touristy” and commercialised than Hollywood. And that’s especially true of the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles, California.

Here you’ll find a stretch of road dedicated to the stars, with all of the consumer trappings you can imagine.

Other than staring at the pavement, there is little to do that doesn’t require spending money here.

Of course, you can always do the most touristy thing there is, which is to get a picture with favourite celebrity’s “star” on the walk of fame.

 

Sure, it’s a nice tower, but Paris is so much more than this.Source:Supplied
Sure, it’s a nice tower, but Paris is so much more than this.Source:Supplied

Eiffel Tower, Paris

Visiting Paris can be an amazing experience, but is the Eiffel Tower really that amazing?

From a distance, maybe, but up close and inside it’s not all that spectacular.

Fortunately, you can peruse all of the other great attractions in Paris and still see the Eiffel Tower, in all its glory, from a distance.

Best of all, it’s free to look at and you won’t have to stand in line.

 

It’s not hard to find better things to do in Chicago.Source:Flickr
It’s not hard to find better things to do in Chicago.Source:Flickr

Navy Pier, Chicago

The Navy Pier in Chicago is a great way to waste an afternoon and a whole lot of money.

Who wants to drop $100 or more for a day that starts with a stressful morning of traffic and ends with a ride on a Ferris Wheel and some overpriced food?
 

It’s a trap. Picture: Derek KeySource:Flickr
It’s a trap. Picture: Derek KeySource:Flickr

Atlantis Resort, the Bahamas

Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas is marketed as the premier resort in the area, but in reality, it’s as overpriced and overrun as it gets.

You’ll pay a lot more to stay here than you will in neighbouring resorts, and rumour has it that there’s an “upcharge” for everything.

Not only will you pay a bundle for your room and admission to the water park, but you’ll pay out-of-pocket for everything from locker rentals to resort fees as well.
 

You’ve got to travel a fair way to get to Pisa just for this totally unoriginal photo opportunity. Picture: iStockSource:Supplied
You’ve got to travel a fair way to get to Pisa just for this totally unoriginal photo opportunity. Picture: iStockSource:Supplied

Leaning Tower of Pisa

Don’t believe what anyone else tells you. There is literally nothing to do at the Leaning Tower of Pisa other than visiting the accompanying buildings and trying to get a few fun selfies in.

You stare at the tower, have some lunch or a coffee, and that’s about it.

There are plenty of other places to see in the nearby villages of Tuscany, so go there and save your money instead.

 

The city that has all your money.Source:Supplied
The city that has all your money.Source:Supplied

Las Vegas

Even if you enjoy visiting Las Vegas, it’s hard to deny that it isn’t a huge tourist trap.

With the opportunity to spend lavishly on food and entertainment, plus the prospect of gambling, you can watch your wealth diminish in Las Vegas fairly fast. Plus, you can stay in a hotel shaped like anything from a Pyramid to a giant fun castle. Now, that’s just cheesy.

 

Walt Disney World, Orlando: Disney’s flagship destination.Source:AFP
Walt Disney World, Orlando:
Disney’s flagship destination.
Source:AFP
This includes you, Hong Kong Disneyland.Source:News Limited
This includes you, Hong Kong Disneyland.
Source:News Limited

 



























 

Disney World (any of them)

Few businesses have learned to separate people from their money quite like Disney World.

From their overpriced attractions and food to the fact that on-site stores seem to outnumber the rides at a rate of 10:1, it’s easy to rate Disney World as one of the biggest tourist traps on Earth.

At this point, a single day pass at the Magic Kingdom in Orlando costs $515 for an average family of four. It’s hardly worth it when you consider all the inexpensive theme parks you can visit closer to home for a fraction of the price.

 

It’s also one of the most germ-ridden attractions in the world. Picture: Barry O'BrienSource:Supplied
It’s also one of the most germ-ridden attractions in the world. Picture: Barry O'BrienSource:Supplied

Blarney stone in Ireland

Renowned travel guru Rick Steves has the Blarney stone of Ireland listed as a top tourist trap in Europe, and for good reason.

Basically, it’s a full-on tourist trip of the worst kind — one that pulls you in with a promise but wastes your vacation away.

In this case, you’re supposed to be gifted the “gift of gab” when you lean backward and kiss the Blarney stone.

“The best thing about this lame sight is watching a cranky man lower lemming-like tourists over the edge, belly up and head back, to kiss the stone while an automated camera snaps a photo — which will be available for purchase in the parking lot,” Steves says.

“After a day of tour groups mindlessly climbing up here to perform this ritual, the stone is slathered with spit and lipstick.”

The Bottom Line

Of course, there are plenty more tourist traps to avoid around the world — this is just a sampling. So, before you shell out the big bucks, make sure you do some research ahead of time.

If you don’t, you could wind up wasting your vacation time and money in the worst way possible.

This article originally appeared on Frugal Travel Guy.

Source: News Corp Australia Network:

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