"Don't Do the Camera Thing"

If you feel like a tourist, you’ll likely dress, act and look like a tourist too! Unfortunately, that’s not always smart if you want to travel incognito, especially to places where you want to blend into the scenery, almost as if by camouflage.

Here are some travel tips to help you avoid looking and feeling like a tourist on your next vacation.

Dress the part: If you’re traveling to the Caribbean, don’t wear a parka or your ermine-lined hat to the airport. Pack those in your bag if you can, and dress as though you’ve arrived at your destination (if possible). If you get cold on the plane, make sure you bring a blanket or throw with you, as well as comfortable socks.

Don’t do the Camera Thing: As tempting as it may be, don’t sling that big camera over your shoulders and wander out into areas where pick pocketing or theft is high. If you absolutely must take the camera, then try to find one that is discreet and pocket friendly (assuming you’re not a pro who needs a serious flash and lens). One good model to try is the Sony slim series WX150, currently marketed as the slimmest 10x around.

Avoid Wearing your Patriot Hat: A Yankees baseball cap or a Boston Red Sox tee shirt might be a terrific idea in your home country, but if you’re a tourist in, say, Rome, it’s a dead giveaway. Assuming you want to remain incognito and not burst into “The Star Spangled Banner,” it’s best to leave your patriotic items at home.

Avoid Wearing Expensive Jewelry: Leave the family jewels at home. No, seriously! You don’t want to attract too much attention when you’re traveling, and it’s never a good idea to wear that Bulgari necklace when you’re visiting Piazza Navona in Italy or traveling through Mumbai, India.

Consulting Your Guidebook for Everything: While guidebooks are sometimes replaced with apps these days, consulting your guidebook for just about everything is a dead giveaway that you’re not in Kansas anymore. If you can, spend a few weeks getting acquainted with the guidebooks so you’re not feeling your way about when you’re actually there.

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photo: hisgett