Starting to plan your summer getaway? Listen up.
Tourist traps can be hugely busy (and expensive), so they’re best avoided wherever possible. But they’re not always easy to spot – particularly when it comes to beach destinations.
Now, an expert has warned of the ‘telltale’ red flags that’ll help you to identify locations blindly capitalising on innocent tourists who may not know any better – and avoid unnecessarily spent time and money on your holiday.
‘From creating a sense of urgency to using manipulative sales techniques, these tactics aim to exploit visitors’ vulnerability and maximise profits for the vendors,’ Jason Higgs, senior deals strategist at Bountii, told The Express.
According to Jason, a major sign to look out for is shops or restaurants failing to outline proper, clear guidance on pricing.
‘In tourist traps, vendors may not display prices prominently or may provide misleading information about the cost of goods or services,’ he added.
So, the next time you’re abroad, pay close attention to the price list. If there isn’t one, you know where you stand.
That’s not the only thing to be aware of either. The way that employees behave towards customers can also indicate whether it’s a classic ‘tourist trap’ location.
‘One of the telltale signs of a tourist trap is encountering aggressive salespeople who employ high-pressure tactics to persuade travellers to make purchases. Whether it’s offering souvenirs, tours, or other services, these salespeople often target tourists in crowded areas and resorts,’ Jason outlined.
Fear not, though: you’re not powerless. If you do encounter pushy salespeople while on holiday, it’s okay to walk away. Better to do that than to regret an impulse buy when you arrive back at the hotel.
In other news, if you’re in search of the beach with the sparkliest waters, look no further than Pasqyra Beach in Albania.
Around 13 minutes’ drive from the resort of Sarandë in the southwest, the beach beat out the likes of Bondi Beach, Bora Bora and even the Maldives in securing the title.
It’s nicknamed ‘Mirror Beach’, thanks to its clear, turquoise water that visitors say has a ‘magical’ quality.
Determined by the travel experts at CV Villas, the research took unedited Google Maps screenshots of 200 beaches across the world and used a colour dropper tool to find the RGB code of each body of water.
This was then cross-referenced with the world’s bluest shade of blue to work out which location’s water had the closest match.
Albania’s Pasqyra Beach was just 12.4 points off, with its mirror-like appearance widely considered to be a highlight of the country’s coastline.
See you at the shore!
This is the biggest mistake you’re making on your all-inclusive holiday according to a travel expert
When you’re on an all inclusive holiday, of course you want to get what you paid for.
But according to travel writer Kelly Magyarics, who’s been on a total of 35 of the package breaks, most first-timers don’t know how to make the most of their stay.
One of the most common mistakes is getting your all inclusive drinks at your hotel’s main or pool bar, as top-shelf alcohol is normally served elsewhere.
In an article for Business Insider, Kelly said: ‘Not all drinks at all inclusive resorts are created equally.’
Instead, she recommends heading to the lobby bar, where you’ll likely have a wider range of spirits to choose from, including branded options like Aperol and Campari for a spritz.
‘Upgrade your piña colada by requesting it with dark or aged rum instead of white, which gives it much more flavour,’ she added.
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