Columnist mounts case for traveling like a tourist, not a local. I disagree

 

Going local with volunteer greeter Oskar Sandoval in Mexico City

"Why you should be a tourist- not a local - when you travel," was the headline above a recent column by Christopher Elliott, a columnist who calls himself the "Travel Troubleshooter. 

Starting with upending the idea of staying in an Airbnb in a local neighborhood instead of a hotel in a tourist district, he goes on to advise hiring licensed guides instead of amateurs and resist thinking of over-crowded and expensive historic sites as "tourist traps." 

"Maybe the most ethical — and enjoyable — way to travel now is to stop pretending you live there, and embrace your status as a tourist," Elliott writes. "The problem with living like a local is simple math. "When everyone does it, no locals are left. Tourists push out the very communities they claim to love."

There is a case to be made for how over-tourism and the resulting gentrification of non-touristy areas can displace residents, inflate housing prices and drive out the butchers and bakers in favor of chic boutiques and trinket shops. 

Elliott's counter-offensive, called "In defense of the tourist trap," starts with urging people to stay in hotels rather than Airbnbs, the theory being they attract transients "pretending" to live there at the expense of permanent residents. Hotels, on the other hand, he says, are "created for visitors. They employ locals, pay commercial taxes, have security, and don’t displace families."

Next comes advice to stick to hiring licensed guides, citing a horror story from a tour operator who "got lost and nearly died of thirst" after veering from the beaten path in a jungle,

Finally, Elliott nudges travelers to embrace the well-know landmarks rather than looking at them as tourist traps.

  "There’s no shame in seeing the Eiffel Tower or the Colosseum," he writes. "These  icons are in tourist areas, and your ticket price often supports their conservation."

Do this instead

I would suggest there are better ways to travel responsibly while at the same time "becoming a (non-invading) temporary local," a phrase coined by travel guidebook author and T.V. host Rick Steves. 

Let's start with lodging. One reason most people stay in Airbnbs is to avoid sky-high hotel prices that inflate further with resort fees, parking fees and extra charges for early check-in. The other benefit is the chance to become familiar with a neighborhood outside the tourist zone, an experience that usually includes using public transportation, patronizing local restaurants and going to the grocery store.

Our Airbnb in Tasco, Mexico. Tito, the owner, lived next door

The key is to pick an Airbnb owned by a person trying to supplement their income rather than a agent who manages dozens of apartments that might otherwise be rented to locals. 

My husband and I will  be staying in the downstairs mother-in-law apartment owned by a couple in White Rock B.C. when we visit the Vancouver area soon. I'd much rather funnel my tourist dollars to them instead of a downtown hotel that charges $200 a night and $50 for parking. 

Another alternative is to pick a family-run hotel, easier when traveling in Europe than in the United States. Steves steers his followers to small hotels, often mom-and-pop businesses, located outside the main tourists zones but accessible by public transport.

When it comes to tour guides, hiring someone with a license guarantees little more than a high hourly rate.  The guide may be quite knowledgeable. or may just read from a memorized script translated from his or her language into English.

I've had much better luck and more personal experiences by spending a few hours with a greeter from the International Greeters Association, a network of volunteers from around the world who organize strolls for travelers.

Oskar was our greeter in Mexico City. We have remained in contact and see him whenever we are there.

Greeters are not tour guides, but rather temporary friends anxious to share what they love most about their city.  My husband and I have met greeters in Paris, Marseille, Japan and Mexico, and are now working on making connections in Shanghai and Chengdu, China. 

 Soufiane, a surfing instructor who moonlights as a walking tour guide for Freetour.com, was our Freetour guide in Rabat, Morocco.

Online groups such as freetour.com and guruwalk.com offers a similar services for those looking for small group walking tours, food tours or specific experiences such jogging or exploring a neighborhood's nightlife.The guides might be students, university professors or professional guides who are moonlighting. They work for tips, the amount of which is up to you. One of our most memorable walks like this was a morning spent with a GuruWalk guide in Aman, Jordan who invited the whole  group back to his home for a multi-course lunch.  

When it comes to the big sites, there is nothing wrong with seeing the Eiffel Tower or the Colosseum. First-time visitors should, but they should also budget time for alternative experiences.  

An Eatwith dinner in Mexico City

The eatwith.com program connects travelers with locals who host lunches and dinners in their homes. The site includes a brief bio, a sample menu, dates, times and prices.  We have spent long evenings with hosts in Bucharest, Paris and Mexico city - all of whom lived outside the tourist areas.  One of our best Eatwith experiences was a visit to a farm outside of Hanoi which included a tour by the owner, and a short cooking class at her house followed by a lunch.

In the kitchen with Mandy, our Eatwith host in Hanoi

Becoming a "temporary local" without disturbing the local way of life can be as easy as visiting the same cafe twice. One of our favorite parts about staying in Nyaung Shwe, a town on Lake Inle in Myanmar, was becoming regulars at the tea house down the street. The town has plenty of tourist places where you can get a good cappuccino, but we became addicted to Burmese tea served with sweetened condensed milk. We sipped ours while seated at low tables on child-sized plastic stools below a picture of a golden Buddha image sitting on a pile of money.  

Starbucks Not. Sipping tea in Myanmar