Good Tourist/Bad Tourist: A Local’s Perspective
Posted on 11. Apr, 2010 by Steph in Advice, On the Road
Along with the fluffy pink cherry blossoms ( and abundant sunshine, something else begins popping up in Washington around April. Tourists. From April to August DC is awash with out-of-towners. Great locust sized hordes of them clog the metro and swamp the mall.
Matching lanyards are a dead giveaway
I will say up front: everybody is a tourist at least some of the time . It’s not that I feel any innate superiority to the visitors to my city. I always try to be charitable and treat them as I would like to be treated.
The fact is though, that there are some really inconsiderate tourists out there, and dealing with them is a major lesson in patience and humility. I want to be a good host and ambassador for DC. Sometimes however, when you are just trying to get to a meeting and a mass of be-fanny-packed people are blocking all turnstiles, it can be really hard to love one’s fellow man.
Tourists don’t have to be annoying though- in fact I think they should try harder not to be. I’ve come up with a few simple rules for visitors to follow if they DON’T want to get on the local’s bad side. These are based primarily on my bad-behavior observations in DC, but I think they can be applied most anywhere.
How to be a Well Liked Tourist:
1. Don’t Block Traffic
This is definitely DC native’s number one beef with tourists and a huge complaint all summer long. If you don’t know where you’re going, please don’t stop dead in your tracks at the end of the escalator causing a dramatic human pile-up. Keep walking, move out of the traffic flow and then get your bearings. Even better, figure out where you’re going before you get on or off the train. We all have to take public transportation together, just remember that many people are trying to get to work. This also applies to those people stopping to look at their maps smack in the middle of the sidewalk.
For the love of god: Walk left, stand right.
2. Don’t Badmouth the City
We CAN hear you. I happen to take a lot of pride in my city and when you loudly proclaim “This city is so dirty!” or “how can anybody live here!” I am offended. Don’t bitch about the weather (It’s DC in summer, of course it’s hot as balls). Don’t comment on the natives of a city (their rudeness, their hotness, whatever) if you are within earshot of them. The way I see it, you wouldn’t go to somebody’s house and loudly proclaim how much you hate their carpets, so why would you say it on the metro? Which leads me to #3:
3. Keep Your Voice Down
Maybe it is excitement or maybe it is stress but many tourists seem to talk at 3X normal volume. As an unintentionally loud person myself, I sympathize, I really do. There are certain places you really need to keep your voice in check though, places like: the metro during morning rush hour, restaurants and in museums. Pretty much anywhere indoors. Laughing and calling loudly for your friends inside of the Holocaust Museum are really super not okay.
4. Respect the Culture
My city is not your amusement park. This means no trespassing on private property, no picking flowers and no climbing on statues. If you wouldn’t do it at home, don’t do it here. Judging by all the people milling around you are clearly not the only ones trying to enjoy the city. If your kids want to run around and play tag, let them do it on the mall, not in the Vietnam Memorial (yes, this happened). Take your cues from the locals if you are unsure if something is okay.
Or ask the beavers...
5. Don’t be Afraid to Ask For Help
Seriously. I know I just made all Washingtonians seem like cranky old men who just want you off their lawns, but most of us are more than happy to give directions or take a photo for you Most people in DC are from somewhere else originally and remember what it was like not to know their way around. As long as you ask nicely most people will be very accommodating.
I’m sure you can tell that most of these are variations of the same theme: be respectful of the city you are visiting and its inhabitants. Even though you may be on vacation, it’s important to remember that you are in someone else’s home. It’s really as simple as that.
In spite of these annoyances I’m happy to have the tourists in DC. It’s a fantastic city, and I want everyone to experience it. But I also want to be able to go about my daily business in an unstabby mood. My hope is that these constant reminders of how NOT to act will stay with me when I head off to play tourist in other people’s homes.
Enjoy the city!
50 Responses to “Good Tourist/Bad Tourist: A Local’s Perspective”
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Dave
11. Apr, 2010
Have you tried bug spray? Or a giant fly swatter? Perhaps get some signs made up that say there’s a free self guided tour of the Oval Office available, today only, and see if you can them all arrested en masse?
.-= Dave´s last blog ..The changing face of backpacking =-.
Kelsey
11. Apr, 2010
Are you sure this entry posted correctly? It seems to be only a paragraph long.
Steph
11. Apr, 2010
ugh strange. Should be fixed now.
Kelsey
11. Apr, 2010
This is a really great post, and very accurate. I have had the misfortune of living in two of America’s most touristed cities (Boston and DC), and it has given me a sizable distaste for what most reenactors call “Tourons”.
I try to be helpful for tourists, but you hit on something at the bottom of your post – they often don’t ask for help. They stand in the middle of the crosswalk staring at their maps instead of asking one of the locals they’re walking next to. It is extremely rare to be turned down when asking for help, so I always wonder why tourists don’t ask for it more often.
.-= Kelsey´s last blog ..Friday Friend: Abby =-.
Steph
11. Apr, 2010
I have to admit that I can be stubborn about asking for help as well, I’m trying to get better at it though!
Kelsey
11. Apr, 2010
Korea really changed that behavior in me. I used to try and just figure things out on my own, but in a country where I couldn’t even sound out the alphabet, not asking for help was not an option, at times.
.-= Kelsey´s last blog ..The Way I Travel: Slowly =-.
Kelsey
11. Apr, 2010
Forgot to add this:
The worst for me is when I see Americans behaving badly overseas. It’s one of the main reasons I don’t have a flag patch on my bag; it’s not because I don’t want to out myself as a yankee to the locals, it’s that I don’t want to out myself to other American tourists. We’re not all bad, sure, but I have seen some pretty atrocious behavior our of my fellow countrymen over the years, and it has been enough to make me want to disassociate myself from them. When I was in Switzerland, one day a big, loud, obnoxious group of American tourists got on the local bus I was on. They saw me and started to head towards me. I panicked and picked up a Swiss newspaper, and when they saw that they assumed I was Swiss and turned around. Bullet dodged.
.-= Kelsey´s last blog ..Friday Friend: Abby =-.
matt
11. Apr, 2010
The metro thing gets me every time. Whenever I’m in a rush to get home, there are a thousand people standing on the wrong side of the metro escalators. Kills me!
Steph
11. Apr, 2010
I asked about a dozen people their thoughts and complaints about the metro was number one annoyance by far.
Gray
11. Apr, 2010
Great list, Steph! All of these are good points, but #2 especially seems rude to me. The other things may be chalked up to naivete, ignorance, being awestruck at being in a new place, jetlag, etc., but badmouthing the place while you’re there….in front of the people who live there? So not cool.
.-= Gray´s last blog ..Shiny Travel Objects: April 11, 2010 =-.
Steph
11. Apr, 2010
It’s shamefully rude isn’t it?
Kim
11. Apr, 2010
Reminds me of my fave anti-tourist and american moment – a couple of tourists off the cruise ship were standing in the middle of the road on a nearby caribbean island (after having walked back and forth a couple of times) at morning rush hour. When one suggested to the other that they get off the road and let the traffic pass the response was “we’re american’s on holiday and we can do what we d**m well please!” No – I don’t judge all american tourists by that standard, but it is a great story!
.-= Kim´s last blog .."Two Times Kim" Strikes Again =-.
Steph
11. Apr, 2010
Ugh, I hate that stuff- it gives us all (Americans and tourists in general) a bad name.
Mary Jo
11. Apr, 2010
This has nothing to do with being a tourist, and everything to do with manners. I have seen and/or experienced all the above behavior from locals. DC breeds a certain attitude of entitlement which manifests itself in much the way you describe above. It just seems worse in the summer when the number of visitors increase — all about numbers then.
DC, and the world, would be a better place if people had manners and respect for the people and places around them, but it’s not about the tourists.
.-= Mary Jo´s last blog ..MJ’s Travel Favorites 4-11-10 =-.
Steph
11. Apr, 2010
It is about manners but I would say manners have a lot to do with being a tourist. There are a lot of things that annoy me about DC locals at times (although I’m not sure entitlement is the word I would use) but these issues seem to be universal tourist problems no matter where you travel.
I agree the world would be better if everyone had manners and respect, but the behavior of traveler’s is as good a place to start as any.
Suzy
11. Apr, 2010
Number 1 would be my biggest compliant about tourists. Living in Florence, people would stop with their maps in the middle of a narrow busy street. No one could get by, causing me to lose some patience. I don’t know what it is about a foreign city anywhere that people think the standard rules don’t apply. I love posts that try and reverse problems with travel rather than just complain about them. Great way of doing this and even better tips!
.-= Suzy´s last blog ..Dealing with Dreaded Travel Hesitation =-.
Steph
11. Apr, 2010
Yup I’ve noticed this all over. People just stop in their tracks, blocking sidewalks, subways, everything. I always try to be very conscious not to do this.
Alouise
11. Apr, 2010
Great tips. I always hate asking for help, I don’t know what it is, probably my very stubborn and independent nature. But I also know that if I’m really lost or confused or whatnot asking a local is sometimes the only way to get things done. And I’ve never had any be rude when I’ve asked for help. Other commenters have posted on manners and I think that’s probably the best way for tourists and locals to get along. Be polite, say please and thank you and be respectful of the people you meet, whether you’re at home or away.
.-= Alouise´s last blog ..List #2 – Canada Vs The US =-.
Steph
12. Apr, 2010
I’m resistant to asking for help as well but I’ve encountered locals who went above and beyond to be of assistance which I always appreciate. We all just need to be decent to each other.
Jessica
11. Apr, 2010
Great tips…….. and I’m pretty stoked that I found someone else who says, “super not okay”. Seriously though who in the world thinks its okay to yell in the Holocaust Museum, wtf people!?
Steph
12. Apr, 2010
People don’t think is the problem!
JoAnna
11. Apr, 2010
As a resident of Las Vegas, we definitely get our fair share of tourists. The tip I would add is don’t act stupid just because you’re on vacation. Have some self-respect, put on some clothes, don’t throw up in public places, and note tips 1-4 above. You might think that what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, but one of the things tourists often leave behind here is a bad reputation.
.-= JoAnna´s last blog ..Agritourism at Finca el Cisne | Copan Ruinas, Honduras =-.
Steph
12. Apr, 2010
Yup, just because you personally are on vacation doesn’t mean the rules of how to behave have changed. I like the one about putting on some clothes!
SHABL
12. Apr, 2010
You can respect the rules but some people are just jerks (locals) and some don’t care what you do. I think if you act like you would back home with basic decency and treat everyone with respect you’re “good to go”. think of the taco bell commercial.
.-= SHABL´s last blog ..Cammo Cargo Shorts, Eating Boiled Duck and Walking in Vietnam Sucks Compared to Biking, Seriously =-.
Steph
12. Apr, 2010
We would definitely all benefit from some decency on both sides of the divide.
Caroline in the City
12. Apr, 2010
I was inspired by your list so I came up with my own for Charleston. The horse tours really bug me here but I’m sure those Segways in DC are a pain in the ass.
http://bit.ly/bzDQvM
Steph
12. Apr, 2010
haha I always giggle when i see those segways. But part of me secretly really wants to try it out.
Stephen
12. Apr, 2010
Walk left. Stand right. Walk left. Stand right. This used to kill me on my Sat commute into the District.
Steph
12. Apr, 2010
Seriously. They even have signs! Nobody likes an escalefter.
aelle
12. Apr, 2010
A word about badmouthing: don’t EVER assume that people don’t understand you. No matter where you are. No matter which language you’re speaking. There will always be, at some point, someone who does understand you – this never ends well. Also, even if they don’t, body language and intonation are half your message, people know when you’re criticizing them, trying to scam them or generally treating them like an idiot.
.-= aelle´s last blog ..Fresh green =-.
Steph
12. Apr, 2010
That is a really good point and rule for life. negative comments are for when you are actually in private.
Akila
12. Apr, 2010
The badmouthing is such a big one. We get it a lot in the South where people say things like, “Oh wow, can you believe the way these people talk?” I have, literally, to my face been told that my hometown was a racist place because there were more white people than black people in the town. Where is the decency, people?
.-= Akila´s last blog ..the color of resiliency =-.
Steph
12. Apr, 2010
I used to hear that stuff sometimes when I lived in Atlanta, usually from northerners.
Stephanie
12. Apr, 2010
I saw that there’s another poster who lives in Florence too, awesome! =) I absolutely agree with your list, especially when it comes to traffic and badmouthing the city. Tourist season seems to start around Easter with the school groups (most of whom are European, if not Italian, and believe me, Italian teenagers aren’t much more behaved than certain tour groups!!) and seems to come to a head around July. Most tourists are wonderful, it’s just the rude ones who give everyone else a bad name. I understand completely if you doesn’t like this city, I know it’s not for everyone, but please don’t disrespect it on account of that!
Steph
12. Apr, 2010
In my experience teenagers are often the worst offenders. I suppose they don’t know any better but I am grateful my parents traveled with me a lot as a kid and taught me how to behave respectfully.
Abby
12. Apr, 2010
Get out of the middle of the road. If you’d stopped there, I’d have been happy with this post! Worst offense was living in Manhattan. Honorable mentions were living in Orlando and Miami, where drivers would putt-putt down busy streets while reading a map. And then fly over four lanes of traffic when they see their hotel… Great for asking them to ask for help. What local doesn’t love showing off/talking about their city?
.-= Abby´s last blog ..My poker-playing, China-living brother checks in =-.
Steph
13. Apr, 2010
haha we are already used to bad drivers here (Marylanders)
.
Matt
12. Apr, 2010
Good list Steph. But I’m not sure I can totally come on board with number one.
When we live in a city and call it home, we often forget how daunting it can be to get around. After having just spent 10 months in DC, I very often became frustrated with the people blocking the metro doors, escalators, or walkways. However, when I would get too frustrated, I’d remember that time I was trying to maneuver my way through the Madrid metro system at 9am in the morning. Not an easy task first because I didn’t speak Spanish, second because I had everything and the kitchen sink on my back, and third because I had spent all night on a cramped bus.
So whenever I became frustrated with the tourists, I’d think about that time and realize that to most of them, the DC metro was as daunting a the Madrid one for me. This being said, you STILL don’t have to be an escalefter!
.-= Matt´s last blog ..A Local’s Perspective: Washington, DC =-.
Steph
13. Apr, 2010
I certainly have sympathy for the fact that they don’t know their way around. I do wish that they would move out of the stream of traffic to get their bearings rather than stopping dead in their tracks and causing traffic jams. I think it’s important to be aware of your physical space and how you are effecting others around you,
ehalvey
12. Apr, 2010
Great post! I’m going to be one of those lost tourists in DC this weekend
. I remember the poor visitors hopelessly lost in Atlanta that I’d try to help as an intern at the High. The 33 Peachtrees and Perimeter are too much for directionally challenged people.
I try to read the signs before I ask for help, especially in other countries. I hate being the schmuck who needs to ask in English-like when my flight disappeared in Frankfurt. Yay for pictograms!
.-= ehalvey´s last blog ..Zumi Sushi in the Lovely Weather =-.
Steph
13. Apr, 2010
I used to live in Atlanta, I know exactly what you are talking about- it is a directional nightmare.
Samuel
13. Apr, 2010
Awesome writing, and so true. Perspective on how to behave in according to what the locals would like can never be written about too often. If it’s in USA or Vietnam – some basic rules always apply. Nicely written, thanx for sharing!
.-= Samuel´s last blog ..Walking_About: RT @GotSaga 5 Magical places of #Norway that you never heard of http://ow.ly/1xkEQ #travel #lp =-.
Steph
13. Apr, 2010
Thanks Samuel!
Becs
13. Apr, 2010
ohmigod, don’t come to LA if you want “stand on the right walk on the left” on ‘scalators. i took the subway a few weeks ago here (yes, we have one!) and i wanted to kill EVERYONE who didn’t abide by that law (which was almost everyone, and they are locals!). i had never seen it that bad IN MY LIFE!
i think i have spent too much time in cities that actual have heard of that “rule”.
(sidenote: funny enough, even in countries where you drive on the otherside of the road, the rule is the same!!)
Steph
14. Apr, 2010
Yeah similar guidelines in London as well! It’s a good rule for life.
Kate Lyn
13. Apr, 2010
Excellent post, Stephie! As someone living in NYC, I am in complete agreement. People stopping in the middle of the sidewalk is my (and every other New Yorker’s) main complaint. That, or tourist groups/families that walk on the sidewalk 5 people wide. It would just be nice if people would remember that some of us actually live here, and need to get to work/school, etc.
I do have sympathy though, and have never NOT answered a lost tourist’s questions. Pretty much all New Yorkers (or any city’s members) will, if people will just stand out of the way!
Steph
22. Apr, 2010
I am actually flattered when people ask for my help- means i look like I have my shit together!
Vi
22. Apr, 2010
“3. Keep Your Voice Down”
I think one of the reasons some tourists are talking so loud they are thinking what nobody around understand their language.
.-= Vi´s last blog ..Quarantine in Australia =-.
Steph
22. Apr, 2010
Probably true but definitely no less annoying!