"Don't waste your money on bottled water! I just drank the tap water and I feel fine," brags a fellow hostel guest in Kathmandu. This person won't be seen again for three days, looking about 8lbs lighter.

"I never book a room before I get to a destination. It's better to visit all the hostels first, then make a decision," a traveller confidently informs you as you spend 10 minutes booking a room online. This person will spend four hours wandering the streets in search of the last open bed in Barcelona, lugging all their possessions and spending US$8 on public transport, while you check in, go to a museum, eat lunch and maybe have a nap.

"French people are very rude and British people are all polite," says your auntie, who has never been abroad.

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/europe/travel-tips-and-articles/totally-like-bogus-the-worlds-worst-travel-advice

what about befriend phillipinoes that have a cousin in ur country an want to talk to you and, oh by the way their uncle works at a casino an u can make some easy $$$

what about befriend phillipinoes that have a cousin in ur country an want to talk to you and, oh by the way their uncle works at a casino an u can make some easy $$$

55555 I could come up with sooooo many stories like that. From trying to be sold "real" Cuban cigars in Cuba to locals trying to practice their English with me (and trying to get a free lunch in the process).

LOL

Beijing Airport. You can walk to your boarding gate in 15 mins.

The one about the hostels I recognise from Amsterdam.. Whenever I go I see people dragging their bags from hotel to hotel because someone has said you don't need to book..

what about befriend phillipinoes that have a cousin in ur country an want to talk to you and, oh by the way their uncle works at a casino an u can make some easy $$$

55555 I could come up with sooooo many stories like that. From trying to be sold "real" Cuban cigars in Cuba to locals trying to practice their English with me (and trying to get a free lunch in the process).

LOL

I guess it may occur elsewhere but I remember hearing it first in Indonesia/Sumatra as "Hello Mister Syndrome"

Sorry double post.

Edited February 5, 201412 yr by RabC

The flight will be a Rolls Royce experience.

I wasn't sure what they mean by that after the A380 disaster.

Edited February 5, 201412 yr by Lockheed

The one about the hostels I recognise from Amsterdam.. Whenever I go I see people dragging their bags from hotel to hotel because someone has said you don't need to book..

I see them wandering around Bangkok and Pattaya ALL the time too.

Avoid the regular transport from the airport and take a lift from some guy waiting at arrivals. As a local he will have knowledge of all the best deals in town.

And when someone tells you the Grand Palace is shut, it's because it is shut.

You can also save a lot of money by buying diamonds wholesale.

Edited February 6, 201412 yr by NCFC

Owning real estate on Phuket is a sure thing, but you have to act fast because it is just so popular, the best deals go fast.

- Overheard at Jungceylon as a sales rep was trying to convince an elderly tourist couple to buy.

Scratch the coupon and you can win a valuable prize.

- The time share tout introductory line

Hello sir where are you from? We have excellent quality suits made to order, very good price, I make you good price.

- The usual tailor tout offering to sell a shoddily made ill fitting suit that will fall apart after a few uses.

Hello, hello, hello, delicious Indian food here. Yes, you come good Indian food.

- The Ao Nang menu brigade. Would a good restaurant really need to do this?

You can get Viagra so easily in Bangkok. They sell it on the streets.

- In reference to the counterfeit Viagra sold by vendors. The products contain no active ingredients, are illegal and may poison the user.

what about befriend phillipinoes that have a cousin in ur country an want to talk to you and, oh by the way their uncle works at a casino an u can make some easy $$$

++ for this; I have learned to never wear a T-shirt or hat that identifies anything about my home city...

"Oh my God!! My niece is going to go to college there this year...she is really scared and has many questions....Here, let me call her now.............................."

Tours are for suckers, you'll see a lot more interesting things on your own.

Beijing Airport. You can walk to your boarding gate in 15 mins.

Sounds very reasonable to me, allowing passengers to know how long a walk it is to your destination gate. At least passengers are informed / warned so no need for late boarding or cases having to be removed. Perhaps that is why Beijing Airport is voted as one of the top ten in the world.

Tours are for suckers, you'll see a lot more interesting things on your own.

I'd mostly agree with you, but there are some major exceptions. Impossible to do Galapagos, Machu Picchu, Kilimanjaro, etc on your own. Only guided tours. And there are many others.

I was in Egypt 2 years ago. Walking around I saw a group go into a locked area. Being sneaky, I followed them. It was a private tour and they were seeing places not open to the public. And they were amazing. Might be worth the price of a tour?

Tours are for suckers, you'll see a lot more interesting things on your own.

I'd mostly agree with you, but there are some major exceptions. Impossible to do Galapagos, Machu Picchu, Kilimanjaro, etc on your own. Only guided tours. And there are many others.

I was in Egypt 2 years ago. Walking around I saw a group go into a locked area. Being sneaky, I followed them. It was a private tour and they were seeing places not open to the public. And they were amazing. Might be worth the price of a tour?

The thread is titled "The worlds worst travel advice"

I think that for most people, tour are the bast way to go.

Got me! 5555555

I'm not a tour person. Except when necessary. But like you said, for many, it's a great way to go. Makes it simple and you don't need to do a lot of research.

When in a strange city for the first time (London for example) the best thing is to take a open bus tour just to orient yourself and then go back to the places that are on your must see list

Tour for me if I've never been there before. Nice air conditioned buses took me right to the Eiffel Tower, the ‎Louvre, ‎Notre Dame Cathedral, The ‎Champs-Elysées, the Arc De Triomphe, Sacre-Coeur, Versailles Palace, Concorde Square, Montmartre, Musee D'Orsay, Moulin Rouge, and a trip down the Loire Valley to see ancient castles and wine growing country.

Tours are great for cities you've never been to.