The Moana statue in Moana Sapa in Vietnam. Picture: Unsplash
In a digital world where social media users are exposed to amazing pictures and videos promoting beautiful destinations around the world, it’s easy to romanticise travel.
Travel books, tour guides and travel influencers create content compelling travellers to check out popular or world-famous attractions.
After travelling and backpacking to many parts of Asia including Moana Park in Sapa Vietnam, digital content creator, Lolly Travels (@lolly.trvls) took to the social media platform, TikTok, and shared some of her experiences travelling the continent and Vietnam.
“Asia isn’t as cheap as people make out. You have to be careful with scams, some people will see a backpacker and just see a dollar sign.
“People on social media completely glamorise backpacking and it’s really big shock when you see it yourself,” said the travel content creator.
She also mentioned that another thing she wishes she had known is that most places in Asia that you’ve seen pictures of are just tourist traps.
“The biggest shock by going travelling for me was finding out that all of these like amazing pictures that you find on the internet, they’re all just tourist traps,” said the content creator.
@lolly.trvls Replying to @jack.ishy Did anyone else find this in south east asia? 😭 #touristtrap #vietnam #sapa #tiktokvietnam #traveltiktok #travelling #travellingtips #backpacking #budgettravel #southeastasia ♬ original sound - Lolly Travels ✈️🏝️🌊
“Tourist traps” are establishments at popular tourist attractions that target tourists with overpriced experiences and souvenirs.
With a notorious reputation for long lines, colossal crowds, and bank-breaking gift shops, tourist traps could alter a traveller’s experience resulting in feelings of disappointment similar to the disappointment of ordering something and it not meeting your expectations.
To give a realistic outlook on travel, here are 10 of the world’s biggest tourist traps, according to Casago vacation rentals.
1. Fisherman’s Wharf San Francisco, US
2. Las Ramblas Barcelona, Spain
3. Dole Plantation, Wahaiwa, US
4. Temple Bar Dublin, Ireland
5. Blue Lagoon Grindavik, Iceland
6. Check Point Charlie, Berlin Germany
7. Times Square New York, US
8. Cafe Du Mond New Orleans, US
9. Hofbrauhaus Munich, Germany
10 Guinness Storehouse Dublin Ireland
According to the vacation rentals site, the list was compiled by ranking the number of mentions of the phrase “tourist trap” in accompanying TripAdvisor reviews.