Good article highlighting a major problem in travel today, that of the insensitive tourist and the greedy who prey on them. Please, everyone, when you travel, leave the smallest footprint possible. Shun those big bland, sterile corporate hotels like Ramada, Westin, Marriott, Hilton, etc when you go to Paris, Rome, Venice, Thailand, Costa Rica, Hawaii, Rio, or wherever. Being in one of those hotels you could be absolutely anywhere in the world, even St Louis, Missouri. They probably pay their staff peanuts, and I doubt much revenue ever gets back into the local economy. Stay at a small family-run hotel, a B&B (Zimmer in German-speaking countries, Chambres dhote in France), or with a family renting out a room (very typical in Greece, Italy, etc). That supports the locals directly, and you really get to know them and their way of life; you eat cheaper and better, and find out the really interesting places to see. When youre in, say, Morocco, stay in a riad -- you wont believe how fabulous they are. Several friends visiting Marrakech have stayed in the big hospital-like corporate hotels, usually on the edge of town, while we stayed in a riad, right in the heart of the city near the souks and the life. Avoid anywhere that has a minibar in the room, although these are disappearing fast. Paris & London are large enough that they can absorb many of the tourists, but Barcelona is not so lucky with only 2 million population. One reason I love Toulouse (pop. about 800,000) is that, although there are tourists, they are overwhelmed by the locals (a very diverse population), and there arent hordes of tourists in large groups being led around by guides with lollipops/yellow umbrellas that ensure you eat at certain restaurants and visit set jewellery stores. Once made the mistake of booking a week in a site unseen resort in Puerta Vallarta, outside town. Very plush, with great beachfront and huge pool, but it was full of vastly overweight Americans, whose conversation topics all centered around money, and how much theyd paid for this or that, and prices of food and drink were US prices. The following week we spent right in the heart of the old town in a one-bed apartment, also with great beach front, but wonderful selection of cheap restaurants and cafes nearby with traditional food, and owners who would come over and sit and chat when they werent busy. The money you spend there goes right back into the locals and citys pockets.
Posted on: Tue, 02 Sep 2014 20:18:08 +0000
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