People to Avoid in Your Travels

Interacting with locals is one of the best parts of traveling, but there are some people you just want to avoid.

The Free Item Peddler

Look, there are occasions where someone offering you a free taste of food is great, but unless you’re in a market standing next to a stall and they’re clearly trying to make a sale, don’t take free stuff. Sadly, some people just like to see if they can get you in trouble and will claim theft or, if you’re in a bar, they might have put something in your drink.

The Grifter

You know those people that barely speak your language but seem a little too friendly at the bar? They’re trying to con you into a free drink. Okay, maybe not all of them, but there are plenty of people out there who will play nice with you thinking they can walk away without paying their share of the bill.

Random Street Merchant

It’s illegal to buy knock-offs in many places, but that doesn’t stop some people from trying to sell them to unsuspecting tourists. If it’s not in a store, or in a legitimate marketplace, just say no.

Personal Service Providers

In many countries you’ll find random strangers on the street offering to provide many services, from cleaning your ears (so dangerous) to cleaning your feet for you. They’ll do the deed and let you think it’s cheap, then try to extort you for ridiculous prices. Plus, you might lose an eardrum in the process.

The Tag-Along

This is that new ‘friend’ you made on the train to Tuscany that suddenly wants to go everywhere you do. Not because you’re having such a great time together, but because they’re cheap and want to force to help pay for everything they do. Nobody likes a tag-along, so feel free to ditch them at your earliest convenience.