Sometimes, when traveling, it’s far too often to eat out at restaurants that are total tourist traps.
If you’re going to eat out while traveling, why not try to find options that are more local and better quality? It helps the local economy and also gives you a better taste of the region’s cuisine.
Here are some tips for finding great local restaurants to try while traveling.
Consult with Internet Reviews
One of the best ways to find a great place to eat is to see what types of reviews people have left online. Websites like Google Maps and Yelp provide users with the opinions of others that have eaten there, helping you find good options and avoid bad ones.
Ask the Locals
If you know someone living in the city or region that you’re visiting, ask them where you should eat out! If not, it’s easy to ask a cab driver, someone in a bar, or a hotel receptionist where they’d suggest for a good, local meal.
Don’t Rely on Guide Books
Guide books are often full of restaurant recommendations, but they aren’t always useful or good. Tourist trap restaurants sometimes pay these publications for “advertising,” ensuring that their eateries will show up in these books. They can help, but don’t rely on them completely.
Avoid Places with Street Advertising
A good way to know that a restaurant is a tourist trap is if it has showy street advertising. Does a place have a huge, colorful, picture-filled menu on the sidewalk right outside of its front door? Is there a pushy host inviting diners in? It’s probably not the best option.
