If you're a stranger in a strange land, there's no way on God's green earth that you aren't going to stand out as a tourist. No matter how good your camouflage, the very act of paying attention to what is unique and interesting to you and everyday-so-what to the locals will necessarily brand you as not-of-this-place.

"No matter how good your camouflage, the very act of paying attention to what is unique and interesting to you and everyday-so-what to the locals will necessarily brand you as not-of-this-place."

Yep - pretty much.

I was asked for directions a few times in Germany, but always when I was sitting on a bench, reading a book, and eating a snack while my husband was off taking his 300th picture inside some church. I guess some tourists figured that I must be local, otherwise I'd be taking pictures of the church too - LOL. I don't think it had anything to do with what I was wearing.

For one thing, if you are in a small town, the locals know you don't live there! (or even nearby!)

For some reason, I'm never mistaken for a tourist. I always bring a camera, but it's small and is in my bag, never around my neck. I don't have a map or guidebook- I prefer to ask the locals. I dress casually, not as a travel warrior.

foodfreak wrote: "For some reason, I'm never mistaken for a tourist."

First, if you are a tourist and are thought to be one, you are not mistaken for one.

Second, you don't know what most people take you for.

It's incredibly easy not to be taken for a tourist. Spend 30 years learning and practicing a foreign language and speak it like a native. Even if you're wearing one of those dumb fanny packs and a Hawaiian-print shirt and sporting Crocs in lime green and carrying a map and a camera, no one will ever guess you're a tourist.

As I've said in a thread on this similar "how to look like a local" nonsense, just because someone asks you for directions or for info, does NOT mean they think you're a local.

They're approaching you because you look APPROACHABLE. You don't look busy or harried--IOW, you look like you might be willing to help them, rather than give them the brush off.

People who need directions usually stop and ask the first kind-looking face they see and it has nothing to do with whether they think the person is a local or a tourist.

As for St. Cirq's suggestion, we've opted to bypass all that and simply take our dog with us on most of our travels. People usually think someone walking a dog knows the area, no matter how the dog walker is dressed. And, of course, dog walkers also tend to look like they're not pressed for time (esp. if you have an English cocker like ours who believes it's important to stop and check out every intriguing smell).

<i>For one thing, if you are in a small town, the locals know you don't live there! (or even nearby!)
</i>

And even if you live there, it doesn't make you a &quot;local&quot;. Small towns have long memories, and even a 10-year resident can still be treated like the new kid in town. In the town that I grew up in, everyone called the pizza place by a name it hadn't had in 15 years. Ditto for the butcher. And directions - 'well then you turn at (long dead) Bill Johnson's place'...

november_moon - very funny. I have to say, I find it liberating traveling to countries where you have no chance of blending in.

Hmmmmm, I can't remember any locals anywhere I've been coming up to me and saying &quot;You're a tourist!&quot; So I guess they aren't mistaking me for a tourist?

On a recent trip to Paris I was asked by a shopkeeper in an elegant store if I was on their mailing list.
A clerk at Galeries Lafayette offered me the store credit card.

I would never presume I was taken for a &quot;local&quot; because of my French or my outfit ( neither one that great).
People from around the world live, shop, visit , work in big cities like Paris, New York, London
Not looking like a tourist ( whatever that means) is important to some , but the local businesses will be happy to accommodate you
&quot; Even if you're wearing one of those dumb fanny packs and a Hawaiian-print shirt and sporting Crocs in lime green and carrying a map and a camera, &quot;

risab, I think you make a great point. I've never understood why tourists are so often ashamed of themselves that they are afraid to appear as when they really are?

And while we're at it, I might add the idea that it is equally silly to think you want to avoid anything touristy (the most famous attractions anywhere are famous for a reason) or to avoid any restaurant where &quot;other tourists go&quot;. These days there are so many very savvy tourists, that many have already well sought out the very best places to eat. If no tourist has found it in their serious quests for great eating, then it probably isn't worth going to! I'll never understand the traveler who thinks he is the ONLY person to ever go to Venice or Rome or Paris who has looked for a great off the beaten track restaurant. If it's really good, some other tourist with the same goal has already &quot;discovered&quot; it. Trust me.

I'm a tourist. I'm a traveler. I'm proud to be both.

But sometimes you get crap advice on Forums about how to dress when abroad. This one just takes the biscuit.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g1...For.Spain.html

Well I have been to places where I definitely do not want to look like a local, thank you very much. Not every place we visit is a fashion capital or a healthy place. How about just looking like yourself.

travelgourmet, I agree!

A truly funny comment Padraig.

I live in NYC and it is a common question, how do I not appear like a tourist.

First your comportment is different. Locals walk with purpose, while tourists walk in a variety of ways including circles.

If you are dressed in shorts, particularly a family in shorts, in a business district you are easy to spot.

Second, if you are an American in Europe your watch, accessories, hair style, shoes, and eye glasses may also give you away.

Third, many tourists go to tourist areas. A pickpocket who wanted to fleece a tourist would not go a residential area.

Fourth, besides fanny packs, there are travel guides amd cameras that might give you away.

Clothes are but one aspect.

Well, Padraig, I speak 6 languages so, in Europe, I'm certainly not thought of as a tourist, certainly not an American one.... as the locals will tell me themselves (because I like to talk to locals rather than gawk or consistently consult a guidebook). An out-of-town visitor, but not that kind of tourist.

foodfreak, I am impressed.

&quot;because I like to talk to locals rather than gawk or consistently consult a guidebook). &quot;

no wonder locals in some cities get annoyed with people who constantly ask questions instead of consulting a map or a guide book!

I have a great picture of a friend and myself in Hawaii.

As we were going out the door on our way to the beach, we realized how touristy we looked, so we grabbed some extra stuff, including inflatable rubber mattresses, bags with the names of tour companies on them, and even floppy brimmed hats--these along with our sunglasses and bathing suit coverup.

We looked smashing, so we had our picture taken.

What is the definition of “out of town visitor?”

I've lived in San Diego most of my life. We welcome tourist here, it's never been a problem for someone to stop me and ask for directions. Business travelers are welcomed with the same enthusiasm as tourists.

I don’t know any San Diegan who has not had the, “out of town visitor”. And they come in different flavors.

There’s the friend who not only lives in an equally desirable city with a guest room. She’s delightful company and is a great cook to boot.

Of course, there’s the relative who just wants to substitute our home because the are too cheap or too broke to pay for a hotel room. The cheap ones, can stay one night, if they aren’t loathsome company. The broke ones are college student nephews or nieces and are usually welcomed.

The best Out of Town Visitor is the trustworthy person who wants to come stay in our home and take care of our pets while we go play tourists somewhere else.

Then there are the OTV's that, “we’d love to see but, gee, sorry, we’ve, umm, got the plague that week!”

Why should I bother if I am recognized as a tourist?

If you are touring you have 99% chances of being, at least at that moment, happy.

Why should I be bothered to let people know that I am happy?

I love having that stupid look in my face, eyes shining, neurons trying to register all I can see, nostrils open seeking por different smells, etc...

I love being a tourist, and don't give a damn if anybody or everybody else takes me for one.

PS: I think wearing socks with a soft sandal is soooo comfortable ;D