How to Spot a Tourist Trap Restaurant When Traveling

Tourist trap restaurants look appealing on the outside, but they usually end up being disappointing with their overpriced, subpar fare. Even if you are visiting a place that you’ve never been to before, you still can avoid a tourist trap. Here’s how to spot a tourist trap restaurant when you are traveling.

The Location
Tourist trap restaurants tend to be located in a touristy area. Even if you just walk a few streets away from this area, you can generally find a lot better of a restaurant. It’s worth it to walk a bit away from a touristy area in order to enjoy a great meal at a good price.

It’s Full Of Tourists
It’s usually pretty easy to spot tourists no matter where you are visiting. If a restaurant is full of them then it’s probably a tourist trap. Now, if you want to meet other tourists, then certainly join them at the restaurant. It can be fun to find other tourists to pal around with so that you can talk about your adventures and possibly hangout together during your vacation. However, if good food is what you are after, find someplace else to eat.

Large Menus On Display
It’s not uncommon for tourist traps to do everything possible to try to get tourists to walk through their doors. To draw attention to their restaurant they will usually have a large menu on display that acts as an eye catcher. While it’s nice to be able to see what a restaurant offers beforehand, restaurants that have an unnaturally large menu are probably just a tourist trap that’s trying to lure in unsuspecting travelers. Also, if you see any “fake” food on display, this is another sign that it’s a tourist trap. Restaurants that serve good food don’t tend to have to have these types of displays in order to entice diners to give their restaurant a try.

It Was Recommended By Your Hotel
Hotels staff do try to be helpful, but unfortunately it’s not uncommon for them to recommend tourist trap restaurants. This is because they assume that these types of places are where tourists want to go. Instead, ask the staff for recommendations as to their favorite places to eat. You’ll end up getting options that have better food and usually a better atmosphere.

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