It can be cringe-worthy to see a tourist stand out like a sore thumb in a foreign country. Nobody wants to be that person, and a traveler can stay much safer if they look like a local. Being conspicuous is a good way to attract a mugging. Fortunately, there are a lot of simple tricks a traveler can us to fit in. A few simple packing tips can go a long way.
How to Not Look Like a Tourist with a Backpack
Unless one is on a university campus, odds are, he or she is going to look out of place with a backpack. Most travelers carry a daypack anyways, since they need supplies throughout the day. A better option is an over-the-shoulder bag. This is what locals in any given country are more likely to carry rather than a backpack.
Clothes that Make Travelers Stand Out
Budget backpackers have a hard time because they are carrying all their clothes in one bag. It is easy to wrinkle clothing. Still, these travelers tend to forget the importance of appearance in most developing countries. The citizens of most developing countries overwhelmingly tend to put on nice clothes no matter what income bracket they are in. They are often shocked and appalled and the dirty clothes of budget travelers
Simple solutions like wearing a collared shirt can make a big difference. It is one way to look nice without having to carry around a lot of clothes. Khaki and cotton pants are good options as well and tend to hold up against wrinkles. The problem with light-colored clothing is sometimes it is hard to keep clean. For the rest of a backpacker’s clothes, rolling them up can help combat wrinkles.
Ways to Look Like a Tourist in a Foreign Country
A dead-giveaway of a tourist, usually from the United States, is a Nalgene water bottle. It is extremely rare to find people from other countries with these bottles. It simply doesn’t happen.
For women, a pony-tale can also be a tell-tale sign of someone from the United States, Canada or Australia particularly. This is especially true if it is worn high on the head. Carry a Nalgene bottle and wear a high pony-tale and one will definitely look like a tourist.
How to Carry a Map Discretely
When a traveler is lost they are at their most vulnerable. There is no better way to advertise being lost than to take out a map. Though this sometimes can’t be avoided, it can help to fold up a map so that just the area where on is going can be seen with the rest bent behind it. Then a budget traveler can glance at the map to orient themselves without having to open it up in its entirety. The folded map can also be carried on top of a book.
And it is important to not forget how far simply walking purposefully and with confidence can go in deterring a potential robber.
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