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 The Trevi Fountain, Egypt's pyramids, and the Eiffel Tower are considered tourist traps. (Clipart.com) |
Q: How do I avoid tourist traps?
-- D. GALLO, SCARBOROUGH
A: One way is to avoid travelling in large groups. Organized sightseeing excursions often include stops at "markets" or shops that might be endorsed by local tour operators or affiliated with excursion companies.
I recall several times being let off at a roadside market with fellow bus passengers after the inevitable spiel by the tour guide: "You find only the best prices and the best products here."
Needless to say, once we cut loose from the group, we found better products and better prices. Sometimes even if you hire a "local" guide, he or she may bring you to their "favourite" haunts, which may include a visit to an uncle's restaurant or a cousin's shop.
Many official tourism offices have social media networking systems that you can link to from their websites, where you can read comments from travellers who have been to the destination. For instance, VisitLondon.com has a "People Like You" program that gives you the inside scoop on things to do.
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Also, you can use Twitter and Facebook to poll your "friends" and fellow Twitterers about your upcoming trip and ask for tips. And don't forget to check local newspapers and alternative publications that focus on entertainment such as The Coast in Halifax (thecoast.ca/halifax/Home).
These publications are often found in city centres and coffee shops, and will offer plenty of restaurant and entertainment reviews along with information on the social scene.
Lastly, I love to ask locals about their favourite haunts. They can confidently steer you away from tourist traps. But like everything, at the end of the day you need to trust your source.
Q: My wife and I are planning to take a vacation to Tibet within the next couple of years. We were wondering what kind of visas and/or permits we would need to get.
-- R. PEACE, TORONTO
A: The Canadian government site, Voyage.gc.ca, notes permission is required for travel to Tibet: "Travel is permitted only with an organized tour group or a package, which can be arranged through a reputable travel agency, either outside or within China." Travellers also need a visa to enter China.
Travel permits for Tibet are arranged through the travel agency or tour company you book with. For example, Marie Anne MacRae from GAP Adventures (which operates Tibet trips) says if a customer is booked with them, GAP will organize their Tibet permit and "the cost of the permit is included in the tour cost."
"But the customer is responsible for getting a Chinese visa," she adds. Gap Adventures will need a copy of the visa at least 25 days before the trip.
Ontario residents can apply for visas at the Consulate-General of the People's Republic of China at 240 St. George St. in Toronto (416-964-7260 or 416-964-8861) or visit the China National Tourist Office at tourismchina.org for travel information and details on how to obtain a visa application. In addition, your Canadian passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the date of entry into China.
The Canada Tibet Committee also has details on travelling to Tibet at its website tibet.ca/en/about_tibet/traveling_to_tibet.
ILONA@MYCOMPASS.CA