That’s precisely the example I had in mind when I wrote the article! I used to live in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and I was amazed that tourists felt they could simply walk around the city in bikini tops or swim trunks… no one who lives in San Juan does that!

Thanks for your comment. You’re right about London… and the fact that in most big cities, including mine (NYC), you’ll see locals wearing and doing thousands of different things. What that says to me is that as a tourist, you don’t need to be clinging to your bag; the place is safe enough for people to feel they can express themselves in thousands of different ways.

Not sure how useful this is. I live in London and on an average day you’ll see locals wearing all of the above, and see people carrying bags closely, loosely, any which way.

I’d also question the looking at maps in the street thing. Sometimes you have to, I mean, again using London as an example, if you’re trying to find a street, you’ll need to be looking both at the map and the street signs around you. It’s certainly not uncommon to see Londoners thumbing a copy of the A-Z, it’s a big place, and few people know where everything is.

Backpacks on the front though, you might as well have TOURIST tattooed on your forehead.

Kaytee- Waist pack definitely sounds better, but it doesn’t make the fanny pack look better!

Glad to see that someone did take up a defense of the fanny pack!

If you read the post carefully, you’ll see that I’m not criticizing the use of a map– not at all! I just advise not whipping it out in the middle of the street. Step off the street into a place where you can lay the map flat, where you can sip a coffee or a mango lassi, and get your bearings.

Also, regarding sticking out when you’re a different race– that’s what point #1 addresses. In some places, as I wrote, it’s absolutely unavoidable to stick out like a sore thumb. That’s cool– and can be the best way to strike up a conversation or exchange with locals.