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Surviving the Top Destinations in the World
It may seem odd to think of the top destinations in the world as something which one must survive but, in order to ensure an enjoyable vacation, one must have nearly as much skill to navigate these areas as is required to navigate the most primitive and unstable regions of the world. Of course, the reasons are much different. While unstable regions may pose a hazard to life and limb, tourist havens only pose a threat to one's patience and their wallet. Experienced travelers know a few good ways to increase their enjoyment of such vacations.
First and foremost, realize that the top destinations will all have an area which is almost exclusively dedicated to the needs of tourists. The stereotype for this is the Caribbean islands where the accommodations on the beach are a much different reality than the interiors of the islands. While a travel service may be able to book one into a nice, expensive hotel, a local guide may do much better. Consider hiring the services of a local guide—which are generally very cheap—so that one can get lodging in a cheaper, yet still safe, area of any destination.
Eating will also be a big expense in the world's top destinations. In the tourist areas, expect the local fare to be 'watered down' to suit the tastes of tourists while, at the same time, being priced up to accommodate those tourist's budgets. Oftentimes, the local establishments offer much better prices and more authentic food. Make certain that those establishments are clean and that their food is up to health standards. One does not want to spend their entire vacation in their hotel room with food poisoning!
The top destinations usually have an entire shopping district dedicated to tourists. Escape it. If one can engage the services of a local driver, they may be able to get an excellent tour of the actual destination, get to meet some locals and, perhaps, make a few new friends. If the area one is visiting does have stability concerns beyond the tourist areas, the State Department is a good source of information for traveler advisories and, of course, whenever one is visiting any location off the beaten path they should telephone their consulate and give them their itinerary just to ensure that the whole affair is exciting but, at the same time, as safe and sensible as possible.