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What's A Total Scam For Tourists That More People Should Be Warned About?

Be your own travel agent!!

Travel can be so overwhelming, especially when you're planning a trip to somewhere far and unfamiliar. And, it's no secret that people and companies like to prey on naive tourists.

two tourists wearing khakis, floral shirts, very bad sunburns, and cameras

Perhaps you learned a little too late that certain third-party websites should NOT be used for booking hotels or airfare, as their reservations are unreliable and could leave you stranded somewhere. Now, you only book directly from the source.

close up of someone holding their passport with their tickets inside

Maybe you built an entire Italian getaway around seeing big landmarks like the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Colosseum, but you ended up spending most of your vacation in crowds and lines rather than exploring outside of these notorious destinations.

a man photoshopped hugging and kissing the leaning tower of pisa

Or, perhaps you fell for a timeshare deal that sounded too good to be true, only to end up with an overpriced, underwhelming condo you can only access one week out of the year.

a man in a floral shirt and sombrero holding a beer and grimacing

What are some travel scams that more people need to watch out for? What are some overhyped tourist traps that people should avoid when planning their vacations? Whether you're a tourism professional or just a traveler who has learned a few lessons, we want to hear your opinion! Tell us in the comments below. The best submissions will be featured in a BuzzFeed Community post!