Too many tourists - local backlash

[Cossie]

Benefits of staying in places overnight, Cesky Krumlov, almost deserted after 4pm when the tour groups have left, another example was when we stayed in Monchau, had the place to ourselves after 4.

I realise this isn't always possible for a lot of people, but for me, another reason I don't like cruises. Of course , as usual ymmv.

 

[burmans]

Benefits of staying in places overnight, Cesky Krumlov, almost deserted after 4pm when the tour groups have left, another example was when we stayed in Monchau, had the place to ourselves after 4.

I realise this isn't always possible for a lot of people, but for me, another reason I don't like cruises. Of course , as usual ymmv.

Absolutely, had similar experiences in Tallinn. For mine, there are some key ways to mitigate this problem
- choose time of day, usually earlier or later but depends on the site
- choose time of year, avoid Europe peak season at all costs, June/Sept/Oct so much better. This applies to many other places too, shoulder seasons always work best.
- walk away from the tourist sites, sometimes its only a couple of blocks to get away from the masses. Also investigate where locals rather than tourists go
- google ‘ best alternative to xx_x’ or best places off the tourist track. In Armenia recently we visited two UNESCO listed monasteries only 5 km apart, one was overrun by tourist buses, the other we were the only people there most of the time. You can guess which I preferred, it was an amazing experience!

 

[Himeno]

The joys of the daily commute Not so much an issue in CBR.

Unless you're going home from work on the R2 bus right as the schools get out. Going from 5 people on the bus to the bus full of loud high school kids, most of who lie about not having bus cards.

 

[drron]

Worst places ? - try Ketchikan or Juneau - entire waterfronts of both small towns (tho Juneau is state capital) are owned by cruise ship companies - selling watches, jewelry, notions and little else. Place is near-deserted after 4-5 cruises leave in the arvo. We stayed in both places for a few days last Sept and learned to stay away from the waterfront.

We were getting on a cruise from Petersburg Alaska which at the time had a population less than 3000. Locals loved us staying before and after the cruise. Of course the passenger count was only 8.
We did spend 3 days in Juneau before the cruise waiting for our friends. After the first day we hired a car and got as far out of town as possible, Wasn’t very far but much less stressful.

The worst problem was finding a restaurant at night that still had king crab legs.

And for those that think instagrammers are not a problem go to Japan in cherry blossom time. Particularly Kawaguchigo. No cruise tours go there but a couple of years ago the locals tried unsuccessfully to restrict the instagrammers.