Being a cringe tourist in 2025? Not okay.
No matter if “Bali Girl Era”, “European Summer” or “Main Character Energy in Lisbon” – traveling is a mood.
But what if your mood is overtaking a whole city?
Tourism 🫱🏼🫲🏻 Gentrification
Imagine: You wake up in Italy, drink your coffee on the balcony of your Airbnb, post a story “Living like a local” – but not a single local is left in your house. Just other tourists doing the same. Meta, right?
Tourism brings in $$, obviously. But often mainly for investors with six Airbnbs and a crypto podcast.
Hot take: When your destination is only hipster cafés, concept stores & Airbnbs you’re visiting a lifestyle museum.
Cities for everyone (except locals?)
Airbnb sounds great until you realise, that whole districts in Lisbon and other cities remain vacant. Why?
Because flats get turned into vacation homes.
Because rents rises by up to 70% in just a few years.
Because there are no more daycare centres, schools or supermarkets left for locals. It’s just not worth it for 3-day tourists.
Beaches aren’t made for masses 🏖️
Mallorca is reducing its deck chairs by 20% on the beaches of Palma.
You might think “Who cares? As long as Ballermann remains open”.
Plot twist: It’s because sea levels are rising. 🌊
Sounds like a logistical problem. But it’s a symptom of something bigger: climate change doesn’t spare holiday destinations. Beaches are shrinking, while planes continue to land every 10 minutes.
Tourism isn’t independent from climate – it’s part of it. So much so, that the global tourism sector accounts for 8% of all CO₂ emissions.
How to go abroad, without being a menace ☀️
Do you know these people that say “I love traveling and exploring new cultures sooooo much” after eating an Acai-Bowl in the same co-working café every single day?
No shade, but… Actually, yeah a little shade.
Traveling like a local doesn’t just mean not staying in all-inclusive resorts. It means asking yourself: How do I move around? Where does my money go? Am I part of a bigger problem?
Eat like you mean it 🍝
Put your money where your mouth is, they say, right? So we say, eat where you can’t spot a Tripadvisor badge. The more locals inside the restaurant, the better. Local farmers’ markets, street food, bakeries – you name it!
Locals know best where to spend $$, trust ’em!
Don’t sleep on it 🛌
Small bed and breakfasts > Insta-rooftop Airbnbs
If you stay at small hotels and homestays, book directly over their website – platforms often take up to 30% commission.
Your adventure is someone’s life🗿
You don’t have to be a polyglot, but a handful of words are doable. Talk to locals, ask them for directions, thank them for their help, find out about life in their country.
Bargaining is okay depending on the culture, but it’s not a power-move. What may be a bargain for you, could be their weekly wage.
Respect the locals, not just their sights.
Tourist etiquette in a nutshell
Tourism isn’t a hall pass to do whatever you want.
Here’s a mini crash course for anyone who doesn’t want to end up in a tourist fail compilation:
🔊 No speakers on the beach. No one wants to listen to TikTok playlists. Least of all the wildlife.
🍻 Drink less, shout less. You’re not 15 anymore (I assume).
🗑️ We’re all for exploring – but don’t you dare trash nature!
🥽 Don’t buy plastic junk for a 3-minute holiday memory.
👙 Swim wear ≠ Outfit for the city centre.
🌽 Local art, farmers’ markets, second-hand? Always supreme.
🛍️ No travel hauls & holiday wardrobes (that’s so brit-crew 2013)
⛓️💥 Don’t shop at chains
🛥️ Cruises 🚫🚫🚫
Be a guest – not a problem.
If you’ve read this far: thank you. You’re probably someone who wants more than just pretty scenery. Someone who knows the difference between ‘looking’ and ‘experiencing’. You can be part of the solution. By taking a stand and thoughtful actions.
Stay awesome,
Lea and your friends from Faircado 🩵
Are you enjoying our newsletter? Then, make sure to sign up and get them straight in your inbox every few weeks.
