I Would Tour, But There are Too Many Tourists.
There are more tourists, or in my case, people standing in front of me oblivious to their surroundings, than ever.
Not since the Exodus have there been so many people traveling without a clear destination in mind.
Guess what, that’s probably not going to change unless a plague or pestilence comes along. And although the Black Plague did reduce tourists by killing up to 50% of the population, that’s not the answer.
When are There No Lines at the Eiffel Tower?
Usually, between 2:00 and 5:00, there are almost no tourists at the Eiffel Tower. Of course, it does not open that early in the morning, and I did not say “no tourists,” just less. Some sites are always going to have crowds. The Vatican Museums, the Acropolis, The Great Wall, the Taj Mahal…
Why are they so crowded? At the time of their building, it was for fewer people or smaller forms of transportation. Think horse, cart, or chariot. The Great Wall is 16 feet wide. The Vatican has that single file staircase to the Sistine (sardine) Chapel (what’s that about?) And the Eiffel Tower and Empire State Building only have so many elevators.
The Last Supper by Da Vinci only allows 20-25 people every 15 minutes.
So is it hopeless? Only if you let it be. You can, and should see all of these sites. And it can be done without visions of homicide dancing in your brain.
Will I Ever See the Mona Lisa?
That’s a trick question. The Mona Lisa is only 2.5 feet tall by 1 ft 9 inches wide. The tourist groups standing in front of it, taking pictures of it, and the “No photos” sign next to it are 20 deep. It’s a challenge. No wonder she smirks.
Many sites, realizing they can not accommodate the tourists they are getting, are taking steps to correct that. They see the money they are leaving on the table.
While many museums across Europe close to the public on Mondays, they will open, for a price, to large tour groups. Something cruise lines and large tour companies have taken advantage of for years.
Rise and Shine
Some places have special morning tours. The Vatican Museums offers breakfast in the Courtyard of the Pine Cone with a guided tour at 7:45 in the morning before the main doors open.
After the Sun Goes Down
The Vatican Museums also offer evening programs, usually between April and October. Art and a cocktail or just a tour. Book these through the museum’s website.
The Colosseum began evening tours in 2018, including a visit to the basements, an area off-limits to everyone but archeologists.
Rome isn’t the only city finding more hours in the day. London’s Natural History Museum has evening tours as well as adult sleepovers. Ghost Tours at the Tower of London and private evening tours of Windsor Castle are also options.
Paris visitors can tour the Louvre on select evenings on a guided tour. Look for phantoms in the Opera House, enjoy a river cruise with or without dinner, or see Paris, the city of lights, from the Eiffel Tower, after dark.
So before setting aside a whole day to see that one painting, sculpture, building on your once-in-a-life list, see if you can see it from a different angle.
Plan and Book.
On a recent trip to a theme park, my inner child disappears because of something they call a fast pass. While a great idea in its conception, it now makes the park, and the “world” around it, a class system. The pendulum is swinging so far to one side to appease guests staying on property. It leaves locals and anyone else looking through the gates (standby line) at the beautiful people. You must now plan your “spontaneity” down to 15-minute intervals months in advance IF there are any spots left.
Luckily, most sites around the world have not stooped to this. Anyone can purchase a ticket or choose to stand in line. There are some places where you have to pre-book and others where, well, it’s a great idea.
Europe
The Last Supper in Milan, Italy. No more than 100 people get in per hour, and the site is open approximately 10 hours a day. (closed Mondays.) From the 1000 openings, tour groups take their blocks out. In short, as soon as you know you are going to Milan, check the website for when tickets go on sale for your date in Milan. It is usually 2-3 months out, and they release 1-2 months at a time. I have seen the entire block disappear in a few hours, especially for summer dates.
The Alhambra in Granada, Spain, also sells X number of tickets per day. After that, you are out of luck.
Neuschwanstein, in southern Germany, is the country’s most visited tourist attraction. If you are happy to travel all that way and only see it from outside, you can do that. If you want to look at the inside, only available with a 35-minute guided tour, no photos, then you need to book A.S.A.P.
The Rest of the World.
Machu Picchu from Cusco, Peru, also requires pre-planning as you cannot drive there. Even if you are willing to walk, only 500 people can access the trail a day. If the actual site meets its daily quota before you start hiking, they will turn you away. Tip – avoid Sundays when the site is free to local people or go very early. Once the park reaches capacity, they close the doors.
Thailand Beaches. Many Thai marine national parks close from mid-May to mid-October. For some beaches, that has not been enough. They are now closing some beaches year-round, like Maya Bay and Koh Tachai. They cannot sustain the number of people visiting and the damage they are doing. Finally, Thailand is starting to respect their beaches, and many have daily maximums. It’s not a perfect system, but it’s better than none at all. Do a lot of planning before visiting this area.
Grand Canyon and other National Parks. Parks hit maximums, especially in the summer. Some areas in the parks require special permits, which disappear quickly. You will be happier if you plan. You are not a tourist.
Any Others?
Are these the only spots that require planning? Unfortunately no. As tourist numbers grow, more places will become harder to reach. The Greek Island of Santorini already limits the number of cruise ships that call per day. (Still too many due to their size.)
The Cinque Terre villages of Italy are also looking into limiting visitors.
Skip the Line.
Part marketing, part crowd control, it is a good thing. Most sites have two ques—one to buy tickets, usually the longest, and one for security / actual entry. You do not skip both lines, but you do skip the longer of the two. Mid-summer, those ticket lines hit two and three-hour waits. I would go postal or pass out.
Pre-buy the ticket, take a mood enhancer, and enjoy the site.
Some sites to pre-purchase include the Louvre, Uffizi, Vatican, Accademia, well, all museums.
The Eiffel Tower, Colosseum, Alcatraz, well, all sites.
Everyone loves shopping online. Save your vacation time for seeing things outstanding, not to be out standing in line.
Tourist Season. Duck Season.
Despite what some travel “experts” say, traveling off-season is not always bad. Do not book travel during an area’s rainiest month if you can avoid it. But when is the best time to see the Northern Lights in Alaska? Between late October to March, which is usually not the warmest months in Alaska.
Mid-June to mid-September, if you see me on a Greek Island, I have been kidnapped and send help. I am sweating just thinking about the heat during that period. If you don’t mind sitting inside all day, then go with all the other millions.
However, most places have a happy middle point.
Many of my readers no longer have to plan vacations around their kid’s school calendar. So go to Florida in February, or Alaska in May before the waves hit. Do flexible-day searches on airline websites. You can see the prices go up when families can travel. Book the week before or after, and save money and your sanity.
Cole Porter loves Paris in the Springtime, and you can like it as well. May to mid-June and Mid-September to the end of October are usually perfect times to see Europe. Fewer tourists, a higher percentage of locals, pleasant temperatures. For the Baltic countries aim more for mid-way or later or September in the fall.
One Last Thought.
Before planning to go somewhere, ask yourself, “Why do I want to go?”
Is it to see fall colors? Then winter, spring, and summer are out. But fall colors in Northern Maine are usually earlier than in the Smokey Mountains.
Bear watching in Alaska. You may see a few in May, and a few more in June or July. But in August, when King Salmon are running, that’s when they all come out and are not camera shy.
A Greek Island with no tourists… I went to Mykonos at the end of October as the last shopkeeper was locking up. The empty streets were a little eerie—the chance to talk to locals, priceless. Not being run-into by tourists…
Find out the perfect time to see your must-see. Wine harvesting in Piedmont? Then look at your calendar for October and start planning. After all, you’re not a tourist. You’re a traveler.
“See Rome” Continued on Page T8. “Taste Athens” Continued on T14