Overtourism: How To Avoid It

It happens to even the most adventurous travelers: You get to your destination only to find the lines are long, the crowds are pushy, and the whole experience is disappointing and exhausting. From Machu Picchu to Prague to Reykjavik, popular destinations everywhere are being overrun by hordes of tourists, turning a trip into a nightmare for many.

But the problem isn’t just an inconvenience for the traveler. There are real and severe implications for the destination in terms of safety, sustainability, economics, and protection of environmental and cultural resources. Happily, there are steps informed travelers can take to ensure their trip isn’t ruined by overtourism–and to avoid becoming part of the problem.

Join Washington Post travel writer Andrea Sachs, Martha Honey of the Center for Responsible Travel, and Kate Simpson of Academic Travel Abroad, as they discuss destinations to avoid, places to visit instead, and how to become a more responsible traveler today.