Happy Thursday!

I'm finally almost recovered from my trip to Europe, and now I'm focusing on my blog and social media (with a few small trips) until the holidays.

This week, I want to discuss how to travel responsibly to places subject to over-tourism.

The last stop on my trip to Europe was Barcelona, a city that has been in the news lately for experiencing too much tourism and locals protesting that tourists should leave.

But is that what's really happening there?

In my experience, no. The locals in Barcelona couldn't have been more welcoming when I was there, and no one squirted us with water guns.

So what's with everything in the news?

Barcelona (and many other cities) are facing an influx of tourists that is affecting the local population. It's not because people are visiting; it's because the infrastructure is changing to adapt to tourism, leaving locals with many problems.

In Barcelona specifically, lots of local housing has turned into short-term rentals. The locals have been priced out or bought out of their homes to accommodate Airbnbs. Local restaurants and bars have had to close because they couldn't compete with chains or places that open to cater to tourists.

It's a sad reality of travel, but thankfully, there are a few things you can do to help.

First, stay in a hotel or hostel. Staying at Airbnb-type properties only contributes to the demand for these short-term rentals. This is one of the biggest reasons locals don't want tourists visiting.

Second, try to eat at local restaurants and shop at local stores as much as you can. Your tourist dollars mean a lot more when they are spent at a family-owned restaurant vs. a big chain. I won't pretend I don't eat at McDonald's when I travel, but when I do, it's because it's the only thing open late at night or I need Wi-Fi. For most meals, I'm finding somewhere local where the food is better :)

Finally, don't always travel to the places you see on Instagram. You know I love Barcelona, but I also make a point of going off the beaten path and traveling to smaller cities that aren't overcrowded.

If you follow these three steps, you can help cities like Barcelona avoid over-tourism while also exploring some places you might never see on Instagram!

As always, you can follow along with my travels on Instagram and Facebook or reply to this email if you want to chat!

Have a great weekend :)

Sarah

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Check it out here:

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Travel News

Are you traveling to Europe soon? Here are the strikes that are scheduled soon. The page is updated as new strikes are announced and is currently up to date through September.

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