If you do happen to end up in a tourist trap location and are looking for a good lunch restaurant, pick one where the local construction workers and police go to eat.

Does it actually work? My experience in Europe (well a few places at least) is that most blue collar workers don't eat lunch in a restaurant, it's way too expansive (and time consuming). They either pack it from home, go to the local grocery/convenience store or maybe hit a fast food place/cheap take away.

It might work better in cultures with a more developed eat-out culture like in Asia.

I mean, I used to work in SF, in North Beach¹. Fisherman's Wharf is the tourist trap, and it's like right there, and in the years I worked for, never ate there. (I've been there as a tourist though.)

For lunch we'd hike over the hill into little Italy, and there was a decent sandwich shop we'd get lunch at. (Freddy's) Before the hill there was a small asian couple who ran a small shop, they made a good mushroom stew. No idea if they're still in business, though, or what their place was called.

Neither were restaurants … you weren't going to be finding a seat at least inside. There's plenty of seating around SF though, if you know where to look.

¹although Google thinks NB is actually a bit W of where we were.

around here the police tend to go in restaurants I like (atlanta)

Wouldn't it make sense to use something like Google Maps, filter to the lowest one or two price categories, and go from there?

I'd figure Google Maps, being less explicitly targeted to tourists, would be likely to include reviews and pricing data relative to a local mentality, which might not be so willing to spend tourist prices.

It's easier, I suppose, if you're doing a walking/public transit oriented trip and are in a city-- if you don't like what you see when you close in, just go 50 metres further down the street.

I've travelled extensively in Europe, it being where I live, using all different strategies. I've never been ripped off. I've been to a hostel from someone we met at the train station in Prague. It was fine and good value. Also similar story at lake Balaton. It turns out protectively selling something is not synonymous with being a scam artist.

Yeah, I’ve also travelled extensively around Europe, west, central, and east, to some of the most touristy cities in the world, and never been ripped off. OK, my current hostel is charging €8.50 for a continental breakfast, so I just go elsewhere. I don’t think it’s a rip if you’re informed of the price and choose to pay - that’s on you.

Unfortunately I have been ripped in SE Asia, and moreso in Central America, where prices were almost never displayed, and I was charged US prices for almost everything.

You're saying you've never taken a cab for €40 only to discover that locals would only ever pay €10? You've never had a truly terrible meal (pizza that's literally soggy, steak burnt to a crisp) for €40 on a main strip, when a little bit of research would reveal a spectacular meal for €40 that's a 20 min walk away? You've never been promised beach access was included, only to discover there's a €50 surprise resort fee, and they won't let you onto the beach without it?

You've been lucky.

You've never had a taxi try to charge you €40 for what a local knows is a €12 ride?

I take as few taxis as possible, so no.

If it costs extra to work out a plan that doesn’t “rip you off,” and the easy path is full of “rip offs,” then maybe it is just paying a premium for convenience?