How Not To Be A Tourist – A Digital Guide

26 September 2011, Singapore – Are you the seasoned traveler who enjoys doing locale stuff rather than following the recommendations of packaged tour itineraries?  Well now there is an online portal that provides you with the intimate connections to the cities that you visit and it’s known aptly as “How Not To Be A Tourist” or HNTBAT.com in short.  After all, it is just not cool to be a tourist anymore.

This site promises to prevent you from making the mistake of doing all the “wrong” things when visiting a new city.  This site is live in London and New York and recently launched on 19 September this year in Singapore.

There are three distinct sections per city in the site that helps you navigate around – LOOK, ACT and LIVE like locals do.

LOOK

Get the fashion tips on what and how to wear with street-style photography of the cities’ coolest, in-the-know locals, juxtaposed with a selection of holiday photo album images of tourists wearing all the things that make them stand out.

For example, wear a contrast of classic patterns such as checks and dots paired with a trendy cut of fabric in London.  And if you are in New York, shop at Oak on Bond Street for a darker colour palette of avant garde silhouettes in order to seamlessly blend in with the downtown chic.

ACTS

This section shares the do’s and dont’s when traveling.

Some dont’s include taking photos with The New York Stock Exchange ‘Raging Bull‘ statue on Wall Street or taking a trip to London’s Piccadilly Circus on a Saturday afternoon, while DO’s include adding The Stroke’s track, “Machu Pichu” to your play list while in New York.

LIVE

Snapshots inside locals’ homes and suggests never to be seen leaving a hotel chain.

A LIVE DO is to choose hotel alternatives that allow you to experience the feeling of being part of a neighbourhood instead of staying in cookie-cutter corporate hotels.

You can book local accommodation including private homes and apartments or rooms within a shared home or apartment, directly through a linked Roomorama powered booking engine.
The DO’s for tourists in Singapore include using tissue packages as an official reservation tool at hawker centres and food courts, so you know that when people place a packet of tissue on an empty seat, it mean’s that the seat is taken.  And for the DONT’s, do not invade the central podium at Zouk on Mambo night to try replicating the fancy hand movements.  The regulars have trained for years to master their moves and don’t enjoy invasion by drunkards.

The site also provide user generated tips so you too can share your own little tip.  Other functions will be added into the site such as “Ask a Local” forum that allows you to ask resident experts questions. HNTBAT plans to expand its global digital travel guides to Melbourne and Paris.

Check out HNTBAT by clicking here.

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Adrian Editor

Adrian Eugene Seet, editor of SUPERADRIANME.com, has long shared his passion for travel, destinations, and air travel. His childhood love for exploration has evolved into a thriving career, with his engaging content inspiring others to discover new cultures. Taiwan is his new-found favourite destination, and he dreams of visiting the Andes. Adrian's work is driven by his curiosity for travel trends and a commitment to lifelong learning.

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