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Columnist: Robin Esrock
Vancouver-based travel writer Robin Esrock is co-host of the hit OLN series, Word Travels. He has been published in over a dozen major newspapers worldwide, held lectures across the country, and continues to search for offbeat destinations and "gonzo" adventures. For more information visit www.moderngonzo.com.
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You can follow travel writer Robin Esrock’s adventures to 12 countries on 6 continents on the OLN show Word Travels. Read more of Robin’s adventures at: www.moderngonzo.com

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10 Tourist Traps To Get Caught In

10 Tourist Traps To Get Caught In

Robin Esrock

They’re usually overpriced, and you can spend hours in line-ups, but some tourist traps are worth going through hell. Robin Esrock looks at ten tourist traps that everyone should visit.

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CN Tower (Toronto)

TV towers and tall buildings offer the best views of any major city, and tend to suck in camera-happy tourists and their hard earned dollars. Having visited many observation decks around the world, it�s remarkable how many big urban cities look...exactly like other big urban cities. Seoul�s TV Tower wins points for the world�s fastest elevator and the Macau Sky Tower for allowing us to bungee jump off the edge. But the CN Tower, as overpriced as it is, is still the tallest TV tower of them all (now the second tallest freestanding structure after the Burj in Dubai). And, although Shanghai�s World Financial Center recently surpassed CN Tower as holder of the world�s highest observation deck, on a clear day, the 360 degree view around Toronto is something all Canadians can still be proud of. (credit: Allan Baxter /GettyImages)

Catch Robin on the new series of Word Travels, Sunday nights on OLN at 8:30pm ET/PT. More info at www.wordtravels.tv

Vox Pop (Total responses:16)

Give a response.

Share your favourite tourist traps:

The old VR says:

Looking at the photo of the Grand Palace brings back memories. This place is a MUST SEE, and plan a full day there with a book. Listen to the monks pray - and enjoy it. They offer a rythmic prayer that is mesmerizing (they pray twice a day I believe, 11am and 5) - and pay for a tour guide while you are in there and ask questions. They love their history and appreciate an inquisitive and respectful mind. Wear very light wieght pants and a shirt that covers you to your elbows! Other places in Bangkok to check out: "the feeling of being lost"... take a walk on the "random side" - start on a majro street and observe... the airport or pier that will take you to - Koh Tao - wonderful diving, people, air and nature... Koh Phangan is like a dream - some of these beaches are sooooo picturesque. I fell in love with Thailand and you would need a year to see it all!!

Anonymous says:

To phil who wrote about Schwartz, You are so wrong. I am from Montreal and all the people from Montreal go to Schwartz for by far the best smoked meat in Montreal. We also wait in line and like anything that's excellent word spreads all over the world so when people come to Montreal of course they go to Schwartz. It's always busy and always has been. Everybody waits in line. Montrelers, tourists, everybody waits cause it is by far the best smoked meat that exists on this planet. Anybody who really knows smoked meat knows that. No other place even comes close.Schwartz is delicious. Do yourself a favor and go their and order an old fashioned smoked meat and enjoy. I have been going their for over 35 years and it has not changed it is still and always will be the best by far in Montreal trust me it's definately worth the wait.

Yse says:

Of the 10 "tourist traps" listed, I have visited 9 (Topkapi in Istanbul is the only one I have yet to visit), and honestly, I wouldn't go "through hell" for any of them. As mentioned, they ARE tourist traps; certainly not worth the price and the patience.

Joe Hill says:

I like going to times square.

Plantsman says:

I took my cousins from England up the tower this past summer... the dirty windows and the security mesh (outside viewing area) virtually prevented getting any acceptable quality photos... very dissapointed with the experience, overall, and felt ripped-off considering the admission charge.

Anonymous says:

..why isnt the Taj Mahal in Agra, India listed ? :S Didnt that recently win the title of 1ST WONDER of the world? Weird..

Anonymous says:

When I win my million, I want to visit each and everyone of these tourist traps, and enjoy!!

Anonymous says:

well, it's quite obvious Robin only travels around Canada, Europe and East Asia, at least that's the impression I get. Should I pay attention to what Robin says? I don't think so. A sandwich joint in Montreal? come on, Montreal has more to offer, let's be serious

Anonymous says:

Hello Travellers; You must have been from another planet. Toronto? Schwartz in Montreal?? Lenin in Moscow?? Give me a break. I agree with Paris and London, also with Bangkok, Thailand, but what about PRAGUE. Have you ever seen this medieval beauty?? Let me know please, Dalv

Anonymous says:

the CN tower is the best... although i am only saying that because I am Canadian...

howie c gay says:

Well, how much did it cost? You led us up to a climax,then left us hanging.Well?

Anonymous says:

Ben's closed two years ago.

Anonymous says:

It's even on the Cambodian flag. $20 gets you into to see one of the most remarkable archeological sites in the world at Angkor Wat. A small price to pay for an entire day of visiting any of the ruins in the park but it is so vast that everyone feels 'temple burn out' and can only take in a glimpse of what's there. A tip for that photo op of Angkor Wat is to wait until the end of the day. All of the tourists are shued out including you but when you look back the causeway is cleared and the sunset light on the temple is magnificent.

Anonymous says:

I really did not think the Topkapi was that expensive. I have been to other palaces and waited in line for hours only to find crowds inside. The Topkapi in August, while hot, was not crowded at all. Eating high above the Bosphorus was worth the cost of admission. Of course the treasury is a must!! If in Istanbul you will find the Dolambace Palace more of a disappointment as you are rushed everywhere and cant see most rooms. At the Topkapi you can wander at your leisure.

Anonymous says:

Don't see why the CN Tower is listed, I've visited it and it's just a ver tall ordinary concrete looking structure... Any country can make one and now its 2nd place in any way

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