When you look at a list of the most visited places in Europe, they tend to contain the same few countries: France, Italy, the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands. While all of these locations are worthy of their popularity, there are plenty of other exciting destinations in Europe that beg to be explored. However, a common travel myth explains the reason why many tourists pick a select few European destinations over others.
The myth is known as the scarcity scam: the anxiety that something might happen to prevent you from seeing the great sites or museums due to a natural disaster, war, etc. The scarcity scam plays on our general worry that we are somehow missing out on something. And while it’s not the only reason Europe’s busiest tourist destinations are so congested, it’s safe to say that this mindset somewhat contributes to it.
Here’s the thing: the scarcity scam presupposes that a country is only as good as its monuments or museums, as opposed to its cultural traditions and people. The scarcity scam also forces tourists into believing that structures, which have stood for thousands of years, will somehow vanish before they get a chance to see them. One only needs to think of Stonehenge, which has stood for 5,000 years in the same field, to understand the flawed logic. While the worry is understandable, this simple fact remains: Europe will remain.
Read more: The Biggest Tourist Traps In Europe, According To Rick Steves
Broaden your range of travel options to avoid a scarcity mindset
Person travel planning on a mobile phone – Kmpzzz/Shutterstock
We want to make it clear that there is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to see all of Europe’s great sites. It is well worth your time to take a behind-the-scenes tour of Rome’s Colosseum or check out the Louvre if you are going to be traveling in Paris. What we’re saying is that you should not limit your travel options simply because of the chance that something might not be there when you go. The scarcity scam plays on someone’s fear of missing out, but let us offer another alternative.
There are so many underrated locations to visit in Europe. For example, Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina is an amazing city for tourists operating on a budget. Finland is a quirky alternative to the other Scandinavian nations and is a great location for tourists who love to get up close and personal with nature. Countless destinations outside of the usual tourist hubs, like Bordeaux in France or Bologna in Italy, are amazing, underrated locations for foodies.
We could go on and on. The point is that, while rounding up the usual European destination suspects is awesome, don’t feel limited to just those spots. Broaden your travel options. Go to places you’ve never heard of before. You will come away with a richer travel experience than if you just stick to the main attractions. Trust us.
Take things slow for the best travel experience
Backpacker in the Netherlands looking over a bridge – Alexander Spatari/Getty Images
Another aspect of the scarcity scam that affects your travel experience is that, because you’re focused so much on the great sites, you don’t take your time to appreciate the location. Instead, all you’re worrying about is blazing to the next site and the one after that. This is extremely limiting in the sense that, even though you are seeing the great sites, you are not allowing time for a fully enriching experience.
So, instead of trying to collect all the eggs in one basket as quickly as possible, why not take time to properly experience your surroundings? Take things slow. You don’t need to see all of Paris in a day. Instead, pick a few locations that you really want to see and spend your day diving deep into those spots. Not only will you be more relaxed, but you’ll actually get more out of the experience.
If you have the ability, we’d recommend taking an extended trip and sticking to just a few places along the way. Spend a few weeks really living in your location. The whole idea is to enjoy yourself. Don’t make it more stressful than it needs to be by trying to fit in everything in a few short days. The great sites of Europe have been around for ages, and they will likely outlive you, so take your time and don’t worry about missing out.
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Read the original article on Explore.