On my recent tour in Manila, I was surprised by all the single-use containers. Every vendor used plastic bags and styrofoam boxes for snacks. This trash often gets left on streets or thrown into rivers. I heard from a guide that some tours now give guests reusable bags. We need to pick tours that care about cutting waste. If we don't, these places might get too dirty to enjoy. Let's ask about green steps when we book our next trip.
I joined a tour downtown last month and it was so frustrating. The guide kept checking his social media and taking videos for his own page. He barely told us about the history of the dishes or the vendors. We rushed through each stop so he could post updates. I remember this amazing taco stand, but we didn't hear who made them or why they're special. It felt like we were just extras in his content. Street food tours should be about connecting with the culture and the people, not boosting someone's online presence. Can we please get back to the real reason we take these tours?