A tourism expert has warned UK tourists to avoid “red flag” restaurants while travelling abroad this summer.

Brits who are holidaying in the likes of Spain, Italy, Greece, Portugal and Turkey have been warned over the pitfalls of visiting “tourist traps”.

Constantina Demos, travel editor of Delicious, which has over 300k followers, shared some of the key ways Brits can weed out the overpriced hotspots and find something a little more genuine.

The travel expert tries to ensure each meal she eats abroad is “authentic and delicious” while admitting even she has “fallen victim to choosing convenience (and a hungry stomach) over effort”.

Among her important list of “red flags” to look out for, include empty venues at peak times and staff standing outside restaurants trying to entice customers in with cheap deals.

She warned that most of the time if a “restaurant is near a major attraction or landmark you can expect it to be a tourist trap and if the restaurant’s menu is in English then “you know the restaurant’s only clientele are tourists”.

No locals working at the restaurant is also a tell-tale sign that the establishment is a tourist trap.

Constantina said: “This one is trickier to spot, but if you see that the staff and people working in the kitchen are English speakers or don’t appear to be locals then you know the restaurant is there to cater to tourists and tourists alone.”

If the restaurant has lots of tables then their “main objective is to pump out as many meals and turn over as many tables as possible. Service and quality is not a priority for these types of establishments”.

Swathes of empty tables – especially at peak times – are also a warning sign, as well as pictures of the food. But there are also more positive signs to watch out for, too, says Constantina, who said to keep an eye out for unfamiliar dishes.

The tourist expert said hidden gems will include unfamiliar dishes which have not been customised to suit Western or British palettes.