I made it to Zanzibar by ferry. Everything would've been fine, but getting on that ferry was no walk in the park.

As soon as the taxi was pulling up to the terminal, about 7 self-proclaimed "helpers" swarmed the car and literally sprinted the last 50 meters or so to keep up with us.

The most pushy guys grabbed my suitcases straight from the driver's hands and started dragging them toward the ferry, but I managed to fight back and haul my stuff myself.

Then there was another "absolutely essential" service—someone insisting on escorting me to the ticket counter where I needed to pick up my pre-booked online ticket. I couldn't really shake off this "help."

Of course, any "help" they provide comes with an expectation of payment. So if you don't feel like paying, it's best to nip it in the bud right away if you can. But sometimes you have to say no more than once.