Traveling is always fun, but sometimes, it can get so easy to get wrapped up in the planning and excitement of everything, that you only see the touristy things. Besides the fact that tourist attractions are typically a lot more expensive than the things locals do, you’re not getting to taste the culture of the place you’re visiting if you never step out of the box. To help you travel like a local, we’ve compiled a few simple tips.
Talk to Your Servers and Bartenders
Nobody knows your city’s fun (and un-fun) places better than service-industry professionals. They live and breathe their cities every day; they see the fun spots, the spots to stay away from because only tourists go there, and the places that are hidden from people who aren’t locals. If you don’t do anything else, make sure you chop it up with your servers and bartenders. These people are vital in helping you uncover some of the local flavors of the town you’re visiting.
Stay in a Place Where You’ll Get to Connect with Others
There are plenty of overnight venues that stray away from the standard hotel or motel scene. Hostels, for example, thrive on the engagement of the community that stays within their walls. You’ll likely meet travelers from all over the place, many of whom have probably researched weird ways to explore the city that you haven’t even considered. Beds and breakfasts are other great options. When you pick a strange place and tended to by an innkeeper, you’ll have access to firsthand knowledge so you can ask questions and learn the lay of the landscape by someone who gives this type of advice for a living.
Chuck Your Itinerary in the Trash for a Day
Sure, you have a ton of things you want to see while you’re away, but that doesn’t mean you need to adhere to a regimented schedule every second of your days. Instead, strap on your walking shoes and huck your itinerary in the trash for a day. If you’re someone who has to schedule everything, schedule a trash day on your calendar because useless meandering without a real destination can truly serve up a ton of unexpected adventures. Be prepared to stumble upon fun spots you haven’t read about, and be open to talking to random strangers who are willing to give you their pointers from a local’s perspective. (Be safe, of course!)
Keep Plans Simple
There is something to be said for not over complicating things when you travel. It is easy to fall into the trap of booking every activity in advance and trying to squeeze as much in as possible, but that can leave you feeling rushed and disconnected. Sometimes the best days are the ones where you only have one loose plan and let everything else unfold around it. If you prefer having things organised, try to book it all in one place so you are not juggling loads of separate plans and confirmations. That way you still have structure without feeling boxed in, and you leave space for those unexpected moments that usually end up being the highlight of the trip.
Research the Best Establishments, Then Go Five Blocks Left
The easiest way to come across overpriced, cliched food is to stick solely to the recommendations listed in tourist review information. While many of these establishments are fantastic in their own right, they’re often catering to the tourist crowd, not the locals. If you want to taste the cuisine the way locals do, figure out where the people who live there eat. You’ll likely find an incredible assortment of flavors that wouldn’t be available on the main strip. Look for local blogs, and ask your hosts for recommendations.
Decompress the Way Locals Do
Finding happiness is different for everybody, and that varies just as much by region as it does by the individual. Figure out how people in the area you’re visiting unwind. Maybe they ride bikes after work. Great! Grab one and start pedaling. Perhaps they go fishing in a quiet stream. Perfect! You might need to sign up for a fishing lesson or get a license, but you’ve got this! Perhaps everyone gathers around an outdoor concert every Friday. Perfect! Grab your blanket or water bottle and get to it! Scour the local free magazines and online blogs so you can see what’s going on around the part of town you’re visiting. Put on your “live like a local” goggles, and you’ll find plenty of entertainment options.
Shop Small
One of the easiest ways to feel like you belong somewhere is by stepping into the places locals actually use day to day. Skip the big chains you already recognise and look for independent shops, little markets, and family run spots. You will notice the difference straight away. The conversations feel more real, the products often have a story behind them, and you are putting money back into the community instead of into a giant company. Even something as simple as buying your morning coffee from a small cafe can shift your whole experience and make you feel less like a visitor and more like part of the place.
Pay Attention
When you slow down and really look around, you start to notice the little things that most tourists miss. The way people greet each other, the routines they follow, the places that get busy at certain times of day. These small details tell you a lot about a place and help you understand it on a deeper level. Instead of rushing from one attraction to the next, take a bit of time to sit somewhere and just watch what is going on. It sounds simple, but it can completely change how you experience somewhere new.
Try Something Unfamiliar
It can feel a bit uncomfortable at first, but pushing yourself to try things you would not normally do is one of the best ways to travel like a local. That might mean ordering something off a menu that you cannot pronounce, joining in with an activity you have never tried, or even just striking up a conversation with someone new. You do not have to go all in, but even small steps outside your comfort zone can lead to experiences you would never have had otherwise.
Image: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-person-taking-a-photograph-of-the-dubai-skyline-8340479/
