Summary: Plan your next trip right to ensure you are able to have a better taste of what life is like in another country.
Traveling to a new city or state is always exciting, no matter what you see or where you go. However, many people want to see what a city or country is like from the locals’ standpoint, and not just the cookie cutter version set up to keep the tourism industry going. If you’re thinking of traveling and want to get more of a local flavor, here are six tips to help you out.
- Stay in an Airbnb. Skip the hotel and stay in someone’s home. Not only will you probably save a lot of money, but you’ll get a taste of what it’s like to actually live in that city. In addition, if you’re just renting a room, rather than a whole apartment, your hosts can often turn out to be very welcoming and helpful people, giving you an even better idea of how the locals live.
- Ask for recommendations before your trip. When you first get an inkling of where you want to go, start asking around for recommendations from friends who have traveled there before. Post it as a question on your Facebook page, and you’ll get answers from people you never would have thought to ask. Everyone loves to share their opinions. Comb through these and you’ll find out what you may or may not want to do!
- Avoid tourist traps. If you just can’t go to Rome without going through the Colosseum, then be my guest. But for the most part, try to avoid the more touristy areas of the city. If there’s something you’re dying to see, hit it early in the morning before it gets too crowded, then hightail it out of there before lunch, or you could be losing a lot of money on overpriced food and drinks.
- Use local grocery stores or markets. Not only will you save money making your own breakfast and snacks to bring along, but seeing what a grocery store is like in another country is actually a really fun experience. Plus, you can try out produce and foods that you might not find back at home.
- Stay in one city. Hopping from city to city can turn your travels into a bit of a blur, but it also doesn’t give you the opportunity to really get a feel for what it’s like to live somewhere. Try picking one to three places (depending on the length of your visit) and stay in one spot for several days. This will give you the opportunity to really walk around and explore.
- Walk or use public transit. When I visited Paris, I truly felt like a local when I’d head down to the Metro at 8 am with all the other morning commuters. It was one of my favorite experiences of the trip because it made me feel like I really lived there. Walking is also the perfect way to get around the city and see much more than you would if you just took a cab from location to location.