10 Ways to Travel Like an Insider ~ The Worst Thing You Can Do Is Look Like A Tourist

Travel can be a daunting, exciting adventure; it can affect you in the most intimate and personal way that will leave you coming home a completely different person than you were when you left. There is nothing like sitting underneath a starlit sky in another country reflecting on just how lucky you are that you landed there. So here are a few tried and true methods to have the best trip possible and take a step off the beaten path.

 -by Nikki Main

Travel Like an Insider

Stay in a home, not a hotel

Don’t get me wrong, hotels are a great way to meet other people who are vacationing in the area; but if you want to get a feel for the city you’re in, try Airbnb. It isn’t just apartments, you can rent villas that have back gardens, swimming pools, tennis courts, and the best part, you’ll feel like a local.

Take public transportation

The idea of trying public transportation can sound more difficult than it is. Although it is simpler to hop in a cab, taking a bus or subway will give you the unique experience of being with the same people who are traveling to/from work and witness their daily activities. My favorite experience traveling through Sydney, Australia was taking the bus and getting a feel for what the people were like, and sometimes talking to a local or two.

Go away from the landmarks

In New York City, the first thing that pops into your head is probably Rockefeller Center, Times Square, the Empire State building to name a few. Instead of going to the everyday tourist traps of New York City, check out a local speakeasy (make sure to make reservations first) or a coffee shop hidden amongst boutique fashion and jewelry counters. (see here for ideas).

Research beforehand

Research, research, research. I am an avid book reader, I love small bookstores that have that age-old feeling, the smell of old books sitting on dusty shelves entices me. So, I make sure every time I travel to a new city I look up the oldest, dustiest hidden little bookstores to visit. Find your thing, whatever it is you’ve always wanted to see, look it up and see where the best waterfall is or the biggest local market, whatever your interest is, research it.

Hatchard Bookstore in London, England

Talk to the locals

Some of my best memories traveling have been talking to the locals. Whether it was at a school in Africa or on a resort in the Dominican Republic, talking to the locals can make or break your trip. Not only can they recommend the best eateries around and some of the best areas to go, but you will learn about the culture and gain an appreciation for a different community.

Eat like the locals do

There’s no point in going out to eat in a new city or country unless you try the food they are known for. While vacationing in Hawaii I made sure to try their seafood, as it is a specialty; and in Kenya I tried the ugali as it was a delicacy. Better than trying it, learn how to make it, bring home a piece of the place you visited. There’s nothing worse than visiting New York City, the home of some of the best restaurants in the country and eating at a chain location. Try something new, your taste buds will thank you.

Be willing to change your plans

The whole point of vacationing is to gain every experience possible, this means if given the opportunity between laying at the beach for the third day in a row or going to say, a night at the Opera House in Sydney, choose the latter. When vacationing, it is best to live every day to the fullest and do things you couldn’t do anywhere else. In France, try the wine, it will be some of the best rouge you’ve ever tasted, when in Italy, try the pizza, it just isn’t the same anywhere else. Throw the everyday routine out the window and try something new.

Learn the Language

I don’t mean buy Rosetta Stone and learn a completely new language in 6 weeks, but a few simple phrases will go a long way. Learning a few key phrases such as greetings, thank you, directions and food and drink terms are relatively easy to learn. The locals will respond in a positive way when they see you taking the time to learn their language.

Put down the camera

In this day and age; it is common to live life through a lens, whether it is a phone, camera, video recorder and mediums through Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Some of the best experiences can be missed or not fully appreciated when we are focusing on what hashtags to use in our next social media post. These are once-in-a-lifetime trips, and you don’t want to miss a minute of it. When you’re standing on that mountain looking out at a spectacular view give yourself 5 minutes to enjoy it before pulling out your smartphone. Those are the moments you’ll remember.

Eiffel Tower, France

It’s okay to allow yourself to be a tourist – that’s what you are after all

While on your journey to travelling like a local, you may decide you don’t want to do the tourist attractions. But if you’ve never been to Times Square, or walked the Brooklyn Bridge, seen the Eiffel Tower, or viewed the cliffs of Moher in Ireland, it’s best not to miss out. Don’t skip out on the tourist attractions, find a healthy balance between finding the hidden gems of France and seeing the sights that people travel from all over the world to view. Give yourself permission to occasionally be a tourist.

Cliffs of Moher, Ireland

-N.M