Simply staying by the pool or on the beach can be just what the doctor ordered when it comes to your vacation, but it can also be fun to get more involved in where you are. Feel like a local on your next trip with these tips for a more enriching travel experience.
Volunteer
Spend your next vacation helping those in need. By making volunteering part of your travels you can get to know a lot about the way of life of the locals and feel good about doing something positive for the people in your destination of choice. There are volunteer opportunities all over the world, from building schools and helping children learn to read, to social outreach and environmental programs. Read reviews of volunteer programs before you begin since some offer a better experience than others.
Do a homestay or couchsurf
There’s no better way to see a city like a local than to live with one. Homestay programs can be a great way to immerse yourself in a new culture, save money and even learn a language. Couchsurfing is one of the easiest ways to stay with a local and it offers the opportunity to stay with hosts from around the world and for you to get an insider’s look at your vacation destination.
Ask locals for tips on where to go
Guidebooks can be very helpful, but there’s another way to find good food and interesting attractions that you won’t find in the pages of a book. Whether it’s your taxi driver, bartender or the person who checked you into your hotel, ask for their recommendations for what to see and do. Often, they will point you in the direction of hidden gems your guidebook doesn’t mention – and that only locals know about.
Get lost
Simply wandering without a specific destination in mind, coupled with the desire to explore and discover what a town or city has to offer can be a fun way to feel like a local. Put down your guidebook and instead choose a neighbourhood that looks interesting and see what you can discover on your own. Head to a market and pick up a few things for a picnic or stop at any restaurant or food stall that looks interesting.
Eat where the locals eat
Skip the chain restaurants or places that sell familiar food to tourists, and instead make your way to the cafes, bars and eateries where you see locals lining up. You can learn a lot about a destination through the food culture and culinary scene, so bring your appetite and eat like a local to feel like one.
Take a class
There are opportunities to learn just about anything (from cooking to painting) in countries around the world. Learn more about the culture and way of life by enrolling in a class or course where you’re going. Maybe it’s a language class or maybe it’s a chance to learn some of the local crafts, but no matter what you sign up for, you’ll have a chance to have an enriching experience and be able to bring some local knowledge home with you.
Featured photo: La Citta Vita used under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license
