Local Travel: 10 Tips That Actually Work
My definition of local travel would be when your interests lie in the daily lives of local people as opposed to the monuments and tourist attractions of a place. Local travel is for those who want to learn about the details that make a city unique. You also want to get a little kick out of pretending to be a local. I know this well because this is how I like to travel. When I decide to step off the tourist paths, I understand that locals’ wants and needs come first, and I am simply an observer that doesn’t want
to bother or stick out too much. Done responsibly, it is the best way to support local businesses and develop a deeper connection with a place. I also find it easier to meet people and make new friends and feel much safer walking alone than in tourist neighbourhoods. Below are my tried and tested experiences that I have casually told a friend, and they replied, “oh, I never thought about doing that”. I hope these tips will inspire you to plan your next trip differently.
Catch me if you can! Shooting at the quaint town of Cottbus
Public transport from the get-go
When available, use public transport from the beginning of the trip to get the first impression of local life. Taking the trains that cross the many layers of a city towards your final destination is the best way of getting a good first impression of the people you will meet during your stay.
2. Offline research
I like to read local free pocket guides. I always find one in a cafe or at the entrance of a local gift shop. They are up to-date and usually made by young and energetic groups of local people who want to showcase the best of their city. I prefer this method since tourism giants dominate the online space, which makes it hard to find local blogs and websites (although they can be found with patient browsing). I read them cover to cover and note the places outside the main areas that interest me. For example, our host recommended downloading an app that locals used to stay in touch with the latest events during our stay in Bucharest. That’s the kind of tip you want!
3. Dress for the part
A city trip might not be the ideal time to try that neon yellow outdoor jacket sold to you as a “perfect for all kinds of weather” solution. Dress for the part to blend in. Don’t change your style, but dress like you would in your city (unless the culture requires a specific dress code). I might even listen to music while walking confidently towards my next destination (only to check Google Maps and realise I was going the opposite way!).
4. Plan for longer stays
Have you ever considered staying longer than planned in one place? We initially planned five days in Bangkok and ended up staying fourteen. It really shaped how we think of the city; we love it and can’t wait to return. This is also because we stayed in a semi-residential area outside of the tourist attractions called Soi Ekkamai (Ekkamai Street). We did the same when we visited Greece and extended our stay in Athens for five days longer.
Also, travel can be exhausting, and you might want to spend a whole day inside your rental apartment, resting, reading, cooking or doing nothing other than looking outside the window to see a different world. That can sometimes be the real break that you need.
5. Ask the locals the following question
Talk to friendly bartenders or local shop owners and ask where they go for “grandma’s food”. Doesn’t the thought of it make you all warm and fuzzy? With a smile, they will point you in the right direction with no hesitation. Grandma’s food can be a source of national pride worldwide. This trick has worked many times in several cities and has never disappointed us.
6. Explore neighbourhoods outside of the popular areas
If you can walk there, even better! Get a feel for the residential neighbourhoods, local parks and university campus. Once you are out of the centre, you can move at the pace of the people around you and see pockets of real life. I also feel safer in residential areas as they are quieter and cleaner than areas in the centre. Again, this was the case with Ekkamai in Bangkok.
7. The good ol’ cafes
Go to an old, beautiful and bohemian cafe to people-watch different age groups of locals that gather for coffee and cake. These cafes have a mix of older locals and tourists alike. The waiters still wear white shirts and bow ties, and the walls are decorated with images of the cafe’s golden era. (Probably some time in the 1920’s) Prague and Paris cafes are exceptional. In Madrid, I would recommend visiting the old Chocolatería San Ginés.
8. Escape the city you are visiting
Rent a bike or a car to explore the areas outside the city where public transport can’t get you. The journey to a new place is already half of the adventure. The motorcycle drive during the daytime from Malang to Mount Bromo in Indonesia was as breathtaking as the final destination.
9. Visit during the off-season and shoulder seasons
I know this is a luxury, but try to visit a popular destination during tourists’ off-season whenever you can. In Madrid, you might even see the full scale of Picasso’s Guernica without people on the way. Once you try it, you will never stop visiting a place during high season ever again.
10. My Rule about hidden gems
Don’t share away on social media a hidden gem when you find it. Ditch the phone, respect its privacy and enjoy the present moment.
