7 Tips for traveling like a local

Jul 11, 2011 7:22 AM by Whitney Coy

Posted in Living / Travel / More Travel

The Art Of
Blending In

Have you ever tried to take a trip without being a tourist? Immerse yourself in the new place you’re visiting and live like the locals do. You’ll find that you see the city in a whole new light, and you’ll end up with more relaxed, laid-back trip. You’ll also be a good deal safer, since tourists are popular targets for crime.

Woman in Venice

Blend your look

The quickest way to be picked out as a tourist is to look like one. Take a good look at what the people around you are wearing, and take a stab at imitating that look. If you're visiting a market or walking through the streets of a low or middle-class neighborhood, leave your designer bags and giant jewelry in the hotel room. If the women dress in a modest manner, leave the tank tops at home.

Learn the language

Nothing says "tourist" like a translation book in your hand. Learn how to speak the language of the land you're visiting to help you blend in with the crowd.

Ditch the hotels

Room service and wake-up calls don't exactly give you a glimpse of how the locals live. Instead, look into home-exchange programs, where you trade homes with another traveling family. There's no better way to pretend be a local than becoming one for a week or two. You can also look into homestay programs, where families with an extra room rent it out to you for the duration of your trip.

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Be brave

Don't go to France and order a hamburger. When you're on vacation, try things you haven't tried before. Step outside of your comfort zone and dive into the local culture. Try a food off a menu you can't pronounce or get up and learn a dance you don't know.

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Stay away from the crowds

Tourist attractions tend to be busy, especially at peak times of the year. Instead of going to the same hotspots as everyone else, pull in to the restaurant that only has a few cars in the parking lot, or the dance club that's not on the main strip.

Have alone time

See what the city is really about by visiting the spots that probably mean the most to the people who live there. Take a walk through a park or stroll through the streets of a neighborhood. Buy a day pass to a local pool and walk the aisles of a local grocery store or market.

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Meet the locals

What better way to travel like a local than to hang out with the people who live there? Start up a conversation with a local at a bar or restaurant. They'll be able to give you tips on other places to stop that aren't "touristy," and if you hit it off, they might even invite you to go someplace with them!

If you really want a taste of what it's like to live someplace new, get a job. Find a temporary job or volunteer someplace for a week to get to know locals and see how they live.