It is always fun to be a tourist but to fully get to know a new location, to understand what life is like, you need to know how to holiday like a local. It can be difficult to figure out the best ways of living life like a local, especially because this is your holiday; after all, you want to make sure you manage to sit back and relax. But, in reality, holidaying like a local is not as difficult as it might at first sound; all it takes is a sense of adventure and a little bit of know-how.
Ditch the Hotels — Go for Serviced Apartments
Staying in a hotel is always a treat, but if you want to live as the locals do, it is time to ditch those hotel breakfasts and step off the beaten path. One of the main reasons you should avoid staying in hotels is that they are designed for tourists. Hotels are located in touristy areas and filled with other people new to this location. Choosing not to stay in a hotel immediately gets you out of that tourist trap.
It can be difficult to know where to stay when you decide to ditch the hotel. Of course, you do not want to fall into the tourist trap, but it is still your holiday; after all, you do not want to spend all your time washing dishes and making the bed. That is where the serviced apartment comes in. A serviced apartment will bring you all the benefits of living like a local in your own flat but without the hassle as the location and housekeeping services give you that luxury feel.
What’s more? The impeccable cleanliness in these accommodations not only guarantees a pleasant stay but also ensures your health and well-being. The commitment to hygiene is evident in every aspect of the accommodations, thanks to proactive owners who diligently search for “commercial cleaning services near me in New Orleans” (or wherever they are located) to find top-notch janitorial services. You may be amazed to find even the door knobs in a perfectly shiny appearance, despite being used numerous times before your arrival.
Do not Be Afraid to Ask
Holidaying like a local means heading off the beaten track and experiencing a location the way that the locals do. Of course, when you are looking for the best local hangouts, you can go online and find a whole series of recommendations for bars, restaurants, and cool areas to explore. While googling is great, it does not beat simply asking the locals you meet what they recommend. This will help you get more authentic suggestions that reflect the preferences of people living in this location more accurately. Asking people what they recommend you do, and visit will also encourage you to interact with people more, helping you get a stronger feel for the local culture and customs.
Mix Up Your Plans
When it comes to holiday like a local you do not have to avoid the big tourist traps altogether, after all, just because the Louvre is touristy it does not mean that Parisians will not visit it. You do not have to give up the opportunity to see big attractions altogether; you just have to be ready to mix things up a bit. When you plan your holiday, make time to explore unknown areas and be ready to be spontaneous, you could make plans for different days, and then pick the plans out of a hat.
Learn the Lingo
Learning a few basic phrases can make a very big difference when it comes to exploring a foreign location. Making an effort to learn some of the basics of a new language will help you appear genuinely interested in discovering more about this new culture and location. This will endear you to locals and even enable to you experience opportunities that might be closed to other tourists.
Understand Local Etiquette
This point is similar to the one above, in that being polite gets you a long way. Those looking to live like locals will need to do a little research about local customs. You should do some research to understand what local dress is, what tipping customs are, and avoid common tourist faux pas. This will enable you to stand out less like a tourist and help you to stay respectful of local culture and customs.
Get Some Transportation
Procuring some form of transportation will help you to explore further afield and get off that dreaded tourist track. The form of transportation you choose will depend on the location you are staying. For example, if you stay in Paris, all you need is a metro card, whereas, in Amsterdam, you might want to hire a bike. If you are staying in a more remote location, then you will probably want to hire a car. Before you bike or drive on the roads in a new country, make sure you read up on the local rules of the road to avoid any potential accidents from occurring.