Don’t Be a Tourist, Be a Traveler

Here are eight road tested tips that will help you make the plunge from tourist to traveler. When planning a trip overseas it is important to make the most of it, because most of us have limited schedules and can’t stay as long as we would like. There is a world of endless possibilities out there if you only let yourself be taken. Forget the brochures and travel resorts and get ready for the trip of your life.

1. Forget the travel guides.
Don’t be a tourist, be a traveler. Brochures always make the best out of nothing. Have you even noticed how the sun is always shining and people are always smiling? Almost every word ends in “est.”; the finest, the best, the greatest, etc. Every resort town claims to have the best shopping, beaches, and entertainment. What it doesn’t say in the travel guide is what you should really be interested in.

2. Don’t wait, just go.
You never know who you are going to meet or what events and sites you may encounter when taking a trip overseas. Traveling is about having a sense of adventure and excitement, so go with the flow. Don’t worry if your hotel plans are not in order yet or you can’t get a rent-a-car, just get on the plane and go! The longer you wait the more you may miss. Don’t worry about planning (or over planning your trip). We’ve all heard the phrase “seek and you shall find” and this fully applies to international travel. Traveling is about living from moment to moment so don’t worry if all your plans are not exactly in order, things will work out.

3. Talk to hotel maids.
Most people don’t trust maids and therefore they don’t talk to them, but you should. Often, the hotel staff members are some of the friendliest people you will meet and are also a great travel resource. You hotel maid may be able to tell you where the best shopping, dining, and entertainment are as well as the best historical sites. Even if they can’t lead you around (don’t be surprised if they offer) they will point you in the right direction; away from tourist areas. Don’t forget to leave your maid a fair tip at the end of your stay.

4. Listen to and follow strangers.
Granted, everyone may not be the most imaginative story teller in the world, but everyone has a great story to tell. If you want to catch a glimpse of better history and culture don’t be wary of kind strangers. Listen to their stories and let them show you the sights if they offer. Sometimes the best memories come from unexpected meetings and travels with strangers from foreign lands.

5. If you are offered food, eat it.
In many countries, if you are offered food and you turn it down it can be seen as an insult. Sometimes the best meals come without silverware or menus, or even a restaurant. Other than making friends with the locals as an added bonus, you will also get the chance to savor some of the most delicious foods on the planet. If it is cooked, eat it but beware if it is raw because you may get sick in a few hours.

6. Take a hike!
It’s not the journey that you take that matters; it’s who you meet along the way. Travel in ways that you normally wouldn’t. Take a bus, train, or a hike with locals to anywhere; just go where they go, be a follower. Often the most memorable parts of your trip are those spent singing on buses and discovering little known sites outside of the tourist areas. Don’t be afraid of friendly strangers because they will open the door to sites you have never seen, and might not see if you never took the chance.

7. Create your own self-guided tour.
Part of enjoying international travel is expecting the unexpected. Be spontaneous! Wander around local areas and through back alleys and streets. See the sights of the rolling hills and mountains. Ask locals where their favorite places are and visit the sites. Take a boat ride across a river, or bike through the hills. Never plan anything (except maybe lunch) and just be a traveler. Don’t bother with tacky gift shop memorabilia, look for authentic shops and markets where tourists don’t go.

8. Talk to cab drivers.
Just like the hotel staff, taxi drivers are also an exceptionally great travel resource. Cab drivers typically know where the best night life and entertainment are because they drop people off all night long. Ask your driver to take you out of the tourist area and help you visit the sites. You will be surprised, but for a nominal fee most drivers will be happy to escort you to and from the sites all day. If you meet a driver you like, keep their name and number, and call them anytime you need to go out or are looking for adventure. You will be surprised where they take you and what sites you will see.