Comments on: How to Live Like a Local Wherever You Travel

By: Donosti Dive Bars: Night Life in San Sebastián, Spain

Donosti Dive Bars: Night Life in San Sebastián, Spain — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 01:18:40 +0000

[...] street’s overt Basque nationalism might put some people off, but the half-dozen bars here are as local as it [...]

By: Robert

Robert — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 16:28:14 +0000

Really nice recomendations. I like what Gerard said: “Bring a smile, and don’t be shy about how you look.”

For those of you who want to connect with local tour guides even before traveling, maybe http://www.LocalGuiding.com may be helpfull. The website is new, but there are already hundreds of local tour guides listed: You can view the guides’ personal profiles, ask them questions and get in touch with them directly (even before traveling in the destination).

By: My Kafkaesque Life

My Kafkaesque Life — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 07:38:09 +0000

I got my hair cut in Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan and I loved it. One of the best experiences ever while traveling.

By: InTransit Episode 11: San Cristobal, Mexico

InTransit Episode 11: San Cristobal, Mexico — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 19:25:49 +0000

[...] uses night buses to defer the costs of staying in hostels, as well as buying a lot of his food in markets and making it on the road. This, along with getting tacos from street vendors has kept his costs [...]

By: 3 Places in Argentina You’ve Never Heard of

3 Places in Argentina You’ve Never Heard of — Wed, 26 May 2010 12:11:08 +0000

[...] I’m not selling it well enough. For me, the beauty of Fiambalá lies in living everyday life like a local (and is why I stayed there for a month), but there are also plenty of things to [...]

By: maryanne

maryanne — Mon, 17 May 2010 12:15:31 +0000

My preference, as someone above noted as well, is to just move to a new place, rent a flat, get a job and live your everyday life as your neighbours do: shopping in the markets, taking buses, drinking tea, etc. I’ve done this since 1994 in Eire, London, Cape Town, two cities in Turkey (including Istanbul for 4 years) and now going on 18 months in Shanghai. I like developing routines and rhythms, greeting my banana guy as I pass by every morning, or getting my coffee from the same cafe at weekends, or nurturing chef-customer relationships at a few low-key restaurants nearby. In our little neighbourhood, we have so many small, intricate every day relationships that make me feel like I am a part of something bigger. I don’t feel that when I am just passing through (and I have done just that many times over the years).

By: Joya

Joya — Fri, 14 May 2010 03:14:10 +0000

Aside from living and working in London for 6 months, which definitely worked, I agree with the food. Food markets are the perfect place to meet locals and I never thought about the hair cut one. That’s such a good idea!

By: lara dunston

lara dunston — Thu, 13 May 2010 14:49:05 +0000

Great piece & great ideas, matadors! We’re putting all your tips into practice this year as part of our Grantourismo project: http://grantourismotravels.com/

My other half, Terence, is having his cooking skills put to the test every 2 wks when he learns to make a quintessentially local dish from a local.

Obviously, we’re going to recommend renting an apartment over a hotel too (seeing that’s what we’re doing this year!) but we also recommend enrolling in short courses and walking tours with a local, and not always for the tour – we became friends with an artist we did one with in Montmartre and even managed to get a dinner invitation to her home!

Avoiding cafes/bars/restos on main squares and in touristy areas and instead opting for off-the-beaten track options in everyday neighbourhoods – and asking those bartenders/chefs for tips as Kate suggested is definitely working for us too. Football games and other local sporting events are great too.

But mostly, we think simply watching and then adjusting to the ebb and flow of everyday life, whatever that may be, is the key. For us, it’s by far the most enriching way to travel.

By: Ethan Gelber

Ethan Gelber — Thu, 13 May 2010 04:03:03 +0000

All of these are GREAT ideas. Thanks Heather for putting them out there.

For anyone (and everyone) totally sold on them — on the value and importance of local travel — you’re not alone. Still somewhat hidden from view is a growing collective (currently more than 75 partners) of local-travel organizations and travellers pushing to lift local travel into the mainstream.

In support if that is a non-commercial site promoting the growing general local-travel trend and helping to rally the local-travel troops at http://www.LocalTravelMovement.com.

By: GotPassport

GotPassport — Wed, 12 May 2010 18:17:43 +0000

I’ve gotten haircuts in Thailand and Burma. Quite an experience. The head and shoulders massages are fantastic.

So many variations on how to live like a local when traveling. Good tips!

Thanks for including me!