While it is important to plan your trip ahead, if you want to experience the cultures and countries in full, this sometimes means ditching the paved road and trying new things that you didn’t even consider during the planning phase of the trip.
Whether you are a seasoned explorer or not, the tips below will help you get the most out of your trip and will work for most of the well-known cities and places in the world.
Search for the local tourist information center
Many cities in the world, especially the big ones but also the smaller ones, have a tourist information center and it is usually found at the bus or train station, airport or port. You should take a quick look at these places to see if there is one and if not, you can also find them in the city center, tourist areas such as parks, popular beaches and so forth.
Local tourist information centers can give plenty of information that would otherwise take you a very long time to find by yourself. You can get a map, ask for the local attractions and advice on which ones are worth experiencing, the best hours for the attractions, and how much they cost.
Taking part in regional festivals and public holidays is one of the best parts of traveling and of being a tourist since you can immerse yourself in another culture. Even a small holiday or a street festival can help you create great memories so make sure that you take advantage of the time you have in a new country to experience these events.
With that said, if you are on a budget, it is best to take a moment to research big public holidays in the country you intend to visit since hotels, transport, and flights usually tend to cost more due to the high demand.
Don’t stay in one place
It might be tempting to stay near your hotel but if you are too afraid to explore the surrounding areas you’re going to miss a lot of fun. Just think of how different your own hometown can be since no two areas are the same.
If you want to experience more of a country’s culture you can’t do it in just one place but you also don’t need to go too far if you are not comfortable. Traveling just one hour in any direction can tell you a different story about the people, the food, the culture, architecture and so on.
It is also a good idea to forgo your maps for just one afternoon and get lost. Don’t rely on Google maps and instead, try to ask people for help and see where this adventure will take you. You can also go on hikes.
Befriend a local
If you want to experience the culture of a country there’s no better way to do it than through its people. Talking with locals is the best way of forming a connection with the country you’re visiting and learning some small phrases even if they are limited to just “thank you” or “hello”, as this a good and polite way of showing that you respect and are interested in their culture.
Not only will the locals be more open to you and friendlier but they will also be more willing to include you in their activities. There’s also no better way to find exciting activities in a new city than through the people who inhabit it.
Check the weather
The seasonal weather in a country determines what activities are available and how tourist-friendly the locations are going to be. Thus, you should take the time to research the climate of the country you are going to visit.
You can look at records about the weather of the previous year to get an idea of what you can expect and you can also use a weather website or app to get a more detailed breakdown of how the weather is expected to be near the time of your visit.
Be spontaneous and get out of your comfort zone
When you are in a country that you don’t know much about it can be difficult to be spontaneous but you should definitely try it since it can help you explore an area more intimately. Take one day of your trip without any plans in mind and explore the city either by foot or by renting a bike so that you don’t miss anything and you’ll get to feel like a local in no time.
You might also want to stay in shape by going to a local gym and getting the workout you need, in which case you’ll need products such as those on biggerbetterbeards.org.
It can be hard to resist the temptation of planning but you need to remember that the only way you can experience truly unique things that can change you and your perspective of the world are those that require you to shake things up a little.
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