Planning your next home exchange? Make the most of the opportunity to live like a local and avoid getting caught looking like a tourist!
Here are a few tricks and tips to travel like a local, no matter where you roam. Follow these suggestions, and you’ll be looking like a local in no time!
What’s your travel style?
However you like to travel, how you dress can be important. Take a few minutes when planning your trip to not only look at the weather but also if there are any fashion no-nos for the area that you can avoid. Shorts, tank tops, and other more revealing garments can be a no-no in some places. Bring options so that if you visit a sacred site, you don’t offend the locals.
Want to dress up? Think about how you will be getting around when you’re on your adventure. While heels might work for a night out, walking on cobblestone streets all day could be a little more complicated.
Check out some Instagram accounts of people who live in the city you'll be visiting, and get a feel for their style. This will help you understand the style of dress in the region when you travel.
Learn the language
If you’re visiting a foreign country, it can help to take some time to pick up some local phrases. No need to become fluent, but a few basics will go a long way with the locals. Who doesn’t appreciate having a conversation with someone in their native tongue rather than having to interpret a not-so-fun game of charades?
Some phrases you might want to learn to read and speak:
- Greetings, thank you, and good night
- What’s on the menu?
- Deciphering street signs
- How to ask for or give directions
- Ask where to find a public restroom
- Ways to ask if they speak your native language
Know where you are going
With technology today, there is no need to be wandering the streets aimlessly or blocking traffic to look at a map. Even with a phone, make a point to review where you’re going before you set out. Pausing every couple minutes to look at a map on your phone is a sure sign that you’re not local. You'll also avoid disaster if your phone battery dies or you can't get service. If you do get lost, make the most of your new language skills to ask how to get where you’re going. Who knows, you might make a new friend.
Think before you click
If you are traveling, you’re going to want to remember it. So unleash your inner photographer and get some quality pictures… within reason. Walking around taking snapshots of everything you see is a sure sign that you are not from the area. Not only could it attract some attention, it means you aren’t actually paying attention to your surroundings. Be safe out there, your Instagram followers will understand.
Eat where the locals eat
Restaurants located in high-traffic areas often target the masses. But you’re on an adventure, and you want to experience the local fare the way it was meant to be enjoyed! Make a point to ask your exchange partner what they recommend both for locations to visit and delicacies to try. Not only will the food taste more authentic, but you’ll also have another delicious memory to look back on.
** Respect the planet**
At HomeExchange, we make travel easy and affordable, but did you know home exchange is also a sustainable way to travel? Make sustainable or eco-conscious choices, not just in your everyday life, but in how you travel.
In a variety of countries, and across a vast span of diverse cultures, HomeExchange members have explored new efforts to create sustainable homes. Members who share a strong desire for choices that are less impactful on the environment can find comfort in the homes of other members who share similar values.
Home exchanges are based on a philosophy of sustainable tourism with the use of existing resources, as well as respect for local customs and traditions. Exchanging a house is much more than traveling: it is partaking in a different way of life, integrating others’ habits and respecting other cultures and ways of life. HomeExchangers feel absolute passion for living their destination’s culture when they travel.
Learn more about how to travel in an eco-friendly way here.
Exchange homes
Looking for a real authentic experience? Steer clear of the traditional places to stay and enjoy the freedom of traveling with HomeExchange. You’ll save money (meaning more funds for unforgettable experiences), and you’ll have more flexibility to enjoy yourself when you’re there. It’s affordable, safe, and a much more unique way to explore the world.
With HomeExchange, your next adventure is a click away. No need to worry about standing out like a tourist when you are living like a local. Where to next?
