Travel Tips: Ask the Right Local
Bowrington Road Market in Hong Kong
The one travel tip you hear time and time again is that if you want to know what to do, what to see and where to eat, ask a local. This advice makes complete sense. A person living in the area or who grew up there will be full of helpful information. As travelers they are our link to a true, cultural experience.
I completely agree with locals being your best travel resource and put this tip into practice often. However, I also suggest taking it a step further. The specific local you ask will have strong influence on the information you receive. There is always the chance that the advice you get won’t be helpful at all.
Why do I feel this way? Well, during our time in Brazil I came across local advice that was sometimes helpful. Other times I realized that I knew more about where I was living than did the local I questioned.
This isn’t uncommon. When I think of my own country and consider some questions a visitor could ask me, there is a good chance I wouldn’t know the answer. Many times it is based on our personal interests and one certainly can’t know everything.
If I hadn’t done more digging and sought out those people who gave the best advice I would have missed out on a lot. Before you travel to a new location consider the following things before you take local advice and run with it.
Consider that the best local to ask may be an ex-pat.
When we hear the phrase “ask a local” a person who grew up in the specific country you are visiting typically comes to mind. However, the most I learned about Brazilian history and culture came from expatriates living in the places I was visiting. Why? Well, they took an interest in their new land and learned intriguing pieces of information backward and forward. They also learned from locals, but they took it to the next level and were able to explain it to me in a way I understood. Perhaps this is because we shared the common desire of learning about a new place.
Research the places you would like to go and use those suggestions as your ice breaker.
Morettes-PR, Brazil
Maybe it is a bar, a restaurant or an outdoor market. When you approach a local to ask him or her about the best places to go, tell the place you read about and ask his or her opinion. By doing so, you can determine if you are on the right track. She might tell you that the place you heard of is an ex-pat hangout and that isn’t what you are looking for. Next you can ask for a better suggestion.
Ask the person who isn’t expecting it.
The information desk personnel at the museum and the hotel concierge will be more likely to give you ideas for tourist spots. This isn’t always the case, but often. When you want to know where to go and what to see ask your waiter, the person behind the deli counter in the supermarket or the open market vendor. If they aren’t expecting your question, they will likely have only their own preferences to go on and you will get a true locals perspective.
Hire a local tour guide.
Roadside stand in Antigua
I loathe tours. I’m not saying there are of no benefit, some people prefer them. But it seems I always get stuck with a group consisting of individuals who disrespect the group and we have to wait on them to continue, or we are with the 21-questions-traveler. You know, the person who asks so many uninteresting questions that the tour guide never gets to talk freely and share interesting information. When we were in Ubud, Bali our small group tour turned into a personal tour because we were the only ones signed up. Then in Antigua we hired a local tour guide for a private drive around the island. Nothing compares to these experiences. You get the information you want from a very personal, local perspective. You may have to sacrifice something else to fit it in the travel budget, but I’ve learned it is worth every penny.
Themocracy
Some very good advice! Now that I’ve lived in London for two years I know what’s its like to be a tourist and a local (ok, that might be a bit of a stretch). I would be the best tour guide for hitting all the hot spots but also the hidden gems and the secret eating and watering holes! And I know where to send you if you get a little homesick and need a little American TLC in London.
It is hard to know who to ask. I think for my next trip I’ll ask on the blog before going. We got some many good NO recommendations after we got back.
gastro – Thanks! I know what you mean. An expat can offer the best of both worlds. I was amazed at what the people I met along the way knew about Brazil. It made me strive to become more knowledgable so I could help others too.
kat – The blog world is definitely the best place to start. I’ve been in that situation too where you think – wow, I wish I had known that before we left.
Really good advice, Lori! I can’t count the number of times I’ve asked a “local” where something in her “home town” is and been met with a blank stare (LOL). But so many times, when a person lives in a place, s/he doesn’t actually visit the sights unless taking out-of-town guests around!
Suzi – Thanks! You definitely have to have the motivation to go out a discover your backyard. I’m sure people could catch me off guard with a few questions about my home!
LOL! Me, too, but I’m working on it!
P.S. I really liked the tip about checking in with the ex-pats! I wouldn’t have thought of that.
Great advice, and completely agree not to ask the obvious folks.