Why Traveling-like-a-Local is Better than More Traditional Travel Experiences

A journey is like a marriage.  The certain way to be wrong is to think you control it.
John Steinbeck

What is the origin of the term "traveling like a local"?

After wracking my brain, I discovered the missing ingredient ? the cruise failed to move my heart or captivate my brain. I never spent enough time in one place to develop any real sense of connection to the people, history, culture or life of the destination. All I got from the experience were fleeting views of some of the world?s greatest sites and a lot of excellent food.

My best travel experiences, on the other hand, left an indelible impression on my life. They challenged me to become a better person, taught me to appreciate another way of life, and forged lifelong connections to people with completely different values and perspectives. Each experience shared two things in common: they propelled me into the authentic culture of another country and inspired my sense of adventure.

After analyzing these experiences, I began to realize that they succeeded because they allowed me to travel-like-a-local for a short period of time. 

What makes traveling-like-a-local better than traditional travel (like resorts, cruises, and tours)?:

Traditional travel experiences:

• Do not help you discover a new destination?s people, flavors, smells, and culture. You either jump between places too quickly or are confined in comfortable but antiseptic hotels that separate tourists from locals. Traveling like a local lets you appreciate the daily life of a new destination. You do not just see the sites. You go to local marketplaces, visit local artists? studios, talk to local families and their friends, read the local paper, attend plays and concerts, ride public transportation, share your passion for a leisure activity with local aficionados, go with your friends to parties, and use local services like dry cleaning and hair salons.

Traveling-like-a-local, on the other hand, is:

• Full of spontaneity and surprise. Whereas, traditional travel is highly programmed. There aren?t many surprises. You expect things to go smoothly and usually are upset when things do not go as planned. People who travel like locals do not have many expectations beforehand. They often discover that their most valuable and enjoyable experiences come when things don?t seem to go as planned. They take chances using local services. Over time, they learn to trust other people. In fact, many people who travel like locals learn the world greatest travel secret ? most people will go out of their way to make your experiences enjoyable, if you give them half a chance. 
  
  
• As safe (if not more safe) as traditional travel. Traditional travelers stick out like ?a sore thumb?. They travel in large groups and display their wealth (cameras, jewelry, etc.) openly in places where most people couldn?t even dream of owning such luxuries. In most local people?s view, traditional travelers want to ?stick with their own kind? and are afraid of local people. People who travel-like-a-local stay in local peoples? homes, learn about the destination, share a part of themselves with locals, and make an effort to speak to other people in the local language. While locals can almost always identify that they are travelers, people who travel like locals not conspicuous. They try to look and act like natives and make unattractive targets for thieves because they seem like ?nice people?. 
  
  
• A better value than traditional travel. On cruises and tours, you spend a lot of money on transportation because you are constantly traveling. You also pay more for everything on a tour or cruise because you are always paying for their overhead. Even when you are away from the tour or cruise, you pay more for local restaurants and souvenirs because: (1) it is hard to find inexpensive, local places quickly, (2) you are frightened because you don't know the language and culture so you seek out familiar services; (3) expensive places are easy to find and well advertised or (4) you are rushed so you follow the tourist hordes (even backpackers often pay more than they should because they stay at the same (often overpriced) accomodations as other travelers). Traveling-like-a-local, on the other hand, is better for your pocketbook. It is almost always cleaner, cheaper, and more comfortable to stay in local people?s homes or dormitories, scout out friendly local neighborhood restaurants, and seek out local tours and entertainment used by locals.
  
  
• Can also fit into any budget range. While most people who travel-like-a-local have fairly limited budgets, higher income travelers can still chose to be a participant rather than a spectator in their destination by renting some of the world?s finest apartments and homes, eating at small, exotic gourmet restaurants, and arranging individualize tours with highly qualified local guides. (Note: these services will cost about half in Latin America and Asia what they?d cost in Europe or North America).

What are some travel-like-a-local options?

Traveling like a local experiences can be broken up into the following categories: Exchange Programs, Educational Travel, Volunteer Programs, and Living, Working, and Retiring Abroad.

Exchange Programs

Exchange programs is a catch-all term for home exchange, hospitality exchange, homestays, meet-the-people- programs, and student exchanges.

• Home exchange programs: People exchange their homes with each other for a period of time (usually two to four weeks). Home exchange listing services allow the owners of these homes to find each other and get some basic information about the location, amenities, availability, and size of the homes. After reading the listings, potential exchangers contact each other and discuss their expectations and the conditions of rental. Usually no money exchanges hand, though it can. Often travelers also exchange cars and sometimes even make arrangements for maid service. Many people fear that others will steal or misuse their belongings. However, I have never heard of any of these types of problems. In fact, most people are surprised to find that their homes are in better shape than when they left. That said, you need to let exchangers know if you are fussy about your things and your home (put away valuables and breakables to be on the safe side). The most common issue of contention between exchangers regards different cleanliness standards.
  
  
• Hospitality exchange programs: These programs maintain list of people who are willing to open their homes to travelers for free. The usual stay lasts from one to three days, though longer stays can be arranged. There is usually no expectation that these guests will open their homes to their hosts or even other travelers. The only expectation is that the travelers will spend a bit of time with the hosts and share some of their interests, life stories, and friendship. Probably the largest and best established (and safest) hospitality exchange program is through Servas.
  
  
• Homestays are similar to hospitality exchanges except that travelers pay families to put them up in a room in the host's home. Typically, homestays are part of a learning vacation (particularly a language program) or volunteer experience. Many cities have agencies (especially in Eastern Europe) that make arrangements for tourists to set up a homestay in their city. A homestay is often is different from a Bed and Breakfast because you are usually the only person paying to rent a room in the house.
  
  
• Student exchange programs involve college and high school students living in a family in order to learn about life in another country. Typically, the families are not paid to host the student. Contrary to popular myth, there is usually not a requirement that the student exchange is reciprocal. Students usually pay the firm arranging the student exchange program (many are non-profits) for the program administration, an orientation, tours, and other support services.
  
  
• Meet the people programs: Include formal programs to encourage people?to?people exchange like the Sister Cities program or People to People International and informal efforts for people to meet each other based on membership in a club or professional affiliations.

Educational Travel

Educational Travel is a catch-all term for study abroad, learning vacations, some independent travel experiences, educational tours and seminars, and reality tours.

• Learning vacations: Learning vacations can take place at an amazing array of small primarily for?profit schools that have opened in recent years to teach travelers a variety of subjects. The most common classes are in foreign languages. These schools are located in countries throughout the world and cover a wide array of class. The most common school is dedicated to teaching languages such as Spanish (the most common ? there are 500 such classes in Latin America alone), Portuguese, Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Russian, Arabic, French, German, Italian, Turkish, and Greek. Usually, these schools also will help students make arrangements to rent a room from local families and will arrange cultural, educational, and evening events after school for students. These schools also may offer many classes on other topics as well including surfing, skiing, winemaking, ecology, herbal medicine, dancing, martial arts, massage, and several academic subjects (history, sociology, etc.).
  
  In Latin America and Asia, these small schools are typically quite inexpensive (usually $3-$12 an hour). Most of the cheaper classes have three to seven people per class. Individual classes are usually always available though they cost more ($6-$20 per hour). Throughout the world, if you are competent in the language, you can also take some excellent classes (with larger groups) through established colleges (check out community education programs at Community Colleges in the USA) and some private for?profit schools at very low cost ($7-30 per hour in the USA and Europe; as little as a $1/hour in Asia and Latin America). Despite the name, learning vacations can take place for a long or short period of time.
  
  
• Study abroad: Hundreds of colleges and universities in the USA and Europe offer multitudes of study abroad programs (usually one semester or a year in length) that allow students to take classes abroad for college credit. While these programs can be a bit expensive (remember you are paying for college credit) they are often open to travelers of all ages (not just college students) and cover some really intriguing topics. For more information, refer to Transitions Abroad magazine.
  
  
• Educational tours and seminars refers to a variety of small scale tours and organizations that integrate special interest classes into their programs such as Elderhostels (classes and wilderness adventures for seniors) and the Findhord Foundation (a Scottish foundation dedicated to promoting and teaching ecologically sensitive lifestyles). Educational tours can also include some specially designed eco tours and walking tours
  
  
• Reality tours are small group tours, offered through organizations such as Global Exchange, that are designed to encourage travelers to meet locals through visiting their institutions and workplaces.

Independent travel

Independent Travel: You can also organize independent travel experiences that will give you a glimpse of other societies by seeking out?of?the way places and experiences that hook you up with real daily life and rhythms in other communities and sometimes even staying in their homes.

Volunteer Programs

Volunteer programs: There are numerous organizations that seek volunteers. Some are geared toward people who are willing to commit to work for six months or longer. Others are specifically designed to accommodate visitors with shorter time commitments (as little as a week). The longer programs sometimes help defer the volunteers? expenses. A few shorter programs will defer expenses if the volunteers have hard to find skills. Often, you even pay extra for programs that find the best placement for you and facilitate your arrangements. Some volunteer experiences including teaching English in Russia, working as a reporter in Bolivia, helping preserve turtles in Costa Rica and butterflies in Mexico, digging up artifacts in Mayan temples, ancient French villages, and Israeli biblical ruins, assisting to set-up small craft cooperatives in Latin America, working on HIV prevention programs in Botswana, and building orphanages in Eastern Europe. Volunteer program can also include working on an intentional community (formerly called a commune). One of the largest database of inexpensive volunteer experiences anywhere is through Service Civil International . In addition, there are some excellent books on volunteering in my book picks

Living, working, and retiring abroad

Living, working and retiring abroad: There is no better way to become a part of a new community abroad than pulling your stakes and setting up a new life abroad. You learn a lot about another way of life. You get to know local shopkeepers on a first name basis, get invited to co-workers and clients? homes, and use local doctors, handymen, and services. Sometimes, it can be a bit frustrating but it is also a great way to save money, enjoy a slower pace of life, and see the world. It is also a great way to learn a new career. You?d be surprised how many successful English teachers and freelance journalists in the USA started their career by working overseas. Check out my book picks for a great list of resources to help you plan your adventure. Though a bit costly, there is probably no better source for information on living and retiring abroad than International Living magazine.

However you choose to travel, you?ll get addicted to traveling like a local experiences. They are more fun, educational, inexpensive, challenging, and safer than traditional travel programs.

Note: This article is prepared by Paul Heller, founder of Big Blue Marble. The Big Blue Marble also has an extensive list of books and links about traveling like a local and a comprehensive book list and links devoted to living, working, retiring and studying abroad.

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