Authentic Travel Experience
I’ve come to believe there are two basic types of travel. Travel for leisure and travel for curiosity.
Sometimes you want to just get away and relax by a pool in the sun and sometimes you want to know what life is like for people in another country.
I’d say we are about 80% curious travelers and 20% leisure travelers. Sitting by the pool is nice but it does not take long before we are bored and want to check out the nearest market where locals do their shopping.
Authentic Travel Experience
To really attempt to get to know what life is like for folks in another culture and have an authentic travel experience Brian, Alex, and Eric, of GlobalGoulets.com posted some great advice on Medium.com.
In their article How to Guarantee Yourself an Authentic Travel Experience: A Methodology for Better Travel they offer 7 ideas for creating better memories no matter where you are:
- Say Hello
- Ask their name
- Ask questions and try to understand the world from their side
- Get to know the before and after
- Be mindful
- Have fun
- See what you can contribute
Click here to read the full article.
Basically be curious and don’t be afraid to talk to people. As a traveler people will be curious about you as well, so it is not as scary as you might think. The benefits far out weigh any possible risks.
This photo is a great example Joyce and I had in Chiquimula, Guatemala, eating at a small town festival with locals.
Now it is your turn. What do you do to have a more authentic travel experience? Let us know in the comments below as we are always looking for ways to make travel a deeper and richer experience.
Thanks! We always appreciate hearing from our readers.
