I love travelling and I had the opportunity to visit several counties. Whenever I am abroad, I like observing my surroundings and soaking in the culture.
Soaking in the culture as tourist is all good as long as you remember to play it safe. I usually do a lot of research before I visit any country. Thanks to websites like TripAdvisor and Expedia, it is so easy to find out all the information you need before you travel.
I like having fun on holidays but I don’t like standing out as tourist, because it tends to attract the bad apples. Here are some ways I travel without looking like a tourist.
Relax
This little trick may sound like a surprise to you but this helped me a lot. When you land in a new country or destination you’re likely to feel uncomfortable, restless or even overly excited. All that can give you away.
Someone who is familiar with the terrain hardly get over excited, restless or uncomfortable. They are usually relaxed and even indifferent to their surroundings.
I don’t advice you to feign indifference or you’ll miss out on all the beauty the country has to offer. I do, however, advice you to take a more relaxed approach as you soak in the best of your environment.
Blend with the locals
On one of my travels, I loved the way some of the tourists bought the cultural clothes of the country and wore them throughout the tour. It was their way of blending in with the locals.
When you make an attempt to blend in by showing your appreciation of their culture by wearing their local attire or eating with them or taking part in some of their cultural activities, you are likely to be more accepted in their fold and treated as one of them.
Take public transportation
Tourists usually take the bus tour and that makes everyone around them know that they are tourists. Aside from that, you miss out on seeing the country or destination for what it is.
If you have a good opportunity to hop on a train or bus while on holiday, grab it.
Take a route different
Every local knows the exact spots where tourists hang around. If you want to travel without looking like a tourist then you should avoid these places. Don’t follow the usual tourist routes. Be adventurous and see the places that are hardly visited by tourists.
Ease up on the photography
One of the characteristics of tourists is that they always have a camera in their hands ready or around their necks. There is nothing wrong with taking pictures. I make sure I take loads of pictures whenever I am on holiday.But if you don’t want to be look like a tourist then you need to ease up on the photography. Instead, enjoy the scenery and soak in the beauty of the environment.
Do you like looking like a tourist when you away on holiday or do you prefer blending in?
