Home from Home: How to Blend in When Traveling to New Places
Whether you’re heading off on your first international adventure or you’re an avid traveler, it’s highly like you’ll want to explore your new destination without acting or looking like a bewildered tourist.
With a few simple tips, you can make sure you don’t stick out like a sore thumb when you’re traveling, which will help keep you safe and provide you with a more memorable trip.
Here’s how:
Map It Out
Before you head off on a train, bus, or plane, be sure to explore your destination thoroughly first. Try to make sure you’re familiar with the local landmarks and street names, so navigating your way around the city will be easier when you get there. You could even go one step further by loading your destination on Google Maps first. Using Google Street View you can get a great feel for how the street looks, looking at monuments and storefronts that’ll help you get your bearings when you start traveling around.
Download Local Apps
Every city will have some favored apps, and it’s a good idea to download these before you get there. Look out for ones that people use for public transport, while also keeping an eye on any reviews to see if the information you’re getting is up to date.
It’s always handy to know when a bus or train is arriving/departing so you don’t have to try and speak the local lingo to find out. Plus, it allows you to plan your journey so you get plenty of time to see all the sights.
Learn Some of the Lingo
Even though you’ll be hard pushed to learn a whole new language before you go, it’s worthwhile learning some key phrases, including how to order local favorites. Whether it’s ordering a café au lait in Paris or a pint in a Spanish pub, learning how to say simple sentences can help you blend in with the local crowd – and they’ll appreciate your efforts (even if you do get it slightly wrong)! This is also a great way to get recommendations from the locals as they’ll reward your efforts with their top picks of the local hotspots.
Speak to the Locals
As we’ve just mentioned, chatting to local people is the perfect way to learn more about the city you’re visiting and how you can blend in and do what the locals do. The easiest people to chat to will be the staff at your hotel, like Marriott PA Philadelphia West, and they’re sure to give you their points on where you can go to avoid the standard tourist routes. Equally, if you’re looking for somewhere different to eat, these are your best bet.
Dress Like a Native
Before you set off, researching the local fashions is a great idea. Not only does this mean you’ll blend in with the crowds but it also avoids any awkward fashion faux pas when it comes to different cultures and religions, too. There are hundreds of local fashion blogs available which should help you pick a seasonal outfit that’ll fit in with the crowds.
When you’re traveling to a new place it can be daunting, but by doing your researching and planning ahead, it’s easy to look (and feel) like a local.
