Visiting foreign countries is a way to excite the mind and broaden your cultural and social experiences. As long as you can afford it, there is no better way to become a fuller person. When you’ve returned home, you’ll realize you learned as much about where you’re from as the place you visited — maybe more.
Part of the trick of traveling is blending in with the local population and not looking like a tourist. If you’re spotted as a tourist, you will end up paying the highest prices and getting directed to the least authentic points of interest. In addition, you could be the target of thieves. Here are five tips on how to get the most out of traveling.
1. Blend in. This idea changes with every travel destination. If visiting Paris, it could mean dressing in dark colors. If visiting a beach town in Australia, think casual and funky. Dress to how you feel comfortable, but remember the more you blend in, the more true interaction will follow. Avoid shorts and baseball caps — you’ll scream “tourist” every step of the way.
2. Keep the maps out of sight. Maps are helpful and could even save you from wandering into dangerous neighborhoods, but pick a good place to look at one. Stop into a café while you get oriented. Studying a map on a street corner is a bad idea.
3. Learn the language. It doesn’t take a master’s degree in Spanish to be able to order a meal and ask for directions. You’re spending a lot of money and time in a foreign country — pick up a few words at the very minimum.
4. Keep your voice low. There’s no need to be ashamed of yourself, but keeping a low profile is a great idea in a foreign country. You’ll avoid drawing unnecessary attention to your accent or awkward language phrases.
5. Pay attention to local customs. Is there a holiday being observed during your stay? Is church on Sunday a must? Keep your eyes and ears open: nothing says “tourist” like making ridiculous demands in the midst of a holy day.