Local Knowledge

Local knowledge can be invaluable when you’re traveling, whether you visit the big city or smaller towns. You can talk to friends who know the area before you leave or look for reputable sources (like the hotel receptionist) when you get there, but consider leaving your schedule a bit open for some hot spots that other people recommend.

First, hunt down anyone you may know who has lived, worked, or traveled to your vacation destination. Ask around—you might be surprised how many of your coworkers and second cousins have been there! Because your friends and family know you, they often make the best suggestions for place that they know you will love. Be careful, however. If you mention that you’re traveling to someone’s hometown, they might invite themselves along for the ride!

Another great source for local knowledge is the service industry workers you have to talk to anyway. These include the people running your hotel reservations, the waiter at a local restaurant, and the taxi driver who picked you up at the airport. Remember that these people live and work in the place you are visiting, so they have insider tips about how to avoid the crowds or get tickets to sold-out events. Be polite and friendly, but if the person you ask does not seem receptive, don’t take it personally. Remember that they are simply doing their job and may not like being asked lots of questions. Walk away and find someone new to talk with—lots of people are more than willing to share ideas and opinions.

When looking for local knowledge, you can also visit tourist stations. In the United States, major highways that lead into each state usually have a rest stop where you can pick up lots of information. This is usually better than searching online if you want to find small out-of-the-way places instead of huge tourist attractions. You can ask the people working at the tourist center what they would recommend.

Local knowledge is definitely great for travel, because it gives you the chance to learn more about the area in which you will be staying from a resident’s point of view. When tourist traps and loud restaurants get old, seek out local knowledge about some great lesser-known spots to visit.