Go local when you're travelling

Back in June I posted a topic on the Local Travel Movement’s forum looking for some basic advice for first time travellers from a local perspective.

If you haven’t come across the Local Travel Movement before it’s a platform that promotes the local way of travel and encourages people to get in touch with local people so that you can experience the place you’re visit much local like a local would.

The forum is a good place for anyone who’s interested in local travel or has a few burning questions about the subject.

I asked the following question:

Hi Guys,

Over on our site we get a lot of first time travellers or people who are venturing out of their comfort zone to far away places. Most of these people are unaware of the importance of local travel and sustainability…

If I was to supply them with some advice or some awareness tips for their trip what would they be?
😀

I got a range of useful answers and it was good to get other people’s perspective on it.

The main points/tips that I connected with were the following:

• Bring an open mind
• Be aware of the local culture
• Treat a place like you’d like people to treat the place you live
• Read up on a place before visiting, not just guide books but fact and fiction too
• Try mentally stepping into the local’s shoes and imagine the place from their point of view
• No solely relying on the guidebook as the definitive description of a place

There are many benefits from travelling locally, by respecting the places you travel to both economically and socially. It is important for first time travellers to have a basic grasp of the place they are visiting, not only does it help the local community but it will also helps you to get the most out of your travels.