New York Times recently offered in an article by Seth Kugel the following five tips on how to make your travel less predictable:
The author notes that he has nothing against relaxing on beachfront daybeds or doing the cathedral-monument-museum circuit, but for some travelers the ideal vacation is one that combines relaxation and sightseeing with unexpected finds down narrow streets, lively conversations with surprising locals and wrong exits leading to hidden treasures.
He points out that such experiences are not sold online but it’s easy enough to create your own and offers a few largely effortless adjustments to lower your “travel handicap” in predictability:
Visit ‘em where they ain’t
You can’t force a local to chat, but you can stack the odds in your favor by visiting countries, regions or cities where you don’t have to. Kugel’s top travel axiom is that the fewer visitors a place gets, the more eager locals are to talk with them. To put it another way, you’re unlikely to befriend a Parisian who lives a block from the Eiffel Tower. (Unless he’s got skin in the tourism game: souvenir sellers worldwide are more than happy to be chummy.)
Practice deliberate spontaneity
Planning a vacation is crucial but a tightly scheduled day does not preclude spontaneity, so the article advises to consider your itinerary a rough draft, ready for modification if something piques your interest. Furthermore, it recommends an alternative strategy: For every five days of your trip, set aside one for planned spontaneity. In the city, bury your phone in your backpack and explore a neighborhood blind or with a paper map, asking for advice along the way and in the country, take a drive down a local road and stop whenever you see something interesting.
Be on a mission
To give some structure to your adventuring, Kugel suggests to come up with a nonserious goal that will add an element of fun and nudge you off the tourist trail. Make it, for example, your mission to find the best bookstore in town, try every brand of local candy or search for the weirdest ice cream flavors.
Say “yes”
The artcile also points out that sometimes an opportunity for a detour or a change of plans will arise that you (or your travel companions) might think is silly or a little nerve-racking but you should not turn your backs to it and argues that the only one good reason to say no to an idea is if it would put you in physical danger.
Seek community
Finally, the author notes that great things also happen when your family or friends or friends of friends live in your destination and, even if you have no connections, you can search for clubs or groups or professional organizations in your areas of interest. Surgeons may seek to tour a local hospital; journalists a newsroom; police officers a precinct. Maybe you’ll score some great tips on beaches or night life or even make a friend.
Read the full article at nytimes.com
RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
Photo Source: New York Times
