I have written extensively on the topic of being a tourist. Whether it’s my hatred for them, tips on being one, or traveller safety, it’s a topic I am relatively passionate about as I am obsessed with traveling to every goddamned end of this earth. Although like any modern human I enjoy certain material things, I would much rather spend my hard-earned money on travel. As much as new clothes, homeware, and camera equipment gets me excited, the experience you take away from traveling will never go out of season, shrink, or get too old.

In addition to there being different forms of travel and accommodation depending on what kind of holiday you are looking to have, there is also a huge difference between traveling to fulfill your expectations and traveling with an open mind.

This topic came up when I made my first trip to Vienna with a then friend a few years back. I had previously taken a trip with a mutual friend of ours to Paris, who had a very different style of travel to that of mine. I was more interested in waking up at 10 am, sitting at a cafe and watching the people go by, eventually hitting up the most important tourist attractions to me personally. She was much more set on hitting up as many tourist destinations as possible each day (Turbo tourism). To be fair, she was very organized and prepared and knew exactly where she wanted to go and what she wanted to do. And there is nothing wrong with this kind of travel if you like it. But for me it was too overwhelming. We ended up splitting up for a day and due to my lack of organization, I ended up doing a lot of wandering around and getting lost, which did feel a bit like a waste of time, but for the most part, I actually love getting lost. It’s how you discover new things.

Granted, it’s important to do some planning ahead if you want to see specific sites that require ticket reservations (unless waiting in 2 hours lines is your thing), but I like to pick out a few things to do and let the city kind of guide me through the rest.

When in Vienna, waiting on line at the Schönbrunn palace, my then friend at the time and I got into this exact discussion. We were talking about the fact that when you go to a new place with a clearly defined itinerary, you will return from your trip with the same exact expectations and ideas about a place you had prior to your trip. You also end up spending all of your time amongst other tourists and might have stunning photos of historical buildings to show your friends and family upon your return, but will be able to say very little about the local culture and people.

There is a reason why there is a 3 hour line for the Notre Dam and other incredible buildings seeped in history and architectural wonder, so by all means go and see the things to see. But do remember that a city is more than just the historical buildings that make up the geographical landscape. It is also a living breathing entity with a contemporary culture full of people who are alive at this very moment. And these are people that you may be missing out on meeting if you spend all your time queuing for shit. There are also tons of incredible things to be seen that aren’t in a guidebook, so wander around and/or meet locals because the result is bound to bring you to some incredible places Frommer or Lonely Planet never even told you about.

at the V and A in London - lovefromberlin.net V&A, London 2015

So just how exactly can you strike a balance between both seeing what is meant to be seen and taking in the local culture? SPOILER ALERT: I’m gonna tell you, so keep reading.

Limit the Sightseeing

Clearly if you have paid a pretty hefty chunk of money to travel so someplace new, you are going to want to see some of what makes that place so noteworthy. And you should! But don’t allow your entire trip to consist entirely of museum visits and taking pictures of important architectural structures and a million selfies. Depending on how long your trip is, I would even say to just take a day to wander around with your camera and allow your feet to bring you to new and unexpected things as well.

Pre-order tickets to your must-see attractions

By pre-ordering tickets, you will save a hell of a lot of time that would otherwise be spent standing in a line cursing your life and everyone else around you.

Go where the locals go

Generally speaking, when you visit a place heavily frequented by tourists, there is a shopping district that caters to these masses of foreigners that pass through the streets every day. Then there is the shopping district where locals shop – In Vienna, tourists go to Stephansplatz and locals go to Mariahilferstraße. Now let’s be honest here, for a minute. The touristy shopping district is generally full of designer brands no one can actually afford anyway, so unless you are dying to pick up a designer item or a particular store is famous and you want to visit it for that reason, waltz through so that you have seen it but hit up the local shopping area.

I’m not saying to go there and blow your cash because I’m pretty sure they have the same stores that you have back home, but pop into a cafe in this area, because you are much more likely to bump into locals that way. Doing so or just walking around in this area will also give you a feel for the general pace of life for those who live here and aren’t just passing on through. If you aren’t in a city, the same still applies. There are beaches that locals go to and beaches that tourists go to. Try to check out the less touristy beaches but do also keep in mind that there are places where locals really do not like tourists to be, so just use your own judgement here. No one wants your trip to end up with you in the hospital with a fat lip and black eye. (Although it would make for a pretty rad story.)

Save your money

Skip the shopping. For the most part, every city has the same goddamned H&M or Zara on the corner. Welcome to capitalism. Don’t waste your time (or money) shopping for things you can easily get back home. Use that time instead to explore. And if you do want to buy something, make sure it’s something truly unique that reflects the culture and climate of the place you are visiting or from a store you have really wanted to visit that you just do not have back home. (Exception to this rule is if you have set out planning to spend a bit of money on this trip for your own enjoyment or because prices are a lot lower in the country you are visiting, because who doesn’t like new things once in a while?)

Get lost

When I was in Florence, I had a map with me to help me out and give me a general idea of where I was, but mostly had it tucked away in case I was really truly lost and instead wandered down streets that looked interesting to me. In doing so, I discovered a random vegan burger place as well as a stunning lifestyle restaurant that would be part of any blogger’s wet dream. Just remember to do a bit of research beforehand and be aware of which neighborhoods and streets are not so tourist friendly. Not every place is safe.

Hang with the locals

This is one of my biggest tips for really experiencing a place and not just seeing it. I often go to places where I have friends so that they can show me around, but as long as you use good judgement you can also try to meet up with friends of friends or locals once you get to your destination.

Sleep in and slow down

Now I’m not saying to do this every day as you don’t want to waste your vacation sleeping, but you ARE on holiday. So many people are obsessed with “getting their money’s worth” and equate this to seeing all the sees. This usually results in tons of stress, a big fight with your travel companion (if you have one), and a need for an actual vacation upon returning back home exhausted, grumpy and probably pissed off at the other person traveling with you. If you pick one day to just sleep in and lazily explore where you are you will probably experience so much more this way. Slow down. Sit at a cafe for an hour an just watch the people walk by. It’s also a good way to sort of gauge what life would be like were you to live in the place you are visiting.

Put the camera away

Okay so this one is a bit hard for me to do as I am a photographer and blogger and feel the need to photograph every little goddamned thing in life. In florence, I was photographing a scene, then snapchatting and instagramming it. Thank god I’m not a youtuber as well because I would never get anything done. But as much as I love taking photos, there is also something to be said for just experiencing a moment. I get why people were lining up to take a picture next to David or snapping photos of the Mona Lisa, but is anyone really going to spend time looking at these photos after they are taken? Maybe yes, maybe no, but in that moment, YOU ARE THERE staring at the very thing most people only get to see in photographs. You can always google the goddamn David or Mona Lisa when you get home. Take it all in with your own two eyes not through a view finder or cell phone screen. Enjoy what you have right in front of you, and then if you still feel the need, take the damn picture.

Another tip is to use one day to take most of your photos. This way, having delegated a single day for photos you can snap away to your heart’s content and not worry that you have not taken enough photos on your other days. Clearly, each day you may be going someplace different, so it’s fine to have your camera with you, but designating one day your heavy-camera-picture-taking day will help you feel less stressed out on the remaining days. If you are staying long enough in a place there may be one day where you really do not need to take any more photos of anything new, take advantage of this fact, leave the camera back in your hotel room/airbnb/etc. and just be in the moment.

Agree or Disagree with this list or have any other tips to add to the list? Be sure to leave them in the comments below.


Don’t forget to check out the podcasts & sign up for LFB’s conscious living challenge.



Stay conscious, Rae

Follow

instagram | Twitter | work with LFB

Rae Tilly

Rae the EIC of LFB and YEOJA Magazine. She is also a photographer and social media influencer.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

  • Ivana Džidić

    Such a great article! I do love the photographs you shared and I couldn’t agree more about sometimes needing to leave our camera behind. Often people take one million of photos when they are visiting someplace new and they don’t even look at them…I like to play a tourist in my own city and sometimes taking photos enables me to see it the way I normally wouldn’t and I love that…but snapping photos all the time, it ruins the experience.

    I love your hair btw!

    http://modaodaradosti.blogspot.ba/

  • sediqa

    Regarding “Save your money”. Yes, we have H&M and Zara in South Africa, but it’s so much cheaper in the US than it is back home! Even when I’d converting from Rands to Dollars.

  • I love this post! While I don’t really buy into the “tourist” / “traveller” distinction, there’s definitely something to be said for experiencing more than just the museums and other tourist attractions (as much as I love visiting both). My tip, which is really just my preferred way to travel, is to plan some of the trip, especially the things you really want to do and see, but allow wiggle room and free time.

  • Masha

    Love such kind of posts,very helpful!thanks for sharing
    xx
    http://maariemarie.blogspot.com.ee/

  • missgetaway

    Love this! I always try to mix between the locals too and stay away from the touristy spots. Traveling is so much better than just being a tourist (… ok, I think you definitely should have at least one day of being a tourist to make sure to get to all the landmarks :P)

    Love, Kerstin
    http://www.missgetaway.com

  • loved, loved and looooved the tips! I was thinking about my Summer trip (I plan to visit South Korea) and I was writing down the must see places (like museums and palace) but I was getting anxious that if I get to visit every goddamn palace and museum I will miss to feel the real vibe of the city. Thank you for the tips! I will use them well!

    Bangs Bang | Bloglovin

  • I feel like this post is so important for someone who loves to travel, get the most out of the trip, and is photography/blogger. <3 This is a wonderful read. There are times on vacation when I choose not to photograph with anything other than my iphone, just because I want to relax and take it all in. I've also learnt not to stress so much about NOT having time to see this/that slash to GET that shot that I'll never get back home… because it's not not worth it being stressed on vacay… so this post really rings true!

    Velveteencockroach

  • These are cool tips!

    Tourists always mistaken themselves as adventurers hehe which is really funny

    – Joyce | http://www.bitsofjoyce.com/

  • Thanks for sharing these awesome tips! I would love to visit Paris some day

    Candice | Beauty Candy Loves

  • I love these tips. When I travel I don’t like being “obvious” and “touristy” I always feel like it makes me an easy target plus I don’t like too much attention on myself. These days the worst case scenario is a photo of yourself doing something embarrassing floating about on the web. That is my worst fear lol. I have to disagree on one point though, the shopping. Australia is stupid expensive and almost everywhere and anywhere else in the world it’s much cheaper (though our dollar is majorly crappy right now) sp shopping is almost always high up on my list. Zara finally opened their doors here and so did Topshop and H&M except the latter stores aren’t very accessible for me so they are always on top of my list. I’m bad, I know…

    Sxx
    http://www.daringcoco.com

  • Beautiful post! ♡
    Kisses!
    http://www.alasdeangel.net

  • I will have to both agree and disagree with some of your points! I guess like you said it all comes down to your own style (and your travel buddy’s style, if you have one) and what you want to get out of a trip. I’m a planner, I definitely have itineraries for places I go to – I’m the person who hates not knowing what I’ll be doing today or tomorrow. And to be honest, I’ve rarely returned from anywhere with the exact same ideas – sometimes my impressions have been worse, sometimes better. In addition to planning for the major tourist attractions, I also slot in things like general “checking/hanging out” in neighbourhoods/areas, etc, so I suppose I schedule time for spontaneity as well, if that’s possible hahaha. It might be to do with the fact that the places I’ve been are so far away from here – 24+ hour flight far – that I don’t want to miss out on something that I know exists, if that makes sense?

    One thing I could definitely do more of is meeting locals! None of the places I’ve been to I’ve already known people in, so that makes it harder, and I’m generally not a sociable person (not even in Sydney!). I also 100% have a camera problem, I just NEED to take photos of everything!!

  • Jeans Please
  • I absolutely adore this post! I’m going for a weekend away to Venice on Friday, and my boyfriend, even though he isn’t coming with me, is infuriated by how little planning and itinerary I have done. I know what the main attractions are, I know why I want to go, so why do I need to know exactly when I should be doing what? I love to go and let place unfold naturally for me, and get a real sense of what it would be like to live there.

    I might send him this article, just to prove a point, or I might just keep it to myself, after all how you travel and explore a place is very personal xx

    http://teainyourtwenties.com

  • Such great tips, I am awful for constantly having my camera out but then regret not fully experiencing a trip. Delegating a single day is something I will have to try.

    http://www.emmainks.com

  • I try very hard to be a traveller, not a tourist. To see the sights as a wanderer than to fixate on a plan. Which is surprising of me considering I’m very detail oriented. But there’s something about traveling that just makes you want to let that all go and just…well…travel. <3

    xx Bash | Hey Bash | bloglovin’

  • Elizabeth Hisle

    It actually stuns people when they learn I don’t take my camera out much in my travels. Yes, I do like to take photographs as much as the next person, but chances are I’m only getting one chance at this city! I definitely want to spend time just being there, enjoying every little thing I could find. When I studied abroad in Rome and Florence it was for a class, so we had a teacher with us and things were mostly structured. I understand this from a teaching perspective, of course. But I was really itching to just get lost in the Roman streets. Apparently, my brother and two of our friends had that same itch, so we all went out at night (which was allowed) and discovered all sorts of things and people. It was great. We found the best neighborhood gelato shop and sat in the Vatican square at midnight eating ice cream. For all the wonders of the Vatican, that will always be what I remember most. I tried to recreate similar experiences in Buenos Aires too… surprise stuffed bread with cheese and tomatoes. Yum!

    http://aroseisinbloom.blogspot.com/

  • Great post! Something I’ve been thinking about while traveling this past week. I feel like I usually end up playing the tourist the first few days and then slowing down the last few in each place I go to. There definitely needs to be a balance I think

    Gina

    Pink Wings

  • I love to get lost in the city, that’s how I really get to see typical feautures of a city!

    http://www.notesofglam95.blogspot.it/

  • Love the colour of your hair very much! Lovely ♡◠‿◠♡

    Have a nice Tuesday ~

    Candy Kitten

  • Haha I hate the classic tourists too, I always wanna look behind the standard sights and touristy places. Go where the locals go is always the best tip! I usually try to connect with bloggers before going on holiday somewhere or try to chat up people when I’m there to get the insider tips.
    You’re right about the shopping too. H&M has just opened its first store here in Western Australia and all European travellers go there and buy the same old shit they could get at home. I don’t understand it?!

    Sunny greetings from Perth to Berlin!

    Bad Taste Toast – A German/Australian Style Blog

  • A great read :) I love to Travel and have been doing so ever since I can remember! I love to document my travels through photography, but before I had a camera when I was much younger I used to sketch, and also keep a written dairy whilst I was there describing certain scents sounds and random day to day experiences! I collected things from cafes, bars and stuck them into my journal to give it that feel/touch experience :) A nice appeal, you can’t do that with the internet unfortunately!
    Nice to meet you! laura http://www.shehearts.net xx

  • I really like this post! It makes me really concentrate on trying to really understand the locals and the culture and history of how the place is special and different, and anything I can learn. I usually think I do the touristy stuff on the first day or the first visit, just to get it over with, then the next day or next time I come I can try to just enjoy myself and immerse in the native life if I can. I really like that you point out that over planning and expectations can make travel too organized and you miss out on the spontaneous fun and unique adventures that happen when you just have a loose plan or idea–I think that’s a really good point.

    That photos one is always tough for me too, since I’m a blogger and need to take photos with my DSLR, iphone, gopro. I think I’ve gotten better over the years of trying to just enjoy a moment instead of obsessively trying to capture everything. I try to now keep photos to less than 50% of my activities, but at the same time some of my most fun adventures involved wandering around photographing things. Oh well, as long as I learn things and have fun, I guess.

    Great post, keep them coming!

    Characters & Carry-ons

    • I can’t agree more with you, Joyce! I recently read a NY Times article where a sociologist noticed how many people are taking photos at the Met museum vs observing the art. In my opinion, many people do the same while traveling. Yes, it’s important to document your memories every once in a while, but you can’t be obsessed with it. Just put your camera away and enjoy the moment!

      http://stylesprinter.com/

  • melissa

    agree with all your points and advice xx
    MA

  • These are great tips! I really need to remember to put the camera down sometimes, and to sleep in. I’m someone who wants to see as much as possible, but a vacation should be a vacation. Great post!

    Amber | y a c h t s m a a n

  • I love the list! I would also add “Get an offline Map- App so you won’t get lost if you don’t have wifi for Google Maps”.
    I tend to be more like your friend, trying to see everything important, when I’m in big cities.
    But for me there’s a difference between relaxing vacation (which always means “Beach” for me lol) and sight-seeing vacations (which are big or famous cities) I do get very tourist-y on the latter *oops* haha.
    I liked this post a lot, I always go by the “Eat where there locals eat” rule when I’m at a new place, tourist restaurants are super overpriced and crowded

    http://www.rosegoldheart.blogspot.com

  • Adriana R.

    Awesome tips! I will surely keep those in mind <3 Great post.

    thefancycats.blogspot.com

  • We share similar approach to traveling as I also enjoy living the life of the city I am at as opposed to visiting tourist attractions only. Within the years of traveling, I developed a formula that proved to work for me: I plan one tourist-like tour per day (usually in the morning), one vehicle-intensive trip per day (usually, a Segway or a bike), and one “get lost” type of trip. Such approach allows me to explore a lot without feeling too touristy. I need to write an entire blog post about this approach LOL I recently came back from my trip to Spain and this formula proved to be a reliable one.

    By the way, I forgot to mention that I totally agree about your idea of putting your camera away. I love concentrating on what I felt vs taking hundreds of images that I might never want to review again.

    http://stylesprinter.com/

  • Agree with them all but mostly on camera one. I should really put the camera away. I take many photos instead of enjoying the place then end up not checking the photos. x

    http://www.elabellaworld.com

  • Great tips! I love your points about going where the locals go and getting lost. I think the best way to experience a new city is to visit the non-touristy spots and wandering around. That’s when you find some pretty interesting places or cozy cafes :)

    http://www.mintnotion.com

  • Great tips! I agree with the limiting photos thing. my sister did a trip around a bunch of countries Europe and we eagerly sat down to watch a slideshow of the photos…4 hours later it finished, wow! haha. She couldn’t even remember what half of the places were. The best ones were ones of her and her friends having fun or seeing something different – I love to take photos, but I don’t take loads when I visit a new place.

    Away From The Blue Blog

  • Such a well written post with so many great tips. I can be too much of a busy bee on holidays and I plan on seeing/doing tons of things but my partner prefers to relax so we try to work out a balance which is perfect. A holiday should be spent enjoying every moment note stressing (which is what usually happens if you try to fit too much in) x

    Beauty with charm

  • These are such great tips hun! I fine the last one the most difficult as its almost a pre-requisite when you travel to document what you do! I think being a blogger makes it even more essential.

    Totally agree with everything else though and I always pre-purchase skip the line tickets to save the grief of having to line up on the day!

    Check out my latest post on the Star Epsom Race Day<3

    Helen xx
    http://CH1K.com

  • Jasmine

    This is such a great post with really useful travel tips! I tend to not go where the crowds go. It’s always fun to live like the locals live while I’m in a place :)

    be the plebeian

  • Ting

    Thanks for sharing these tips! xo

    http://www.eatlovemerry.com

  • These are such wonderful tips, I just got back from travelling and there was a few times I just stoped and was amazed at how nearly no body was looking at the sites directing but through a camera/ phone screen x

    Liz | LotsofLoveLiz

  • Hehe I have to say, I’m like your friend. I usually have a VERY set itinerary with all the top tourist things to do. However, I should probably just relax a little more and strike a balance like you suggested!

    Tina
    http://www.justatinabit.com

  • nice post … it is true the thrill of traveling and discovering new things unexplored is unique … and of course we like to fashion bloggers fill the amardio of clothes and things increasingly fashionable but I agree with you on the way to travel .. .
    good day
    a kiss

    FASHIONBYJEJE

  • Such great tips, I completely agree that we spend too much time taking photos and missing out on the experience and the culture we are immersed in.

    xo Sheree
    http://poshclassymom.com
    IG: @poshclassymom

  • Melisa

    amazing tips, totally a must-read.. I have to admit, the camera part is basically my weakness. Can’t resist to take gazillion photos while travelling. But definitely will follow your tips on just live in the moment. stay in touch<3

    http://www.rebelrebel.co x

  • sileas

    Putting the camera away would be tough for me too, but I totally understand what you mean! Too often I get in sort of a rush when I’m in a new city, so I also try to slow myself down (which sometimes doesn’t work too well) ;)

    sweetescapes.net

  • True what you said. When I’m visiting places I usually get lost in the beauty and forget to take pics most of the time. You look great !

    New Post – Makeup Revolution

  • Kelsey & Kenecha

    Such great tips doll I always wanted to travel :)

    Florals&Smiles

  • Rae ihr zwei seht fantastisch aus! Das sind tolle Tipps. Ich hoffe ich habe mich nie wie ein Tourist benommen, obwohl ich geh trotzdem gern shoppen :)

    xx glamdevils.com / miasmode.blogspot.com

  • What a fab post :) I totally agree that going off the over-done tourist track is totally worth it :) There is always a ton of places that only the locals know where you can soak up the culture. I like your tip about booking tickets to the attractions in advance too

    Rachel xx
    http://www.thedailyluxe.net

  • Yes, yes, and yes! I am so with you on this! When we’re travelling my husband and I love heading to little local bars and restaurants, you get so much more of a feel for a place that way. It’s nice to see “touristy” things once in a while, but if you stick to only touristy things you’re definitly not giving yourself a full view of the city you’re visiting.

  • Agree with each and everything you said here! I am not inclined towards the sight seeing. Some of it is fun, but I prefer doing exactly what you said and finding hidden gems all over a city!

    When I lived in Paris, I never went to Notre Dame, the Louvre, or the Eiffel tower (not inside, anyway. I walked around all these things.) People didn’t really understand why I spent 6 months there but never went, but it’s pretty much for these reasons. Instead I found moroccan restaurants at the back of mosques and mexican wrestling bars and hidden artist’s studios. I found so many astounding places and I don’t regret a thing!

    Also traveling with my boyfriend, we preferred to wander around and peek into open doorways and see what was going on everywhere we went. We found some cool backyard sculpture galleries and parks and unknown chapels. It was really fun to explore and discover.

    Anyway long story short I LOVE this post!

  • the italian glam

    the best part about travelling is hanging with locals, they really help you to know the place and traditions

    I definitely agree with you, I love being traveller not a tourist

    kisses

    http://www.theitalianglam.com/

  • Kathy

    Thanks for these great tips. It seems like following these tips will definitely make your vacation a lot more enjoyable. Thanks for sharing these with us.

    Kathy
    http://www.glamsimplified.com

  • Yuka

    great tips!! especially about hanging with the locals, thats always #1 on mine as well. As far as putting the camera away.. I have the hardest time with that! Maybe the next place I go I will practice that a bit more! haha

    http://www.prettyinleather.net

  • The best thing is to do is always get lost. Great tips.

    Mr Essentialist

  • love this post!!
    back to sharing the love from the sandpit…
    http://www.mahryska.com

  • I really enjoyed this post, Rae. I must admit I’m a planner, I research quite heavily into places i’m visiting; what restaurants and worth hitting, any off the beaten track type deals ect. I don’t think I could lie in, that’s just not me, but i would benefit from relaxing a little with the camera and experiencing it through my eyes more.

    Buckets & Spades

  • love this post!

    Sabrina | GYPSY T▲N

  • Great tips! :) When I travel I also like the places where local people go, usually they have better restaurants and shops (it’s beyond my willpower to skip shopping :-D)

    Let’s Talk Primers // http://www.keenonbeauty.com

  • These tips are great…I totally agree with them! Although I’m still working on putting the camera down…it is definitely hard! :)

    http://roadesque.com
    http://ourruins.com

  • Agree with each and everything you said here, such a great tips. Thanks for sharing it dear. Yay!

    April of: https://beybiapril.wordpress.com
    Instagram: @aprilnunezzz

  • Sybil

    aahh i totally agree.. love checking out locally owned shops and restaurants whenever I’m in a new city! :D

    Have a great day!

    Animated Confessions

  • When my husband and I recently traveled to China and Hong Kong, the best
    decision I ever made was to leave my dslr at home. If I wanted
    photos, I just used my phone. Your advice for “put the camera away” also makes me think of this photo: http://www.eonline.com/news/703309/this-phone-free-old-lady-has-reminded-the-world-to-stay-in-the-moment-see-the-pic

    And I love the advice here. We spend too much time being consumed by consumerism (ha!) and trying to fit as much in to a 24 hour period as is humanly possible. Much of traveling is about the experience itself and we can miss so many things if we don’t slow down and wander :)

  • The Sunday Mode

    I agree with what you said about limiting ‘sightseeing.’ The first time I ever went overseas I hit up all the museums and sights I could find, whereas now I love to spend days just walking around local areas and pretending like I live there, just going with the flow. I’ve stumbled across some amazing gems by doing this.

    http://www.thesundaymode.blogspot.com.au

  • Allison Lewis

    I love traveling and especially being invested in the culture and experience. Great suggestions and awesome blog. I would love for you to stop by my latest post.

    XoXo
    Alli
    http://www.abssolutelyalli.blogspot.com

  • I definitely love the idea of putting your camera away. Especially with the popularity of blogging and social media, it seems like everyone is so lost behind their screens. I’ll have to remind myself of this when I go on my next trip!

    Stephanie @ Sartorial Diner

  • Becky Hughff

    Such great tips!! The locals are definitely the key to understanding a place!

    http://www.ohsobecky.com

  • Loved reading this! While I like to see some tourist attractions, I love just walking, exploring a new neighborhood and finding an out of the way cafe

    http://Leftbankgirl.blogspot.com

  • thefashionsalt

    I love the tip “sleep in and slow down.” Our family vacations are always a bit stressed because we’re trying to do everything in a period of time. I’d rather take my time and “get lost.” Great tips!
    ~Lili
    http://www.thefashionsalt.com

  • I definitely enjoyed reading this post and agree! There’s so much to see and get a feel of when you’re not a tourist – you can actually get involved and lost in the local culture etc..

    Pop over to my blog!

    Sarah
    https://everydayconcepts.wordpress.com

  • I LOVE this post!! I’m definitely more like you when it comes to travel, I like to wander a bit and see what I find – whereas I visited Milan earlier in the year with a friend who sounds like your friend, armed with apps and lists and timetables and itineraries… It was great to see so many sights but I would’ve liked a bit more time to just experience the place!

    Jess xo
    http://just-jesss.blogspot.co.uk