There actually is a right way to travel…and here it is…

As I sit here planning my upcoming trip to Portugal and Northern Spain, I peruse the guidebooks for the umpteenth time and try to recall the countless recommendations I’ve received from people I know who have been there.  But then I start thinking about what I really want to get out of this adventure.  And that’s when I decided to put the guidebook down and slowly back away.  Because what I want, is a truly authentic experience…

“Experiential Travel” has become an increasingly popular trend over the past few years, emerging as the new way (and the best way, in my opinion) to travel.  It’s no longer about simply going to a place and just seeing it.  It’s all about actually experiencing it.  This means stepping out of the ordinary (and perhaps your comfort zone) to go off the beaten track.  Think of every trip you go on as an adventure or exploration…not just a vacation, and discover the authenticity of the place you’re visiting.  A huge part of this is done by connecting with the destination and immersing yourself in the culture that surrounds you.  Oddly enough, the best way to travel is to not be a “tourist”.  (Note-to-self.)  And fortunately, nowadays, there are countless ways in which to do this.  (You just have to be willing.)

So, here are a few tips on how to create the experience you want:

1.     Talk to the locals.  The best way to create an authentic experience is to meet the people who live there.  Get their recommendations for where to eat, what to do and what to see.  Let your curiosity get the best of you and ask locals questions about their traditions and the heritage of the area.

2.     Be a “locavore”.  Eat at a restaurant that only locals eat at.  Sample the cuisine indigenous to the area or better yet, learn how to cook it.  Taste the wine from the region you’re in and discover how to pair it with the area’s traditional dish.  Essentially, turn off of Main Street and take the road less traveled.  You never know what you’ll find just around the corner.

3.     Choose your lodging wisely.  Why on earth would you travel to an exotic locale, only to stay in a hotel that looks like it could have been located anywhere in the world?  Instead, stay at a hotel that offers a true sense of place.   Where you stay throughout your travels, should capture the local flavor and reflect the destination that you’re in.  Seek out lodging that has intriguing architecture and inventive décor and, in turn, provides a unique experience.  Boutique hotels are a good way to go as they usually boast a great deal of character and often are a departure from the norm.  Although, to their credit, even several big name brand hotels have started to change their tune so that Brand X’s Hotel Barcelona, for example, is now quite different from Brand X’s Hotel Chicago.

4.     Learn by doing.  Engage in the local culture and customs and get to know the history of the area you’re visiting.  If you want to take a tour, hire a local guide.  Sure, go check out the typical “tourist-y” sites, but then ask them to show you everything else.  After all, won’t a local know the area best?  Learn the local language by taking a class.  Find out if there are any opportunities to volunteer in the area while you’re there.

Basically, what I’m saying is…step off the tour bus, put the guidebook down, and travel the right way.