Travel is a great experience, but there are always ways you can make it more so. This is something that will be incredibly worth looking into, as you can do many things to help make the experience that much more powerful and interesting. Often, you will hear people talking about wanting to get off the beaten track, but what does this really mean, and how can you make it a reality? Let’s take a look at some of the things you might want to bear in mind here and how to do it for yourself.
Rethink Your Destination
The main thing that you should aim for is a simple one: don’t go where other people are going. If you can rethink your entire destination, you might be able to achieve this easily and before you have even really started planning. It might mean picking the lesser-known side of a well-known country, or it could be that your research throws up a country you have barely heard of that you want to check out. In other words, forget Paris – check out Lyon. This is a simple way to get off the beaten track a little.
Drive Around to Discover New Areas and Locations
It’s simple, but it works. If you drive yourself around, rather than getting public transport everywhere, you are going to find that you are so much more likely to be able to see some of the sights that other people miss. This is hugely important and a great way to make sure that you are getting out there. For example, you can hire a Mazda and just start driving, or you can take your own car, but the main thing is to make sure that you are giving yourself a chance to really see the sights in your own way.
If you’re going to a foreign country, make sure to read up on driving rules and regulations before you get behind the wheel.
Don’t be Afraid to Ditch the Hotel District
Many of us book into hotel districts because we’ll know they’ll be safe, travel-friendly areas. Unfortunately, these tourist-filled hotspots rarely give an accurate idea of what a country is like. They certainly won’t see you straying too far off the beaten path, as these areas are typically designed to keep tourists in one central place.
Looking for more local-style hotels, branching out with alternative options like a rented room in a local family’s home, or even choosing a wilder style of travel with the help of an RV park or campsite, can all help you to go deeper with your travels. Simply seek reputable companies that have good reviews and a strong, proven track record to ensure that you’ll still end up with a safe, comfortable place to sleep.
The best thing about this option is that it sees you shirking the ‘tourist’ experience, in place of genuine exploration, and the chance to actually see and stay in the surroundings that locals enjoy.
Travel Slow
There is a sense in which traveling at speed can often kill a sense of adventure. In fact, if you make a point of going a little slower, that can often be much better, and you might find that you are going to actually have more of the kind of experience you want to have.
If you stay longer in a place, you are just going to explore it more thoroughly, and you will end up seeing things that the usual tourists don’t ever see. So this is something that you should certainly be aware of if you want to make sure you are getting off the beaten track in the right way. My spin to to mosey – don’t be in a rush to see and do everything in a day.
Stay Local
In a sense, a lot of this comes down to trying to keep things a little more local. If you can do that, you will almost certainly find that you end up in a much better situation, one where you are going to see so many more amazing things. This is therefore a really important thing that you should think about, and it’s going to help a lot if you are keen on trying to make the most of your next travel experience.
If you really want to find out where the locals hang out and eat, ask the concierge or front desk staff where you’re staying. Not only can they give you recommendations, but they’ll also make sure it’s a safe location and easy to access. I love asking hotel and resort staff for recommendations and have never had a bad experience.