Despite high inflation rates, economic slowdowns, and financial worries, 49% of Americans plan to travel more in 2023. But many travelers no longer wish to tick off an item from their bucket list and cover as many popular travel hotspots in a destination. They are seeking a more authentic experience instead.
But how can you add authenticity to your travels this year and create lasting memories to take back with you? Keep reading to learn more.
What Is Authentic Traveling, and Why Is It Important?
Authenticity is a highly personal concept. However, when it comes to travels, it generally represents an immersive and meaningful experience that allows you to gain a more in-depth understanding of a particular destination’s culture and its people. When you travel by planes Madrid, you are not just visiting the city; you are diving into its rich history, vibrant culture, and engaging with its warm and welcoming people. This journey is not just about seeing famous landmarks but about experiencing the true essence of Madrid and what makes it unique.
This is starkly different from traditional traveling, where you explore sites, activities, and events specially designed or organized to attract tourists.
Contrary to what some people believe, authentic travel is not about the destination. It has more to do with how you engage with the local culture.
This type of experience has multiple benefits. To begin with, exploring new cultures by deeply embedding yourself in them can be profoundly exciting. It is an extraordinary opportunity to learn and broaden your cultural understanding, create more meaningful human connections, and appreciate diversity.
It will reshape how you think and equip you to empathize better, be more adaptive, and, overall, appreciate life further. An authentic journey will provide you with inspiration, too, to help boost creativity. More importantly, it will give you time to heal, recharge, and self-reflect, enabling you to see yourself in a new light. And you can achieve all these while creating plenty of joyful memories.
How to Add Authenticity to Your Travels
So, how can you create a more authentic experience the next time you travel?
1. Do extensive research
We are not just talking about reading traveler reviews about tour packages, hotels, and flights. You need to go through travel stories and blogs of expats who have stayed for a few months or even years at the destination you plan to visit. These will provide you with deep insights into the kind of experiences someone on a short stay often will not get to see or appreciate.
Spend time to understand what life truly feels like for an expat. Also, don’t forget to read local news stories, historical accounts, blogs, and articles written by natives.
By researching ahead, you can minimize unpleasant surprises and prepare yourself physically and mentally for an immersive experience. It will also allow you to plan what to take with you in order to fit into the culture and enjoy your stay better. For example, if local traditions require a specific way of dressing, you can pack more appropriate clothes to avoid coming across as being disrespectful or indifferent to local customs.
2. Take genuine interest
An authentic experience requires an authentic attitude. If you truly want to immerse in a foreign culture, you must be genuinely interested in its people, traditions, and general way of life.
Start by learning the local language. You might not be able to master it. However, by learning at least the important words and phrases, you can engage better with the culture and appreciate it more.
Be polite and respectful toward local customs and follow them as much as possible. Whenever you visit a restaurant or shop, talk to the staff, owners, and other customers. Listen to their personal stories, ask for advice and tips, and make a genuine effort to build connections.
And leave aside your tech obsessions. Instead of sharing live updates about your travels on social media, focus on being in the present moment and enjoying the experience. Keep your phone aside to avoid unnecessary distractions. You can always return missed calls from friends and family later. And any unfamiliar US callers can be identified with a reverse number lookup on PhoneHistory.
3. Live like the locals
How do local residents live? What time do they typically wake up and go to bed? What do they wear? Where do they shop for groceries? How do they spend their evenings and weekends? What type of music do they listen to?
If you truly want to find answers to these questions, sitting in a hotel room and traveling around with a tourist guide will not help. You need to get closer to the local communities.
For instance, opt for a homestay instead of a luxury hotel. Avoid hotel taxis and Uber rides and travel the way the local residents do, whether it is by bus, train, or bicycle.
Life could be vastly different from what you are used to. But that is precisely what authentic travels are about. So be adventurous and remain open to new experiences.
4. Eat like the locals
If you are a foodie, exploring unfamiliar cultures is an excellent way to treat yourself.
However, most tourist destinations and hotels will have local cuisine adapted to Western taste buds. They would, for example, tone down the spices and infuse flavors and ingredients more familiar to you.
But when you eat like a local, you get to try out authentic, undisguised flavors, exactly how they should be. Remember, food is intrinsically tied to a country’s history and culture. So, let go of restaurant meals and fast food and enjoy a home-cooked dish or try a roadside diner that locals frequent. Be prepared for a culinary adventure that might lead you on unique and unexpected paths.
5. Plan for longer vacations
Immersing in a culture is not something you can do in a hurry within a few days. You need at least a few weeks to enjoy an authentic adventure.
You must slow down and let go of crammed travel itineraries to get to know a place and its culture and people.
If you are really up for it, you can even plan to volunteer or take up a part-time job to explore a destination in a more meaningful way.
To Summarize
Today, many people seek authenticity in their travels. For them, the typical tourist attractions and activities are no longer enough. They want to immerse in new cultures, engage with locals, build connections, and gain deeper insights into the country, city, or town they plan to visit.
If you want to create an authentic experience, too, ensure you research the destination extensively and plan for an extended stay. And once you get there, take a genuine and active interest in the local culture. And don’t forget to live and eat like the locals.