When you’re on a trip, finding those special spots that locals love can turn your experience into something absolutely wonderful and unforgettable, which is why, instead of following the usual tourist trails, it’s far better to put some effort into uncovering unique, hidden gems wherever you go. With that in mind, here are some ways to make sure you do it – keep reading to find out more.
Chat With Locals
One of the easiest ways to find those hidden spots is to ask locals for recommendations – it could be the barista at a coffee shop, your cab driver, or the person behind the desk at your hotel, for example; the point is that the people who live and work in the place you’re visiting are going to know it far better than anyone else, including the guidebooks, and a quick chat can lead you to the most amazing places that you’d never find on your own.
This is just one of the reasons why picking a boutique hotel like the Arlo Williamsburg makes a lot of sense – you’ll find it much easier to find people to help you, plus you’ll already be staying in the heart of all these fantastic finds, making your trip’s logistics easier too.
Use Social Media
Although you won’t want to be scrolling on your phone the entire time you’re away because that’s exactly how you miss out on things, the fact is that social media can be a goldmine when it comes to finding things to do that are a little more unusual and unknown. If you use hashtags or location tags, you should be able to find exactly the right places to go and see for yourself.
On top of that, it can be a good idea to join travel or location-specific groups on Facebook and Reddit to find out even more. Locals love sharing their favorite spots and these communities will have threads dedicated to pretty much anything and everything, so finding something you want to do shouldn’t be that hard.
Go For A Wander
Sometimes the best discoveries happen by accident when you just set off with no destination in mind and you just see what you come across. That’s why it can be a good idea to just go for a walk and see where things take you – follow intriguing signs or loud music or the smell of something delicious and you might find yourself exactly where you want to be without even knowing it.
Of course, you do need to be careful if you’re on your own or in an area you don’t know, so doing some research on what the place is like and working out if there’s anywhere to avoid can be handy just so you can wander in safety and enjoy yourself at all times.
Sign Up For Small Tours
Bigger tours will take you to the standard tourist spots, but the truth is you can find those by yourself, so signing up for small and unusual tours that will take you to random places is a much better option.
You can find tour companies that specialize in all kinds of things, from art tours to food tasting and so on, so think about what it is you want to do and start a search – you’ll probably find just the thing.
