My Personal List of Best Ways to Make the Most of a Destination  

It should be widely acknowledged that what we expect from our travel experience is not a universally shared concept. Indeed, I am of the mindset that we shouldn’t be comparing travel experiences to shame others into thinking they aren’t traveling the ‘right way’. What works for one, does not necessarily work for others – and as long as you’re enjoying yourself while being a consciously respectful tourist, then that should be enough.

Even so, some may be looking to step out of their comfort zone or try new things that they haven’t previously done. This is the purpose of this list, to hopefully stimulate a chain of thought, so that you may get some ideas about what you might want to do to step your own trip up a notch.

• Couchsurfing 

Couchsurfing is a fantastic way to connect with locals and find a place to stay during your stay. It enables local people in your destination of choice to share their home and hometown with travelers. Couchsurfing describes their purpose as to “share their lives with the people they encounter, fostering cultural exchange and mutual respect”.

The concept is that, as a traveler, you create a profile, filling out as many details as possible to give hosts an insight into yourself. Once your account is activated, you can message hosts at your chosen destination to either request a stay or request to hang out with them. The more details you put into your request (think about the information you put into your profile), the higher chance there is of you having your request accepted.

There is certainly a lot of apprehension surrounding the platform, as you are engaging with strangers – even potentially staying at their homes. As with anything like this, you should always practice common sense and trust your instincts. Make sure you always thoroughly read the profile of the person you are requesting or being requested by, and don’t be afraid to ask questions before making any final decisions. What a host expects varies from person to person, and this should all be included in the profile, which is why it is of immense importance to fill out your own profile with as much detail as possible – as well as only engaging with other profiles which have done the same. In doing so, you can get a clear overview of the kind of person they are, and whether the stay or meet up will be right for you.

It’s also important to make requests at least a week or so in advance to increase your chances of being accepted if you are requesting a stay. Most are unlikely to accept if it is at short notice – as naturally, most are not sitting around waiting on requests and cannot drop their lives for others to stay last minute.

Overall, it is a great platform for experiencing places from a local perspective while also saving money during your stay (this is particularly handy in more expensive locations).

•  AirBnB Experiences 

Airbnb is a controversial company, to say the least – there’s no arguing there. What I am specifically talking about here is Airbnb experiences, which are not related to those dissensions surrounding housing.

When I first started solo traveling, I did a lot of these as there was a lot of comfort in knowing that a lot of the arduous work for some of these experiences was being done by others, allowing me to fully engage with what was going on. In other instances, I wasn’t yet comfortable being on my own to do some of these experiences (this is something I have moved past after several years on the road).

Another good reason this might be a good access point into your travel journey is that hosts are all accredited by Airbnb directly, with the experiences also needing to meet quality and eligibility standards before becoming available – which reassured me about joining. Back then, I was very apprehensive about joining group activities due to challenges I was facing with socializing and communicating. However, not wanting to miss the things I wanted to experience, I eventually found the courage to sign myself up. On reflection, I didn’t have any bad experiences – all the hosts I met did a wonderful job of making their guests feel welcome as well as providing unforgettable memories!

Some of these experiences can sometimes be unusual and unexpected, so it is worth checking out to see if they might be available in the area you are visiting.

• Free Walking Tours 

Most cities across the globe with a tourist presence now offer free walking tours. These are a terrific way to get a feel of the place you are visiting with regard to history, culture, and local points of interest from the perspective of a local.

Often you can reserve a spot directly online or through your accommodation – though many will gladly accept on-the-spot walk-ins. There will always be a predetermined meet-up spot, with the guide usually carrying an umbrella of a certain color (or sometimes a jacket) so that you can easily find them.

The duration these tours take can differ but are usually between 1 and 2 hours long.

While called a ‘free’ walking tour, these are exclusively tips based for the volunteer conducting the tour. While there is no obligation to tip, it is covertly expected that you will do so. The amount should always be at your discretion, based on how much you enjoyed the tour, or your travel budget. Some guides verbally indicate what the usual amount is, but take this as a guide rather than an expectation. Many now also offer portable card readers if card is the preferred payment method.

• Working at a hostel (or similar volunteer experience) 

Another excellent way to experience a place at a slower pace while engaging with your surroundings more deeply, is to volunteer. Many backpackers choose to work in hostels, though there are an abundance of other volunteer experiences out there (farms, homestays, handicrafts, tourist attractions etc.).

Sometimes, the best way to inquire is to message directly – this is especially true for hostels. However, there are numerous platforms out there that specialize in mediating between volunteers and hosts. Some well-known examples include; Worldpackers, Workaway, and WWOOF. In my experience, it is always sensible to let the host know what skills you can offer, even if it lies outside the requirements listed on their profile. For example, photography, web design, copywriting, translation, and social media management are all things you can do to leverage your time volunteering.

These opportunities usually provide you with free lodgings (and sometimes other discounts and benefits). I have found volunteering usually lets you break past the tourist facade and enjoy the destination uniquely, often with an additional opportunity to engage with locals and their culture (as well as engaging with other international volunteers).

Expectations vary widely, so again, it is wise to understand fully what is expected of you before signing up, and don’t be afraid to ask questions beforehand to avoid disappointment upon arrival. I would also recommend looking at reviews online, as this will give you a clear indication of the place you might be volunteering at, as well as the staff who will oversee you. This will help you make an informed decision about whether this is the right experience for you.

• Meetup

Another useful website that I have used in the past is Meetup. This site allows you to join groups and their subsequent events. In doing so, signing up for the app lets users meet new people, learn new things, find support, get out of their comfort zones, and pursue their passions.

While Meetup is not travel-specific, you can participate in a Meetup during your trip to engage with locals and other travelers in new and exciting ways. Often there is a specific theme to the group meetups, so simply searching and finding a meetup by any one of your interests or passions will bound to turn up at least one result. Naturally, bigger cities will have a greater number and variety, but don’t discount smaller destinations without first checking what is open for the dates you will be there.

Many also use the app for the purposes of professional networking, so should you find a Meetup that relates to your career, then it might be worth participating to get your name out there – if you want to mix work and pleasure.

• Exploring by Yourself 

Thinking about my own experiences to date, one of the best ways to get to know your surroundings is to walk around and see what you can discover – assuming it is safe to do so where you are.

There’s a lot that can go unexplored, even with prior research into the area. Also, always using transport to get around means that you will often miss a lot of local attractions that can only be discovered by walking around and exploring.

This point definitely applies more so to urban areas, where there can be a lot of hidden gems tucked away, sometimes even in plain sight. I cannot recount the number of times that I’ve just stepped outside and came across the most amazing sights, attractions, architecture, and other marvels that guidebooks and online sites did not mention during my previous research into the area.

If you liked this article and would like to support my work, then please consider clicking on one of the buttons above to donate a little to either buy me a coffee or support my business initiative. Your generous support enables me to keep creating new and better content, as well as cover business development costs. Please only do this if you are financially able to do so, as these are challenging times for us all – Thank you!