22 Ways To Have Deeper Travel Experiences

This post may contain affiliate links. We may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase. Read Disclosure.

One of the best parts of travel, is the experiences you have and the connections you make. More and more we’re seeing people valuing grabbing a good Insta pic over finding enriching, deep and authentic experiences.

Travel culture is evolving, and with this digital age we live in, there are those who are lost in looking good on the ‘gram and have forgotten the true purpose of travel.

caz and craig with sabina and guisseppe
Cooking class in Tuscany

All is not lost though – there are still a few people out there who value authentic experiences over a good photo. Some of us want to come away from our travels with fond memories, new friends, a deeper understanding of a culture, and a new appreciation for home. And hey, if you get a good photo, that’s a bonus!

If this resonates with you, and you’re in the group of travelers looking to have deeper experiences while on the road, then we’re here for you.

Below we’ve shared our tips on how to deepen your travel experiences and make the most out of any destination you visit. We want you to come away feeling fulfilled and satisfied that you’ve really delved into the culture and way of life of where you visit.

And here’s how you do it…

Ways To Deepen Your Travel Experiences

1. Spend More Time in Fewer Places

family on pier looking at water in broome
Chilling in Broome for 6 weeks

Instead of racing from one end of a country to another, or tearing through 6 continents in 6 months, get to know a region well.

Having to pack and unpack, deal with many airports, bus terminals, boarder crossings and even visa issues can lead to burn out. And too much transport can really eat into your budget.

So slow down and take more in. That way, you won’t suffer from burn out, and you’ll get a better feel for a place and learn about the best things to see and do.

Understand that you will never have time to see EVERYTHING. And be okay with it.

2. Talk to the Locals

Meeting the locals in Dali, China
Hanging with the locals in Dali, China

It can go a long to a friendship, good advice, and even a discount. A good starter is to ask for directions or advice (“Where’s a good restaurant?”).

Get a phrasebook and make the effort to learn at least a few phrases of the local language. It can make life easier for you and the locals will respect you more.

3. Blow Your Budget (Once In A While)

woman standing in front of a helicopter
Blowing the budget on a Whitsundays helicopter ride

Every now and then throw your daily budget calculator out the window. We go away to experience things and create lifelong memoriesDon’t limit yourself to just traveling for the sake of traveling.

Go splurge on a famous restaurant, see a big concert, attend a mega sporting event, go on a safari, jump out of a plane, do something incredible.

Even if you have to go under budget for a few days or a week to compensate for your splurge. It’s worth it.

4. Get Up Early In The Morning

silhouette of lady watching orange outer banks sunrise
Outer Banks sunrise

Get up early, it really is the best time of day. You’ll see a city come to life, there will be fewer tourists, and you will have more time to explore.

Also, the early light is less harsh and can be the best time for photography.

5. Leave Room For Flexibility In Your Schedule

car next to coastline
Nafplio beach road trip

If you’re on an extended trip, don’t pre-book everything. You’ll meet people along the way who will recommend great places you’ve never heard of.

You’ll discover interesting cultural activities and tours, and places you thought you only needed 2 days in you’ll need a week.

Places that sound great from your research at home turn out to be a dive. If all your flights, tours and accommodation are pre-booked, it can be costly to change. Go with the flow a little.

6. Travel With An Open Mind

Chinese man in Lijiang, China

We  travel abroad to experience different cultures, environments, and ways of thinking. Don’t shut yourself off to experiencing all there is to offer.

If you travel with an open mind you can have a much more enriching experience.

There are times and moments when other cultures will shock you. Don’t judge them. When this happens, we just sit back and say to ourselves …“Isn’t that interesting?”

7. Use Social Media For Inspiration

I have a love-hate relationship with social media, it can be a blessing and a curse. I do think it’s a great resource for finding inspiration.

Look up hash tags for the destinations you are visiting, and you may spot a hidden gem that someone has been to.

Go and “like” your favorite travel sites on Facebook and Instagram and “follow” them on Twitter, so you’re in the know about new places to visit.

Also, it’s common for sites and companies to release hot deals directly through their social media channels.

8. Travel Light

caz and the girls looking at the tower in st mark's square venice
St Mark’s Square Venice (with my lightweight day bag!)

Pack the bare minimum, because you can always buy more things you need when you get there. Lugging a huge suitcase around is not easy, nor fun. You can have a much better experience when you have a lighter load to carry.

One of my biggest tips for traveling light is to wear your big hiking boots onto the plane rather than pack them. You can also stuff your underwear into your shoes to maximise space.

It’s always best to halve your clothes and double your budget.

11. Make It A Working Holiday

teaching english in bangkok
teaching english in bangkok

If you’re considering long term travel, a working holiday can give you the opportunity to experience a new culture, gain new skills, and it’s a great way to fund your travels for an extended stay.

By participating in a working holiday, you’ll develop a deeper understanding of the people and their day to day lives, you’ll get a real feel for the heartbeat of the country, and you’ll get out of your comfort zone by trying different and unusual jobs.

Don’t miss this opportunity: Work and Travel Abroad the Easy Way with Global Work & Travel

EXCLUSIVE DEAL: Just for our readers: $100 off your trip (whatever your currency) You must use the code: YTRAVEL when booking the trip. That discount works in addition to any other special discounts or specials running.

12. Consider Living Off One Wage

If you are a couple and are saving for your dream trip, consider living off one wage and put the other away into a dedicated savings account. That’s what we did for a whole year and it really adds up.

This way you can be ready for our earlier tip on blowing your budget.

13. Get Flashcards Made Up

If you are traveling in a foreign land with a difficult language, get some flashcards made up with basic commands.

When we travelled China we had a flashcard saying we were vegetarian.

Also, get the hotels business card with the local language printed on it so you can show taxi drivers the location of where you are staying.

14. Be Flexible With Your Dates and Times

man and woman sitting outside travel trailer
We loved the flexible nature of RV travel

Give yourself the best chance to travel freely by not restricting to a schedule. You might meet some friends, or some locals, who want to spend a day with you.

Leave room in your itinerary for change. You never know what could happen over a few days before or after your ideal date.

15. Stay More Than 1 Night

You don’t see much of a place when you’re passing through. If you’re staying somewhere between destinations, make sure you give yourself at least a full day to explore a place.

16. Look For Guesthouses And Homestays

craig lying on hostel bed
Our homestay along Tiger Leaping Gorge

Staying with the local community is the best way to get to know them. When you stay at a guest house, or a homestay (staying with a local family) you really get to experience the people.

Most of the time, guest houses are run by families and they love foreigners, and will go out of their way to make you feel at home.

Usually when we stay at a homestay, we’re invited to dinners, or at the very least, invited to have conversation.

It’s the best way to get really integrated in the community.

17. Sleep While Traveling From A-B

When taking a flight, train, or bus, try and plan it so you are traveling at night. That way, you can spend more time in each place getting to know the city and its people.

You also have the bonus of not paying for a night’s accommodation.

18. Dine Where The Locals Dine

woman cooking food on a grill
Street food at a Bangkok floating market

Want to know the best place to eat? Go where the locals go! This is where you’ll find the most authentic food, and probably the most delicious.

Eating out is a luxury no matter where in the world you go, so when it’s good enough for the locals, it’s good enough for me.

We love street foods and markets when we travel. They’re great for authentic, cheap food and an insight into local culture.

19. Eat Away From The Tourist Streets

Lady eating a bowl of pasta
Pure joy! Gluten free Carbonara at Mama Eats

The tourist streets are usually filled with tourist traps. The food will be expensive and likely not as authentic.

Restaurants know that foreigners like the comforts of home, so you’ll find all the international cuisine around attractions.

If you want to have something authentic to eat, walk one street or one block over and it will usually be cheaper and more authentic.

Mama Eats in Trastevere was one of our favorite finds on our Rome trip – well away from the tourist areas.

20. Eat From The Street Carts And Vendors

street food carts on koh sahn road bangkok

Not only is it cheap to eat from street carts, but it’s what the locals do, especially if you’re traveling in Southeast Asia.

You can see what is actually being cooked and is cooked fresh right in front of you.

Pay attention to where the locals eat and what is popular, that way you can be assured it is safe to eat there.

Here’s why you should try street food on your travels, great street food places in Bangkok, and floating markets in Bangkok to visit.

21. Travel Like The Locals

an old car
Getting around like the locals in Africa

Use public transport where possible and travel the same way the locals do. Not only does this save you money, but it’s a good way to immerse yourself in the way of life at a place. 

You get great knowledge and insight by hanging with the locals and it’s a more authentic travelling experience.

We have met so many amazing local people from traveling at close quarters with them on public transport.

22. Walk As Much As You Can

Two girls walking through a park.
Walking around Paris

You can experience more things just by wandering around a city and getting lost, talking with locals, and people watching.

It’s a great way to soak up the local culture, and get a real feel for the atmosphere of a place.

Get active and see things at a slower pace, and walking is always FREE!

You can explore local markets, wander around and take lots of photos, or even hike to the top of a hill for an awesome view. Stay in accommodation that allows for this and you will also save money on transportation.

We recently visited London, Paris, and Rome and walked 10 – 14 miles per day. It was the best way to see the city and soak up the atmosphere.

You may also like

What are some of our favorite tips for great travel experiences?

Save This To Pinterest

Our list of 32 travel tips will help you save money and help you to experience a deeper and more enriching travel experience around the world.

111 thoughts on “22 Ways To Have Deeper Travel Experiences”

  1. Fantastic tips on how to travel for extended period of times! We want to travel Australia, but we dont have any set time frame. I like your tip about exploring each place in more deepth, and also asking the locals for directions. We hope to be on the Road for as long as we want to keep going! There are so many amazing places waiting to be discovered.
    Cheers
    Lisa

  2. Great tips here! Everyone always assumes that we’re millionaires to be able to travel as much as we do, but with a little care in choosing accommodation, eating street food and taking public transport it’s often much cheaper to travel in many parts of the world than it is to stay at home! And like you said, not only do these tips help save money, but they often provide more opportunities to engage with locals and have a deeper experience. Win-win!

    1. Hi Audrey,

      Wouldn’t it be nice if it were true, the millionaires part 🙂

      But yeah, it’s really about prioritizing and making smart choices, particularly if you want to travel for extended periods. And the street food in many countries is more often than not the best experience.

  3. Excellent tips. In particular: 2. We visit wineries when we can – wonderful way to meet the locals. 4. Early morning is definitely the way to go – you can have a siesta especially in hot countries. 25. In France, there are wonderful midday specials you never see at night because they are geared to business people. Tip 33: Make sure you download a dictionary onto your smart phone for each country. It’s very important to know how to say “hello”, “goodbye”, “please” and “thank you” in the local language.

    1. Hey Fraussie,

      First of all, with a name like that, can I assume you’re half French half Aussie?? Lol..

      And I agree with you, it’s really makes a difference being able to say the basic commands of the local language. Safe travels.

      1. Yes, first 22 years in Townsville and more than 1 1/2 times that in France. At 6 my daughter was indignant that we hadn’t learnt the basics in Chinese for a 24 hour stopover in Taipei. Lesson learnt I’ve made the effort ever since!

  4. Another way to save $ while traveling and immerse yourself in a new culture, even with a family, is to use CouchSurfing.org, workaway.info or wwoof.org to find places to stay and/or work in exchange for room and board. Or if you have a house to exchange, use homeexchange.com to trade accomodation with someone in a place you’d like to visit.

    1. Hi Paige,

      We are still to try Couchsurfing, but I know it comes highly recommended by many people. Must make a point of incorporating it into our schedule next time.

      And we definitely plan on house sitting in the future.

  5. Wow, absolutely one of the best blogposts that shares my views on travel. Reeeeally hit the nail one the head for me in many ways!! Thanks so much, guys!

  6. Great list. One of our tips for hostels is check out what is happening in the evenings. Lots of big hostels have bars and theme nights but don’t knock back the small hostels that offer half board, a wine a cheese night or an opt in meal for a few bucks if you help cook it. Some of our best nights have been with a small group at a small hostel away from the party scene. A great way to meet ppl that doesn’t involve going out and drinking and spending.

    1. Hey Sam,

      You are correct, many of the better hostels provide great value in the evenings. I think one of the best we’ve stayed in for this was the Green Tortoise in San Francisco.

      Staying in on the odd occasion and meeting like minded travellers over a few beers has definitely provided some of our fondest memories and created some lifetime friendships.

  7. When you don’t have time to learn the local language, download the Google Translate app to your iPhone or iPad. On a recent trip to Tuscany we stayed a month in a small town with only 2 English speaking locals. We used Google translate for the rest and got by very well. I can’t say the same for Google Maps (got misdirected more than once).

  8. Great tips Craig. In recent trips I have really learnt the value of travelling slower, staying in one place longer and getting to know the locals. It makes the travel experience so much better, and saves money as well.
    Cheers

  9. All of this is such good advice, especially the part about skipping dinner since the prices are raised. Brunch and then a late lunch would probably be SO much cheaper.

  10. All really great tips. The translate apps for the iPhone and iPad were invaluable this summer in Turkey. After exhausting Italian and English and still getting puzzled looks I found a WiFi spot and grabbed Google translate. Boy it made life easier.

  11. Q & I have trouble with pre-booking everything. Especially because wherever we go tends to be high-season so we’re worried about lodging being unavailable by the time we arrive to the destination. Hopefully our RTW will have room for flexibility, we’re planning on it.

  12. Awesome tips. Here’s one…

    If you’re flying from the states to Europe, Find the cheapest flight from your local city to the cheapest city in Europe you can find. You can then take one of the budget airlines like Ryan Air or Easy Jet to your desired destination for just a few bucks most times.

  13. Super informative post, all those tips were great! We also downloaded a free app from the Thai government that’s called Speak Thai (for our iphone) and it gives us Thai words translated- you can also have the app say the words in Thai for you! It’s been a great app especially in the beginning of our trip on a tiny island trying to use the toilet!

  14. Hi,
    I really ejoyed your travel tips. I have not been around the world, but I have used some of your travel tips in the past and its nice to know we think on same lines. I usually get a map of the city and map where I want to go, and plan, if possible a city tour on the first day and then I know where to go back and spend my time. Like you said, take your TIME!!!! ENJOY!!
    Thank,
    ConG

    1. Taking one of those city tours can be useful to decide where to focus on like you said. We took a great one in Savannah, Georgia.

      And then just got lost wandering around for a few days 🙂

  15. A really excellent, comprehensive list. Learned from so many of the general whilst I was travelling and ended up living in New Zealand for 6 months. Wouldn’t have had it any other way.

  16. I highly recommend Couchsurfing, even if you don’t feel comfortable staying with a stranger at first there are a lot of events and meet-ups. For example when I arrived in Lima a local arranged a day where she showed us her city, she was practicing her English and she showed us things we could not have known about elsewhere. All completely free.

    1. i wish we did couch surfing before kids. i think it might be a little tricky now. They would have to have a big couch 🙂 But absolutely great advice for solo or couples travel. Sounds the bomb!

      1. I still wouldn’t discount it, I met a few traveling families that couchsurfe d with families only. In a lot of cases the families wanted to expose their children to new cultures.

        I have actually never stayed on a couch, I usually had my own bedroom and sometimes bathroom. I have heard that the couchsurfing families are the same way and in one case they had their own guest house.

        Just a thought 🙂

        1. Great to know. We might look into it. I just assumed that most people wouldn’t want families. And if they have their own guest house then we are there!!

  17. Fantastic tips, great list!
    When I travel to other cities, I always choose to walk or public transports. This is a good way to learn about the city and experience the local people’s life style. Thanks for the excellent tips!

  18. Excellent advice, and best of all not only are most of these traveling habits simple, but can actually enhance your experience while traveling. Getting out of your comfort zone is one of the most exciting aspects of travel.

  19. Excellent tips! Some other ones: check out VRBO, AirBnB, and Craiglist’s Share/sublet housing sections for lodging. Negotiate like you are at a night market in Thailand. 🙂 Oftentimes, you can get a deeply discounted stay off the posted nightly rate if the owner hasn’t booked up that particular time period and you offer to pay cash upfront for a prolonged stay. Also offer to dogsit or go shopping at the market if you post a “housing wanted” ad on craiglist when you plan to be somewhere for longer than a few days, that has allowed me to rent much nicer places and have great pooch to explore the city with or help out the elderly and get to hear local stories from the times past. 🙂 Eat street food, just make sure the seller has some kind of hand sanitizing system nearby. Always keep anti-upset stomach meds on you when traveling to street food heavy countries. Make friends with and tip your local taxi/shuttle well and they’ll put you on a best local form of public transportation to the next city. Smile with your eyes when unsure of the situation. Dropping the unnecessary “the” and extra adjectives and using the simplest tense of a verb eases the locals understanding of your English.

  20. This is my favorite way to travel! I love being able to get fully immersed in the culture and learning to understand the people, I feel like I have a much deeper experience doing this. Thank you for all the great tips.

  21. Awesome list of tips, Craig! I never thought of making flashcards for expressions that I couldn’t remember. Genius! Also totally agree with the tips about going more local and making friends with locals. I feel like it totally enhances one’s experience of the country.

  22. #4 is a great tip of your that I follow. We try to be the first people to different tourists sights when they open up.

    I will have to try #13. In China, I used to copy the symbols our hotel name out of guidebooks but I usually did this on moving trains or some other non-optimal time. People would always laugh at them even when they understood.

    Thanks for the tips – this is a great post.

  23. As a recent grad trying to see the world, pinching pennies is extremely important for me. I would like to travel forever so I’m hoping to make my savings last. Since I don’t really drink or smoke, that’s a big area I can save in.

  24. All good tips, I enjoyed the article, and have been traveling since 1994, first alone then as a pair then as a family just as you have.

    The world is just too awesome to stay in one spot.

  25. That’s excellent – especially the part about scheduling loosely. Picking the right town is essential; I love the mountains, and the cheapest entertainment is when it’s built into the Myrtle Beach resorts oceanfront. The kids love, it doesn’t cost anything, and a lot of the stuff that does isn’t that expensive. Especially on the restaurants – just drive away from the ocean for a few minutes and start looking around. That is something I like to do no matter what city I am going to!

  26. Gorgeous tips, the fullest list of all the cheap travel tips I’ve ever stumbled upon! I would only add that one thing regarding the Eating & Drinking:
    1. It’s always great to buy food in local grocery store and arrange a picnic in one of city’s parks with great views and tasty local products.
    2. Make a research on the cheapest local food and eateries and use this knowledge to save up on food. For instance in this article there’s information on how to dine in Morocco, Egypt and even Paris for some few euros: http://www.traveling365.com/2013/03/cheap-travel-tips-how-to-save-up-on-food/

  27. What a colossal and helpful list of tips! Thank you! I agree wholeheartedly with sending more time in one place. I’m guilty of whizzing through a lot of places in a short period of time, but the few times I knew I had 3 or 4 days in the same place I’d sigh a big sigh of relief that I didn’t have to unpack or pack for a few days… Just relax!!!!!!!!

  28. Hey Caz & Craig !
    Great tips! I especially love the tip about leaving your ATM card at home/hotel, travelling on cheaper days and most of all the blow your budget tip. I always feel guilty if we do something fun or expensive – like the Tiger tour in Bangkok we did or dinning on a rooftop restaurant but then I think, hey why not! We are here to have fun and we don;t go crazy like this everyday!

    1. You have to have those special moments. If you travel the whole time on a strict budget it doesn’t really feel like a lot of fun after awhile and that you are doing anything amazing. It just feels like sacrifice. You have to have the balance

  29. These are great tips. I like what you said regarding traveling with an open mind. Indeed, we should be flexible and open to diverse cultures that we will encounter as we travel. To enjoy the experience, we should allow ourselves to experience the uniqueness of each culture.

  30. Hi Craig,

    I noticed you mentioned you were vegetarian. I am semi-vegetarian, meaning that I do not eat red meat. I have always had a love for traveling, especially because of the delicious food. However, I have always been apprehensive because in places like Europe meat is very prevalent. How did you manage to be vegetarian while traveling? Did you feel as if you “got the whole experience” foodwise? Thanks in advance for replying, I have always wondered about this.

  31. Such valuable tips!
    A very practical checklist, it is very important to immerse yourself in the culture of the place of travel and try new experiences. No. 2 “Talk to the Locals” is most important for every traveler because It’s a great way know their custom & culture.

  32. Good tips! I tried something similar to no: 13 in China. I wrote down important words in my pad so I could order in restaurants but I got ‘menu’ and ‘bill’ mixed up and didn’t realise for three months! Got a lot of funny looks and laughter! Good job I’m not vegetarian!

  33. Davide about cheap trips

    For the extreme travelers, you might learn how to hitchhike and dumpster dive: nothing cheaper than that! 🙂

    1. It depends on budget and what you want to see. You’ve got to be very clear on the things you want to see in each place, that will help you to know which countries you should spend the most amount of time in. Then you factor in your budget and possible work opportunities. We have a great planning section in our upcoming ebook which launches in the first week of Novemeber. Don’t miss it.

  34. Great tips! We also try to stay in hostels with kitchens and cook as much as possible. It’s amazing how quickly money goes when you eat at restaurants all the time. Tupperware is also a godsend for snacks and meals on the go! Awesome article!

  35. Love this! I agree that it’s important to blow the budget every now and then. Most days, however, I’ll try to be fairly strict and live more like locals than tourists – as in shopping at supermarkets (love foreign supermarkets!) and stuff.

  36. Some superb travel tips listed, especially like the one about the use of ‘flashcards’. What a terrific idea if traveling to a foreign country. I certainly could have use a few cards for a taxi, toilet and others over the years. Thanks for sharing!

  37. I agree with you. Early mornings are the ideal time to know the place with less people around and more visibility. Excellent article.

  38. I love these tips! They’re really practical and I learned some new things; thank you so much for sharing! I can’t wait to use these on my next trip!

  39. Travel Adventure

    This is a fantastic, amazing travel site for all travelers. Excellent sharing and tips! Thank you!

    1. Yeah it’s a really great website. I’ll actually be visiting this site to read more on people’s adventures around the world!

  40. Hey Craig, lovely advice 🙂
    I do really like the numbers 2, 3 and 28. Initiate talks to locals is a kind of “MUST” if you wanna experiment and see the real side of the country you’re visiting; And asking and getting advice from them will not only help you, but it’ll bring some joy, pride to the locals people.
    As the budget can be a real constraint, I usually think about my calculations after my travel, not during; just in order to enjoy my holidays and not miss a thing.
    Eating in street… lovely!! specially in Asia.

  41. Thank you for all of these wonderful tips! I am in the process of planning a 1-year world trip, and #5 is something I’m struggling with! I don’t want to pre-book, because I am hoping for that awesome advice along the way that you mention. But I am not sure how far in advance to book things… the first month? two months? Any advice would be super helpful! Thanks

  42. Great Post! Traveling with your family is one of the most thrilling ways to fill your holidays. If you are speculating where to travel next, here are some of the best break spots in the world.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Scroll to Top