Five of the reasons why a local’s insight is the best way create travel memories that will truly last a lifetime. If you’ve watched our new series, Travels with Darley, or our long-running TV show Equitrekking, you’ll see that we always have locals as our guides for various destinations and adventures. When you travel with a local, whether it’s chatting up someone at a cafe or restaurant or taking a guided tour, you’ll get different insights than if you simply traveled on your own with your guidebook or app. We love learning about an area from a local’s perspective and below and in this special video are some of the top reasons why.
Darley with a local ski instructor in Mont Tremblant- trying poutine!
#1 Honesty
Leave it to local’s to give you the true lay of the land and alert you to the beauty and dangers that lay ahead. Whether you’re talking politics or food, leave it to a local to share something you couldn’t have discovered online. It may just be the most memorable part of your trip.
#2 Security
When you’re with a local, even the most treacherous situations can usually be handled, because they’ve likely experienced them before, like the infamous elephant charge on my Botswana safari, which caused me to reconsider my career path. We also made it out of a tricky situation when the lights went out in an underground city in Turkey with the help of our local friend, Ahmet.
#3 Passion
When someone shares their passion with you, the experience is much more likely to resonate and stick with you, whether you want it to or not. Whether it’s a trail guide with a passion for area nature or a chef with an interest in sharing a local dish, cultural appreciation expands when you interact with local folks on your travels.
#4 Beauty
Locals know where to enjoy the best sunrises and sunsets, the best cocktails and the best of their area… beautiful places, people and things not necessarily in your guidebook.
#5 Making the World Smaller
The more you travel, the more you realize that we’re all connected in big ways and small. But don’t just take my word for it. Get out there and have your own adventures… near or far.
