How to Look Like a Local When Travelling

in #travel6 years ago

tour1.jpg

Sometimes when you travel, you want to blend in with the general population. Maybe you don’t wanna chat with other tourists, get harassed by street vendors or be a target for pickpockets. Though be warned, if you look like a local in a tourist trap, people might ask you for direction, that happens to me almost every time I travel.

I’m not gonna go about clothing in here, or skin colours, most big cities are very colourful these days anyways. Looking like a local is more about how you act.

So here are my tips for looking like a local:


  1. Look like you know where you are and where you are going, even if you don’t. Walk briskly and even if you have to look at a map, do it discreetly on your phone. Look like you have things to do and places to be.

  2. Wear headphones and stare at your phone, don’t look up unless it’s completely necessary.

  3. Don’t turn your head like an owl. You don’t want to look like you are interested in your surroundings.

  4. What ever you do, don’t smile for heavens sake!

  5. Look like your life has no meaning and you are bored out of your mind. Dead look behind your eyes is a very good way to look like a local.

Extra tip: don’t carry a big ass camera.

Do you have any other tips to add to my list?

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LOL those are some great tips.

Mine would be don't open your mouth ever, don't say a word. As soon as that accent comes out you're fucked! Then I have to explain "Why is my english so good?" Maybe because its the only language I speak unless you counting javascript. I sometimes feel ashamed that I cant speak an African language fluently just so I can mess with people!

Also don't walk around with snacks man what are you 12? Like oh imma need snacks for walking around a city with places to eat everywhere. Don't be a snack tool!

You are hilarious! And those are very good tips! But to be honest, I can't abide by the snack thing, I'm a fucking toddler, I need the snacks!

Unrelated: I was just thinking about you yesterday as I was packing up some of my shoes. I do seem to have quite a lot of them....

LOL for the most part I can avoid the snacks unless I walk into a store and I'm like OMG ive never had this flavour of chips before or I didn't know they make this snack in that size and i'll get all excited and blow my cover!

Lol aww sweet! Thinking of me! I still need to see that collection! I need to! I tried to buy a shoe recently and then i saw how cheap Ethereum was and i was like fuckit once we moon papa gon' get himself a plane ticket and some shoes!

I will take a pic for you when I move and have all my shoes gathered in the same place, now they are scattered in different storages 😅

Haha, I'm the same, once coin X moons, I'mma gonna get some expensive ass shoes, and a trip to somewhere tropical! What is your current dream shoe?

Lol Sweet! Foot toe shoot! Think photoshoot in an asian accent

Dream shoe - For now, may change!

Hit list

We have very different taste in shoes, and not just meaning that the heels might not be your thing. But I think those Continentals are really cool, retro vibes for sure, love it!

My ultimate dream shoe atm:
Converse x Off White

Only ever getting it if something I own moons for real, like Steem.

That's pretty much the gist of it.

I think your extra tip should be at number 1. And when carrying a camera, don't bring a camera bag, just use your normal day pack to blend in.

Yes, it's pretty obvious, left it for last just for the hell of it because I carry a huge ass camera with me :D

Don't carry around a big ass backpack

Good tip! @jeffjagoe should take notes on this one! I carry a cute little backpack.

This is funny, because I mostly walk through my own city like a visiting yokel with an "aw, shucks," expression on my face. It gives me an excuse for slowing down, eavesdropping on conversations, and pointing my camera-phone at everybody. If they knew I was here every day they might think I was some kind of creep.

HAha, that is really funny, but I also think it's very good. We often have a tendency to get blind to everything that we are used to, event when there is so much beauty and interesting things to see in our own home town. But I never go in to my city with a camera, I do not need the questions from acquaintances.

I use my camera phone for everything now. Getting candid shots up close with a wide angle lens is a fun challenge - obviously it works best in crowded places.

I can't do that, can not handle the quality of a phone, it just does not compare to the dslr.

Don't smile 🤣 you are soooo right. As someone from the south(USA) it is very common here to smile at strangers. I think I am getting better at looking aloof when I travel but it's a struggle 🤷🏼‍♂️ but everything you described is absolutely spot on.

If I ever get to visit USA, and especially Texas and Louisiana, which I'm sure I would love, I will probably think you are all crazy for smiling 😁 In Finland, smiling to strangers makes people think you are a half witted idiot 😂😝

I am from Texas , we say howdy to all people 🤣 not really but that's the stereotype. I found in Russia it's the worst but people there love Americans so I think deep down they want to smile ;)

I imagine Texal being hot, dry and sunny. People wear denim, cowboy boots and carry guns out in the open. Driving in dirt tracks with ATVs and ending the night in a warn out bar, having beers and a greasy meal. People are wary of strangers but when warmed up, very friendly. DO NOT DARE to ruin my image!

95% correct but I will not tell you which part is wrong 😁 Image remains intact 😉

If it's the gun part, them I'm going to be really bummed about that!

Oh, and if in London, never, ever, EVER, make eye contact on the Tube!

Agreed, these are good tips!

No more miserable phone zombies 😂 fitting in is not worth it!

Also

Be the correct size for the country. When I was in Brazil years ago, I bought cheap local clothes & was carrying nothing on me, but the locals would still shout out “americano, americano” from a block away. They said my height gave it away so be the same height as the locals

Haha, the points are hilarious, but sadly mostly true I guess. lol :-) will practice before my next trip

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