Traveling has less to do with visiting places but rather experiencing experiences and being introduced to new concepts, phenomena, and people. Though the reality for many travelers is that they have been guilty of running around a destination, catching only glimpses of each place, without getting under its skin, so to speak. Manzo Travel and Tour is a company that understands that there is much more to experiencing destinations than visiting sites; it is about seeing, meeting, listening, tasting, feeling, and observing the most unexpected of situations.

Below is insight on how to get the best experience in your travels and get the most out of every place you visit.

1. Plan with Purpose and Flexibility

The first intervention in the context of getting the most out of a destination is defining the ways and time of the trip that will let you fully discover this place. That does not mean that each day is filled with countless amounts of tasks or activities to do. However, choose one or two aspects you consider would be beneficial in achieving meaningful interaction with the chosen destination.

Begin with exploration of the traditions, the history, and offbeat attractions of the region. Do not limit yourself to the standard guide to tourist main destinations or the most downloaible applications. Search for recommendations of the place from locals or travelers who have been there by authentic means. Blogs, websites, and social networks with hashtags #travel and #traveling often post about interesting places that are not so popular but are able to be the highlights of your voyage.

However, it should be understood that some details should be planned, while others should be left to chance. Traveling is not always having a list of things to do when you arrive; it’s having a look on a map, finding a local café to talk to people, or walking on an unfamiliar street where there is a sight for sore eyes like a market or a beautiful hike.

2. Slow Down and Embrace the Local Pace

Perhaps the most valuable suggestion that any writer can give when advising about the best ways to travel to a destination is to take time. Well, it is always tempting to get into a checklist sort of mentality when you first arrive in a new place, especially when you are in a new city or country. However, it is never about the quantity; no matter what we do in life, quality always wins the day.

Walk slowly and give yourself a chance to actually see your environment. Instead of rushing through the various attractions so as to wait in the next line for the subsequent one, pause. For instance, if you find yourself in a museum, do not just look at what was put on display but ensure you read the descriptions, the context, and spend good time admiring art pieces or artifacts. Likewise, while walking around an unfamiliar city, it is possible to walk around without a specific direction, merely observing the patterns of the building, the hum of the pavement, or the scent of the food being sold in a nearby stand.

Pro Tip: When you are in a busy city, it is exciting to take a tour early in the morning while the streets are still free. The early morning light I found gives different photographic opportunities; you’ll be in a position where you get to feel and appreciate the place in a more personal and calmer way.

3. Engage with Locals for an Authentic Experience

While it’s easy to describe the physical outline of a destination, it’s much more interesting to know that it is where people live. Despite the fact that it can be convenient to instantly go to such establishments or areas as a way as possible from tourists, meeting people living in the country one is visiting can be much more rewarding in terms of gaining understanding of the country’s culture.

Do not think twice about starting to talk to other people as you travel around the place or from one area to another. Regardless of whether a person happens to meet a genuine street vendor selling fruits, a shop owner, or a waiter at a café, they are the best people to ask for directions to the best restaurants or the best places to visit or even good intrigues to see or follow. Quite often, they will guide you to the parts of the city or village that are not included in any guidebook.

It doesn’t only enrich your travel, but it also benefits the locals and their economy, making tourism a more responsible type of traveling. Most places have cultural interchange programs and cooking classes, and you can even volunteer, giving back while still learning about various places.

4. Delve into the Local Cuisine

I believe that one of the most effective approaches to fully experience any place is through the taste buds. May it be a warm bowl of ramen in Japan, a plate of pasta in Italy, or grilled fish by the seaside in Thailand, a meal opens gateways to learning more of a country’s past and present.

Skip over the conventional tourist restaurants and order from local food markets or spectacles. Not only do you get to taste some of the real, traditional cuisine, but you also get an opportunity to engage with the actual sellers and get information about the ingredients, how the foods are prepared, and the importance of the foods in culture.

It is always possible to inquire from locals about good restaurants, experiment with something different, or even take classes in order to recreate local meals at home.

Pro Tip: The hint is, if you don’t want to take a risk and try something new, just ask the locals what they like to eat or where they like to eat. More often than not, the choices you get would indeed strike your fancy in terms of food selection!

5. Be Present and Mindful of Your Surroundings

It also creates a way in which people can often just not focus on the present moment: either by means of their smartphone, constant notifications, or demands of daily life. When you travel, you should shed all these distractions and focus on the journey.

Spend some moments’ glancing at the sights, the design or color of the buildings, and the liveliness of the community. Use reflections meaningfully, whether through writing an artistic diary, drawing, or making photographs of not only the famous sights but also of the impression people receive as they become tourists in the area.

Pro Tip: Switch your phone’s ringing to ‘silent’ to exclude all sorts of distractions, and mentally tell yourself that it is alright to indulge in the moment outright. Breathe in and out for a couple of times, listen to the sounds, and try to feel the surroundings.

6. Make Time for Outdoor Adventures

Regardless of the place a visitor may choose to visit, there is always an option for an outdoor activity through which one can feel the look and feel of the place. Now if it’s hiking up parks, taking a bike across the countryside, or paddling through clear blue waters, nature offers a nice treat to the usual sightseeing.

Outdoor activities not only allow you to travel further away from the civilization; they also let you experience nature and get a rush, which could make you feel alive again. Besides, strolling outside is usually an opportunity to communicate with other travelers or inhabitants of an area if you are interested in the same things.

7. Leave Room for Reflection and Rest

Lastly, do not think that getting the most out of each place entails cramming as many things as possible into your schedule. Sometimes the best part of the journey is simply a good rest. Therefore, by taking some time off, you are assured that you shall be fit to start your next tour as planned.

Just like after a few hours of surfing some sites or just exploring a certain city, it’s possible to sit in the park or on the beach or in the café. This is a good time to reflect on the things that were seen, how they add up to the story of the person, and how the next steps should be taken.