How to Travel Like a Local in Your 50s, 60s and Beyond

A certain magic comes from the experience of traveling the world and the thrill of discovering a new destination. This is true regardless of age, but can you travel like a local in your 50s, 60s, and beyond?

The answer is a resounding yes. 

While some see the travel trend of venturing across the globe and immersing yourself in local culture as something only young people do, that’s simply not the case. Traveling like a local knows no age and, better yet, invites everyone to find a new way to love the world. 

But, as any seasoned traveler will tell you, there are plenty of dos, don’ts, tips, and tricks that make a good trip a great one. Keep reading to discover why traveling like a local is the perfect way to see the world and how to do it well.

What Does Traveling Like a Local Mean?

Traveling like a local is all about stepping off the beaten path, diving into the unfamiliar, and unearthing authentic experiences. Travel isn’t just about seeing a new place anymore, it’s about the connections one makes with cultures, traditions, and people.

Although it doesn’t have a clear definition, how you see the world through the eyes of a local is a personal experience. From spending money at local businesses to staying at independent accommodations and enlisting locals as tour guides, the only limit is your imagination.

Image by Moshe Harosh from Pixabay

Tips, Benefits, and Mistakes to Avoid

While traveling like a local is something you can truly make your own, there are many ways to ensure yours is as hassle-free as possible. These are the best ways to perfect your trip while living like a local.

Tips to Make Traveling Like a Local Second Nature

With your sights set on seeing the world one local experience at a time, it’s time to look at the ultimate tips for spreading your wings and traveling like a local.

1. Stay Locally

Traveling like a local encourages staying in locally owned boutique hotels, B&Bs, apartments, or homestays (rooms in locals’ homes) giving you a more intimate community experience. These spaces are usually in less touristy areas where locals live day-to-day life. While hotels offer comfort and luxury, staying locally opens up a look into native life with authentic first-hand interactions and activities. 

There are also other unique alternatives to traditional paid accommodation such as housesitting, where travelers connect with homeowners and stay in locals’ homes (free of charge) while caring for their home and pets.

2. Learn the Local Language

When traveling like a local, being able to communicate beyond simple phrases is a fantastic way to engage with locals meaningfully. Practice makes perfect, even if you’re not great at learning a new language. Learning the native tongue from a local is an easy way to make new friends. You’re bound to make mistakes, but that’s part of the experience. 

3. Use Local Transportation

Observe how people navigate their home city. Taking traveling like a local quite literally is a great way to immerse yourself in people’s daily lives. Additionally, public transportation almost always offers reserved seating for seniors.

4. Try Local Cuisine

Trying local cuisine offers another perspective on local life, a different way to interact, and a chance to learn more about indigenous culture and social settings. Keeping dietary restrictions in mind, don’t be afraid to be spontaneous and eat where the locals eat. Asking them for their favorite spots is another way to find delicious food made authentically and locally.

5. Be Mindful of Local Fashion

While letting your personal style shine is a good thing, be conscious of local fashions. Exploring local markets and buying clothing can help you blend in and show respect.

Combine your style with your surrounding culture, and be mindful of time and place. Dress more conservatively if you’re worried about sticking out. 

6. Learn About Local Customs and Cultures

Religious beliefs and customs differ widely depending on where you’re traveling, so learn about local traditions and heritage before setting off. A big part of traveling like a local is respectfully observing and participating when appropriate in local customs. Doing so allows you to be more involved with locals while learning about their culture.

7. Embrace Ways to Connect

Connecting with locals can take on many different forms, but start friendships like you would back home when traveling like a local. Show interest in their lives, ask about what matters to them, and learn about their families, faith, food, and what they do for fun. In return, offer stories and experiences of your own to cement new friendships.

Image by Photo Mix from Pixabay

8. Visit Local Markets

Wandering through local markets can be the highlight of a trip and is a great way to shop like a local. You can support local artists and buy the perfect keepsake in these markets. Engage with stall owners about products; many have background stories that provide a fascinating look into domestic history.

9. Don’t Be Afraid to Wander

Tourist attractions have their time and place, but traveling like a local focuses instead on genuinely taking time to walk off the beaten path. Spare a few moments on your trip to wander where the locals do, from restaurants to night markets and lesser-known sites and attractions. Local recommendations will help inspire your itinerary by adding some unique variety.

10. Travel Slowly

Ideally suited to traveling like a local, slow and gradual journeys rely on taking time to discover a destination more deeply at a relaxed pace instead of dashing from one place to the next. This excellent tactic broadens your understanding of local life and allows you time to participate in domestic traditions and culture.

Image by Thomas G. from Pixabay

What Are the Benefits of Traveling Like a Local for Seniors?

Naturally, any travel style has a few benefits, and these are what you can expect when traveling like a local.

Enhances Your Travel Experience

Traveling like a local elevates your travel experience by exploring local cultures, customs, and day-to-day life. The more integrated you become into local life, the better you’ll appreciate nuances you could have missed.

Creating a Global Friendship Base

As you travel like a local, inevitably, friendships develop, and over time, you’ll soon have a friendship group that spans the globe. This is especially valuable when planning return trips and recommending destinations to your travel group or friends back home.

A New Way of Experiencing Local Culture

Eating, shopping, and sightseeing where the locals do, will allow you to see a new side of local culture that you wouldn’t see in guidebooks. Beyond this, when you genuinely spend your days like a local, you create settings to network and make new friends.

Avoid These Mistakes for a Perfect Local Living Trip

Tips and benefits aside, there are several commonly made mistakes when people try their hand at traveling like a local. These include:

• Relying solely on travel guidebooks: Although these are a great introduction to a destination, burying yourself in guidebooks will lead you to do what every other tourist does.

• Falling into tourist traps: Traveling does involve visiting places that are often cliché, and while you can tick them off your bucket list, they’re seldom where locals spend their time.

• Leaving hobbies at home: Don’t neglect your favorite hobby when traveling like a local. Sign up for a cooking class or explore local plazas to meet locals who share your interests.

Image by BÙI VĂN HỒNG PHÚC from Pixabay

FAQs About Traveling Like a Local in Your 50s, 60s, and Beyond

Below are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about traveling like a local.

Can You Travel Alone at 60?

Yes, solo travel at 60 is very possible and offers a unique insight into destinations. That doesn’t mean it can’t be daunting, and for that reason, many seniors join travel groups to make finding travel companions easier.

Join Freebird Club today to connect with a world of travelers.

Why Should I Travel Like a Local?

There are many reasons to choose to travel like a local, from directly experiencing daily local life to creating more memorable adventures framed by a deeper understanding. You’re also in the ideal position to leave expectations and plans behind for a more natural and authentic trip.

How to Be a Traveler and Not a Tourist?

The difference in exploring the world as a traveler and not a tourist lies in how you approach your journey. Be spontaneous, don’t hurry to big attractions, connect with locals, stay at locally owned accommodations, and most importantly, travel slowly and like a local.