3 Tips to Escape the Crowds In Any City

Do you love visiting gorgeous, exotic cities but strongly dislike intense crowds of tourists?

Being shuffled along with hoards of other sightseers isn’t much fun. Luckily, there is both a way out of the crowds and a better way to experience the real city you’ve been longing to visit.

Here are 3 tips to escape the crowds in any city:

1. Step away from the main streets.

You’d be surprised at just how few tourists would dare venture a few blocks off the beaten path.

Let’s face it: they’re scared (OMG, what language are they speaking?), have limited time (specifically the cruise ship crowd), or simply don’t really care about seeing the real deal (Hello Señor Frogs!).

When heading off the beaten path, however, it’s important to exercise caution and know your surroundings.

2. Read the local paper and avoid out-of-date guidebooks.

The locals typically don’t venture where the tourists roam. Trust me, I’ve lived in both Florida and California. No, we don’t hang out at theme parks all the time. And yes, I have met people who ask.

Whenever you’re in a city and want to avoid the tourist circuit, open up a local paper and see what events are happening.  Many foreign cities with a large ex-pat population have English-language newspapers.

These newspapers will give you up-to-date information, unlike many guidebooks, which become quickly outdated.

3. Ask a local & think beyond the city.

If you want to escape the crowds, enlist the help of locals. Make friends with a local (waiter, salesperson, hotel receptionist, or random person) who can tell you where they go.

Each city I’ve been to has any number of activities to do within easy reach: Nairobi, Kenya has Nairobi National Park; Queenstown, New Zealand has  picture- perfect Glenorchy; New York City has vineyards on Long Island; Bangkok, Thailand has the floating market in Damnoen Saduak. So, be sure to check what your destination city has to offer.

It’s important to keep an open mind when traveling, otherwise you could be missing out on some amazing places!