What is authentic travel?
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I talk a lot about authentic travel in Europe in my travel business Europe a la Carte. You may wonder what I mean by this. My definition of authentic travel is not spending all your time elbow to elbow with other tourists at well know tourist traps. I’m not aiming for 100% authenticity during a holiday, just an injection of some elements to enable you to see more of the real or genuine Europe during your visit. It really is a pick and mix approach.
Lake Iseo, Italy
You might take advantage of a cheap package holiday deal for your flight and accommodation but do some day trips off the beaten track by hire car or public transport to see a bit more local colour. You might stay in small family run B&B or hotel rather than a hotel which is part of a standardised chain. You might spend your entire trip in a less well known destination or area. You might venture into the suburbs of a city to try a restaurant or bar there, where you have the possibility to meet some locals. You could even spend some time exploring what’s in your own back yard.
North Berwick, East Lothian, Scotland
Authentic travel can take more time, you really can’t see Europe in 10 days, you can easily spend a couple of weeks in one region of a country. You need to give yourself some time to just wander around and soak up the local atmosphere, if your itinerary is too packed and rigid you could end up really seeing very little.
March 10th, 2008 at 3:25 am
For me, authentic travel is about an unique experience and this can be a packaged holiday with a twist or a self-made holiday, or taking advantage of travels with work.
Currently, I’m in Cambodia, and in a frontier-style town of Battambang in the west, near the Thai border. Going away from the usual touristy areas gets you a personal experience, people are more attentive and curious and therefore more willing to help you explore the area than a tourist hotspot where a visitor is just another number, another dollar.
March 10th, 2008 at 10:35 am
Kyle, I agree that you are generally viewed as another number, another dollar in the popular tourist areas. I remember visiting the Vatican where there was such a flow of visitors that you couldn’t stop to look at something of interest to you as you were swept along by the crowd.
April 18th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
[...] does have some connotations of being more expensive which is contrary to my strapline of “authentic travel in Europe on a modest [...]