capslocked
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1. Try to stay at local/family-owned hotels.
There is nothing wrong with wanting convenience, which is usually found in big name/chain hotels. That doesn't mean you can’t find glam and comfort in local business. You can really help out the local economy by investing in them. Smaller hotels and inns also often have personalized service, and you can get some of the best benefits from them.
2. Do some volunteer work if you can.
Whether you have talents you'd like to share or you just have the will to help others out, it would be great to do some volunteer work, especially if you are in a particular place for an extended period of time. Volunteering at a shelter or soup kitchen can really go a long way, whether you're in a developing nation or a first-world country. You get to EXPERIENCE
their great culture, so why not pay it forward and do your part to help out?
3. Think carefully when it comes to wildlife attractions.
Swimming with sharks and riding an elephant are some common items on a traveler's bucket list. They may seem like a fun adventure to you, but what's fun for you can be incredibly distressful for the animal, and the more you patronize such activities, the more îllégâl exploitation can occur. If you are really banking on having encounters with animals, do some research and check out local tourism offices and websites to find authorized and approved attractions.
4. Shop locally and don’t bargain too hard.
Like staying at a local hotel, patronizing local services and products can really go a long way for the local economy. If you get authentic items, you're sure to find good quality items that you'll treasure for a while. If you can, try not to haggle so much as well. You may want to stretch out your money to buy a lot of goods, but think about the vendors who have to make a living. If you can afford fancy gadgets and feel that you're going to get your money's worth, try to keep the bargaining to a minimum.
5. Respect local culture.
How things are in a new place may be drastically different from what you are accustomed to. Just because things aren’t done the way you are used to, though, doesn’t make them wrong or bad. The important thing to remember is that this place has its own way of doing things and you are not there to judge them. So before you start complaining and comparing where you are to your home, remember that you are in no position to call them out. You are a visitor in their home, and you are not there to disrespect them.
There is nothing wrong with wanting convenience, which is usually found in big name/chain hotels. That doesn't mean you can’t find glam and comfort in local business. You can really help out the local economy by investing in them. Smaller hotels and inns also often have personalized service, and you can get some of the best benefits from them.
2. Do some volunteer work if you can.
Whether you have talents you'd like to share or you just have the will to help others out, it would be great to do some volunteer work, especially if you are in a particular place for an extended period of time. Volunteering at a shelter or soup kitchen can really go a long way, whether you're in a developing nation or a first-world country. You get to EXPERIENCE
their great culture, so why not pay it forward and do your part to help out?3. Think carefully when it comes to wildlife attractions.
Swimming with sharks and riding an elephant are some common items on a traveler's bucket list. They may seem like a fun adventure to you, but what's fun for you can be incredibly distressful for the animal, and the more you patronize such activities, the more îllégâl exploitation can occur. If you are really banking on having encounters with animals, do some research and check out local tourism offices and websites to find authorized and approved attractions.
4. Shop locally and don’t bargain too hard.
Like staying at a local hotel, patronizing local services and products can really go a long way for the local economy. If you get authentic items, you're sure to find good quality items that you'll treasure for a while. If you can, try not to haggle so much as well. You may want to stretch out your money to buy a lot of goods, but think about the vendors who have to make a living. If you can afford fancy gadgets and feel that you're going to get your money's worth, try to keep the bargaining to a minimum.
5. Respect local culture.
How things are in a new place may be drastically different from what you are accustomed to. Just because things aren’t done the way you are used to, though, doesn’t make them wrong or bad. The important thing to remember is that this place has its own way of doing things and you are not there to judge them. So before you start complaining and comparing where you are to your home, remember that you are in no position to call them out. You are a visitor in their home, and you are not there to disrespect them.
