One of the most beautiful parts of traveling abroad is making friends around the globe. As a traveler, you are able to experience cultures through these people and if you are fortunate enough to visit them you can stay with a local!
Experiencing a city from a local’s perspective always gives a richer understanding of a culture and makes travel much more affordable. When your friends and family visit your home sometimes it can feel overwhelming to show them a good time.
Before your guests arrive there are a few things to prepare. First of all, make sure you have the ingredients for a homecooked meal. There is a pressure to try all the best restaurants (which you can still do) but it is important to ease your guests into being at your home, give them an opportunity to settle in and also show them that they are welcome!
Make sure if they are interested in specific places to visit that they have the time to go to them, always put their goals first because they have a limited time. Thirdly, suggest a place that may not be a known tourist spot. While often times tourists spots are known for a legitimate reason, such as the Met in NYC or the Eiffel Tower in Paris, make sure to balance the known spots with local charm. Local spots that may be lesser known could include the farmer’s market, a small museum or gallery, a concert hall, a public park or the Turkish baths.
A good rule of thumb is to think of the places you still make the time to go to, even after years of living in a place. These are the places worth sharing and your guests will be sure to thank you for a nice home to stay in and for making them feel comfortable!
