When you travel to a new country or even a new city, you want to step outside of your comfort zone and put yourself to the test! What better way to immerse yourself in the local culture that can be extremely different from your own than to travel like a local? Following the advice of real locals who know their city better than anyone! They will take you through the nitty gritty of what the locals really get up to. Not convinced? Here’s why we think you should start living local in your next trip.

1. Explore Hidden Gems and Avoid Tourist Crowds

Connect with a local guide through Buddyz - we will bring you off the beaten path to places that typical commercial tours don’t do. Experience something not everybody will get a chance to, ‘cause would you really want to spend your precious time queuing to get entrance tickets for an attraction you can barely see because it’s so crowded? Every city has hidden gems that are only known to locals and have yet to be discovered by tourists - this is exactly why we exist! We aim to give you the ultimate experience through tours that give you an insight to our everyday ways as a local and get a taste of what Malaysian food is all about - something we locals are very proud of.

2. Get To Know The Place and Its Stories Through A Local’s Eye

Let’s be honest - how many of us have travelled to a country and found an attraction on Google to visit but when we get there, it’s closed and the attraction you thought was there isn’t anymore? Even Google and other websites may misinterpret information sometimes! But how awesome would it be to have a local bring you around and introduce their home country to you? Get yourself a native professional to take you around and see the country through their perspective and their stories. This makes the entire trip way more unique and intimate. It truly is an eye-opening experience and one that you’ll never forget when you travel like a local.

3. Experience and Embrace The Local Living Culture

When signing up for a tour on a bus and going from one tourist attraction to the next, do you really feel like you understand the culture of the country you’re in? Wouldn’t you prefer a local explaining and showing what their local culture is really about? Immersing yourself in their everyday life, whether it’s learning how to make the local dishes of the region or sitting at a local coffee shop and chatting away with the locals about their life, makes it a more interesting and humbling experience.

4. Connect With Local People and Make New Friends

The best way to find all the good stuff to do and eat is through a local guide. I mean, who would know more about the country than those who live in it? This is the perfect time to step out of your comfort zone and make new friends. Well, good news to those travelling to our lovely country called Malaysia! We have friendly locals everywhere. You may encounter the odd one out that may not be, but majority of Malaysians regardless our race and culture are extremely welcoming and friendly. Who knows, you may come across some interesting people that you’ll want to stay friends with even after your trip!

5. Create Unique and Unforgettable Memories

Whether it’s sharing a meal with local people or going a night out with them, local living will definitely give you some of the best and most memorable experiences! You will be able to walk away with interesting stories to tell at dinner parties - unlike the others who decided to play it safe and join a typical bus tour, you were able to hear unfiltered, personal stories from locals, be a part of the local community and experience the local lifestyle.

When you look back and reminisce on those memories you had of going off the beaten track and avoiding the over-crowded tourist spots, you remember you’ve experienced something that not every traveller gets from their trip. You may have gone to the same city and country as your friend did, but you got the opportunity to experience totally different things. So there, 5 reasons all of us should start travelling like a local.

_____________________

Buddyz is a travel platform powered by locals, a.k.a. the most knowledgeable and interesting experts, the ones that know the country best! We want to encourage people to travel more meaningfully, to immerse themselves in local culture, and to connect with people from the places they visit.

So on our platform, you will find what we call ‘Experiences’ for every interest - ranging from cultural walks, intimate meals at secluded local eateries to creative workshops and classes. All of which are led by locals and are vetted for quality.

Sign up to our newsletter to receive exclusive updates and promos. It would also make us really happy if you can simply follow us on Facebook and Instagram, your support means the world to us.

If you like this article, share it to your friends and family on Facebook too!