Travel Insider: How to have an authentic travel experience

Mickela Mallozzi is the host and executive producer of Emmy Award-winning TV show, Bare Feet with Mickela Mallozzi, a travel series highlighting the diversity of dance. She shares how to have more authentic, meaningful experiences while abroad.

Talk to people

This sounds like a no-brainer, but a large number of travellers never even think to talk to locals, except for maybe directions or to find a toilet.

For those of us who have travelled, our fondest memories often include meeting someone along the way and having an unforgettable experience with that stranger – maybe the taxi driver who took you to their favourite café, or the bartender who had you try all the local cocktails while introducing you to regular customers.

Be open to talking with strangers; you just might make a new local friend.

Slow down

When planning a trip, try to stay in one town or city for longer. Instead of just spending the afternoon in Dingle, Ireland, book three overnights to enjoy what really makes this little West Coast town so charming –its pubs, its food, its nightly music sessions, and of course, its people.

While you cover less ground on your overall trip, you cover more experiences of feeling like you actually get to know the place – and you spend more time (and tourism dollars) in the local economy, supporting small businesses.

Go back

If you find a destination that you truly love and connect with, no one says you can’t go back to that place –I’ve had the privilege of visiting over 40 countries, but a lot of those places I have gone back to multiple times.

I talk to people, a lot, and I make new friends wherever I go. So it’s always fun to go back and visit those friends again and again.

Do what you love

If you want to have an authentic travel experience, do something in that destination that you love when you’re not travelling.

I take dance classes on a regular basis, so when I travel I’m looking for people who are just as passionate about dance as I am – I always seek out dance opportunities on my travels (festivals and holidays with dance events, dance classes, dance clubs, you name it).

I like to say, “I make new friends by dancing with strangers,” but that can translate to any hobby – if you love cooking or painting or singing or biking or you run marathons, find that community on your travels, and you’ll have such a deeper connection with the people and the place you’re visiting.

Put down your phone

If you don’t post it on Instagram, did it really happen? Of course, it did. It’s pretty self-explanatory, but by putting down your phone, it really helps you to be truly present.

Yes, you can take some photos and videos, but be sure to take the time to experience what’s happening right in front of your eyes in the moment and in the most real way possible.