Unlock the secrets to authentic travel experiences with guidance from top industry experts. This article distills essential tips for engaging with local cultures genuinely and memorably. Learn how to enhance your journey with meaningful connections and tailored adventures.
- Combine Access with Human Connection
- Blend Authentic Experiences with Personalized Touches
- Consider Duration, Activities, and Accommodation
- Immerse in Japan’s Traditions with Knife-Making
- Join a Cooking Class for Cultural Immersion
- Connect with Locals to Experience Lifestyle
- Slow Down and Notice Local Culture
- Stay at Top-Tier Hotel Near City Center
Combine Access with Human Connection
We like to combine access with human connection.
Some examples include:
1. Locking Florence’s Duomo at the end of the day with the key master, wandering through the silent cathedral, exploring the hidden terraces that few ever see, all after the crowds leave.
2. Visiting the Mona Lisa in Milan after hours, standing in front of her in near silence.
3. Opening the Vatican Museums with the key keeper: walking through the halls, turning on the lights as you go, until you reach the Sistine Chapel before a tourist steps inside.
It doesn’t always have to be grand. Some of the best experiences are had with someone local by your side.
For example, a private cooking class with a nonna in her Tuscan villa, complete with wine from her neighbor’s vineyard.
Or exploring a Moroccan souk with a guide who grew up wandering its maze and knows every hidden stall and spice trader.
Sometimes, we suggest doing something familiar but in a new cultural context. Take a yoga class, but do it in a local studio with an instructor who incorporates traditional movements and philosophy.
Or join a morning run with a Tokyo running club that ends at a hidden ramen spot.
Anything you do with a local by your side can be transformative.
Allow for some spontaneity. Once, while in India, waiting to enter a restaurant, a wedding procession came by. The groom was on a white horse surrounded by music and people dancing. We briefly joined the procession and congratulated the groom.
On that same trip to India, I visited a local village where time moved very differently. I stayed in a guesthouse, the only place in the village that had running water. Wandering through the village, meeting the locals and learning about their lifestyle was priceless. The accommodations weren’t a five-star hotel but the experience was absolutely 10 stars. Intimate, off the beaten track and as authentic as you could get, along with the knowledge that my visit was directly supporting a local village.
Margie Jordan
CEO, Jordan Executive Travel Service
Blend Authentic Experiences with Personalized Touches
The best way to experience local culture while traveling luxuriously is to blend authentic local experiences with exclusive, personalized touches.
One of the best activities I’d suggest is booking a private, locally guided cultural tour, but not the typical touristy one.
Instead, go for something more meaningful, like a private cooking class in a local’s home, where you can learn to prepare traditional dishes and hear personal stories about the culture and family traditions.
Or, take a behind-the-scenes tour of an artisan workshop such as pottery, weaving, or chocolate making, where you get to meet the creators, watch them at work, and even try your hand at their craft.
If food and wine are your thing, a small-group farm-to-table dining experience in a local vineyard or historic estate is a beautiful way to soak in the culture while enjoying incredible flavors and scenery.
You can also book a private walking tour through hidden streets, local markets, and cultural landmarks with a knowledgeable local guide. It’s a relaxed yet insightful way to learn about the area without the tourist crowds.
In the end, real luxury is the meaningful, personal, and memorable experiences, not just fancy hotels or first-class flights.
It is also about connecting with the local culture in a way that feels special and unforgettable.
Chinyelu Karibi-Whyte
Budget Travel Enthusiast & Guide, Tripping Eagle
Consider Duration, Activities, and Accommodation
Three main factors define how much you can experience the local culture and life of any destination:
1. The duration of your stay is crucial. The longer the stay in one destination, the deeper the insight into the local culture and life. It is hard to have a meaningful experience if your stay is too short. You must have time for experiences but also free time in each visited location. Free time allows you to have unplanned experiences, encounters with locals, or just relax while immersing yourself in the local beauties.
2. Taking part in local experiences, led or hosted by locals, from guided walking tours to cooking classes, food experiences, various workshops on local crafts, and similar activities. Time spent with a local through an activity can truly open up the understanding of how people lived in the past and how it evolved to what it is today. Authentic local experiences are truly amazing for connecting with the destination. I’ve heard from many travelers that these experiences can sometimes be even life-changing, but at the very least, they are enriching.
3. The third factor is the accommodation. Staying at smaller, locally owned and managed boutique hotels enhances the experience too. Properties like this often offer breakfast with locally sourced specialties, and the staff is often part of the family or at least from the area. These interactions that take place throughout your stay make it even more special, resulting in a deeper connection with the destination.
The most beautiful thing about these three factors is that not only are you getting a more authentic, deeper connection to the visited destination, but at the same time, you are supporting the destination in a much greater way. You are staying longer, supporting local businesses, and making a small but meaningful impact on the local economy. These things are what make travel so great.
Alida Paljevic
Founder & CEO, Vagabonda Travel
Immerse in Japan’s Traditions with Knife-Making
Experiencing local culture in Japan while traveling luxuriously means immersing yourself in the country’s deep traditions with exclusivity and refinement.
One unforgettable way to do this is through a private knife-making workshop, where you’ll work alongside master bladesmiths who have inherited their skills through generations of craftsmanship. These artisans have honed their techniques over decades, often learning from their parents and grandparents, ensuring that each blade embodies the precision, artistry, and deep respect for tradition that Japan is known for.
This hands-on experience will guide you through every step of the process, from selecting raw materials to heating, hammering, and sharpening the blade. Under the expert guidance of these master craftsmen, you’ll gain a deep appreciation for the meticulous work required to create a truly exceptional knife.
A translator will be on hand to ensure that all the rich knowledge and techniques are clearly communicated, allowing you to fully connect with the process and history behind it. To make it even more special, you can customize your blade with high-end materials, rare Damascus steel, or personalized engravings.
Whether you’re a collector, a culinary enthusiast, or someone who simply values craftsmanship, this experience offers a unique and unforgettable way to engage with Japan’s rich heritage while creating something truly personal.
Laura Teixeira
Project Manager, Flip Japan Guide
Join a Cooking Class for Cultural Immersion
The best activity for cultural immersion is to take part in a cooking class in the country you’re visiting.
Most destinations offer them by now, and you always get a different glimpse of life there with the chefs sharing stories and traditions. When you mix these experiences with delicious food, you will be creating memories that will last a lifetime.
You don’t need to be an enthusiastic cook, as normally the recipes tend to be simple enough to be cooked by anyone. This activity is inclusive for anyone who likes to get first-hand experiences.
Some of the most remarkable cooking classes I’ve taken part in were in Goa (India), Bali (Indonesia), and Luang Prabang (Laos), as I got to try ingredients I had never seen before.
Juan Castells
Travel Blogger, Planet of Adventures
Connect with Locals to Experience Lifestyle
When I travel, my favorite way to immerse myself in a new culture is by connecting with the local community and experiencing the lifestyle firsthand. As the CEO of a luxury rental company, I’m fortunate to visit many places around the world, and one of the most enriching experiences was in Dubai, where I spent time learning about the city’s unique blend of modern luxury and traditional Arabic culture.
I had the opportunity to dine with local business owners and experience the hospitality Dubai is famous for. It was incredible to see how the city blends its rich heritage with cutting-edge innovation, from its stunning architecture to its growing status as a global luxury destination.
Additionally, I enjoy learning about the local automotive culture, as cars and luxury vehicles are a huge part of many cultures. Whether it’s attending exclusive events or visiting local dealerships, understanding the passion people have for their cars in different places is always fascinating.
For me, the most rewarding part of traveling is understanding the local way of life, what drives the people, their passions, and their values, and integrating that into my own experiences. It gives me a deeper appreciation for each destination and helps me bring new ideas back to my work.
Kristan De Graaf
CEO, Elite Rentals Dubai
Slow Down and Notice Local Culture
One of the best ways to experience local culture while still enjoying a bit of luxury is to slow things down—choose a place where both come together naturally. For me, a town like Seefeld in Tirol is perfect for that.
You can stay in a nice wellness hotel, with a spa and good food, but still step outside and be right in the middle of local life. In the morning, you might have a long breakfast on a terrace with mountain views, and then just walk through the village—perhaps stop by the local bakery or watch the older locals play a game of Boccia in the park. You don’t need to rush from sight to sight. Culture is kind of everywhere if you take the time to notice it.
One thing I really recommend is booking a private guided walk with a local, especially one who knows about the history of the region—maybe someone who grew up in the area. They often tell stories you wouldn’t hear otherwise, and it gives a whole new layer to what you’re seeing.
And in the afternoon, there’s nothing wrong with treating yourself—a wine tasting at a nearby hotel, or some time in the spa. It doesn’t have to be either luxury or local culture—in places like Seefeld, they go hand in hand. You just have to be open to both.
Arjan Post
Owner, Ostbacher Stern
Stay at Top-Tier Hotel Near City Center
When I travel to Portugal, I prefer to stay at a top-tier hotel just 10-15 minutes from the city center.
This arrangement allows me to enjoy some peace during the night while still traveling luxuriously and remaining close to where everything is happening.
From there, I can walk to various destinations to experience the local culture. If I prefer, I can ask the hotel to assist me with transportation between different places. As you stay at nice hotels, they often have collaborations with companies that can transport you to unique places you want to visit.
You can even take it a step further and contact either your hotel or a local person to plan a day for you where you can simply relax while being taken around to different places.
Just ensure this local person communicates with your hotel and their transport service so you receive the proper service you’re looking for.
Phillip Stemann
Travel Enthusiast, LisboaVibes
