1. Betas Are Best
A stay in a beta city—think: Verona over Venice and Memphis instead of Nashville—means fewer crowds and the chance to explore a lesser-known destination, discovering all its treasures that you didn’t even know about. Picking a place that is not among the most popular spots in a country (so, avoiding ‘big hitters’ such as New York, Rome or Phuket, for example) has a number of benefits as well as being a discernable way to help with over-tourism. These ‘unsung heroes’ often offer up more authentic travel experiences as they are away from the main tourist paths, with restaurants and shops largely catering to locals. Choose carefully and you can not only tap into a new place, but you can use it as a base to travel further afield and find areas that are not well documented. So, for example, head to Oman instead of Dubai to discover its Middle Eastern cultural riches. What’s more, from here you can still make side-trips to other Emirates, including Dubai, if you wanted.
2. Soak Up September
Fine weather in September in Languedoc, France.
(Credit: AVC)
With children back at school, meaning cheaper fares and fewer crowds, September is one of the best months to travel. In many places across the world, this ‘cross-over’ month (not quite summer, not quite autumn) means that you will still find sunny days and balmy temperatures. This time of year, before the shops and restaurants shutter up for the season, means it is still too early for the more unpredictable weather of late autumn and winter. Top destinations include the Greek Islands, the French Riviera and Portugal, for sun-drenched days, andSouth East Asia is also a good choice, as it is emerging from its wet season.
Autumn bounty at Daylesford Organic Farm, in the Cotswolds, UK.
(Credit: AVC)
Another bonus is that with September comes many spectacles of nature—from harvest bounties (meaning that local cuisine is at its best, bursting with fresh flavours) and New England’s leaf-peeping displays to the great migration of wildebeest in the Serengeti.
3. When A Hotel Is Not A Hotel
Apple Tree Cottage is one of a number of standalone properties at Lucknam Park Hotel near Bath.
(Credit: AVC)
For those wanting a break with extended family or with a group of friends, it might be tempting to book a villa for the perfect regroup. For many, however, this simply means transferring the chores—cooking and tidying up—from home to a new address. So why not avoid (most of) the washing up, by booking a cottage, treehouse or villa in the grounds of a hotel. The trend of hotels offering standalone accommodation exploded during and following the pandemic, when travellers wanted a way to escape their four walls again, but were still nervous about mixing with others (many hotels at the time started converting buildings in their grounds or creating new offerings to offer a choice of luxury boltholes and to get their businesses back on their feet). Lucknam Park near Bath, Beaverbrook in Surrey and Chewton Glen in the New Forest are just three examples in the UK. It means you can have the privacy and flexibility of a home-from-home, but are still able to tap into the luxury hotel facilities that are on offer, such as the spa, restaurants and sporting offerings.
4. Read Up And Research
Do your research to find hidden gems, like this rooftop view over Paris, taken from Hotel Rochechouart.
(Credit: AVC)
It may sound basic, but do some ground work before you arrive, so that you won’t find that the best restaurants are already booked or that you waste time aimlessly wandering around unfamiliar streets. For lovers of impromptu travel, this may go against the grain, but in reality, you don’t have to be rigid about things. It’s just a way to have reference points so that you have an idea of what to do in your chosen destination. While the likes of Tik Tok and Instagram might have a bad rap, they are actually very useful for honing down specific interests. Want to shop in a French pharmacy in Paris? Search it up for the best addresses to head to and what to buy. Influencers have nailed this sort of thing. Same with the hottest restaurants (although it can mean that the best places are booked out months ahead). Guidebooks and online travel guides still have their place, however, and are a good way to gain an overall understanding of a place or culture so you don’t miss out.
5. Look Up To Locals
Mustafa, a local guide in the Wahiba Sands Desert in Oman.
(Credit: AVC)
The best way to get under the skin of a city is for a local person to show you its hidden gems. From companies, such as Tours by Locals and Get Your Guide, you can uncover the best cultural experiences from the knowledge of those that live there. If you are only in a place for a short time, talk to those who you encounter—taxi drivers, shop owners and, of course, the hotel concierge, and ask for local recommendations and suggestions of where to go and what to eat. Follow it up with your own research and the chances are you will find the best in authentic travel experiences.
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