How to Blend In While Solo Travelling

“Look, another one of those dammed tourists . . . “

Do you stick out in a crowd? There are some easy way to blend in more as a local than a tourist, while on your travels.

Some solo travellers want to look like a tourist and if that is you, then fine.

However, this can open you up as a target for pickpockets, higher prices and other scams. Tourists can be a magnet for local con artists, out to steal or make a fast buck from you.

I prefer not to stand out in a crowd and blend in. Sometimes it works, other time not so well.

While you won’t fool everyone, the aim is to give the impression that you know where you are and how to act. With the right mindset, you can “be” someone who lives all the time in the area. You are a local.

How Can You Appear to Be a Local While Travelling?

Here are nine great suggestions.

Be Confident

The biggest mistake the average tourist makes, is looking uncomfortable where they are. They look as of they don’t know where they are going, or what they are doing. Aim to look as if you have walked the street many times before, by walking confidently. By striking a confident pose, nobody will notice you and you become less of a target.

Watch the Locals

When you arrive in a new city, head for a busy area. Sit and people watch for 20 minutes and study how the locals behave. See how they board the local bus. Do they form an orderly queue, or push each other to ensure their place? Look to emulate their behaviour.

Don’t Walk Around Looking at a Map

This is a significant one. Nothing marks you out more as a tourist or stranger, than standing at a street corner opening and studying a large paper map. Your are clearly not a local. Spend some time early in the day looking at your map in your hotel room, or in a coffee shop. Nobody will notice that.

With the advent of map on apps, set up your mobile phone with the locality on screen. Then, if you are lost, take a look at your phone, so natural these days, nobody will bat an eyelid.

Dress Down

I don’t mean become a tramp or hobo! Just loose the highly branded tops and coats which make you stand out as a tourist. If you are in a place for a few days, seek out a budget shop and buy one or two items of local clothing.

Understand the Local Currency

How many Tiyn’s to a Tenge? What is a T5,000 note worth?

Fiddling around with cash and not knowing which coins is which, marks you out as a tourist. And the price of what you want will be at the fleece-the-tourist rate, rather than the real local price. That won’t happen everywhere in the world, but is more common that you may think.

By knowing a local currency before you start out, you will appear confident and less likely to be the victim of a money scam.

Oh, and the Tiyn, is the currency of Kazakhstan.

Take a Tour

If you are going to be in a city for several days, use part of your first day to take a tour. Open top bus tours operate in many places and will give you a good idea of what the city looks like and highlight some places to go back and visit in detail. This will mark you out as a tourist, but only for the time you are on the bus. Then, you blend in, as you go solo in the city.

Learn Some Key Phrases

The locals will appreciate you made the effort to speak some words in their language. You may be awful at it, but you are more likely to have a friendly reception.

Carry a Local Shopping Bag

This is a good one. Hide away your branded airline tote bag, which makes you a tourist, and go for a bag from a local store. Very little make you looks like a local, than the (apparent) fact you shop in the neighbourhood.

Shop Like a Local

You can save a fortune shopping at the local markets, rather than in a supermarket shop. What you will find will be cheaper, probably fresher and marks you out as someone who lives in the area. And it’s fun too!

Enjoy your travels and blending in.