Travelling has evolved a lot since our adolescent days. Visiting touristy attractions were possibly the main agenda back then, but most of us now are no longer satisfied with the mere act of ticking off these iconic sightseeing places.

Instead, an increasing number of travellers are craving for an authentic local experience and immersing themselves in the lives of natives.

Perhaps the need to “escape” is no longer present for we now feel the need to educate ourselves with foreign cultural experiences – which really isn’t a bad thing. From living in a local town, partaking in cooking classes, sampling street food to walking whenever possible, here are 13 ways to live like a local while one is on a vacation.

#1 AIRBNB

For a true-blue experience of living like a local, rent either an entire apartment or private room from the locals. We highly recommend rent lodging website Airbnb for some local hosts provide the most amazing dining recommendations!

This enables travellers to get a taste of life as a local and explore surroundings of a foreign destination’s local neighbourhood like never before.

#2 COOKING CLASSES

Regardless of whether it is a half-day class, one-week workshop or a month-long course, cooking classes are a great way to learn about a destination’s culture and cuisine.

It is also during these interactive activities that you will pick up some lingo, make friends and also learn precious skills of replicating local delicacies.

Check out 7 Cooking Classes in Ubud (Bali) That Are Worth Travelling For.

#3 DITCH THE GUIDEBOOK

While a destination guidebook’s primary purpose is to facilitate one’s travels, we have also realised that most recommendations are geared towards touristy ones. To avoid tourist traps, we suggest you avoid over relying on the guidebooks and try an alternative route instead i.e. ask the locals you encounter for suggestions.

#4 DRESS UP LIKE THE LOCALS

Instead of sticking out like a sore thumb with very touristy outfits, why not do some research in advance on your designated destination and try to dress up like the locals?

Fake it ’till you make it! Avoid wearing tacky straw hats and floral printed shirt or else you might end up attracting pickpockets and scammers.

#5 EXCHANGE HOMES

There are several online websites such as Home Exchange and Love Home Swap that allow travellers to temporarily exchange their houses.

For those not in the know, it essentially means that you get to live in someone else’s home and the other party gets to live in yours. It’s a win-win situation and you get to save up.

#6 MAKE FRIENDS WITH NATIVES

You never know what striking up a conversation at wherever you are could lead to. Humans are inherently good by nature and chances are, your new friend could bring you to the coolest places in town.

Of course, always trust your gut instincts and never befriend someone whom you think is potentially dangerous.

#7 MOBILE APPS

Thanks to the advancement of technology, we now have access to the insider’s news at the tip of our fingers. Some app would feature only locally-owned restaurants while some provide tips on cities by locals themselves.

#8 PICK UP THE NATIVE LANGUAGE

Picking up a foreign language from scratch with no prior knowledge is tough, but it goes a long way when you know the key basic words.

Alternatively, why not take it to a whole new level by learning it from a language center? Your new lifelong skill could definitely help you heaps to blend in when travelling around.

#9 READ LOCAL PRESSES

For the most up-to-date information, browse through the newspaper stands and local hipster cafes for brochures and magazines. It is through these local presses that you will uncover a trove of information on the city’s upcoming events, hottest dining destinations and more.

#10 SAMPLE STREET FOOD

It is time to step out of your comfort zone and start sampling local street food on the streets itself!

This might be a daunting experience for the reserved, especially when the specific dish is particularly funky. But it is through food that you get to learn about a destination’s history, geography and demography.

#11 VISIT LOCAL GROCERS AND MARKETS

Visiting different local grocery stores and markets is an eye-opening experience. These places pose a great opportunity for travellers to check out the local communities and catch a glimpse of their livelihoods.

You are also bound to chance upon many products that you have never seen in your own hometown.

Source: Easy Tour China

#12 VOLUNTEER

Volunteering vacations are extremely common these days. If you have the time and energy to spare, why not join one of these service-based vacations where you can join the locals to build homes, teach kids or sort food donations etc.

Volunteers get to make a positive difference and meet new local friends.

#13 WALK WHENEVER POSSIBLE

While taking a private taxi could potentially save time, walking in between point A and point B (assuming it isn’t too far) could actually reveal many hidden gems you would have otherwise not known about.

Most local eateries are tucked away in small obscure streets and would be easily missed if you are driving or on a car.

Johor Bahru is one of the best places (if not the best) for Singaporeans to head to for a day trip be it to indulge in delicious local foods, hop from one aesthetically-pleasing cafe to another or simply relax and unwind over affordable body massages.

The endless things to do in Johor Bahru leaves little to wonder as to why many Singaporeans often flock there especially during weekends and school holidays. However, even though going to JB for just a day may seem rather straightforward, it actually requires a lot of planning beforehand especially if you’re not familiar with the city.

For first-timers, crossing borders even for a simple day trip might be confusing—after all, you’re heading into a foreign country so things might get a little challenging along the way. Fret not for here are some tips you may wish to keep in mind before heading off for your trip!

Photo Credit: Land Transport Authority

#1 CHECK THE TRAFFIC BEFORE YOU HEAD THERE

If you’re driving, the last thing you want is to be stuck in a 3-hour long traffic jam on the causeway bridge which would definitely tire you out before your day trip even starts.

Before leaving your home, you can check the traffic forecast on several websites such as www.checkpoint.sg and www.onemotoring.com, which shows the exact traffic conditions at the time you’re checking the forecast.

Photo Credit: Mothership.sg

#2 CHOOSE YOUR DATES WISELY

On usual weekdays, the commute from Johor Bahru across the 1 km-long Causeway bridge takes about 1 to 2 hours. On weekends and public holidays, that journey can be much longer.

On top of that, try to avoid public holidays and eve of public holidays because that would be when many Singaporeans are free to head over too. On 2018′s Christmas Eve, the customs took a whopping 7 hours to clear and those who planned to grab breakfast there ended up only getting to have dinner.

#3 DATA 

Having access to the internet makes going about much more fuss-free and convenient. Get yourself a SIM card at one of the many convenience stores over in Johor Bahru instead of turning on roaming to save some cash.

#4 TRAVELLING AROUND

Have several places on your to-go list but can’t seem to make your way from one place to another by foot? Make use of ride-hailing apps such as Grab to get around and trust us when we say that it is not difficult to get yourself a driver there.

Otherwise, if you’re flagging down a cab, be sure to request for a metered pricing rather than fixed pricing as most cab drivers tend to surge the prices. Unless you’re very familiar with the costs and distances in JB, we’d highly recommend that you opt for metered pricing.

#5 PLAN AHEAD OF TIME

Johor Bahru is huge—and when we say huge, we mean that is it 26.7 times larger than our little red dot. With that being said, there are several different areas you may wish to check out, all for different purposes so make sure that you know exactly where you want to go before heading over.

If you’re looking to find the best street foods in Johor Bahru, exploring the area around Jalan Wong Ah Fook would be a great idea. Kam Long Curry Fish Head, Ho Seng Kee Wanton Noodles and Restoran Hua Mui are just a handful of the many local eateries you can find there.

Should you be a frequent traveller to JB, do check out Taman Mount Austin if you haven’t already done so. The area has over 70 hipster cafés, local eateries, KTV lounges and massage parlours and you can easily spend an entire day there!

#6 KNOW WHAT YOU CAN AND CANNOT BRING BACK TO SINGAPORE

We totally understand how easy it is to get carried away with shopping in a country where almost everything is cheaper and when you see items that you can’t usually find in Singapore.

However, bear in mind that there are several items that you cannot bring back to Singapore and may get fined at the customs for doing so. Bak kwa is way cheaper in JB but that is one item that Singaporeans are strictly not allowed to bring home. Other goods include milk powder, eggs and large quantities of fruits and rice.

Photo Credit: The Straits Times

#7 BOOK A TRAIN IN ADVANCE

Should you be planning for a trip way ahead of time, you may wish to consider booking a train to and fro rather than taking a bus or driving over as it is generally faster and more reliable.

You can book your train tickets on several websites such as www.easybook.com. Fares usually cost S$5.68 and S$1.77 to and fro Johor Bahru respectively.

Read our Johor Bahru guides to discover the best places to visit in the city.

When going on an overseas or interstate vacation, the bulk of your money would usually be allocated to lodging. But did you know that with the right hacks, you can actually save a significant amount? Having said that, do also bear in mind that a cheaper rate also means the need to compromise certain traits. For instance, do not expect to stay in a 5-star hotel for free.

Some of us do not mind staying at a simple place so we can better spend our money for entertainment, food and other experiences that we otherwise do not get to see in our country.

For budget travellers who are thinking of ways to cut down on accommodation costs, we came up with a guide to help you score cheaper accommodation for your next holiday. You are very welcome!

#1 BE FLEXIBLE AND CONSIDER A DATE CHANGE

Certain hotel rates are cheaper on selected days and that is primarily due to the lack of demand. Do expect a surge in prices during peak travel periods. Some hotels do provide an overall view of the different daily rates and you will realise that weekdays are typically cheaper. Most hotels also offer early bird rates—so do be flexible about changing dates!

#2 COMPARE PRICES ACROSS WEBSITES

The general rule of thumb is to NEVER settle for the first rate you are offered. Do compare your prices across various online booking platforms such as Agoda, Booking.com and the hotel’s official website. Tally the total prices—inclusive of taxes—and you will be surprised. Some differences could be negligible or significant.

#3 OR TAKE A GAMBLE AND BOOK IT LATE

Here’s the interesting thing—certain hotels do offer slashed rates when you make a last-minute booking. For instance, mobile application HotelQuickly allows hotels to push out unoccupied rooms at discounted prices. Some discounts are massive and can be up to 40%! Of course, you would probably have to compromise on the room of your choice.

#4 OPT FOR HOME RENTAL SITES

If a particular city’s hotel rate is way over your budget, then consider home rental sites such as AirBnb where you can book an entire place, a private room or even a shared room! Prices on AirBnb are usually cheaper and what you get in return is a much more spacious area. Yes, AirBnb lodging gives you more bang for the buck—especially when travelling in a group.

#5 BUY OVER SOMEONE ELSE’S BOOKING

Travel mishaps are bound to happen and sometimes travellers book accommodations that cannot be refunded. This is when Roomer and Cancelon come in handy. These platforms allow travellers to post listings of their booked hotel rooms and the public can buy these bookings off them at discounted rates. Talk about a win-win situation!

#6 STAY IN LESS FANCY HOTELS NEXT DOOR

Reputable global hotel brands are usually located right smack in the city centre. The location is ace but the price tag can be scary. Instead of resigning to fate, this is what you can do—consider the less fancy hotel next door which will offer you an equally superb location but less glamorous amenities. It’s all about a case of compromising.

#7 JOIN MEMBERSHIPS TO ENJOY PERKS

Certain hotels give you special discounts if you sign up for their newsletters or join their membership programmes. However, note that the latter usually involves a fee which might or might not work in your favour in the long run. However, registering as a user with Agoda and Booking.com is completely free and gives you access to exclusive special daily rates. What are you waiting for?