The tour guide will not tell you anything that you cannot know on your own. So if you are adventurous and independent, leave your tour guide and explore the foreign land by yourself. Five places are all you have to visit for the cultural immersion that you cannot buy off a tour package.

Museums. This is unmistakably the best way to learn about their history and art. You cannot go wrong with a museum. They will have the oldest paintings and the most expensive sculptures their society has even produced in their history. This should be your first stop because this will provide you the basics of the place you’re visiting.

Local Restaurants. This may be uninviting if you are in an “exotic” place. If you are from the West visiting Asia, you will probably look for some burgers and ketchup to avoid the abundant spices you are not used to. But if you are travelling, I plead that you fight that urge to go to the nearest McDonald’s. Go to restaurants that specialize in local cuisine. Eat what the locals eat the way they eat it. It is also best to talk and ask locals about their food. They will give you the best tips on how to satisfy your palette. More importantly, they can lead you away from typical tourist restaurants that rip-off every unsuspecting traveler. As much as possible, eat what you cannot find at home. The more exotic the food is, the better.

Churches. People are crazy about their religion. Most of the time, if not always, people in the past have put all their energy and money for religion, giving churches and other houses of worship so much grandeur and beauty. This is why most of the tourist spots in Europe are Cathedrals. There are actually very few Europeans who hear Mass nowadays, but they don’t tear down the churches because of its historical, cultural and even aesthetic significance. You will know a lot about a place’s history just by studying the architecture of cathedrals and mosques.

Bars. One of the things that makes traveling so unforgettable and meaningful is the cultural immersion in a totally different society. And what better social lubricant there is than alcohol. Different countries serve different beers and wines, and just like food, you must have a taste of these. The Absinth, for example, is illegal in the United States but famous in France. Of course you also have to choose the bars you have to go to. It’s better to find a bar with a musician performing live so you can also get a taste of local music.

Public Market. Finally, your cultural immersion will not be complete without visiting the public market. Public markets differ from place to place. Some countries have a lot of fish, others spices and others meat, all depending on the culture you are trying to explore. But you can learn a lot not only from what they sell, but more importantly from how they sell their goods. Learn to haggle and communicate with the locals in the market. It will be a guaranteed experience.

Don’t forget to explore these places using public transportation. Avoid the taxis otherwise you might as well be burning your money. Ride the buses and trains, just don’t be naïve and watch your belongings. Even the richest and most seemingly safe places have thieves. Have a map and learn to navigate!

You do not have to join an expensive guided tour. You will be surprised at how much you can learn from these suggested spots. Society shows so much of their identity though architecture, food and arts – all of which can be delved into through the five spots.

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Trying to pick the one perfect place to spend a vacation needs a painstakingly thorough research. Unless you’re a certified jet-setter/ back-packer who can easily adapt to a marketplace-full of atmospheres, planning a getaway might seem as critical as an open-heart surgery.

There are different kinds of vacations; some take a couple of days and some lasting for years and years of touring. For some, having a grand vacation is a luxury that can’t be attained due to the pressure of work and salary deductions once an absence is committed. And by the time these people get days off, they spend it on a crowded beach feeling the greasy, sun-tanned bodies of total strangers as they plunge into a water toxic enough to fizz a diseased whale.

It is not that complicated to plan a vacation as long as you know how to do it, and sacrificing your dream escapade for a couple of nights on a nearby public beach resort is as stupid as flushing your laptop in the toilet.

Don’t think everything might be ruined

Aside from the wrath and indecision of Mother Nature, nothing can ruin your vacation unless you do it yourself; or let your nerves pop because of some silly screw-up that could have been prevented. It is important to maintain a cool outlook towards the probable things/ situations that might rail you away from the traveler’s vibe, so lighten up! Remember, this is a vacation, and that means going away to a far destination of totally different culture, people, language and views. So be open to possibilities and handle frisky situations well. Read some travel journals, log-into travel sites and most of all, research about the place you wish to go to. There’s nothing better than feeling safe while having the adventure of a lifetime.

Maintain an adventurer’s mindset

We’re not talking about magically being Indiana Jones or Harry Potter while you’re away on a trip. An adventurer’s mindset focuses on how much he/she can explore without wasting any time. Think of it as an Amazing Race type of scenario, only you get to enjoy all the places and stay as long as you want. You don’t have to pressure yourself in going to these places if your budget is slightly short. But it is silly to pass a trip to the next town just because it is too far. That’s the point of traveling and having a vacation: the farther, the better! Think big; don’t limit yourself just because you feel you should only be within the realms of a certain radius. As long as you feel the need to go to that place, go ahead.

Drop the slacker/unhealthy lifestyle regimens

Sure you have the perfect reservation to a tropical hotel with all the VIP passes to parties and exclusive resorts but you’re too tired and weary to ever get up on that queen-sized bed. Don’t be stupid enough just to spend a pothead afternoon in Amsterdam where you can appreciate the architecture and the street art instead; or sit around the hotel looking out the balcony where you can grab your coat and go for a walk. Before you travel, start eating a wider selection of healthy food, go for a morning jog or if you lack resources and time, roam around the mall for a couple of hours. Traveling and having a vacation is just like having sex, the more stamina and interest, the better. You shouldn’t quit the exploration until you reach total pleasure and satisfaction. Make it good and you’ll remember it for the rest of your life. If you could think of a better metaphor then feel free to invite me on an analogical fistfight.

Don’t spend ALL your money on souvenirs and clothes

If you do, by the time you’ll get home you’ll probably be carrying an extra bag, or might have the paranoia fantasy of not getting home (on time) at all. Buying a couple of cute collectibles and native decors won’t hurt, but trying to take the town’s entire closet and rug collection is simply impractical. Unless getting these things is the total reason why you had your vacation, then I suggest you make a list of all the expenditures you had daily. Keep all the receipts and if you feel like you got ripped-off, confront the vendor in the nicest, most-smartest way any uncommon face would do. Just say you know the market value of beaded rings or a scarf (research is okay, but trying to look smart is cooler) and you surely know it wouldn’t cost that much. Be patient and open to haggling, but remember that it is a foreign country and the chances of you getting tricked are high. Unless you’re planning to go to China where the black market is the uprising revolutionary industry, this trick might work.

Bring a functional camera

I know this might be the most common rule any traveler already knows, but it may look simple and harmless than you think it actually is. Taking great photos on a vacation is not only a necessity, but those photos will remind you from time to time how much you enjoyed it. Bring a vacation buddy so someone could take your picture behind the Eiffel Tower and cutting the chances of some prick running away with your prized camera. Also, avoid any regretful and depressing situations when your camera just died on you while you are enjoying Asia’s vibrant colors and environments. Disposable cameras are readily available everywhere, but not as great as your own personal stuff.

Of course, you wouldn’t want to spend your nights on a dingy apartelle infested with some genetically weird and huge cockroaches; so planning is a must especially if you want your trip to go smoothly. Choose the places you stay in very well. Click here to get a $1000 Hotel Gift Card and solve that budget problem. Keeping these five important tips in mind is sure to sail you off to the vacation escapade of your dreams.