6 questions to ask a local that will lead to better travel experiences

Part of travelling means being adjustable and not so set in your ways, of course. So I perk up and launch into a conversation with my friend’s friend explaining where I’m from (Canada), where I live (Ecuador), and what brings me to Costa Rica (an interest in travel in general and a love for Latin America in specific).

Then, I switch it up. Are you from this town? What do you love about it? What should I love about this part of Costa Rica? Are there any events or festivals that make it stand out?

“Well, each year this town holds a chicharron festival,” she explains. “Because this area makes the best chicharron in all of Costa Rica.”

Good thing I asked, I think to myself as I ask for a restaurant recommendation to try this local dish. It gets me thinking about what other questions I ought to be asking locals when I travel… Below, are the main ones which I think can lead to great conversation and incredible travel experiences.

Does the region host any festivals?

“Does your town/region/country have any significant festivals?” This is not the first time this question has revealed something rather telling about an area during my travels. This is how I found out about Brazilian carnival, Medellin’s flower festival, and now, a small Costa Rican town’s chicharron festival.

Why ask a local this question? Even if you’re not in that particular destination during that particular event, you may catch on to something about the culture that you could have missed otherwise. For example, I learned that Brazil is more religious than I expected and that their holidays are social, vibrant, colourful and extremely fun. Walking down the streets of a small town, I got a play-by-play of what this spot would look like during the festivities.

In Medellin, I learned all the reasons why Colombia is one of the top flower exporters in the world. The multi-coloured flower arrangements and parade were incredible.

What’s the best time of year to come here and why?

Come in summer, winter, shoulder season or another time? Someone who lives there will be able to tell you exactly when to return for a visit… and when to avoid. You can ask this question in advance by networking online via social media groups, friend-focused apps, or sliding into the DMs of a local group or tour guide.

More the in-person type? This is an easy ice-breaker, first-date question, or way to take interest in the friend of a friend you just met. Guess who just got a recommendation for visiting Buenos Aires in winter? And who now knows to avoid Patagonia at its windiest? This girl.

Does this country/region have a signature drink and where can I find it?

“Victoria has some of the best microbrews in the country,” the bartender at a waterfront bar says to me as he pours me a pint of hazy IPA. He rattles off all the amazing types of beer I can find, where, and why so many beer lovers and brewers have flocked to this coastal Canadian city (P.S. it’s also in the running for my favourite one).

In Brazil, I learned about the caipirinha as a grandpa mixed me one with his homemade caipirinha during a 30th birthday party. In Ireland, I didn’t waste much time before ordering a frothy Guinness. Alcoholic beverages aside, in Costa Rica, a roadside vendor sold me on a sugar cane juice mid-run. It was hard-earned and under the scorching sun, very, very welcomed.

What do you and your friends/family like to do on weekends?

No matter which way you cut it, locals are probably not hanging out where you and your travel buddies are. There’s a chance, yes, but it’s also more likely that they’re frequenting nondescript hangouts. I find it funny when those who live in a particular spot rattle off a list of the most popular tourist traps as if my bucket list is the same as everyone else’s. Hey, at least they’re taking an interest and the kindness of even recommending anything is a welcoming characteristic that doesn’t go unnoticed. That said, I like to add a twist to the conversation and say… “Well, what do you and your friends do?”

This is how I ended up at a party of strangers outside of San José, a quiet nearly-private beach in Victoria, a cool taco joint in Chicago, and one insanely ridiculous quest for an infamous Vermont IPA on a family ski trip years ago. Once, a friend recommended I visit an acquaintance’s finca in the hills of a Colombian coffee farm. When the power went out during a severe storm, we had nothing to do but watch the lightning and torrential rain. It was one of the evenings that most stood out during my six months there.

What food is this place best known for?

If you pass on the local cuisine, you’re missing out. This question could be a two-part query. Firstly, what do you eat and secondly, where? You may be surprised to know that the hole-in-the-wall spot you’d have walked past is a local favourite. It could also be that the simplest thing on the menu is known to be the best dish in town. Chef’s special? I’m in. Slightly mysterious food truck? Sign me up. Dietary restrictions? Not that I know of…

What do you wish tourists knew before they came?

Part of conscious travel is learning what you can in order to minimize harm. Some travellers may feel that the very nature of travel can be problematic in that you’re an uninvited guest, and being there in the first place may reveal financial or passport privilege. So, what can you do about that? If you’ve made a connection with someone who lives there, you could gently bring this up in conversation. “What do you wish travellers knew before coming here?” “Are there behaviours that bother you?” “Is there any historical context about your home that you wish everyone would know upon entry?” That kind of thing.

I did eventually try the chicharron in the Costa Rican countryside. I wasn’t going to leave without taking my new friend up on her recommendation. The pork was so tender and bursting with a salty lime flavour. I could see why it made the region famous and hey, maybe one day I’ll even return for the festival.