Traveling Tip: Cultural Immersion Transforms a Vacation

Im going to keep this one short today, as Im off trying to have fun exploring. I’m exploring Croatia right now on holiday with family. My first international trip in a couple years, and Im loving it! A great way, and my favorite way to travel is to leave home at home and attempt to immerse myself in local culture.

When you put effort into learning the language and customs the locals tend to be kinder, more engaged, and guide you towards what will be the best experiences of any trip. So I always work to learn the local language and common phrases.

Learn to say at least the basics:

• hello/goodbye.

• Good morning, good afternoon, goodnight.

• How are you?

• How much does this cost?

• Yes/no

• Please/thank you.

• Which way to ___?

• Where is the bathroom?

• Can I have more/another?

I know it may seem silly, but if you can say these simple phrases in a local accent it tends to endear you to the people you meet, showing your appreciation for their way of life.

Here in Croatia it’s the end of the tourist season along the coast. One of our local connections told us that the coastal cities of Split and Dubrovnik are so tourism focused that they earn all their money for the year during the season and take the other half a year off! The average income in Croatia is €1.000,00 (1,000 euros) per month. Currently that’s roughly $1,150/month in USD. Most locals cook at home and only go out for coffee and drinks, keeping their costs low and maintaining a family oriented culture.

During that time off the locals will fill up the cafes along the piazzas and at the promenades along the waterfront. They’ll be there for hours staring out into the ocean, sipping their coffee. A sort of meditation, a testament to soaking in life, working to enjoy life rather than the other way around.

In case you’re ever considering a vacation, consider Croatia. It is beautiful, never sees snow, and the coldest point in the year is February where it drops to 40F. During summer it’s a famous destination for beaches, cruises, and other waterfront activities with temperatures as high as 105F in August.

The people are wonderful here and the country is rated the safest travel destination in Europe. The cuisine is heavily influenced by Greek and Italian, with pasta and fish as the most prominent. And yes, gelato shops every other block!