Discovering hidden gems is one of my favorite parts about travel. There’s something so satisfying about unearthing a spot that usually only locals know about - it adds depth to your experience. Over the years, I’ve found that certain practices work better than others. Three ways to ensure discovery are walking, asking the locals, and avoiding the trendy spots on social media.
Go For A Walk - There’s no better way to explore a city than on foot. You see things that you’d otherwise miss via car or while surfing the internet. In Sorrento, Italy, I remember hearing tourists go on and on about “dining under the lemon trees.” I knew that was a classic Sorrento experience, but I also knew that the food and service at said restaurant was spotty at best. I hadn’t traveled to Italy to eat mediocre food - so I went for an early morning walk to see what I could find. Lo and behold, I came across a lemon grove in the middle of town. My curiosity peaked, I walked through the gates and discovered that the grove was a mini farm-to-table restaurant owned by a local family. The family had been hand-making Limoncello, lemon pasta, and serving it all under a grove of lemons for generations. That night, I enjoyed an incredible meal, made friends with the server, and had the quintessential Sorrento experience of dining under the lemon trees. This restaurant wasn’t on any of the lists, it wasn’t ranked among Sorrento dining spots, and I wouldn’t have found it if I hadn’t gone for a walk.
Ask Locals - It sounds obvious, but I’ve found that travelers don’t always take advantage of this low hanging fruit. Most of the time, locals are proud of their home and want to share it. You can’t find everything by walking and sometimes you just need the inside scoop. The picture above is of Grand Fond National Pools in St. Barths. This luxury island is known for its fine dining, partying, and elite lifestyle. However, if you’re interested in stepping away for a few hours, there’s a short walk to a hidden oasis waiting for you. These pools are spectacular, always vacant, and the perfect way to refresh after a long night at Le Ti. Shared with me by a local restaurant hostess, Grand Fond has been on my to-do list every year in St. Barths. That crystal clear, turquoise water and quiet serenity is what I risked missing if I hadn’t asked the right questions of the right people.
Avoid Social Media - This may sound counter-intuitive, but let me explain. In preparing to arrive in Positano, I did some research on social media and found a mass regurgitation of the same spots. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think Positano was a small town with limited options. Since that is certainly not the case, I dove deeper and found that in the pursuit of gaining traction amongst followers, influencers had recommended only what they’d seen from other influencers, and this vicious cycle had repeated itself until there was almost no noise surrounding non-trendy restaurants, bars, and boutiques. Of course, there are iconic places that gain respect for good reason, and I’d never want my travelers to miss out on those experiences. But if you only follow what’s hot on social media, you miss out on the full breadth of what your location has to offer.
Partnering with a travel consultant who values the undiscovered is essential to the quality of your travel experience. Tourist traps are everywhere, and unless you have a teammate who prioritizes the integrity of your experience, you’ll end up at the same overcrowded, underwhelming locations as everyone else. When you travel with Skkye, you’ll enjoy all of the best places - popular or little-known, without having to find them yourself. While I always encourage my travelers to explore on their own, they can rest assured that my years of globe-trotting allow them to benefit from a full inventory of hidden gems.
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