Costa Brava holidays are a popular choice with tourists from all around the world. The region's rugged coastline, secluded sandy beaches and cosmopolitan cities are a delight and might lead you to wonder how your holiday can possibly get any better. If you take the time to mingle with the locals, your whole experience can be improved untold amounts. Trying to discover the village or town that the residents call home can be harder than it sounds so here are a few tips to make the process easier.
1 - Think about hiring a local guide One top tip to getting to know the locals is to hire one to show you around on your holidays to Costa Brava. Spending so much time with a guide will mean you will have the chance to get chatting and they are guaranteed to be happy to answer any questions you have. A local guide will be able to show you places and tell you things that you wouldn't discover on your own or might miss if you tag along on a more typical tour. Ask your guide to help you to learn a few key phrases that might come in useful at a later stage.
2 - Avoid tourist hotspots Ask yourself; do you really enjoy queuing behind hundreds of other tourists or cramming yourself and your family on to the smallest patch of beach available? We didn't think so. Avoiding the hotspots, exploring alternative areas and trying to find quieter places will show you a different side to the Costa Brava and it's guaranteed to be one that you will like.
3 - Be brave It can be intimidating to approach people, especially when you don't speak the language but learning a few simple sentences will make all the difference. Try not to be afraid to engage locals in brief conversations and you will find that most people are happy to offer advice, in fact they find it flattering to be asked! Ask for tips on places to eat, attractions and what they consider the best thing about their area. The Spanish are a friendly nation and will be more than happy to offer a little help to those who want to do something different on their holidays to the Costa Brava.
4 - Use the public transportation Avoid the tour buses and other crowded means of transportation. Sometimes it's easiest to use the local buses, train and underground networks - and usually much cheaper too! If you're worried about getting lost, you can always hail a cab, which works well if you get a friendly driver as he can give you your own personal tour depending on what you're interested in doing.
1 - Think about hiring a local guide One top tip to getting to know the locals is to hire one to show you around on your holidays to Costa Brava. Spending so much time with a guide will mean you will have the chance to get chatting and they are guaranteed to be happy to answer any questions you have. A local guide will be able to show you places and tell you things that you wouldn't discover on your own or might miss if you tag along on a more typical tour. Ask your guide to help you to learn a few key phrases that might come in useful at a later stage.
2 - Avoid tourist hotspots Ask yourself; do you really enjoy queuing behind hundreds of other tourists or cramming yourself and your family on to the smallest patch of beach available? We didn't think so. Avoiding the hotspots, exploring alternative areas and trying to find quieter places will show you a different side to the Costa Brava and it's guaranteed to be one that you will like.
3 - Be brave It can be intimidating to approach people, especially when you don't speak the language but learning a few simple sentences will make all the difference. Try not to be afraid to engage locals in brief conversations and you will find that most people are happy to offer advice, in fact they find it flattering to be asked! Ask for tips on places to eat, attractions and what they consider the best thing about their area. The Spanish are a friendly nation and will be more than happy to offer a little help to those who want to do something different on their holidays to the Costa Brava.
4 - Use the public transportation Avoid the tour buses and other crowded means of transportation. Sometimes it's easiest to use the local buses, train and underground networks - and usually much cheaper too! If you're worried about getting lost, you can always hail a cab, which works well if you get a friendly driver as he can give you your own personal tour depending on what you're interested in doing.
About the Author:
Catherine McCulloch is a London-based travel writer and regularly goes on Costa Brava breaks. Click here for great discounts from www.mytravel.com.
