Visit the museum in the morning followed by climbing the tower and then browsing the tourist shops all before lunch. This used to be me. I was the one who, while living in Germany, hopped the plane to Lisbon, Portugal for 4 days and took 2 jam packed full-day tours to outlying towns and beach destinations, packing in as much as I could. I did not get to know anyone there or learn anything significant about their culture except they sure know how to cook! The most that little jaunt did for me was give me a much needed change of scenery and wet my whistle to go back and really get to know the country.
Finally, I have achieved a flexible lifestyle so that I can travel by staying put and truly get to know a place. The way I do this is to pick at least one or more locations to stay a minimum of a month. Any remaining time in the country, I use touring around and visiting attractions.
Benefit One: I save money by renting long-term
I can generally get up to a 50% discount on a monthly rental, particularly with Airbnb and Vrbo. If that discount is not offered, I negotiate for a lower price within my budget. For example, I am currently renting a studio in Playas del Coco, Costa Rica with an enormous pool in shared outdoor common area and just 2 blocks from the beach. The original price on Vrbo was $55 a night. With the monthly discount, I paid $27.40 a night. Now that I am here, I have collected names of condo owners and other locals who can help me rent at an even lower rate directly from owners for any future long-term visits. A friend I made on this trip waited until she arrived to visit potential monthly rentals and negotiate discounts in person. The same applies to bicycle rentals. Bikes rent for $5 a day but for a month, I paid $80. My other option was to buy one and sell it at departure. Remember negotiation is most often possible.
Benefit Two: I shop like the locals and save money
In my book, one of the funnest things to do in a new country is to visit the grocery stores. On a whirlwind visit, it sometimes never happens. Here in Playas del Coco, I have visited every grocery store and have figured out which store to go to for the best produce, etc. In the process, I save money by cooking the majority of the time and eating out just when new friends ask me to join them for a meal out. I have also enjoyed sharing meals with others and participating in potlucks with new friends. For example, today I spent $14 buying all the fixings for a week’s worth of salads along with a big bag of lemons, a papaya and green tea. This should provide at least 6 salads. Alternatively, I could pay $6 to $10 for a salad at a cafe nearby.
Benefit Three: I have time to fall in love with a place
It takes time to get a sense of a place and its people. You can like the look of a place and the general vibe of a people but to truly get to know both, it takes an investment of time. Living in a place and doing many of the things the locals do, gives me the opportunity to interact with others who live there full time or part-time. Here at Playas del Coco, I walk the beach starting at dawn. Those that are on the beach in that first hour of the day are locals most often walking their dogs or fishermen. Now, I know about 25 of those folks by sight and we routinely greet each other. Ten of those folks I know by name and have become friends with 5 of those 10. One “Tica” woman I meet on the beach is now a dear friend and my steady early morning walking partner with whom I get to practice Spanish while teaching her some English, all while we walk and swim. On top of that, those beautiful connections with locals and expats tune me into all the juicy info on the best deals in town, where the live music is playing, the best attractions to visit and more.
Benefit 4: I slow down
When I used to act like a normal tourist, I would acquire a fast pace so I could maximize the short time I had to see as much as possible. I came home exhausted and needed a week to recover from the trip. Now, I adopt a leisurely way of life. I plan one or maximum two touristy things a week such as visiting another beach, taking a hike or going on a snorkeling excursion. The rest of my time, I do things I love but often don’t have the time to do at home regularly such as taking a nap, meditating, practicing Qi Gong on the beach, reading, swimming in the ocean, riding a bike everywhere, making new friends and watching beach side sunsets with them.
Your Take Away
If your life allows you the luxury to spend more time in one location during your travels, give it a whirl! You will likely come away with new lifelong friends, many precious memories spent with them and a real appreciation and love for a place and culture. You may even find yourself longing to come back to the same place or like many here in Playas del Coco, deciding to relocate.
