Guidebooks can be very helpful when pointing you toward everything from accommodation in your price range to restaurants that meet your dietary needs, but there’s also something to be said for going guidebook-free. There’s no need to ditch the guidebook entirely, but there are a few good reasons to take some time to explore without it.
You can make surprise discoveries
A guidebook might give you a list of all the “must-sees” in any given place, but there’s much more to any town or city than what you’ll find in the pages of a book. By exploring on your own, with no agenda, you never know what you might find. You could stumble upon a hidden gem of a café or bar, find a great restaurant that wasn’t mentioned in your guidebook and is blessedly free of tourists, or you could find yourself in an unexpected but charming neighbourhood you haven’t heard of.
You can ask locals for recommendations
A guidebook, while helpful, negates the need to ask around for tips on what to see and do. And who better to ask for recommendations than the people who live there? Bypass the guidebook and look to the locals to share their tips on where to go for the best meals, cheap drinks and most unique souvenirs.
You’ll feel more flexible
When you become tied to your guidebook and everything it says you “need” to see and do, you can end up feeling pressured to cross off as many of those sites and attractions as possible. By trading your guidebook for a more DIY experience, your days will be less structured and therefore much more flexible. You can still make the most of your vacation, but you can feel like you’re doing it at a more leisurely pace.
You can get off the beaten track
Tourist attractions, the ones that are listed in every guidebook, are well worth seeing in most cases, but it’s also fun to get off the tourist trail and do and see things that aren’t on every other traveller’s list. Discover some of your own must-see spots by exploring areas that aren’t in your guidebook.
Guidebooks can be outdated
Even the latest edition of a guidebook can end up with outdated information. Things change quickly and from the time an edition is written to the time it goes to print hotels and guesthouses may have closed, or restaurants may have relocated or changed their menus. Relying simply on your own intuition and curiosity means you won’t be disappointed if something you read in the guidebook no longer exists.
Travel will feel like more of an adventure
Travelling without a guidebook can give your vacation more of a sense of adventure. Everything you see and do is totally of your choosing, without the aid of expert tips and advice. This type of travel can feel more exciting and even boost your confidence since you’ll be making decisions on the fly and making your own memorable discoveries.
Lead photo: The Wandering Angel
