In the modern obsession with individualism and the desire to stay out of the in-crowd, many people seem to associate a negative connotation with visiting the popular travel and sightseeing spots of their destination. Instead, they opt to spend their trip as though they were a local, casually disregarding the Eiffel Tower as though it were an everyday structure in the midst of every metropolitan city. And while the quaint cafes and cool dive-bars are a favorite of any vacation experience, let’s be honest; there’s a reason why so many people flock to one area—because it’s worth seeing!

So, if you want to avoid the crowds as best as possible while still visiting all of the unique spots that everyone wants to visit, below are some ways you can visit the “tourist-traps” of your vacation while still feeling like you are one of the locals.

One great way to spend your time like a local is to forego the big, brand name hotels in favor of smaller local ones. Local hotels are more likely to appeal to people traveling within their own country, as well as like-minded people who may be up for the same type of adventures as yourself. This is a great way to find out some of the locals’ favorite spots to eat or shop, while still allowing you to travel to the tourist destinations that may have drawn you to the location in the first place. Another great way live while traveling is to use Airbnb. This can be another excellent way to get the inside scoop on what the locals love and the best times to visit the popular tourist spots.

If you’re someone who likes/can handle traveling alone, then this is perhaps one of the best ways to experience a country’s unique offerings. It’s also a great way to cut down on the annoyance of a big crowd. Think about it, sometimes you may want to stay longer at a particular destination or maybe skip one altogether, but this isn’t always feasible when traveling in numbers. Traveling alone can also force you to form meaningful and helpful relationships during your time abroad.

We all know that specific destinations draw large crowds during certain times of the year, and anyone who has gone a beach vacation over the 4th of July weekend is all too familiar with this fact. But taking your vacation on an off-month can prove to be quite a beneficial and enjoyable experience. Who knows, maybe you’ll think Paris is more beautiful in the rain or London’s midwinter snow to look like it’s straight out of a postcard.

In the end, there’s no wrong way to travel as long as you enjoy yourself. 

But if you’re someone who wants to visit some of the world’s most famous spots and still feel like a local, then implementing some of these tips can be quite helpful!