IDEA157: Hang Out Where the Locals Do...and Party With A Local!

I had a chance to catch up with Dan Fennessy, Co-Founder of Party With A Local, an app that connects locals and travelers for a night no one is likely to forget. We here at "Live Like You're Traveling" are absolutely obsessed with tools that help us be in the know when we travel and when we're back in own cities, to continue discovering with fresh eyes; and Dan's app let's us do BOTH!

To get all the info I met with THE Amsterdam "local", Dan himself. Actually Dan is not Dutch at all, he is from Australia and has been living in Amsterdam for over 7 years. Having experienced this city as a newbie and then staying long enough to become a local, Dan knows first hand what it takes to acquire the invisible keys to a city... and he has decided to reveal that secret to the world. 

We met at Cafe' Cook, a gem of a place hidden from sight just behind a bustling, colorful Jan Evertsenstraat, and a 2 minute walk from Mercatorplein. This place is a tram ride from the center and to be honest I myself did not know about it. It's a true neighborhood joint where you won't only find any tourists but you are probably not going to find too many people from outside of the neighborhood. ALERT!!! This is the holy grail of an eatery for any traveler who wants to feel like a local. It's a really cozy place serving breakfast, lunch and dinner and Dan vouches for the food. Cafe Cook uses local produce serving a variety of updated Dutch dishes, and the prices are sharp. They have a pretty nicely stocked bar and a number of Belgian and Amsterdam local beers.  

So back to the business at hand, Party With A Local App lets travelers join locals for an evening of fun, hanging out at a local pub, clubbing, having a drink at the little known lounge and perhaps finishing of a wild night at a super secret street food joint. Of course the benefit is very clear for the traveler, but what's in it for the local?

As travelers we know that our best travel experiences were definitely those that involved meeting locals because that is the only way to really get a feel for the culture and the vibe of a place.

After having one of those great experience as travelers, in a way we are compelled to pay it forward and show another traveler a great time. There are "selfish" reasons too, and that is to make friends all over the world, getting to enjoy your own city with a renewed energy and inspiration, and of course learning about a different culture without leaving your hometown. Think about the best times you've had while traveling? How many times have you recounted stories to anyone who would listen? Well now you will be in the story that your new friends will be telling everyone back home.  

How does it work? Very simple. You sign in with your Facebook account, and to protect everyone's privacy, the app only shows your first name. Set your status to what kind of partying you're in the mood for. You can first exchange chats to organize what you'll do, or simply suggest a public meeting place and let the good times roll!

What kind of "partying" you may be thinking? It could be as innocent as coffee, or the kind of night that ends in wolfing down a burger at a secret all night spot eatery as the dawn breaks, it depends on you (and your stamina). Actually, it doesn't even have to be a party, you can get a bite to eat, do a cultural activity, anything really. Dan tells us a story one of the users shared about traveling to Singapore and getting invited to an afternoon volleyball game and a neighborhood barbecue. Fun! (And we have photographic evidence via Instagram.)

There are many stories like this of the perfect travel experiences, but what this app really does is deeper then just "partying." There are tons of examples of true friendships forming and new friends visiting each other or even planning new travels together! It's really about connecting like minded people all over the globe who are curious about the world and passionate about discovering new cultures. 

I asked Dan if he had any crazy stories to tell, because he himself is a regular 'local' hosting travelers right here in Amsterdam. He thought about it for a moment then laughed, then shook his head, then laughed again... and then told me a story... BUT! Unfortunately I am not at liberty to disclose it. Though it was fun to see Dan say: "oh... wait DON'T put that on the blog!" Actually I think they made a movie about it... I think it's called "The Hangover?" Hey, you're just going to have to sign up and make your very own Party With A Local experiences! 

So who holds the 'invisible key' to unlocking the secrets of a city? The people that live there. Talk to them, meet them, make friends and don't forget to invite them to come visit you. 

- Thanks Dan for being a super local and helping us live like we're traveling!

DAN RECOMMENDS IN AMSTERDAM:
Neighborhood eats:  Cafe' Cook - James Cookstraat 2, 1056 RZ Amsterdam 
- - -
Get everyday adventure ideas @LiveLikeYoureTraveling

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IDEA152: Mix Culture & Romance–A Recipe for First Timers in Rome

To celebrate my birthday Vito and I booked a trip to the one and only, eternal city of Rome. I have been to Rome a few times having studied in Italy, but it was going to be Vito's first time there. Quite a responsibility to introduce this magical city to someone and still have plenty of time to simply luxuriate in piazzas and people watch which is MY favorite thing to do. Oh and I must mention that we would only have two full days there as this was to be our maiden voyage outside of the country sans kids.  

Clearly a strategic master plan would be needed in this race against the clock to discover all "must see" mysteries of Rome and still experience the dolce far niente (it's sweet to do nothing) lifestyle. Good thing I'm an expert in planned romance! 

• • •

1st Ingredient - A plush place to stay

The first ingredient in the recipe for a romantic getaway in Rome is plush accommodations. Sure you don't plan on staying inside much when you only have 2 days to see all of Rome but nothing will help to set a romantic tone better then waking up in a swanky private apartment with a sexy view of the city.

My go-to secret address is: Romeloft.com 

2nd Ingredient - A quintessential Roman breakfast 

There is no need to scour books and blogs to find out the best place to have breakfast in Rome because breakfast magic happens right in your "local" bar just down the stairs from wherever it is you're staying. Do breakfast like the locals meaning a cappuccino or a latte macchiato with a croissant (go ahead and make it a chocolate one!) while standing up at the bar counter. You must first confidently stroll straight to the register and pay receiving a little ticket which you then give to the bar tender along with your order. You stand at the marble counter with everyone else as you eat your breakfast. (Don't worry, you'll have plenty of time to sit later when its aperitif time. And just fyi, it costs extra to sit down at a table.) 

3rd Ingredient - A strategic plan of action

We had just two full days to give Vito a complete Rome 101 overview as well as satisfy my desire for the relaxed dolce vita experience so knowing when and where to go was of the essence. My tool of choice - Jauntful.  It's incredibly easy to use, you just click and add the sites, and they are magically placed on the map. You can then email yourself a nice printable PDF. 

For day one we packed in all the historical sites in the morning starting at the Colosseum and working our way north. Slower activities are planned for after lunch such as the Spanish Steps and walk along a shopping street Via Corso. Absolutely build in time to relax before dinner, it breaks up the day nicely and serves to make sure you're fresh to enjoy a late dinner (8.30pm is the normal dinnertime) and some few glasses of wine... 

For day two our first stop was the Vatican. (NOTE: Wednesdays and of course Sundays are days to have audience with the Pope, unless you specifically want to hear the service I suggest going on other days of the week when its a lot less crowded.) After that we headed to Trastevere for the rest of the day. 

4th Ingredient: The WOW moment.

Every trip has to have one. The waw moment is that magical moment when you stand back and really acknowledge what an amazing time you're having. Sure you can't exactly plan for it, but you can certainly create a favorable atmosphere. The easiest way to put yourself in the mood to be amazed are view points, or "inspiration points" if you will. In Rome there are obviously plenty of those but the one I recommend is where you are on the other side of the Tiber river and can view Rome in all it's 360 degree glory. And this place is: Gianicolo or Janiculum Hill. Take a taxi up the hill to the gorgeous Aqua Paola Fountain and then walk up the rest of the way to the Piazza Giuseppe Garibaldi on the very top. Ponder your life in general and how fantastic it is to be in Rome in particular... 

5th Ingredient - Get lost artfully. 

Now, there is lots of advice out there abdout getting lost in a new city and surprising yourself with what you discover. That's all nice for someone with unlimited amount of time. But like I said, Vito and I had 48 hours only, so getting lost had to be done in a productive, structured way. So! On the second day after a busy morning at the Vatican museums it was time for a few hours of relaxation. One neighborhood I really wanted to explore was Trastevere and after our WAW moment at the Gianicolo, armed with just a general direction of where we needed to head we made our way down the hill and down the stone staircase into the depth of narrow cobblestone streets. The only destination in mind being a picturesque place for an afternoon espresso... We discovered adorable boutiques, pretty hidden churches, tiny piazzas with fountains, every turn tempting us as we happily gave in.
 

Here is my "expert" summary of how to get lost artfully:

1 - Pick a location with many different things to see in a defined area.

2 -Know the outer boundaries of the area that will signal that you've wandered too far.

3 - Have an experience in mind and a plan "B" ready in case getting lost is not happening as artfully as you envisioned.

I had a map and an X on it for a place to have our picturesque espresso. What do you know, wandering about eventually brought us to that very piazza though we realized it only after we got up from our magic espressos walking a few steps further to walk right by the cafe "X" on my map. 

Get the 2 day itinerary for --> Mixing Culture and Romance in Rome  

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• • •    LESSONS LEARNED    • • •

Don't wait for 'wow' moments to happen.
Create them. 

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IDEA148: Travel Like a Local & Swap Homes with a Global Neighbor

We recently wrote about vacation rental Kid & Coe homes with "fully stocked" kids rooms, and how it's really important to feel relaxed as a family when you travel. We now would like to introduce house swapping! A truly "my casa is your casa" way of travel. 

When our second son was born, it sort of struck us that in a few years when both kids are over 2 years old we will be paying for FOUR people every time we fly! Hmm... we pondered that for a minute or 60. Right, so there goes 3K out the window before we even REACH our destination. Then there is accommodation for 2+2, food and entertainment. Let's just say, I'm doing breathing exercises right now to ward off a panic attack. Enter: house swapping. You exchange homes (and possibly cars) for your vacation with someone else. Much more economical, not to mention being able to stay in a fully stocked functional home. 

Having someone you don't know stay in your house is a scary concept at first, but think about it, the other person is probably just as nervous as you are to leave all THEIR stuff. In a way, it is comforting that mutual trust is required. Imagine switching houses with friends? Or how about good friends of your friends? Less scary right? Well, the companies we found make house swapping a bit more warm and familiar for us with their concierge services. They all have a yearly membership fee, and with some for an additional fee they can actually help to match you with another swapper.      

 • • •

1 - HomeExchange.com $135/year (95.40 Euro)
This company was featured in the movie "The Holiday" and has been around since 1992. They have a huge variety of destinations and homes. A customer service rep comes on to chat with you as soon as you get on the site so it makes it friendly and easy to get started.    

 • • •

2 - Intervac.com 
These guys have been around since 1953! Year membership costs $110 (79Euro) and includes personal assistance from a local representative. Intervac has representatives in many countries that I imagine you can bug with all kinds of questions and hand-holding requests. They also have options for discounted rentals if someone is making their second home available.  

 • • •

3 - lovehomeswap.com 
The cost of membership is $200/year (144 Euro), and premium concierge service will run you about $360/year (264 Euro). It includes many extras like: consultation and matching, personal key exchange, flight and restaurant bookings, airport lounge entrance, and city guides. Yes, it's expensive but I personally believe that this price will encourage only those very serious about doing an exchange to participate. 

 • • •

4 - knok.com (top image)
Knok is a new house swapping site focusing on families. It has a feel of being in a club. With a price tag of around 500 Euro/year for a "Weekend tripper" option and a 1,300 Euro/year for a "Vacation tripper" option, it's indeed an expensive club. What's different about this is when you sign up and pay your fee you can immediately book either a 4 day weekend or an 8 day vacation. You "unlock" more days if you make your home available for stays when you're not there, thus making house swapping a bit more flexible since you don't necessary have to wait to match up with a family that wants to go on holiday exactly when you do. Also an upfront fee like these will probably ensure you're dealing with other families that are very serious about this form or travel. Another interesting feature is a user sourced guide of kid friendly places and things to do, and it is free. 

 • • •

5 - behomm.com 
Behomm is a special exchange place for creative people. These are homes where people, how shall I delicately put this, with heightened design sensibilities, like art directors, photographers, artists, designers, architects would feel right at home. I know this is exactly the kind of home exchange our very own, creative director, Mu-Hsien would enjoy! Her home is indeed Architecture Digest worthy.  

This isn't for everyone, you have to be a person who really feels comfortable trusting your own instinct and ability to assess another person without having met them. I've hired people over skype and they've turned out to be great choices so I do feel like I could be comfortable in this situation. I think if you can organize this experience to make yourself feel confident, imagine the benefits! You get to live in a REAL, actual house of someone in the country you're visiting! In a real neighborhood where other "normal" people live. This is the ultimate, "live like a local experience." I imagine it's also a chance to potentially make interesting new friends.   

I'm inspired! Hey, perhaps the next generation of this travel experience is to swap not only your house and car but your friends too! Come stay at my home and my friends will take you out!

{ To get more of a feel for what house swapping entails take a look at Magan's of Mapping Magan, interview with someone who has been house swapping for 6 years now. }

• • •   LESSONS LEARNED #57   • • •

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IDEA126: Travel Like a Local and Stay in a Family Friendly Kid & Coe Home

Sometimes you come across a company and you just want to scream "YES!!! This is exactly what I've been dreaming about!". Well here is a fabulous new find for traveling with kids. (Thanks BozAround for the introduction!) Kid & Coe are taking "apartment" stay to the next level specializing in places with children's rooms equipped with toys and other child friendly extras. I don't know about you but when we travel we bring a suitcase for ourselves, a suitcase for the child (we have yet to travel with our new baby Vin, but he is only 3 weeks old) AND a suitcase with toys, not to mention a stroller. Staying at Kid & Coe place will surely help to eliminate the toy suitcase at least. 

Improving travel logistics is only one of the benefits, what we really love about this idea is how you can experience a destination while living like a local family! You know we here at OTSP are all about immersion travel. Eating like locals, or rather with locals, and now you can live like a local too. I for one can't wait to try this out. I told Vito last year that I thought it would be fun to celebrate Christmas in Iceland with the whole family. He thought it was a rather strange idea considering Iceland is a cold and dark place in the middle of winter. I however envision cozy strolls along the shopping street during the Christmas presents rush and having hot chocolates at the adorable cafes. Of course going for a family dip in the pools. Going on sled rides... the list goes on as I think there is plenty of family fun to be had in the wintry Iceland. By the way, each Kid&Coe apartment comes with a guide of kid friendly activities from a local scout. Perfection!

• • • 
[ The Hrisateigur Residence, Iceland ]

At the end of a fun filled day you want to come "home" and have a refrigerator available for the inevitable snacks and milk bottles, you want comfortable room to "stow" your kids away for a night of sweet dreams and TRUST me you want a comfortable living room with a TV and somewhere to perch your over-sized glass of red wine for an evening of relaxation. Vito and I call it the "happy moment", when we sit down on the couch alone after tucking in our oldest into bed promptly at 8pm. Yes it's a bit different traveling with a toddler because unlike a baby who will happily snooze through thumping samba music in his stroller while his parents sip caipirinas at a swanky South Beach, Miami lounge, a toddler needs a real bed and preferably a night light with star shapes. (Prince!) Thus unless you want to be sitting in the dark starting at 8pm you need a place with a living room.  

• • • 

Kid&Coe's accommodations look so adorable that I can just imagine having a sweet little Christmas dinner at the "borrowed home" and pretending we're an Icelandic family! Would you just check out this residence of 5 bedrooms! Three adorable children's rooms fully stocked with toys, shelves of books and plastic dinosaurs!!! Also check out the huge bathtub! I can definitely see a "happy moment" happening in one of those! 

There is only one issue remains to be settled... WHEN ARE WE GOING!? 

• • •     LESSONS LEARNED    • • •

For happy travels make sure your child
and YOU have plenty of toys.

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IDEA123: Eat with a Local : Share a Home-cooked Meal with New Friends

Have you ever been on vacation and exclaimed: "Oh how nice would it be if we knew someone here so they could invite us to their house for an authentic home cooked dinner!"? Some of the richest experiences I've had while traveling is from sharing a meal with friends in their homes; friend's friends throwing us a bbq-pool party in Brazil, star-lit dinner on a terrace in Portugal, new years dinner in a 100+ yr old lake front family home in Switzerland. It's really not just about the food. A whole new dimension opens up when visiting someone's home. You can see how they've decorated, what kinds of things they have around their house, and of course get to hear first hand what life is like in their corner of the world! It's a real bonding experience that makes you believe, even if for just that evening that we can transcend our differences, cultural barriers and just all be... one big happy village. Isn't it why we travel after all? To connect and to find a little bit of ourselves in far flung places? 

This is why Alla and I are so thrilled to see *eat with a local* companies like these rising. We now have a direct dinner invitation in the homes of our global neighbors!  

• • • 

So where to first?

1 - www.cookening.com World (Mostly Europe)
Founded in France by three friends passionate about food and travel. Check out this veranda dining in the beautiful Vico Equense on the Amalfi Coast with a host who makes his own limoncello from lemons growing in his orchard. Oh...Ciao! 

• • • 

2 - www.plateculture.com (Asia)
Founded in Malaysia by two Lithuanian friends and entrepreneurs. How about a dumpling making lesson with an expat couple living in Singapore?  

• • • 

3 - www.eatwith.com  World (Mostly Europe and Americas)
Founded in Israel, the hotspot for tech start-ups, this company seems to be expanding daily adding new countries and new hosts! How about a real Argentine wood smoked BBQ feast in San Isidrio?    

• • • 

4 - www.bookalocal.com World (Currently mostly Belgium)
Founded in Belgium by an ex-New Yorker. How about a real Belgian experience of Beer Pairing Dinner with Evelyne & Brian. Or for international flavors you can make sushi with a Japanese host Haruko!

This is not only great for when you're traveling, but also right where you live.  Why not try this in your very own city? I can't wait to try a vegan dinner near me and on Alla's list is a Lebanese dinner in Amsterdam! Where will you go? 
 

• • •     LESSONS LEARNED    • • •

Eat culture, not food and you'll leave
the table more satisfied.

Love it? Share it! - We are dedicated to sharing stories that spark ideas and are meaningful to you. The best way to let us know is to post a comment, like below or pin on Pinterest! ~ For More ways to Live Like You're Traveling, follow us on Feedly, Bloglovin, Pinterest, or Facebook. 

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IDEA118: Plan Your Next Trip with 5 of Our Favorite Travel Booking Sites

"We want to go somewhere tropical and luxurious.... any ideas?" Mu-Hsien asked me the other day.

"When?"

"Beginning of August."

"WHAT!? And only now you're asking for IDEAS?" I'm a super planner, at the moment I'm thinking about a weekend away next March, so clearly I was shocked and appalled at this nonchalant treatment of the most sacred thing on earth...travel.

In a knee jerk reaction I immediately invited Mu to my favorite sites for booking travel. 

After a day of browsing Mu-Hsien dismissed Caribbean as being to risky for stormy weather in August, Asia as being simply too far for an impromptu week-long escape, California and Florida as not "exotic" enough, Canada not tropical enough, and Hawaii a tad over the budget for the uber sexy and romantic accommodation that she envisioned.  

Dilemma seems to have only intensified and Mu-Hsien once again proved that she really should have been born a princess. 

I told her that there is only one place where someone like her can be helped... and that is at a travel agency.  

"A travel agency!?" exclaimed Mu-Hsien amused. "Do those still exist?" 

While Mu-Hsien is seeking wisdom and guidance at a Travel Agency, I thought I'd share with you all my favorite sites for travel booking and inspiration in hopes that you never to get caught without a travel idea and perhaps help you unleash that travel buying trigger finger!

1. Booking.com

This is my absolute first stop when I look for any accommodation. Booking.com, a Dutch company, lists not only hotels, but also B&B's, design hotels, villas and apartments from all over the world. The real gem however is in the reviews. For most accommodations you are likely to find hundreds of reviews. You can even filter reviewers by families, mature or young couples, single travelers or groups. I use Booking.com to book just about all of my accommodation if where I'm going does not require me buying a plane ride.        

2. Expedia.com

Everyone is familiar with expedia. I use it in situation when I need a simple flight + hotel combination. Many times I have concluded that the price on expedia really can't be beat any other way. I've even used it for some far away business trips. This is also great for last minute getaways and when you're flexible about your destination. TIP: If you're outside of the US, expedia will automatically redirect you to the local site with local currency. Be sure to click back to expedia.com and purchase in USD. For some reason listings in USD prices are almost always LESS EXPENSIVE.  

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The next three picks are member sites. Sort of your Rue La La but for travel. There you'll find unbelievable discounts on super luxurious hotels, resorts and trips. Yes, I'd put most of these into the splurge category but if used wisely they could really lead you to a STEAL. I use these as follows: 

•  Sexy hotel night stay right in your own city - you know, for celebrating something special, or just for a quicky romantic get away without traveling far.

• When booking a week or longer holiday I always like to include at least few indulgent hotel nights either to start or end your vacation with. If you're booking via another site, or a travel agent you can always exclude a few nights of hotel bookings and reserve something extravagant on your own.  

• Inspiration!!! These sites really give you a nice bite sized introduction to some non-mainstream travel destinations or simply places that might not be on your radar. Many times the deals on these sites are still a bit over my budget but supplied with some inspiration I simply looks for a different option in the same area. Besides, you do know that most of these incredible resorts and hotels can be enjoyed for the day? That's right! Sleep next door at a more 'realistically priced' place and in the morning simply stroll on over to spend the day at the grandiose pool of the neighboring resort. Sometimes you'll have to pay for a day pass, and sometimes just having breakfast or lunch there will get you in for the whole day! I know, I know, you love me... 

3. Jetsetter.com 

I absolutely love LOVE! their online magazine. With features like "72 hours in...",  "Your Hot Summer in...", "Top Ten..." you'll be feverishly scribbling all over your travel list.  

4. Tablethotels.com 

This site has some really unbelievable deals not only on famous large hotels, but also on really gorgeous small design hotels. You can also see reviews from other members that have stayed there. 

5. Vacationist.com and Familygetaway.com 

This is really three sites in one, presented by Travel+Leisure. I particularly find Family Getaway very interesting because it makes it easy to book trips specifically with kids in mind. The site already takes into account that you'll need those fun extras like cots, Kids clubs with furry characters, pools with slides and so on. You can also bid on vacations and see if you can get even a bigger discount.  

Here Are Your Personal Invites!

Jetsetter -  [Invitation] 
Tablet Hotels - [Invitation] 
The Vacationist - [Invitation]  
Family Getaway - [Invitation] 

*When you sign-up you can spread the love by inviting your friends and receive a nifty little bonus if your friends book travel.

Booking.com 
Expedia.com  

Happy travels! 

• • •    WHAT ABOUT YOU?    • • •

What's your favorite travel booking website? 
Do you also have a travel agent on speed dial?

Love it? Share it! - We are dedicated to sharing stories that spark ideas and are meaningful to you. The best way to let us know is to post a comment, like below or pin on Pinterest! ~ For more ways to Live Like You're Traveling, follow us on Feedly, Bloglovin, Pinterest, or Facebook.