WithLocals is now in the Philippines!
Being a practical mom, I would often go for packaged deals that offer hotel and transportation bookings at a discounted rate. But over the years I discovered that there is a more practical and more fun way to travel and that is by vacationing with a friend in their hometown.
A beautiful Sunset taken while we were at the top of the mountain at the island of Tingloy Batangas.
Since Filipinos are hospitable by nature, they usually welcome their friends into their home like they would a family member. And there is no better way to get the best travel experience than immersing yourself with the locals.
My 2 years old son is enjoying the company of local kids at the island of Tingloy Batangas here.
For me, traveling is more than just rest and recreation or visiting popular tourist spots. It can also be a learning experience if you take time to discover the culture in the area.What I like about hometown visits is that you get to travel with friends or people that you enjoy being with. You also get the opportunity to know them better through their family and make new friends as well.
It took me a couple of hours to remember the names of my friend’s cousins and childhood friends during my trip to Ilo-Ilo. But after spending some time with them I remembered more than just the names. I got to know a bit about the town’s history, beautiful but little known nooks around the town, places where they used to play as kids, town trivia and some local gossip too.
Cuisine is another important aspect of my travel. When I went to Iloilo I made sure that I got to taste the La Paz Batchoy and Binakol. Another advantage of being a guest of locals is that you don’t have to go to a restaurant to enjoy authentic local dishes. You get to enjoy home cooked meals from recipes that are probably handed down from generations. These are perks that you’ll never get in a packaged tour.
I would not say no to a first class hotel service, but it is nothing compared to being treated like family by people that you barely know.
The beauty of this arrangement is that it works both ways for the hosts and the house guests. During our short stay we discovered new things together and endeared ourselves to each other. We also expressed our gratitude for their hospitality by giving them tokens before we left. Among all our trips, the best travel experience that we have come from hometown visits when we stayed with the locals. I have my bucket list of places to visit and even though I’ve already been to some of them I still have a long way to go to see them all. Whether here or abroad I would gladly have a local help me get the best travel experience in their town.
True to our hospitable nature this experience is not exclusive to our fellow Pinoys. We encountered some foreign nationals who are also staying with local hosts for their vacation. Just like me they discovered that it is more fun to experience a new culture in the company of locals.
With that, I am happy to announce that WithLocals will soon arrive in the Philippines.
Here is a photo from the WithLocals site. The foreigners were visiting a local place in Sumatra and learned Balinese Style Cooking read more here: http://www.withlocals.com/experience/sumatra-and-balinese-style-cooking-class-7226355a/
The Withlocals website is a marketplace connecting travelers from every corner of the world with locals in Asia offering unique travel experiences and home dining opportunities.
It is sorted in 3 Categories:
- Eat with Locals
- Tours with Locals
- Activities with Locals
I am excited to go visit another Asian Country soon and be with the locals there. I feel that it is more economical and that you will truly experience travelling and dining if the people that will guide you are truly from that place.
Doing this will help these locals financially and also they will have a chance to learn more about other people who will visit them and the country that they came from.
As of now, WithLocals are serving 7 Asian Countries:
- Malaysia
- Nepal
- Indonesia
- Vietnam
- Sri-Lanka
- Thailand
- Singapore
I would love my family to experience this, I can’t wait for WithLocals to launch here in the Philippines soon!
Hey, local eating is super cool. MealTango.com does the same thing. I desperately want to try out WithLocals. This is the best way to make friendship with nature, food lovers and travelers.
Mag-host kaya tayo ng mga tourist?? hehehe
pwede pwede
With Locals is interesting and I’m glad they are here in the Phils.
Wow! It is really true that it is more practical and more fun way to travel and that is by vacationing with a friend in their hometown. I hope they will launch their project soon here in the Philippines! 🙂
My father is from Batangas and I haven’t heard of Tingloy. Malapit ba sa Lipa or sa Lemery yun? Kakamiss mag vacation sa province.
It’s been really nice to travel from place to place with our closed ones.
Wow! This would be an exciting kind of travel.. 🙂 Checking up the link now!
This is one way to travel in a budget-conscious manner while gaining personal experiences with immersing with the locals.
Withlocals would really be a great way to travel here and in other countries. More people would be able to explore the Philippines with this.
That’s the way life and it should be viewed in different perspective.
ganda ng sunset :), natuwa nmn po ako dun sa couple of hours bago nyo po natandaan mga names buti hinde po nagtampo hehe!…………Mommy Levy, excited na ko for you sa upcoming travel mo sa other country…will wait na lang sa mga photos mo 🙂
sana nga malapit na haahhaha