5 Tips to Give your Visiting Friends a Good Experience in your City
Do it as a 5-star local guide; whereas you feel like it or not
I have made several international friends from living abroad in France and relocating to Canada; also from being a tour guide for a free walking tour company.
One of my dreams was to have international friends to come over their places to visit and travel. I didn’t realize their dream was exactly the same.
I have been lucky to be visited by my friends in every country I have decided to live in Mexico, France and Canada.
This takes me back to the night before meeting my friend in a place I am supposed to know well as I am living there (for short time, but still).
Oops. How do I explain I haven’t been to the most tourist places or haven’t been to so many restaurants as I prefer saving money eating at home?
Or on the contrary, you know the city so well that you can’t decide where to take them first because there’s a lot to do and see but your friend is short of time.
Two different situations when friends are visiting:
1. A friend came to Vancouver and she asked me how could she get to the Capilano Suspension Bridge? –I don’t know, I haven’t been. I admitted. Afterwards, she told me that actually there’s a free shuttle that takes you there from downtown. — Wow, couldn’t have known that.
2. A Japanese friend came to Puebla in Mexico to visit. I was learning valuable lessons from being a high school teacher at the time and he was just visiting for a couple of days.
Didn’t have much time free but he must see it all. So when I was at work my parents took care of him. They took him to Cholula, where ancient pyramids are.
Gathering up my experience as a traveller, as a free walking tour guide, and as a newcomer, here I point out some relevant tips.
5 things you must do for giving your visiting friend a good experience in your city like a local, whereas you feel like it or not.
First, ask about your friend’s itinerary. Ask for how long are they going to be around so you can plan accordingly.
1. Let your visiting friends meet your local friends, even though they are not fluent in the same language.
This is especially important in the case that your friend is relocating or staying for a longer time. Feeling like having new friends as a foreigner is the best feeling ever.
2. Your friend is visiting you, they want to have quality time with you and caught up before a long time not seen.
Consider that they are also on vacation. They may want to get to know a new place; not only your living room. (Sorry, someone has to say it).
You better have a suggestion TO-DO list for them for whenever you can’t be present with them because other regular affairs like school, work. For example, joining a free walking tour would be a great idea. — Here I have a 6 Golden Rule for Waling Tours.
3. Bring your visiting friends to your favourite places but also bring them to the most mainstream places.
As a local you may know that the best place to have tacos is not the most popular worldwide, instead, a little food truck has the best tacos in town.
If your visiting friend feels curious about that worldwide brand you should take them there.
Maybe in the future, your friend writes something like this: 5 life lessons about living abroad that a Mexican dish got me.
4. Shopping!
OK, there are two kinds of shopping when travelling.
Either for buying souvenirs for friends and family or regular grocery shopping.
As a backpacker, I knew the advantages of light travelling but sometimes finding a drugstore to get bandages was my kind of shopping. Help your friend with this information, and give them some privacy. (hehe)
5. Beware of scammers!
In any place is easy to guess who is a local and who is not.
And I’m not referring to physical appearance but the confidence for taking the bus or crossing the street. Scammers know about it! beware your foreign friend about them, none wants to lose money tho, or that they have a bad experience.
GOLDEN TIP:
Make your friend feel safe in your city. Give them your phone number and address. If possible lend them an old phone to make local calls; just in case. ;)