When traveling to a foreign country, it is a great idea to befriend some locals. Locals can give you unique and inside perspectives on the culture, and take you to places that are off the beaten path. This article will give you some tips about how to make friends with the locals next time you travel.

To save energy when traveling in hilly or mountainous areas, consider taking a taxi to the highest point in the town or area you’re visiting, then walk down. This lets you see the whole town, including any mountain vistas, without having to cover too much altitude and wearing yourself out.

If you or a travel companion is seriously allergic or sensitive to cigarette smoke, don’t just ask for a non-smoking room. Requesting that your room be located on a non-smoking floor ensures that your neighbors will not be smoking in their rooms when the doors are opened, and that smoke will not carry between windows of rooms on the same floor.

Label everything with your information. If you have chargers, power strips, keys, or anything other small items that tend to get lost, put your contact information on it. An easy way to do this is to make a tag out of masking tape, and write your name and phone number on it. Or, you can use a Sharpie.

Make your travel plans more affordable by tracking airfare with online services. Get an idea of what you would like to pay for your flight, put the location and the dates into the website and then wait until the fare goes down to your pre-selected price. You no longer have to keep checking every few days sincy you will get an email when the fare reaches your ideal price.

You can usually use the internet to find flight schedules. A lot of websites will allow you to specify schedules and search by travel time. Some sites do exclude some of the low fare airline searches. Although you may find the information online, sometimes it can be hard to decipher with layovers and such.

Research local holidays, festivals and other events, that are occurring at your destination, which can be enjoyed for free. While there are usually things you want to experience that can cost part of your travel budget, many locations have numerous events that are free to the public. If it is fun and free, it just might be worth doing.

If you’re taking a trip that requires a rental car, try reviewing the insurance policy of the car before you leave your home. Car rental agents will surely attempt to sell you some insurance, but it may be that you do not even need it. Your car insurance could protect you while in the rental. Check your policy before you leave home, it could save you in the long run.

As was stated at the beginning of this article, befriending locals is a great idea when visiting a foreign country. Locals can take you places that you would not otherwise see just sticking to tours. Apply the advice from this article next time you travel, and you will be sure to appreciate a unique and different adventure from your regular travel plans.