local travel
Going local: are we driven by selfish motives?
If anyone mentions that they’re travelling to Ushuaia in Argentina, I instinctively want to tell them about the guest house in which we spent three memorable nights. The two young owners were on hand for anything we wanted, but otherwise left us in peace to enjoy their beautiful property and its outstanding views. It’s a […]
Developing an inspiring search engine for the Local Travel Movement
The Local Travel Movement More and more travellers desire extraordinary travel experiences off the beaten track. They want to immerse themselves in the local cultures and environments of the countries they visit. They want to get the real thing. There is a steadily growing Local Travel Movement that is promoted by various people and organizations […]
Awakening: what local experiences are really about?
The other day I remembered a passing incident from the mid 90s and realised something profound about the character of local experiences. I had succeeded in becoming a shareholder (probably by looking and dancing so Cretan!) of Vamos SA, a village company for preserving local livelihoods in Apokoronas in Crete. Without being an insider it is […]
Local Travel in Greece?
Local Travel is a great movement. We are really happy to know that there are lots of people that like to travel like we do – experiencing the true life of the locals. Living and working in Thessaloniki, Greece, we see thousands of tourists every year visiting our country and living nothing more than the […]
Six storybook guesthouses in the northern Albanian Alps: a photo essay
Local-minded travelers in Albania love to get deep into the heart of Albanian nature and culture. That is why they choose traditional, family-run guesthouses for visits to Theth and the northern Albanian Alps. These wood-shingled stone structures have long endured the harsh winter-weather conditions of the region and now exhibit a visual charm captured by […]
What is an ‘authentic’ Local Travel experience: rice and beans or fillet steak?
I often wonder if a tourist experience can ever be ‘authentic.’ Do visitors want authenticity? Do they even recognize authenticity when they see it? Whose responsibility is it to prepare them for it? Do people expect rice and beans or fillet steak… or perhaps a nice splattering of both? As a small travel company, aiming […]
Anyone for a Lime&Tonic in Prague?
The WHL Group has this past week launched its latest online venture, called Lime&Tonic (L&T), an exciting new business in the service of independent travellers and locals alike. L&T is a fresh twist on the travel industry that is breaking new ground. It’s a GroupOn-style ‘collective-buying’ site with a TripAdvisor-style traveller-rated destination guide. See how […]
Think locally, transform globally – a manifesto
I started the Portland Untourist because I believe in the power of travel. I believe in its potential to awaken our senses to the vast wonders of this world, in the transformative power of place and people, in the zen-like clarity that arises from finding oneself in a situation that feels completely foreign yet completely […]
An encouraging read for local travelites: The Lunatic Express by Carl Hoffman
If local travel means putting oneself in the shoes of a local, then travel writer Carl Hoffman has earned status as an expert local travelite with a compelling story to tell. In his latest book, The Lunatic Express: Discovering the World via Its Most Dangerous Buses, Boats, Trains, and Planes, Hoffman relays his round-the-world jaunt […]