Ever Wonder How to Have a Truly Memorable Vacation? Here’s How

“The only true voyage of discovery . . . would be not to visit strange lands, but to possess other eyes, to behold the universe through the eyes of another” – Proust.

This quote accurately describes how I feel about travel.

Every time we visit a new European country, my Fitbit clocks over 30,000 steps a day. By the end, my feet ache, and I start to question the point of rushing from one attraction to the next.

It felt like checking off a list rather than making meaningful memories or truly connecting with the place.

I wanted to understand the town’s rhythm — its culture, its food, its language. I wanted to feel what life is like there, not just look at it.

“We need to do vacations differently,” I told my husband. “Let’s focus on experiences, not just landmarks.”

Over time, I’ve realized that it’s not the famous sights I remember most but the conversations, connections, and stories of the people I’ve met along the way.

Connecting through Conversations

On a solo trip to Carmel, California, I wandered into a quiet art gallery and struck up a conversation with the owner. She spoke about her journey into the art world and how she carefully selects the artists she showcases.

We bonded over our shared love for meditation, and she even showed me how to use the giant singing bowls in the gallery. I left the store feeling inspired and deeply fulfilled.

When my family and I visited the fairytale town of Bruges, Belgium, we took a horse carriage ride around town. A young, friendly, college-age girl drove us through town and shared her story.

She was a first-generation Belgian, born and raised in the country. “I like it here, but I want to experience a big city.” She said.

In Brussels, an Afghan Uber driver surprised us by singing famous Bollywood songs.

“My wife and I love watching Indian movies,” he said, sharing a few words in Hindi that he picked up from the movies. He went on to share that Belgium has been good for them to settle and immigrate.

That simple conversation with the hazel-eyed older man humbled me, broke any assumptions I had, and lowered my barriers.

What I remember most from the coastal town of Nice, France, is not its stunning old town or the beautiful beach but the hospitality of our hotel concierge, Irina.

Right around the time of our trip, we fell ill and had to delay our check-in date. Irina exchanged multiple emails and was able to accommodate us.

When we told her that we loved their complimentary Canelés De Bordeaux (fluted rum cakes), she ordered extra just for us.

We were so pleased with her hospitality that on a visit to a farmers market, we picked up a pair of fresh flowers for her. She was humbled and overjoyed to receive them.

What I remember the most from our recent trip to Barcelona is the football game and the love and passion of the local people for their team. I would have never experienced the town this way if it weren’t for the game.

It’s often the people we meet, not the places we visit, that leave a lasting impression. Their stories stay with us long after we return home.

There’s No One Right Way to Be

In one of my favorite shows, Somebody Feeds Phil, host and executive Phil Rosenthal travels the world to explore food and new cultures. In the Copenhagen episode, a chef playfully mocks him for eating an open-faced sandwich with his hands.

“I know you are American, and you like to eat with your hands, but you need to eat with a fork and a knife,” said the deli chef.

The same Phil, while at a home-style Indian/Malay restaurant in Cape Town, South Africa, is encouraged to eat with his hands.

“In our culture, we don’t eat with knives and forks. We mainly eat with our hands,” Faeeza, the chef, says.

“Food tastes better when you eat with your hands.” Her daughter adds. Phil happily indulges.

Is it right to eat with forks and knives or with hands? Travel, as we can see, forces us to accept and embrace people different from us. It reminds us that there is no right way to be and no right way to think.

If we don’t make an effort to communicate and connect, we lose the opportunity to learn new ways of being and to expand our mindset.

Your Next Trip Could Change How You See the World

On your next trip, try stepping outside your comfort zone. Strike up a conversation with the concierge, a cab driver, or the owner of a small shop. Ask about their life—you may be surprised by what you learn.

Watch a local sports game. Eat where the locals eat. Join a group run or swim. Let yourself be part of the place.

When we stick with what feels safe, we miss the chance to connect and embrace the local culture.

Travel helps develop empathy. It humbles us. It makes us more human.

What’s one travel story that changed the way you see the world?