Everyone says the same thing. “Ask a local.” Locals know where to eat, locals know the secret spots, locals can tell you what’s really worth seeing.

So you ask. And they tell you.

“This bar. That restaurant. Skip this. Go there. Walk this way.”

And you write it all down. Feeling like you now hold the keys to the real city. Then you follow the advice. And something feels off.

The food is okay. The vibe is… fine. The place is popular, sure. But nothing clicks. You don’t feel like you found something special. You just feel like you followed another list.

Because that’s what you did.

Local tips on their own are just another set of generalizations. They’re often based on the local’s taste, their habits, their lifestyle. But are they anything like you?

Do they eat at 8pm or 11? Do they enjoy noise or calm? Do they go out to be seen, or to connect? Are they someone who shares your pace, your mood, your way of noticing places?

Probably not.

That’s the issue. Advice without context is just data. You still have to translate it. Filter it. Adapt it. And most travelers don’t have the time or confidence to do that on their own.

What you actually need is not tips. You need curation. Not a list. A lens.

You need someone who takes their knowledge and aligns it with your personality. Your needs. Your mood. Someone who doesn’t just say “this place is good,” but says “this place is good for you, right now, because…”

That’s what makes guidance useful. Not the source. The match.

You don’t need the most insider spot. You need the one that feels right.

And that comes not from a suggestion, but from a conversation.

Most “local secrets” are now on Google Maps. There’s no such thing as hidden anymore. What’s truly rare is relevance. The kind that only comes when someone takes the time to see you before they recommend anything.

That’s why platforms that just collect tips will never replace human connection. Because what you’re looking for isn’t novelty. It’s the resonance.

So the next time someone offers “local advice,” ask yourself: do they know who you are? If not, keep listening. Or better, find someone who will ask first, and answer later. Where to find it? On Marv.

That’s where the real experience begins.