You’ve heard it before. Travel like a local. Skip the touristy places. Find where the real life happens. And to be fair, the idea makes sense. If you want to experience a city beyond surface-level snapshots, who better to guide you than the people who actually live there?
But there’s something that often gets overlooked in this kind of advice. Being local doesn’t automatically mean something will be meaningful to you. A bar that locals love might feel crowded and chaotic to someone who just got off a nine-hour flight. A small neighborhood cafe could be a regular breakfast spot for people who live around the corner but doesn’t offer anything you can connect with. A quiet street may have a story behind it, but without that context, it can feel like just another quiet street.
I’ve followed local tips plenty of times. Sometimes it worked. Sometimes it didn’t. I remember one evening I spent searching for a hidden bar that was recommended by someone “in the know.” It was small, full of people, loud in a way that made conversations hard to follow. Everyone else seemed to love it. I finished one drink and left, unsure why I even bothered going there. It wasn’t a bad place. It just didn’t fit me that night.
That’s the problem. Travel advice framed as “go where locals go” doesn’t always ask what kind of traveler you are right now. Maybe you’re introverted and looking for calm. Maybe you’ve only got one evening in the city and don’t want to spend it navigating an unfamiliar metro system. Maybe you’re tired, or anxious, or just want something simple and clear.
Being local doesn’t always make something better. What matters more is relevance.
This is where Marv tries to shift the thinking. It doesn’t just introduce you to someone who lives in the city. It connects you with someone who takes time to understand what kind of presence you bring with you. Not just where you’re from or what your hobbies are, but how you want to feel today, how you handle noise, movement, interaction, or silence. A good guide — not just a local — filters what the city has to offer through your needs, not theirs.
They won’t send you to a basement jazz bar if you need quiet.
They won’t suggest a six-hour walking tour if you only slept four hours last night.
They won’t assume you want to “experience it all” when maybe you’re just looking for a sense of place, or peace.
There’s nothing wrong with popular spots, or with local favorites. But what makes something valuable isn’t who else enjoys it. It’s whether it feels right for you — today, now, in this version of yourself that happens to be visiting this city.
Travel becomes more personal when someone asks questions before offering answers. And it becomes more memorable when the experience reflects not just where you are, but who you are while you’re there.