Have you ever finished a journey more tired than when you arrived? This is a feeling travelers refer to as “tourist burnout.” Trying to see or experience as many things as possible in a short period of time can be exhausting, and actually leaves you with a negative view of your vacation overall. Leave your typical fast-paced mindset and immerse yourself in the rhythm of the local culture. Instead of thinking of your journey as a bucket list, reframe it as an opportunity for growth, education, and development. That to-do list you created doesn’t need to be completed for your trip to be a success. You can always come back to that destination later to see what you’ve been missing!

Traveling slowly can be a cheaper option than a typical sightseeing trip. Chain hotels and restaurants tend to be more expensive, and don’t offer the kind of charm or experience that a local place would offer. In addition to the places you’ll visit during the day, you can save on the space where you’ll lay your head at night. Seeking local Airbnb options or even homestay opportunities could be the key to a connected and life-changing experience on your next trip. If you have a kitchen in your accommodation, bonus! You won’t have to eat out as often (although you might be tempted to with all that incredible cuisine), and you’ll be able to find regional ingredients with which to make a culturally relevant meal with your hands.

This way of traveling is not always easy. It requires a certain level of trust that things will work out, or that you’ll be able to figure them out along the way. There will be moments during your experience that will scare you, but these are the moments that can teach you a lesson that you could carry with you for the rest of your life. You may have to overcome language barriers and differences in cultural customs. These experiences will make you a more knowledgeable traveler and give you a global perspective. Unlike a tourist experience, where translated tours abound and Yelp points you to a place where you’ll most likely enjoy food, a more authentic experience might end up tasting a scorpion for the first time in China. You will also leave little to no negative impact on the local community because you will not be working with exploitative tour operators. This is what will make it one of your best trips ever.

We’ll let you in on a secret: You won’t meet anyone who has the ability to change yours if your head is stuck inside a tour guide. Look up and look around. Learn some of the local language before you arrive so you can strike up a quick conversation with the shop owners. A brief conversation with a man who works in a bakery could turn into an opportunity to learn how to make your own bread and, later, a traditional meal with his family where you can make even more connections. You never know what might happen when you take the time to slow down and get to know the people in the city you’re traveling through.