Blake McCoy on How to Have an Immersive Travel Experience

An immersion travel experience is about experiencing a local culture and interacting with people authentically. It allows travelers to give back to the community and go deeper than they would during a typical trip. Here are some tips to get started if you want an immersive travel experience.

Public Transportation

Getting around the city more authentically is easier with public transportation. You’ll be able to get around quickly and easily as you’re surrounded by locals and street vendors, which shows you what life is like in a place that’s different from your usual routine.

Dine Locally

Participating in a local culture’s cuisine can help you learn a lot about its traditions. Local restaurants and street food vendors provide a variety of prepared dishes that their owners and staff members lovingly make. They’re able to give a more authentic and intimate dining experience than the chains that have become standard in modern travel.

Stay in a Guesthouse

A guesthouse is an excellent alternative to a standard hotel room as it allows you to sleep in the local family’s home. These types of accommodations are both budget-friendly and comfortable. During your stay, you can pick the brains of the locals and get some great insight into the area and how it functions on an everyday basis.

Learn a New Language

If you’re planning on staying in a country where you’re likely to encounter a language barrier, such as Mexico, you should brush up on Spanish. Doing so will make it easier for you to communicate with the locals. Being able to speak the language will also help you show greater respect for the community.

Flexible Scheduling

One of the most essential factors that you should consider when it comes to traveling independently is being flexible. The freedom to change your plans can help you save time and make your trip more enjoyable. Having a plan that’s too planned out can limit your freedom and prevent you from experiencing the things you want to see.

Research Customs

Researching beforehand will let you easily value and embrace their culture. Doing so will allow you to earn the respect of the people in the place you’re staying. Before you go to the beach or a temple, make sure that you know what to wear to avoid offending the locals.

About Blake McCoy

Blake McCoy is a dynamic, engaging broadcast journalist with a depth of experience. As a network news correspondent, Blake has traveled the country sharing stories of human triumph and tragedy, struggle and perseverance. As a local anchor, Blake has connected with audiences by leading top-rated newscasts with authenticity, accuracy and care.

Blake McCoy’s news journey began in Boise, Idaho where he spent nearly two years establishing the foundation for his career as a reporter and morning anchor at KBOI-TV.

Next stop was Las Vegas, NV where Blake McCoy worked as reporter and weekend anchor at KTNV, ABC Action News. Vegas had gone from boom to bust overnight, rattled by the 2008 financial crisis. Reporting on tourism from the fast-paced Las Vegas Strip, Blake found new urgency in the constant push for reinvention. Just beyond the neon, reporting juxtaposed with deeply personal stories of job loss, home foreclosure and desperation.

After three years in Las Vegas, Blake McCoy’s next career opportunity came from the highly respected, award-winning team at KARE 11, NBC in Minneapolis, MN. Blake would keep is schedule anchoring weekend evenings and reporting on important issues in the community. At KARE 11, Blake’s authenticity and smart reporting was quickly embraced by viewers of their #1 rated newscasts.

Network attention followed. Blake McCoy became a National Correspondent at NBC News reporting for TODAY, Nightly News, and MSNBC. Minnesota became his second-home as he would return often covering major stories including investigations and trials of multiple high-profile police shootings, racial injustice and the death of music icon Prince.