Travel is the route that leads you to surprising encounters and surroundings, the path that may change how you view yourself and the world, and the track that may take your emotions through new highs and lasting memories.

I do my best to travel responsibly with small gestures that hopefully positively impact the local places I visit, helping them flourish and thrive. Whenever possible, I eat at local restaurants, shop in small artisan shops, and visit local services. I am also careful to understand and follow the local laws, be sensitive to local customs, and minimize my footprint. 

I loosely use three criteria to decide on the businesses that I will visit: 
- they are locally owned by someone in the community or nearby,
- they are relatively small businesses and that excludes the big international chains,
- they usually source their products and supplies regionally.

This does not always work in a world becoming increasingly globalised, but these choices constitute my ‘default setting’ wherever I can. I found they help me make my travels more special and enjoyable:

1. I tend to live more authentic experiences, very different from the ones at home,

2. I tend to attract a friendlier reception from the locals, creating some lasting bonds,

3. I tend to enjoy a deeper connection with the place and enjoy better hospitality,

4. It deepens my knowledge of the local culture,

5. It challenges many pre-conceived ideas I may have and helps me broaden my vision of the world,

6. It leaves me with unforgettable moments that I always carry along with me,

7. And it helps maintain the local character and identity of the destination.

By supporting small businesses and buying local, you can support a community and help them stay in business. 

Wherever I go, I am aware that I am only a guest and try to leave the place as well or better than before I came. That’s why I eat local, shop local and live local!