The thought of choosing a destination for future travel can be daunting, especially to those who have little experience traveling abroad. Cultural differences, language barriers, widespread stereotypes, and unfamiliar cuisines sometimes prevent people from taking the first step into a world of unknowns, literally. The fear of being an unwanted visitor, lost in a foreign place and surrounded by unfamiliar faces often overpowers the desire of seeing new places and meeting new people.
Discovering new places, cultures, and flavors first-hand is, however, worth facing the discomfort stemming from the unknown. Once you grow accustomed to it, the feeling of discomfort turns into excitement and wanderlust, which make the journey even more memorable.
Countless times we converse with friends, family, and acquaintances about our travels to hear them utter the same remarks: “It sounds wonderful and interesting. I wish I could do it, too, but…”.
They then proceed to tell us how they choose to vacation in the same place they have been for the past 20 years, just because it feels comfortable and familiar. They don’t even enjoy spending time there anymore but continue to visit because going to new places would involve the effort of researching, choosing, and planning.
For example, we have a friend who opts for virtually “visiting” dramatic landscapes in the far reaches of the earth via satellite images, as opposed to up close and personal, for the sole reason that stepping outside the comforts of his surroundings terrifies him. He is afraid that the locals will not be welcoming, helpful, and hospitable, so he never travels.
Since we truly want to encourage our audience to step outside and see all that the world has to offer and teach, we chose to compile a list of the 5 most hospitable places we’ve visited thus far.
Note that this list isn’t arranged in any particular ranking order, due to the fact that one’s experience in a place can largely vary depending on their preferences, interests, and interactions. Whether you are a seasoned traveler or someone looking for direction, we hope this piece will help you to (re)discover your sense of adventure.
The Greek Islands
A land of undeniable beauty, Greece is not only worth exploring for its pristine beaches, healthy cuisine, and temperate climate, but also for the warm hospitality of its inhabitants. The characteristic that stood out the most during our time spent on the Cyclades is their culture of welcoming, sharing, and caring.
That is to say, the Greeks welcome visitors in their land, homes, and businesses as if one were a long-term acquaintance, someone returning home after a long voyage. They always greet travelers with a large smile and a gift of food, or alcohol, and share whatever they may have with glee and pride.
It is customary in Greece to serve a traditional dessert or small glass of locally-made liquor after dinner in restaurants and taverns. You won’t be charged for the extras you didn’t order. Gifting food or alcohol is their way of letting you know they appreciate you and care about your well-being. They simply want to ensure you are well fed and cared for.
Some examples from our recent Greek adventure
Our Airbnb hosts during our stay on both islands of Paros and Andros were beyond accommodating and hospitable.
The woman in Paros gave us chocolates and an entire bottle of Souma which her mother-in-law had made from their own sun dried fermented figs. Her son checked in every morning while we were outside soaking in the first sea breeze, just to say good morning and ask if we needed anything from the bakery or grocery store. More to that, he walked the dogs multiple times during the day, and if he saw us on the veranda he waved us over to have a chat and a snack.
While in Andros, we had countless interactions with people wanting to start a conversation to then invite us to take a seat at their table and share a coffee and meze (their equivalent of snacks/appetizers). Although these were strangers, people we had never encountered before in our lives, it felt right to enjoy their company while sharing small meals.
Our host in Andros was kind to the point of picking us up from the ferry terminal upon our arrival. Mind you that the port was on the opposite side of the island, about a 55 minute drive given the topsy-turvy mountain roads of the isle.
Perhaps it was thanks to the invigorating salty Seabreeze, or the sweet sound of the waves ever so gently caressing those shores, that we felt in a constant state of bliss – alive, energized and part of a community.
When the time came to go back “home”, we left the islands as if we were under a spell… utterly and hopelessly in love with the Greek seas, winds, and people.
Slovakia
If you are not too sure about where to go in central Europe and are looking to avoid overpriced touristy places, we recommend you head on over to Slovakia. The country has a lot to offer, from small quiet villages imbued in fascinating history, to ancient forests topping mountain peaks with stunning views.
We wrote an article about our experience in Slovakia, “Slovakia, Cold Castles and Warm Hearts” and we encourage you to glance at it for further details.
Beside its amazing natural landscape, Slovakians are delightful people to spend time with. They are genuinely interested in where you are coming from, where you are headed, and why you chose to visit their land while there are more popular options to choose from just beyond the border (for example Austria, or the Czech Republic). They are extremely accommodating and easy-going, not to mention excited about your presence there. They are eager to make recommendations as to where to go and what to eat, and even show you around town if you are willing to join them.
Some examples from our Slovakian adventure
Arriving in Trenčín, we were tired from the ride, which didn’t quite go to plan since our GPS stopped working half way to our destination.Thankfully, we had brought a road map of Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Austria with us, just in case, and that move proved to be a lifesaver.
Once in town, we parked the car outside the pedestrian zone and headed toward the apartment, carrying bulky, heavy backpacks. Of course our phones had no signal, so we couldn’t contact our host.
It was getting dark and we had no idea how to find the place. While looking around, with a lost look on our faces, two young men in formal attire approached us and asked if we needed help. Yes, yes we did! They asked us if we had an address (that I had noted in my travel journal), which I presented. They told us they had no clue where that was, unfortunately, but they were determined to find out for us.
They started inquiring with passersby and shop owners, since they spoke the language, until very serendipitously a woman ran out toward us from the small boutique where she was working to say that she had been waiting for us. It turned out that, although she was supposed to close the store about an hour prior, her son (our host) had asked her to stay on the lookout in case she spotted us, as he hadn’t been able to get a hold of us. The kind woman had the key to our apartment, so we bade our companions farewell and walked with her to our place.
Hadn’t it been for the kindness of strangers, who had no obligation whatsoever to help us in the first place, we would still be looking for our rental.
The following day, we had the pleasure of meeting our host, a delightful young man studying in Bratislava, 1 hour and 20 minutes away by car, and double the time by public transportation. Since he was on a semester break and therefore staying at his mother’s, whose apartment was across the hall from ours, he invited us to meet him on a morning hike to the castle. Of course we agreed.
He came over at the established date and time, and, as promised, took us to the castle’s summit through a secret path treading through the dense conifer forest, and around the wall’s bastions. It was a pleasantly crisp and misty early morning, the sun was rising behind the lush hills in the background, and life was just beautiful. On our way back, famished from the adventurous walk, he treated us to breakfast pastries from a small bakery in town.
Belize
Belize was a destination we knew little to nothing about. One of my archaeology professors in college did fieldwork in that region, so all I was aware of before making travel arrangements was that it had cenotes and Maya ruins.
Belize is a multicultural hub where travelers have the privilege to dive in the second largest coral reef, enjoy beautiful Caribbean beaches, spend time meandering though classical Maya archaeological sites, or explore untamed tropical forests. All of that at a fraction of the price that one would otherwise pay in the more notorious neighboring countries and island nations.
Some examples from our Belizean adventure
We had many pleasant encounters in Belize, our first being at a local spot for lunch where we were seated next to a table that was leaving. The majority of the group left but one man who was evidently not ready to relinquish the good vibes on a beautiful sunny day picked up his beer, looked around, then asked if we would mind him pulling up a chair.
We somewhat hesitantly accepted, this being an unheard of request in the U.S., introduced ourselves and offered to buy him lunch or another round as we put in our order. He thanked us but declined saying that he would just like the company and enjoyed meeting new people and sharing stories from different walks of life.
This led to about two hours of easy going conversation followed by an invitation to his home for a traditional home cooked meal. Sadly, we were still in transit that day and missed out on what was sure to be an amazing experience, but the memory of that display of simple human connection without any underlying motive is something that will be with us always.
The closest place to our Airbnb in Unitedville was a small bar on the side of the road. Our first night coming back from town, we stopped in to have a drink or two before calling it a night. There were a few people inside, but as we entered it became evident that the bar was closed and that the remaining group consisted of friends and neighbors. We apologized for interrupting, and turned to leave before being ushered in enthusiastically by the proprietor.
Those in the bar rearranged the space to accommodate our arrival. Beers in hand, we proceeded to watch the Miss Universe Pageant with the others who were waiting for Miss Belize to make her appearance.
This became our nightly routine for the duration of our stay and many topics, both light-hearted and thought-provoking arose.
Turkey
Perhaps Turkey doesn’t jump to mind when thinking about hospitable destinations, partly due to Western stereotypes, and partly due to how little of its history is generally taught in our schools.
However, Turkey is a microcosm of colors, flavors, and traditions the likes of which you won’t find anywhere else in the world. It is the perfect melange of all things characterizing the East and the West, a blend that awakens your senses. The people may be loud and tenacious, but kind and hospitable just as much.
Some examples from our Turkish adventure
As first-timers in central Anatolia, we were unprepared to the unforgivably hot temperatures that mercilessly plague the region in the dry summer.
Determined to get off the beaten track in Goreme, and (wrongly) assuming that it being a popular tourist destination it would have amenities, we went on a hike on our own. A few hours into our excursion had passed when we noticed that the trail was no longer marked, and we were essentially lost in a semi-desert, all on our own.
With no real plan in mind, we kept walking until we heard sounds of grazing animals and human activity. Highly dehydrated, we came across a large makeshift tent that the local farmers used to seek shelter from the unforgiving sun and purchase refreshments.
For a second we thought we were saved, and then realized that we had no money (we literally forgot to bring cash with us) to purchase a beverage.
We didn’t speak the language and couldn’t convey how dehydrated we were. I managed to get my point across, after a few attempts at initiating a conversation in any of the languages I am fluent in (Turkish is not one of them), and out of pure altruism, the strangers gifted us some water bottles and freshly-squeezed orange juice. They indicated where to go in order to get back on the main road, which was a few hours walk, mind you, and sent us on our way with more refreshments.
Back at the hotel, we freshened up, drank liters of water, and headed out to dinner. We do admit that it was later in the evening, and we weren’t expecting to find many restaurant choices. Besides, the village we were staying in was very small, and as such we knew we were limited in where and what we could eat.
We saw a small plaza with some activity and the lights on in one of the suites, so we walked in thinking it was a cafe. It was not.
In reality, we had just walked in a community center, where people, all male by the way, were playing cards. Befuddled by our intrusion, they asked us what we were looking for, and we made a simple gesture to show that we truly needed to eat. The men walked us to a small park where a family was hanging out with their children. The family owned the kiosk in the park, the men explained.
Then, they turned to the head of the family and explained the predicament we were in. A few minutes later, we were sitting at a table outdoors enjoying a lovely meal in the warm night air, at the park, with the family of strangers who so kindly opened their business to make us a meal.
Utah, United States
When thinking about hospitable places, one often considers only the people living in those areas. However, there is a contributing factor that is seldom accounted for, and that is the landscape.
There aren’t specific, memorable interactions for which Utah appears on our list of most hospitable places we ever visited, even though time and time again we wandered through its stunningly beautiful, pristine landscape, across large cities and small hamlets, and never encountered an unfriendly or dismissive person – we never had a curt conversation, or unpleasant interaction.
Although the kindness of Utahns is certainly noticeable, it isn’t the primary reason drawing us back.
In fact, something magical is at work while we stay and wander in Utah, during which time we establish a connection with the untamable elements shaping the magnificent and ancient geography of this wild land. We feel free and attuned to nature and its fragile, but also unforgivable, beauty. The silence on the high plateau is deafening, and while experiencing the emptiness surrounding us, all we are left with is ourselves, the primal elements, and our thoughts in their purest form.
The longing for these sensations, along with the desire to immerse ourselves in the complete stillness and serenity permeating the earth and the skies, keeps us coming back to Utah.
Honorable Mention: Trentino Alto Adige
There is a place that’s close to my heart, and that is Trentino Alto Adige, a region in Northeastern Italy on the border with Austria.
The reason why it doesn’t feature on our list is simply because Trentino Alto Adige is a second home to me. When I was young, my parents, brother and I used to spend two weeks during the summer in the region, hiking the mountain trails, breathing clean, crisp air, and enjoying the company of many wonderful people. Everytime I go back, which sadly is not as often as I wish, it’s like taking a journey through time, going back to my youth and simpler times.
Since I, and Chris too, have long established friendships there, we are regarded as family and not visitors. Our knowledge of the areas and inhabitants may skew our view of how hospitable the place actually is to newcomers.
Some Final Thoughts
We will never forget our travel experiences, even if sometimes they include some mishaps. Our choices have led us to many beautiful destinations, and we are incredibly fortunate to have been allowed the privilege of meeting such lovely people along our journey.
It matters none where you go, so long as you do go…
