{"id":692,"date":"2017-03-20T06:49:08","date_gmt":"2017-03-20T06:49:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/new.thealternativeways.com\/?p=692"},"modified":"2017-05-02T07:38:18","modified_gmt":"2017-05-02T07:38:18","slug":"hole-in-the-wall-cities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thealternativeways.com\/hole-in-the-wall-cities\/","title":{"rendered":"Hole in the Wall Cities"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

The term \u201cHole in the Wall\u201d has been used around the world when talking about restaurants that look like nothing from the outside, but offer amazing food as affordable prices. After travelling for months around the world, I realized that this term could also be apply to\u00a0cities. Introducing the concept of hole in the wall cities.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What are \u201cHole in the Wall Cities\u201d<\/h1>\n

When talking about hole in wall cities, we are talking about cities that aren\u2019t even on the Lonely Planet. Cities that have next to no images on Google. Cities that go about their daily routines, seeing virtually no tourists.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s the type of city you want to go to when you are trying to get lost. Many long-term travellers spend the majority of their time in such cities, as they offer a look into the true cultural habits of a place.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Why would I want to go to one of these cities?<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Do you ever feel as though the famous places you go to are putting on a show, rather than being the real deal?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

More Authentic Experience<\/strong><\/h2>\n

If you get that feeling, then it\u2019s probably because it\u2019s true. Before becoming a major tourist destination, every major town\/village\/city that is featured in the Lonely Planet and on major blogs was once a hidden gem.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Take Pai, Thailand for example. What was once an authentic Thai hippy paradise has been twisted into a cheap backpacker haven with 2+ million tourists a year. It\u2019s a fun place, but don\u2019t think for one second you are living something authentic.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Another great example is Sapa, Vietnam. Feel like going in the mountains of Vietnam to join hundreds of thousands of other white tourists and money-hungry vultures? Walking down the street and seeing fast food chains and North Face stores while the village next to them still doesn\u2019t have electricity? Instead you should consider going to Ha Giang, one of Vietnam\u2019s last undiscovered frontiers<\/a>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As I enter my 8th<\/sup> month of travel, I have to say that almost every true authentic experience that I\u2019ve had was either in one of these random cities, or in transit between known cities. It seems everyone is stuck to the Lonely Planet routes, or the major cities you find on the bigger blogs.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Leave your comfort zone and allow yourself to discover how the locals truly live. You won\u2019t regret it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Save Money<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"best<\/p>\n

These smaller towns will charge you local prices, rather than the inflated tourist price. Everything is cheaper.<\/p>\n