There’s more than one way to skin a cat and there’s more than one way to travel abroad. If you want more from your travels than the highlights you’ve seen on direct TV take a few tips from us on getting off the beaten path.

Hire a Local: In many countries, locals are happy to show you around and take you to really cool parts of the city, for a price. If you want to go where most tourists don’t ask your hotel to set you up with someone safe and reputable.

Head to a Local Watering Hole: You can get some great advice about what to see bellying up at a neighborhood bar. These people live in the area and can tell you where the best burger or cool store is.

Use a Travel Agent: Many travel agents have connections with services most people don’t have access to so it may be worth the cost if you really want to plan the trip of a lifetime. Think about it before you go booking everything yourself.