Why Some Travellers Think a City Is Boring When It Isn't
Why do some travellers leave a destination saying it was boring while others can't wait to return? Often, the difference isn't the city itself but where they stayed. This article explores how every city has its own rhythm, why city centres aren't always the best place to stay, and how understanding where locals spend their time can completely change your travel experience. Before booking your next hotel, discover why choosing the right neighbourhood may be the most important travel decision you'll make.
KC
7/16/20262 min read
Years ago, one of my friends in Singapore told me about a city she had visited. Coincidentally, it was a city where I had a base of operations at the time, although she didn't know me back then.
She told me she had booked a five-night stay in a five-star hotel in the city centre.
Her conclusion?
"The city was so boring."
I couldn't help but laugh.
Not because she was wrong, but because I immediately knew what had happened.
People who know that city know the city centre becomes surprisingly quiet after about 5pm. Apart from a few convenience stores and a handful of pubs, there's very little happening. There was one popular supper spot that stayed open until around 2am, but it was about a ten-minute drive from her hotel. Walking there wasn't really an option.
She had chosen a beautiful hotel.
She had simply chosen the wrong neighbourhood.
I've seen this happen more times than I can remember.
When people visit a new destination, one of the first things they search for is a nice hotel in the city centre. It seems like the obvious choice.
What many travellers don't realise is that every city behaves differently.
In some cities, the centre is where everything happens. In others, it's mainly a business district that empties once office workers head home. The places where locals gather for dinner, coffee or drinks may be in completely different neighbourhoods.
If my friend had known me before that trip, I wouldn't have recommended a different hotel because it wasn't luxurious enough.
I would have recommended a different neighbourhood.
One that comes alive in the evening, with cafés, restaurants and pubs open until late. Interestingly, it's also only about a ten-minute drive from the international airport. It's the area locals know, and it's where I would usually spend my evenings.
That experience reminded me of something I learnt the hard way myself.
Years before, I had made exactly the same mistake.
I also booked a hotel in the city centre. By evening, I was hungry, but there was almost nowhere to eat outside the hotel. Back then, there was no Grab or Uber. Getting a taxi to go out wasn't difficult. Finding one to bring me back later was another story.
That trip taught me something I've never forgotten.
Travellers spend a lot of time looking for the best hotel and the best restaurants.
Very few spend enough time asking one simple question.
Where do the locals go?
Because wherever people gather regularly, businesses naturally follow.
You'll usually find more food, more cafés, more convenience, and a much better atmosphere than in places designed mainly for office workers or tourists.
Today, when I plan a trip, I don't start by searching for the best hotel.
I start by understanding the neighbourhood.
Once you know where locals spend their time, choosing where to stay becomes much easier.
And more often than not, your experience of the city changes completely.
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