Travel Tips

Travel Tip: Local Cultural Programs

If there’s one thing that drives me nuts, it’s seeing travelers in a foreign country who are oblivious to the local culture.

Fortunately, some hotels are making culture more accessible to their guests.

In addition to the typical lei-making and shell crafts, the Ka’upulehu Cultural Center at the Four Seasons teaches guests common words in the native Hawaiian language.

If you’re having a hard time finding an onsite cultural center, try connecting with a property’s kids program.

Camp Hyatt Watapana in Aruba offers programs to learn Papiamento, the island’s native language.

The first lesson? How to pronounce Papiamento.

The Ritz-Carlton Kapalua even has its own cultural adviser on staff. A local Hawaiian named Clifford has created an entire lineup of activities to showcase the island’s history, music, crafts and artisans.

He’ll also share the history of the ancient preservation site next door–in fact, that site was unearthed during the hotel’s construction, so they redesigned and moved the entire property to preserve it.

And in Bali, there are cultural lessons happening in hotels throughout the island.

Club Med has a three-day program on the official language of Indonesia, while the Conrad Bali has everything from Balinese dancing lessons to traditional floral art.

Find out more about great experiences in the Cultural Immersion section.

And check out the rest of our Daily Travel Tips here.