To make the world a friendly place, one must show it a friendly face.
― James Whitcomb Riley
I am a hotelier. Not am I only trained to smile, I love to smile. So visiting places where people smile back at me and is generally nice - warms my heart and makes the place extra memorable. The adage “it’s the people and not the place” comes to play in these friendly places visited.
1. Houston, Texas
People are nice. There’s no just no other way to say it. For a city that big with a such diverse population, people are extremely nice. Locals smile to one another, drivers stop to let pedestrians cross the street while pedestrian wave to the drivers as a thank you, and random books are placed on open home gardens to share. I experienced receiving a complimentary bottle of water from a food truck with a “Welcome to southern hospitality” quip. My airport shuttle driver went down with me to look for which Airbnb house I was supposed to go to. For me, the show stopper was my uber driver who gave me his number when he realized I was traveling alone with a clear instruction to call him if “I am in a bind”.
Where to Stay: Hotel Zaza Houston Museum District
2. Bangkok, Thailand
Known as the land of a thousand smiles, it’s no surprise that Bangkok will make it on my list. There is just something quite other-worldly about Bangkok’. Although the traffic is insane and people are rushing everywhere non-stop, still the hospitality and friendly demeanor Asia is quite famous for is palpable. I once saw in the same small street, one girl praying to a stone buddha and a few paces in the opposite direction was a girl selling herself. And yet, they shared a smile between them and then both to me who was openly looking – when I could have been called out on rudeness. From hotel staff to a street vendor to the masseuse in a corner to the faces of the buddhas in the temples, a smile welcomes you.
Where to Stay: Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit
What to Do: Take the Luxury of a Private City Tour, Visit Ayyutthaya Temples with a River Cruise, Visit the Floating Market & Railway Market
3. Masai Mara, Kenya
Visiting Masai Mara during the migrating season was a memory of a lifetime and yet I left with more memory of the locals. They dance. They laugh. They invite you to dance and laugh with them. They open their homes to you and invite you to get to know them. Life is so simple and yet so rich. Children were running to the side of the streets just to wave at cars passing by. With the Big 5s, zebras, and gazelles grazing freely in the fields – it is quite clear that the openness of the Mara has extended to the locals. Although if one of the local guys offer to "jump for you", beware, that's a different kind of friendly.
Where to Stay: Fairmont Mara Safari Club
What to Do: Camping Safari with Lake Nakuru
4. Dublin, Ireland
Although you might be taken aback by the accent and the dry humor at the get-go, locals from Dublin are always up for a laugh. As they always say “what’s the craic?” Quite straightforward and rarely mince their thoughts, they tell you what they want to tell you. Refreshing. Plus the most fun people to be around. Especially at a pub. They never stop drinking and laughing. Once you down a pint of Guinness, you’ll be joining in the laughter too.
Where to Stay: Temple Bar Hotel
What to Do: Visit Cliffs of Moher, The Burren & Galway, Take a Walking Tour of Dublin
5. New York, USA
Now, I can hear the outrage but hear me out. Maybe as a place to live – New York is different. However, for mere visitors like us who normally stomped the same ole tourist grounds - we have been exposed to the friendliest of locals. During my first visit to the Big Apple – the lady from the airport shuttle counter advised me to act like "it’s not my first time" and ensure "I walk like I know where I am going". The gentleman from one of those Hop-on-hop-off tours gave me his business card advising me to call him if I get in trouble. These are a couple of examples.
My definitive reason, after a full day of visiting Staten/Liberty Island and then walking from the Rock to Times Square – a gentleman chatted me up. Although I learned later, he was trying to sell me weed, he was very nice about it. Hey, they can’t all be nice for altruistic reasons – it was New York after all.
Where to Stay: Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel
What to Do: Visit the Statue of Liberty, Enjoy a Broadway Show, Visit 9/11, Take a Photo of the NYC Skyline from the One World Observatory
6. Shangri-la, China
Maybe because of the almost zero presence of non-Chinese travelers visiting them. Shangri-la is a picturesque Tibetan town a few hours away from Lijiang. The Tibetan culture is very visible everywhere with the massive Songzanlin monastery perched up in a valley. Since I was sticking out like a sore thumb with my flaming red recently dyed hair and non-chinky eyes, everyone was covertly looking and then would smile when I happen to catch their eyes. Even the monks were waving at me to say hello.
My definitive reason for choosing this decision as part of my most friendly placest list - was while trying to climb a gazillion steps up to a temple, I stopped and sat in the steps to catch my breath. An old lady probably in her 80s looked at me, smiled then ran up the stairs. And up she went leaving me in the dust. Well, that’s China for you – they will always be competitive yet friendly.
Where to Stay: Songtsam Retreat at Shangri-La - MGallery Collection
What to Do: Visit the Tiger Leaping Gorge and Black Dragon Pond
7. Sorrento, Italy
Attending a wedding in a honeymoon destination when you just broke up (lie - I was ghosted, so worst) is an experience never to be repeated. And yet, the locals somehow made me appreciate the place and the people for me to get past, well, me. The place is simply breathtaking. It’s busy enough that it’s bustling but not so busy that locals stop to engage you. I once went to a restaurant asking for a table for 1 – and met with outrage, yes outrage by the server because of how possible it is that a girl like me is eating alone. The drama of the situation was so funny, they even gave me a complimentary dessert since I was alone. Am going to lowdown mention the fact that most Italian men follow any female tourists since experiencing that during that specific period was like a balm to a wound. My definitive reason – I walked on my way to the wedding reception and almost everyone I encountered said Biongorno (good morning) and Bellissima (beautiful) to me. There was even a family of 3 who asked to take a photo with me. I guess another way to heal a broken heart is with friendly souls.
Where to Stay: Hilton Sorrento Palace
What to Do: Island Hop to Capri, Anacapri and Blue Grotto, Visit Positano, Amalfi and Ravello
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