Dude seriously does have the best job in the entire world. He also travels in the best ways possible and actually sees what the country he visits is all about. My parents are the type that go to the big, stylish, all-inclusive resorts in Cancun or wherever and I've never understood it. There really is nothing better than finding the hole-in-the-wall restaurant or some other site where you are literally the only non-native person in the vicinity. It also makes for far better stories and deeper interaction with the people who live in the country than simply conversing with the bartender.
agreed. i'm not a tour group guy at all. even in major tourist traps like rome you can find that hole in the wall place with great food at a cheap price. when i was in thailand i literally ate like a king for less than $10 a meal.
Agree with this. I spent a couple months in Manila and ate fried chicken and rice at a hole in the wall, literally within the walls of Intramuros. Incredible experience.
Eh. Can be a little dangerous to do it that way in some places. Also, if your parents are old, I'd say it's a lot easier and less stressful to just go to the areas designed for vacationers and go with the flow.
Not as much as you think if you do a little research and some precautions. Besides, what's the point of visiting a place if you don't bother to actually visit it?
That's cool, but I've been a few places where literally no one spoke English and while the atmosphere was still enjoyable, there were some stressful times knowing I was pretty well boned if I needed help with directions or whatever.