When traveling do you “shop local”?

[BtmBearDad]

Had a nice boozey brunch with some mates today. One of which just came back from spending 2 weeks on France, and the Netherlands. Now we’re all gay men, in the same age cohort, (45-55), and as often happens, the conversation eventually turned to sex. Our recent traveled friend regaled us with tales of his rendezvous with three gents who turned out to be 2 Americans, and 1 Venezuelan during his time on the continent. They were hot, and he definitely enjoyed them. I did ask how was the local talent, and he replied something along the lines of “oh I couldn’t be bothered with the language thing and all”. That rather surprised me. 

For me, when I’m traveling for either work or pleasure, I actually seek out local talent whether I’m just out and about, or engaging in this hobby. So, yes I “shop local” or at least try to - there are a few places where it is challenging to say the least to engage in this hobby with a local (I’m looking at YOU Ireland and Austria, among a few other locales), but I do make the effort. 

Not just overseas either - domestically I try as well. There’s something to be said about the charm of accents (Southern, New England), the laid back vibe of a Californian surfer type, or rolling around with a hunk of corn fed Mid Western beef. 

Anyway, it got me thinking, and I wondered how my fellow hobbyists felt about this? Do you make the effort to “shop local” first when you travel, or is it not even an issue for you? 

 

Cheers, 

BBD 

[+ FrankR]

14 minutes ago, BtmBearDad said:

Had a nice boozey brunch with some mates today. One of which just came back from spending 2 weeks on France, and the Netherlands. Now we’re all gay men, in the same age cohort, (45-55), and as often happens, the conversation eventually turned to sex. Our recent traveled friend regaled us with tales of his rendezvous with three gents who turned out to be 2 Americans, and 1 Venezuelan during his time on the continent. They were hot, and he definitely enjoyed them. I did ask how was the local talent, and he replied something along the lines of “oh I couldn’t be bothered with the language thing and all”. That rather surprised me. 

For me, when I’m traveling for either work or pleasure, I actually seek out local talent whether I’m just out and about, or engaging in this hobby. So, yes I “shop local” or at least try to - there are a few places where it is challenging to say the least to engage in this hobby with a local (I’m looking at YOU Ireland and Austria, among a few other locales), but I do make the effort. 

Not just overseas either - domestically I try as well. There’s something to be said about the charm of accents (Southern, New England), the laid back vibe of a Californian surfer type, or rolling around with a hunk of corn fed Mid Western beef. 

Anyway, it got me thinking, and I wondered how my fellow hobbyists felt about this? Do you make the effort to “shop local” first when you travel, or is it not even an issue for you? 

 

Cheers, 

BBD 

Yes, it is only polite. But I refuse to lower my standards. 

[BtmBearDad]

10 minutes ago, FrankR said:

Yes, it is only polite. But I refuse to lower my standards. 

Oh 100% agree! This isn’t about lowering standards. If when checking the local talent there isn’t one found that “floats my boat”, I move on - I don’t adjust what I’m looking for just to be able to shop local. 

[+ KensingtonHomo]

Our first hire was while we were traveling in Spain, and it was great. He spoke conversational English to the language barrier wasn't terrible. Honestly, Americans traveling abroad have a much better chance of local guys speaking at least some English, than other tourists. So more than anyone I think we have almost a responsibility to try the local talent. Which is not to say that we should lower our standards, but when we recently went to Montreal, the locals were great. 

[+ Pensant]

I travel widely throughout Europe, but rarely hire. That may be because over the past few years, before COVID, I concentrated on Eastern Europe, where the offerings were, to me, a bit sketchy. I engaged in Kyiv and Warsaw with cute blonds; but the experiences were meh. When I spend a month in Portugal this fall, however, I plan to see a handful of hotties, who have been very responsive so far. I’m also thinking of visiting parts of Germany, mainly the areas of the old DDR, in March, and look forward to sampling some of Berlin’s delicacies.

[Epigonos]

I have found that when traveling in Europe is can be extremely difficult to find "local" guys. For example, try finding a British escort in London - there simply don't seem to be many of them. Most of the escorts available in London are Spanish, Italian, or Brazilian.  Trying to find a Brit is like trying to find a needle in a haystack.  The same is quite true of Paris as well - many North Africans and escorts from other former French colonies.

[BonVivant]

Local is good. It’s another way of immersing yourself in the culture. It’s not just about the cuisine….

[robberbaron4u]

Well, I do not order fried chicken in the course of a sojourn at Paris...

[peter831]

Always good to get immersed in the local culture, including the men 🙂 

Or sometimes fellow travelers are also fun if no local is available or interesting. 

[BtmBearDad]

6 hours ago, KensingtonHomo said:

Honestly, Americans traveling abroad have a much better chance of local guys speaking at least some English

That’s been my experience as well, which is why when my mate brought up language as an issue in Paris, and the Netherlands, I was puzzled. 

 

5 hours ago, Pensant said:

Eastern Europe, where the offerings were, to me, a bit sketchy.

 Eastern Europe, former Soviet satellites, former Soviet republics, and Russia are all a bit sketchy - whether one is engaging in this hobby, or just out, and about hoping to pull. 

 

5 hours ago, Epigonos said:

I have found that when traveling in Europe is can be extremely difficult to find "local" guys.

This is VERY true. In the 12-18 mos prior to covid, I was spending about 2 weeks a month in Europe, primarily the UK. I was fortunate that I had found an actual Brit in my previous trips there, who I enjoyed very much, so he was my “go-to” guy. But as he had his own life, career, other gents, etc., our schedules would sometimes conflict. One was hard pressed to find another actual Brit to engage in this hobby with. Same story in Paris - slim pickings when it comes to finding an actual Frenchman. I actually wound up engaging a Latin fellow I had previously enjoyed in NYC, on a few occasions that found me in Paris. Came to find out he lived in Paris, and he was only in NYC (and a few other cities) on a trip or tour if you will. 

From my experience, the biggest desert in terms of local talent in the hiring pool is Ireland. I don’t think I’ve come across one provider in Ireland who was actually Irish. As in Paris, I wound up engaging a Spaniard living in Dublin (he was working for Google in Dublin). On another occasion, I had my London guy come over for a long weekend. 

 

59 minutes ago, robberbaron4u said:

I do not order fried chicken in the course of a sojourn at Paris...

That’s a pet peeve of mine - when you’re traveling with friends or family, and they gravitate towards, and insist on the familiar rather than at least trying the local cuisine. 
 

Of course there’s always the apps, or going out, and chatting someone up to find some local talent. I’ve been happily successful doing both when I’ve been in the places mentioned above. But that’s been when I’m in London, or Ireland, or Paris, etc. on my own time. When I’m travelling for work, they really work me, so my schedule is packed. I usually don’t have the time to work the apps or go out on the pull. That’s what sets this hobby apart - the convenience of being able to say to Provider X “I’m looking for company Thursday evening at my hotel for Y hours, and I’m looking to engage a, b, and c. Let me know if you are available.” If only the local hiring pools were a bit larger 🤷🏼‍♂️
 

BBD 

[excelntsvc]

of course one should sample locals ... as a great fan of travel, i cannot understand the people who go abroad and want American food ... "starbucks is so much better" ... egads ... deal with the language and immerse yourself!