Shop Small, Travel Big: The Importance of Shopping Local When You Travel

There’s nothing quite like travel to broaden your horizons. New landscapes, flavors, architecture, and traditions offer a world of inspiration. But beyond the landmarks and must-see tourist stops lies something even more rewarding: the opportunity to connect with the heart of a community. We recently traveled to Spain and despite an abundance of souvenir shops, we really wanted to visit places that were owned and operated by LOCAL residents. After searching online, we made a list of places we should visit. After a couple of failed attempts, we finally found a delightful shop whose owner was more than happy to share a few of his favorite spots. Rather than follow our online list, we walked about 30 minutes to find one of his recommendations. And boy, we were not disappointed! We found lots of unique gifts made by artisans local to the region. We also got another list of favorite spots from this shop owner.

And so it goes...One of the best ways to discover a new area? Shop and eat like a local.

Supporting local businesses while traveling isn’t just about finding unique souvenirs or avoiding chain restaurants—it’s about making meaningful connections, fostering economic impact, and helping preserve the soul of the places you visit.

Here’s why choosing locally owned shops, restaurants, and experiences makes your travels richer—and why your spending power matters more than you may realize.

1. Local Businesses Are the Heartbeat of a Community

Every city has its iconic attractions, but it’s the local coffee shop tucked on a quiet corner, the boutique filled with handmade goods, and the family-run tapas bar that make a place memorable.

These businesses are built on community. The owners likely live nearby. Their kids attend local schools. They sponsor youth teams, host neighborhood events, and donate to community causes. When you choose to spend your money with them, you’re directly supporting the livelihood of people who pour passion into what they do—not just for visitors, but for their neighbors every day.

2. You’ll Discover Authentic Experiences—Not Tourist Traps

When you shop small and eat local, you’re stepping off the beaten path and into the places where real life happens.

Instead of the generic souvenir shop near the cruise port, you’ll find an artisan studio filled with pieces you’ll actually want to take home. Instead of eating at the same chain restaurant you can find back home, you’ll uncover flavors, dishes, and cocktails unique to the region—often passed down through generations.

Ask any seasoned traveler: the best meals, stories, and treasures are almost always found where the locals go.

3. You Help Keep Culture Alive

Local businesses often reflect the culture, heritage, and personality of a place far better than big-box retailers or international chains. From handmade ceramics in a Spanish village to regionally roasted coffee in a small U.S. town, these goods carry the identity of a place and its people.

By shopping local, you're helping to preserve that uniqueness. You're keeping craft traditions alive. You're investing in artists and makers who don’t mass-produce, but who put heart and history into what they create.

In a world increasingly dominated by sameness, your choices help keep places special.

4. Small Business Owners Are Incredible Storytellers

One of the joys of travel is storytelling—and small business owners have the best ones.

Ask them about the origins of their recipes, how they source their products, or why they chose that particular shade of blue for their storefront. Chances are, you’ll leave with more than a purchase. You’ll leave with a story, a connection, and maybe even a new friend.

At a big-box store, you're a transaction. At a small shop or restaurant, you're a guest.

5. Your Money Stays in the Local Economy

When you shop at a chain, your dollars often leave the community immediately. But when you spend at a local business, up to 68% of that money stays local—supporting other nearby businesses, employees, schools, and services.

That cappuccino at the local café? It helps pay for the barista’s rent. The earrings from that artisan shop? They fund more supplies from a local vendor. The dinner at a family-owned restaurant? It helps cover wages, maintenance, and maybe even next semester’s tuition for the owner’s child.

Your money creates a ripple effect. And it matters.

6. Shopping Small Creates Lasting Memories

Sure, a fridge magnet is fine. But wouldn’t you rather bring home a hand-poured candle from a seaside shop, or a scarf woven by a local textile artist?

When you choose local, the things you bring home carry stories—and memories. Every time you wear that handmade necklace or cook with that locally sourced spice blend, you’ll remember not just the item, but the experience.

Tips for Supporting Local While Traveling

Want to be more intentional with your spending on your next trip? Here are a few quick tips:

• Ask locals where they shop and eat. Hotel concierges are great, but so are baristas, Uber drivers, and boutique owners.

• Visit farmer’s markets and street fairs. They’re a treasure trove of local goods, foods, and makers.

• Look for stores that highlight local artisans. Shops often showcase regional talent—just ask!

• Avoid tourist traps. If a restaurant is right in front of a major monument with laminated menus and photos of every dish… keep walking.

• Tip generously. Especially in small, service-based businesses. It goes a long way.

One Final Thought

You don’t have to live in a place to care about it. When you travel, your choices—where you eat, where you stay, where you shop—have power. You can be a respectful guest, a thoughtful contributor, and a supporter of real people doing real work.

The next time you're planning a trip, go beyond the guidebook. Look for the shop with the creaky floors, the bar with handwritten specials, or the gallery run by the artist herself. Seek out the soul of a city—not just the surface.

Because when you support small businesses, you’re not just traveling—you’re investing in communities.

And that’s something worth packing into every trip.