Anthony Bourdain: 'The Layover' Star Shares His Travel Tips

Anthony Bourdain knows a thing or two about travel. The chef, author and travel documentarian is well into filming the eighth season of his Emmy-winning "No reservations" and is back tonight with his new series "The Layover." A bit of a departure from "No Reservations," "The Layover" seeks to offer viewers practical information and tips that they can use in places they might actually visit.

"With this show, we're actually trying to be useful," said Bourdain. "We've unmasked a lot of information about places around the world over the course of eight years. We've gotten pretty good about cutting right to the heart of the matter."

For instance, when in Rome, Bourdain suggests doing as the Romans do: "I feel very strongly you should be eating cacio e pepe. I happen to know a couple of places in Rome that serve this most Roman of dishes really, really well."

Here are 10 more of Tony's travel tips:

1) Dress for airport security. Do NOT be the jerk in line who holds everybody up while they slip off gold chains, belts and watches and acts surprised they can't bring their jug of soda on the plane. Also, wear easy shoes to slip on and off.

2) Be prepared to be stuck in an airport for indeterminate periods of time. Shit happens. So load your device with as many games, songs, apps, and e-books as possible to keep busy during long waits. Also pack a charger to power up.

3) Remember to bring something scrunchy and long sleeved like a sweatshirt. You might need it as a pillow.

4) Try -- really try -- to avoid eating on the plane. Investigate airport food options beforehand. If, as with many airports, the food sucks, eat first. Try and sleep on the flight.

5) Wherever you are, eat what the locals are good at or famous for -- WHERE the locals like to eat it. Do NOT rely on your concierge for dining tips. He's in the business of making TOURISTS happy. You want the places that make locals happy. Seek out places crowded with locals. Avoid places with others of your kind present.

6) People everywhere like it when you are appreciative of their food. I cannot stress enough how important to any possible relationships you might make abroad your initial reactions to offerings of local specialties. Smile and try and look happy even if you don't like it. If you DO like it, let them know through word or gesture of appreciation.

7) Bring anti-diarrhea medicine. You WILL be getting the shits. It's an occupational hazard -- and it shouldn't throw you off your game.

8) Never SHOW anger, impatience or frustration. In Europe, it rarely helps. And in Asia it's a sign of weakness. Zen like calm at all times…until you can't.

9) Get up early and check out the central food market. It's a fast way into a culture (where you'll see the basics of the cuisine) and often find local prepared foods at stands or stalls serving market workers.

10) Get over any inflexible notions of what a "toilet" is.

Bourdain's new show "The Layover" begins tonight at 9 p.m. Eastern on the Travel Channel. Watch the video below for a sneak peek.

Comments

[Talin Gureghian]

01:41 AM on 12/29/2011

WHERE'S THE FOO

Is it me or is anthony Bourdain becoming more and more irritating? It's a tribute to the format of the 'Layover' that keeps me watching the show in spite Bourdains childish, ill-informed and frankly tedious banter. His 'witty' asides are often thinly-disguised jabs at the local population and in a vain attempt to appear street-wise and hip.

Constantly inserting puerile sexual innuendo does not make him seem 'rock 'n roll', more like the embarrassing uncle with the wandering hands at a family wedding.

[coyoteb1]

12:22 PM on 11/22/2011

As a very well-travelled person, I would add, "Don't hurry." Accept that you are in a different environment, which runs on its own time schedule, and just chill back and relax and adopt a "manana" attitude. Will save you a LOT of bile in the long run. Hotel room won't be ready for four hours? Hit the plaza, get a coffee and watch the world go by. No big deal. Also found that eating a tub of local yogurt as soon as you arrive often will keep Montezuma from getting his full revenge on you, but when it doesn't, a Cipro pill ought to handle the problem.

[me515]

03:04 PM on 11/21/2011

LOVE Anthony! He's amazing. Can't wait for the new show

[ray christl]

12:04 PM on 11/21/2011

I just 'discovered' Tony as we now get digital TV in Cambodia ,& No Reservations is playing. Love the 60's ethos from Mr Bourdain,but disagree with #8 about anger. In SE Asia when your getting screwed I've noticed that getting angry doesn't win friends,but gets results.

[JScott]

10:36 AM on 11/21/2011

Nothing new here.

Altho if it's the bathroom I'd suggest finding a hospital or an bank/office building (if this applies), the restrooms are usually the cleanest.

[cuoi]

12:00 PM on 11/21/2011

And if you are off the beaten path, that coconut shell with a handle in tub of water is your toilet paper. Actually, when you think about it , washing is superior than wiping...

[Mother77]

02:38 PM on 11/21/2011

You obviously don't travel off the beaten path. But even in some European cities, a hole in the floor with a place to put your feet is all you get.

[JScott]

10:12 AM on 11/23/2011

Yup I've seen those straddle potties, they kinda look like stall showers.

[WryAwry]

10:23 AM on 11/21/2011

Every time I've travelled anywhere, I have always seen the "haves" and the "have-nots": those who are capable of keeping their cool, and those for whom every little inconvenience is earth-shattering enough to ruin their trip. There have been times when I've found myself shaken up and discombobulated, even by events or by the realities of life in places foreign to me ... but the single most important lesson that I ever learned actually comes from David Crosby -- "everybody, everywhere, smiles in the same language ..."

[cuoi]

12:03 PM on 11/21/2011

Yes, a smile is your passport to a good time. Learn at least to say "hello" and you'll find the smiles broaden. When I was in a remote area, local folks busted out laughing, they were so surprised that I was talking to them. And I have to admit my pronunciation probably had a little to do with it...