Obviously, one of the best ways to gain an understanding of different places and cultures is by travelling. However, this probably isn't a viable option for most people - it's expensive, time consuming and not always easy. I'll be discussing this in my next post. For now, let's just assume that you are able to travel to your book's destination.
If you're setting your story, or part of your story, in another country, then you need to make sure you're getting the full experience. First, consider if your character is native or visiting.
If your character is native, then you need to get more genuine experiences. It could be helpful to get a local to take you on a tour - they will know which places people eat in, people stay in, and people go to, rather than just the tourist traps. This probably won't be an easy experience for you - and you should be prepared for this. Generally, money is pumped into tourism, so the genuine local experience is probably very different to what you're expecting. However, books that look into what life is really like well are often really good reads.
Some things to consider are: what is the normal housing situation like, what are some typical jobs, how is the economy doing, look into traditions and customs, what is the local food (not just tourist food), etc.
If your character is a tourist, then go out and experience everything tourism has to offer. Again, it can be really helpful to live a day in the life of your character: what is their budget, what do they like doing, what do they dislike doing, who are they travelling with, what would they do (eg. a family might go to a zoo or water park, etc.), would they go out at night, what food would they eat, etc.
But don't forget - it's you who's on holiday. Take as many notes and pictures as you can for your work, but also enjoy yourself! You might never get to experience it again.
Happy writing!
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