Volunteering abroad is a great way to of getting to know a destination while you travel, but there are many more unconventional ways of discovering ‘real’ culture and communities.

Guardian.co.uk has compiled a list of quirky travel tips that let you uncover what the guide books don’t tell you.

Susie Grimshaw says that “befriending an estate agent is a surprisingly fun way to start”. She suggests pretending you’re house hunting and nosing around local homes. “When you’re on a short trip, it’s easy to get a feel for a place’s history and culture by sampling the museums, galleries, religious buildings and ruins; buy the guidebook and off you go…but what about glimpsing a genuine slice of life, seeing how ordinary people live?”

Becky Barnicoat recommends getting in touch with locals online in advance of your trip. By finding blogs that interest you and emailing their authors, there’s a good chance you’ll find insider information that will make your trip truly unique. Barnicoat explains: “I thought about the sort of people that might be into similar things as me, and read blogs by artists, cartoonists, musicians and writers from the city. Most people have an email address linked to their blog, so it’s easy to reach them directly…if they speak English, they’ll usually get back to you. I’ve found that most people are delighted to be asked for advice.”

Other tips include visiting a sport event, taking a taxi tour, offering to teach English and reading a book set in the destination you’re visiting. Read the full article on Guardian.co.uk.

For a more conventional way of getting to know a destination why not try volunteering abroad with Inspire?