Finding Trustworthy Local Businesses While You Travel This Summer

At home, you know who to call. You know which mechanic is honest, which pizza place is worth the wait and which pharmacy stays open late. Two states away, you're starting from zero, and that's when it's easiest to end up with an overpriced tow or a so-so dinner. Finding local businesses while traveling just takes a slightly different approach: a little planning before you leave, and a few quick checks when something comes up on the road.

Here's how to find the good ones fast, whether you need a place to sleep, a meal, a new tire or someone to open a locked car.

Why it's harder to judge a business away from home

At home, you have shortcuts. A neighbor's recommendation, a shop you've driven past for years, a name you recognize from the local paper. On the road, all you have is a screen and whatever comes up first. And the businesses that come up first aren't always the best ones nearby. Sometimes they're just the ones that spent the most on ads.

That's why travelers tend to default to chains. Chains feel predictable. But some of the best meals, cleanest rooms and fairest repairs on a trip come from independent local businesses, as long as you know how to check them.

Before you leave: build a short list

Ten minutes of planning saves a lot of stress later. Before a road trip or vacation, save a few names in your phone for each place you'll spend a night:

• Where you're staying, plus a backup if plans change.
• Two or three places to eat, including one that's open late.
• A pharmacy and an urgent care clinic near where you're staying.
• An auto repair shop or tire shop along your route, especially for long stretches between towns.
• A vet or pet boarding option if the dog is coming along.

Browsing a directory by state is an easy way to start. On Listings Junkie, businesses are organized by category and location, so you can look up the town you're headed to and see what's there before you arrive.

Finding local businesses while traveling: help on the road

Trouble on a trip rarely happens at a convenient time. Here's how to handle the most common surprises.

Car trouble

If you have roadside assistance through your insurance, car maker or an auto club, call them first. They often have a network of shops they work with.

If you're finding a shop yourself:

• Look for a real local address. Search the shop's name and check that it shows up on a map at a real location, not just a phone number.
• Read the newest reviews. Look for mentions of travelers or out-of-towners and how they were treated.
• Ask for an estimate before work starts. Get it in writing, even if it's a text. A good shop will explain what's urgent and what can wait until you get home.
• Ask for your old parts back. It's a reasonable request and keeps everyone honest.

Locked out

Lockouts are where travelers get burned most. Some phone numbers that come up in searches belong to call centers that send whoever's available, and the price on the phone isn't always the price at the door.

Protect yourself by asking, before anyone comes out, for the business's actual name, a price range for the job, and how they'll identify themselves when they arrive. Look for a locksmith with a real, local presence. Locksmith Master Boone, listed on Listings Junkie, describes itself as an insured mobile locksmith serving Boone, Watauga County and the wider High Country, including emergency lockouts. That kind of clear, local description is what you want to see. You can browse more locksmiths by state.

Feeling sick

For anything serious, call 911. For a minor illness or a forgotten prescription, call a nearby pharmacy or urgent care before you go to check hours and whether they take your insurance. Pharmacies can often transfer a prescription from your home pharmacy with a phone call. This is general information, not medical advice, so check with a doctor or pharmacist about your specific situation.

Where to eat like a local

Locals know where to eat, and you can borrow their knowledge:

• Read reviews from people who live nearby. Many review profiles show where the reviewer is from. A place locals return to again and again is usually a safe bet.
• Check that the menu and hours are current. A menu posted this year, recent photos and hours that match across the website and the map listing are good signs the business is active.
• Call on holidays. Hours on Father's Day weekend, the Fourth of July and other summer holidays often change. A quick call saves a drive to a dark dining room.
• Ask a real person. The front desk clerk, the gas station attendant or the person ringing you up at the grocery store usually knows the best place in town for breakfast.

Browse restaurants by state to get a feel for what's around before you arrive.

Booking an independent place to stay

Independent inns, motels and bed-and-breakfasts can be some of the best stays of a trip. A few tips:

• Call to book, or at least to confirm. You'll get a feel for how the place is run, and you can ask about parking, check-in times and anything else that matters to you.
• Look for specific details. A good listing tells you what you actually get. Dinosaur Inn & Suites in Vernal, Utah, listed on Listings Junkie, says it's locally owned and operated, smoke-free, recently remodeled and serves a full breakfast with eggs cooked to order. That's the kind of detail that helps you decide.
• Read the cancellation policy before you pay.

You can find more inns, travel agents and local tour operators under travel and tourism.

Red flags when you're far from home

Wherever you are, be cautious if a business:

• Won't tell you its name or address on the phone.
• Pressures you to decide right now, before you can check anything.
• Asks for payment by gift card, wire transfer or cash only, with no receipt.
• Gives you a price on the phone, then a much higher one in person with no explanation.
• Has reviews that all sound the same.

That last one is worth a few minutes of your time. Our guide on how to spot fake reviews covers the warning signs.

After you get home

If a local business took good care of you on your trip, a short review helps the next traveler more than you might think. Mention that you were from out of town and what they did well. How to write a helpful review of a local business shows how to do it in a few minutes.

Frequently asked questions

Is it safer to use chains when traveling?

Not necessarily. Chains offer predictability, but plenty of independent businesses are just as reliable and often more personal. Use the same checks either way.

How can I tell if a phone number belongs to a real local business?

Search the business name and see if it shows up at a real address on a map, with a matching name and phone number on its own website or listing.

What should I do if a repair shop wants to do more work than I expected?

Ask them to explain what's urgent and what can wait, get the estimate in writing, and if you can, call your regular mechanic at home for a second opinion.

Should I tip at local businesses when traveling?

Follow the same customs you would at home. Tipping customs for restaurants, hotel housekeeping and similar services are broadly similar across the U.S.