Those of you who know me probably got here from my Loaded Local Instagram profile. I’m sure you’re wondering, “Stephen what are you doing...what the heck is The Loaded Local?” And those of you who stumbled upon this website are probably asking the same thing.

In short, The Loaded Local is the one-stop shop for young travelers to find the best nightlife in the cities they are traveling to. Essentially, the site aims to answers the question, “Where should we go tonight?”

It all started in the spring of 2016 during my sophomore year of college. Myself and 21 other Clemson students were studying abroad in Paris, where I hoped to become fluent in French. While I am nowhere near fluent today, (when asked to speak French, I always say “Je veux nager dans la piscine aujourd-hui”, which translates to “I want to swim in the pool today” - said confidently, it sounds impressive to a non-French speaker) I can successfully order a €5.50 student meal at Paul bakery and will be receiving my minor in French this May.

One of the first things we discovered when arriving in Paris is that we had NO CLUE whatsoever about where to go at night. Early in the semester, our school’s International Club helped us with this issue by planning “Pre-Drinks” (their term for pre-game; I’m a huge fan) and club nights for all of the international students to mingle (s/o to our trusty guide, Jules). However, as the semester carried on, these events became super rare, leaving us to fend for ourselves when it came to enjoying the local nightlife.

While our Résidence Pythagore apartment pre-games became a weekly highlight, we were able to find a few cool clubs here and there, and several bars that we enjoyed through word of mouth. However, given our nearly non-existent network in the city, we had very few suggestions to go off of. Google, Trip Advisor, and other popular travel sites disappointed us as all the information out there seemed to be scattered and unorganized. On top of that, the various “Top 10” lists we found for Paris were full of bars and clubs that Rihanna and Leonardo DiCaprio frequently visit - not places ideal for college students on a budget (I spent €50 my first night out, will need to write about how to not do that). Our goal was to find the best spots that French students loved, where we could meet locals and get a real feel for Paris’ nightlife.

While traveling to other European cities, it almost seemed easier to navigate this landscape than it was in our own host city. Any hostel staff member would be happy to pull out a paper map for us and circle the top nighttime hotspots (s/o to Sam at RestUp London). They would even fill us in on when to get there, how to avoid paying a cover charge, and where we should grab a bite to eat afterwards. Their recommendations were always on point, and it felt like we really made the most of our nights out when traveling. This network of information was incredibly helpful, but difficult to access when not staying in a hostel. We relied on the recommendations of friends who were studying in these cities or had traveled there earlier in the semester. I kept asking myself why this information wasn’t available somewhere online. I am confident that at least half of the nights that ended in an early trip to McDonald’s and a disappointed RER ride back to La Défense could have been avoided with the right resource.

About a year later, while looking back at my semester in Europe, I was thinking about how I could help to solve this problem for future study abroad students. While reading Gary Vaynerchuk’s book, Crush It, (I love you GaryVee - highly recommend his stuff to anyone interested in entrepreneurship) I was inspired to more intentionally follow my passion for travel. Once I connected that interest with my love for writing, I knew that a blog would be my best bet. By creating The Loaded Local (of the 12 names I brainstormed, The Naughty Native was hands-down the worst), I felt that I could help to create the missing network between study abroad students, other young travelers, and locals. In doing this, I could write various nightlife guides, helpful articles, and travel tips that I wish I had access to during my time abroad. In conclusion, I aimed to create the one-stop shop where young travelers and nightlife meet.

Now that the site is up and running (in its most basic format - I’m no web designer), I’ve begun publishing articles that myself and other young travelers have put together. These articles range from Against The Grain: My Semester Off From School to The Best of Budapest’s Famous Ruin Bars, and will continue to be published as they are written. My goal for the site’s content is to provide readers with a healthy mix of information on nightlife abroad, travel stories, and helpful tips for current and future travelers. My official nightlife guides - the focus of the site - will each include:

1. The Pre-Drink:

Best bars to begin the night at (again, love this phrase). Usually known for cheap drinks and more laid-back vibe. Perfect example - Le Cyrano, where you are given a can of soda, a glass, and a handle of liquor as you pour your own mixed drink for just €3 (Barcelona of course)

2. Gametime:

Fun clubs and lively bars to spend the majority of the night. Known for being bigger, louder, and crazier. Think power plant turned nightclub (Berghain Berlin)

3. Grub:

The ideal late-night munchies, from kebabs and frites to crêpes and secret bakeries (Florence).

4. Crash:

Hostels or Airbnb’s I particularly like in a given city. I typically like lively hostels that have common areas where it is easy to meet fellow travelers. The Yellow Rome's very own The Yellow Bar and La Banda's rooftop patio in Seville come to mind. If traveling with a decent sized group, there are several amazing and affordable Airbnbs available (stay in a houseboat in Amsterdam).

As I write this, my first official blog post, I am working on a number of exciting projects including Nightlife Guides for several European cities such as Florence and Seville, Instagram Story Takeovers by current travelers, and miscellaneous stories and pieces of advice from my travel experiences (don’t spend €50 on your first night out, or ever). Additionally, other writers who share my passion for travel have sent me everything from bar/club recommendations to fully written pieces on their travel experiences. For those of you who enjoy talking about your adventures abroad, definitely reach out to me (the more quality travel content, the better the website)! Or, if you simply find yourself to be interested in all things travel, nightlife, or for some reason, me - tag along for the journey.

If you are lucky enough to travel abroad, you want to make the most of the little time available to you. Don’t waste it by trying to guess where the hotspots are - let The Loaded Local help you answer the question, “Where should we go tonight?”

No matter where you are, remember - Get Social. Live Local.