Going somewhere new? Ask female staff on the plane about the destination and do it while they are not too busy. Check into English language newspapers on line for information. An example would be Times of India on line if you were coming to India with us in November to the Pushkar Fair. Or locate a chapter of your organization and ask for assistance. Examples: Rotary? Your college alumnae book? An American professor on sabbatical?
Do your research creatively and ask us for help with more suggestions for out of the way places. In Uzbekistan we met with Peace Corps staff.