The 30 Biggest Mistakes Most Tourists Make In Major Cities, As Revealed By People Who Travel A Lot (New Answers)

I am amazed that this even had to be said. Who are these people?

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If you think that was well said, get an education, but more importantly, seek GOOD professional help.

It took me a very long time to visit Dachau. I made it off the train once, and just couldn't step off the platform. My Humanities department chair at UCF was from Dachau, and told me that I needed to go back. I drove this time, but I started sobbing before we made it through the gates. If I had seen anyone disrespecting the place where such tragedy took place, I am not sure that I would have remained calm.

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This! I do think this general principle applies for a lot of situations in life, though. Like, I'm a captioner and took on a pro bono job on very short notice for a Deaf association. Before I went, I learned how to sign "court reporter" and that was enough to make it clear who I was and what I was there for and we bridged the communication gap from there by typing on our phones. People are very willing to overlook a lot of social/language errors if it's also clear that you're putting in an effort.

...and Canada

UK too. Streets are often closed for suspicious items that turn out to be nothing.

Not all places in the US. Where I live there are alot of honest people that will take it to a cashier or the police station. Or sit watch over it till you return to make sure no one does take it. It's called being raised to be a respectful human being. Also as the saying goes momma gonna beat you till the white meat shows if you don't do the right thing. Or till your black and blue. Both sayings are heavily used around these parts I'm in.

Ya, but in the US the cops will unalive you first, then ask around.

And the U.S.. I doubt they'd allow you on a plane if you did this.

Yup. Always put a little in each other's bag cuz you never know how long it could take for your bag to be found. Our longest was 5 days

Oh, it's unnecessary until suddenly it's not...

Exactly, the louder bit is unnecessary, but a few key words and some hand gestures can go a long way. I was at the hotel reception this week, and I don’t speak enough Turkish to ask for what I needed, but because of the man’s body language, I could see what I was asking via his colleague was no problem, and didn’t need any planning. It really makes you look at how you communicate too, which is interesting and fun, as it forces you to be clearer and more direct, unlike in English where we skirt around what we want too much!

All of us are familiar with some key words from other languages, so slowing down enables the other person to pick out a word they recognise, like 'toilet' or 'coffee'. And 'miming', i.e. body language and gestures, is a well known communication technique. We all do it, e.g. through a window.

Yeah, I agree, especially if you are from an English speaking area with a strong accent, slowing down and being louder often helps with key words being understood.

But you speak another Latin language don't you ? Like I'm french and can remotely understand Spanish or Italian if spoken slowly while never trying to learn it but I could never come to the same level of understanding with like most other languages

But for example, english and italian do share the same roots and share many words. When I hear this statement, I am thinking about an english speaking person in for example thailand. Sure, miming can get you far.. But trying to haggle in english, wilst speaking louder, to a person who barely understands any words in english at all?

Specifically, English to Italian, not Italian to English. It's a huge difference because Americans always believe that everyone understands English.

Agree. I've bought hand made jewelery in Italy. He spoke Italian and mime, I spoke Finnish and mime, we got on great. I've also been taught how to pick craps with a mix of Bask and mime.

I think cuz they mimed it

I had a similar experience inRome. We went to a very non touristy restaurant and order what we thought were 3 starters but were actually 2 courses. When the first item arrived alone the waitress said something in Italian with hand gestures which I correctly interpreted as “do you want extra plates?”

👍

I worked at a very south Canadian bar that had a problem with Americans doing this - so we just started taking USD at par :) the US dollar was higher than CAD at the time, so your $20 CAD meal that you decided to pay with $20 US actually paid me like $25 CAD and I got to pocket the extra $5 as a tip! It was still arrogant of them but satisfying as hell when I told customers we only accepted US cash 1:1 because it’s a huge inconvenience for us, so sure we’ll take it to accommodate them but the inconvenience will cost them. I live next to the WA border and hear too many Americans up here like “oh no we can use American cash in Canada, they don’t care” - please don’t guys. It’s annoying and entitled and idk why we put up with it, it’s always extra steps. I wouldn’t go to Bellingham mall and use Canadian cash because it’s not that country’s currency :/

Combo breaker?

I used to work in a touristy pub in London. You'd be surprised how many US Americans thought they could pay with US dollars.

So many Americans do that. I worked in Niagara Falls, Ontario for several businesses and they were always pissy about not getting American currency back after purchases. You’re lucky if you got more value at a shop or restaurant for American money, you’re getting Canadian money back and no, if you pay in loose change it’s not worth more. Coin is exchanged at the same rate.