No, you can’t order a cappuccino after lunch. You might wander around the city searching for a trash can for hours. If you need to use the restroom, be prepared to pay. And if someone tries to kiss you on the cheek, don’t freak out. They’re just being friendly!
When traveling internationally, it’s a given that you should mentally prepare yourself for some cultural differences. But no matter how many times they visit a place, some Redditors can’t seem to get behind all of the local customs. Below, you’ll find some of the quirks of various countries that travelers sometimes struggle with, as well as a conversation with travel expert Alex Miles from offMetro!
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This is an extremely controversial opinion, but religion-based "modesty" clothing that is designed to protect women's "sexual purity" will always rub me the wrong way. I don't care if the religion is Christian, Muslim, Pastafarian, or whatever else: I just think it is abhorrent and archaic when women are singled out as the ones responsible for keeping men from being sexual predators and deviants and are made to cover any portion of their body because of some religious mandate. I also do not agree with the logic that this can ever be a woman's choice or a "feminist act" as long as a religious community is the source of the pressure to dress a certain way.
The unhinged tipping culture in the US. I just wanna go to a restaurant without feeling like I'm either either an ungrateful scrooge or ripping myself off. I understand that staffing is an expense, just factor it into the price!
Less egregious but in a similar vein is not including tax in stores.
I come from a non-tipping country and yeah, it kind of puts a downer on the whole experince and awkwardness when you're eating with other people and they don't really understand/want to tip. Plus you also forget when you're not used to it, I'd got out and eat a meal that was already probably too expensive for my travelling bugdet and then you have this horrible realisation halfway through eating that you have to also then pay another 20% on top.
20% is too much. I wouldn't anyway. Good thing I'm not in the US.
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It sort of violates a rule of contracts. The contract is, e.g. , the restaurant advertises a meal at a certain price, and the customer accepts to pay that price. But the restaurant then repudiates that contract by expecting the customer to pay another 20% on top of the advertised price. Same goes for state and local taxes not mentioned in the advertised price.
Tipping in the United States has gone overboard. I feel pressured to constantly tip anymore. If I order a coffee and pastry and pay with a credit card there’s an entire screen that pops up with an entire tip selection. If you don’t tip for a coffee you’re like a social pariah. Pay your workers a livable wage, US! It’s mind-boggling!
Completely agree. I went to a local farm market and there was an option to tip the cashier! Seriously, what the hell?
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the weirdest part is, its not like food is cheap in america because you don't have to pay staff costs. prices when you go out are still ridiculous. i also think there should just be a flat tipping fee and not a percentage.
If it was just Resturants, that's one thing, but it's the huge amounts you are expected to tip for taxi's, conciërge, the guy that opens a door for you on a taxi even if the taxi was already standing there, room service, cleaning staff, tour guides, helicopter pilots and so on and so on... It's exhausting. And financially crippling if you are traveling from a country where the doller is far stronger than your own currency. It leaves a bitter taste from the travel experience.
That - and once you reply to your server that you don't need anything else - the give you the bill right away. We still have drinks to finish. That's another restaurant culture that I could never get used to and that I hate.
Leaving the bill is not asking you to leave. You can't sit still with a piece of paper on the table? I prefer being ready to leave without having to track down the waitress. I don't see how this is rude.
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The odd thing is, the main reason we don't get rid of tipping in the US is because the people getting the tips WANT to keep it (not the "greedy" businesses as everyone assumes). With tipping being the norm, servers make WAY more money than minimum wage, even at a modest eatery. On a decently busy night at just an Applebees, you can walk out with well over 100 bucks on a five hour shift easily.
Very true, I made $20 an hour on pizza delivery in the 80s, mostly from tips.
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Reminder: if you walk into a crowded pub or bar, and the very-busy bartender has your beer ready and in front of you before you have had the time to take off your jacket, then you understand tipping culture. If he ignores you, you don't.
Personally when I'm out at a restaurant I tip only if the service, atmosphere and general look of the food is good. I agree though tips should be included in the price but this tip never reaches the people who earn it.
Or they should be payed enough so the tipping culture could go away
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Tip should be included in the price. I'd tip only for an outstanding service even in the US. And even then, a small amount as to not replace a wage.
Everybody should be paid a livable wage. And tips are optional, not compulsory. At least in normal countries. Add it to the price, pay your workers and pay taxes for that money: 20% in each transaction is quite a lot of money at the end of the day. Tipping keeps these bastards in business, thinking it's the customers' obligation to pay the servers' salaries.
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The worst is when you are asked to tip at starbucks or fast food places, I never do! And I am rarely going out!
I agree. But people not tipping is never going to solve the problem. Not tipping sends NO MESSAGE to the company. All it does is scr*w over the person serving u. If u want to send a message, DON'T GO TO THE RESTAURANT! That's the ONLY way they will get the message. Everyone saying that not tipping is how I solve the problem, r just cheap and trying to justify it
Absolutely agree on including tax in price. Less so on tipping. It's a way of showing appreciation for excellent service. It's just a bit overboard right now with the expectation of tips for all sorts of jobs that did not previously receive them.
I don't always tip, I'm not rich and i need to survive too. But if i do have extra money to help a waiter/waitress, I will ask if it's their tip to keep or split among the rest of the staff. If its split or shared, i say person to person, heres a gift. That way their 5$ tip doesnt reduce to cents.
If business owners would pay a decent wage, tipping would be unnecessary.
If you don't want to tip. Don't patronize those restaurants. Until consumers charge the owners won't change
It's a pain, but for tipping, you have to realize businesses count on it as an excuse to not even pay minimum wage to their workers. They even steal tips or hold them "hostage" against general performance, attendance, etc. They have no incentive to change at all. And the problem w/including taxes in prices is that every state, city & sometimes small areas or types of items have different tax rates. You get used to it.
Perhaps that's the problem. If people get used to being abused and exploited instead of doing something about it, things will never change.
Load More Replies... But as long as this is the way things are, its not right to punish the workers by not tipping. You are not changing the system by not tipping, just being a d**k. I strongly advocate for fair wages, but not tipping accomplishes nothing.
Completely agree. 'Muricans need to stop being so blasted cheap and pay staff a living wage. And 'Muricansneed to stop expecting to pay so little for good food and good service. Tipping has a racist background and is completely unfar.
No tipping in the U.S. would be my dream. Why should I pay for your employees?
The rest of the world includes it in the price eg £12 inc VAT (£10 ex VAT).
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To learn more about some of the cultural differences that might prove challenging to travelers, we reached out to travel expert and editor at offMetro, Alex Miles. Alex shared with Bored Panda that even he has had difficulties adjusting to the local customs in some places.
"I once found myself in Japan, a land of incredible sushi, impeccable manners, and a penchant for bowing that would make your head spin. Now, don't get me wrong, I adore sushi. But let me tell you, there's an art to bowing, and I've got two left feet when it comes to it," he explained. "On my first day, I nodded like a bobblehead on steroids, while the locals performed graceful, synchronized ballets of respect. It was like trying to dance the waltz at a rave party—slightly out of place."
QR codes for menus in the US, and probably other places, not sure.
"Hey welcome to Zany Bob's House of Kebabs! Scan the QR right there on that nasty sticker on the table and you'll be brought to our site. Click on the menu, scroll through a too-large PDF of the menu on your phone because the owner couldn't get a proper developer for this, then order online! Isn't that easy?!"
"Oh, what's that, Grandma doesn't have a phone? Well, I'd love to bring you a paper menu, but it's gonna be about 10 mins because we only have a few in the place."
"Hey here's your food! I'll be back in 20 minutes to rush you out and expect a 20% tip for doing absolutely f**k all. Y'all come back, now!"
Dubai not allowing people to hold hands in public. And also that they have the death penalty if you're gay.
Natural resources don't always lead to progress, sometimes they prevent it as a resource curse.
There is a huge difference between how Emerati are being treated and how foreigners are being treated. Yet, the country could not function without foreigners. Treat them accordingly!
In general, the notion that turning down food is rude.
I appreciate that someone cooked a meal for me, but forcing me to choke down something I don’t like is ruder than me simply saying “No, thank you.”
We were also curious if there are any customs in Alex's home country that he can't get behind. "In the good old U.S. of A, we're known for our generous portion sizes," he noted. "Sometimes it feels like our motto should be 'Supersize Everything!' But there's a caveat to this American indulgence. The portion sizes may be large, but our waste bins are equally enormous."
"The amount of food that goes to waste is a monstrous problem," Alex explained. "So, being an eco-friendly activist, I found myself yearning for the Japanese custom of ordering just enough to savor every bite, reducing both my waistline and my ecological footprint."
How American public restroom stalls have that gap between the door and frame wide enough for you to make eye contact with anyone walking outside the stall.
China - people spitting all over the place right in front of you, on the streets, on the sidewalks. It’s disgusting.
Unfortunately this is a real problem. Discussing this in a class and asking for ideas to stop it one small boy suggested,, that since it was usually older people doing this, young people should all carry a stick and give offenders a smack. You had to love him.
The tipping screen at a coffee shop in the US requesting 20%/22%/25%/other.
Every other country in the world has figured out how to pay service employees without tipping. How has America not figured out how to run a business without handouts?
The weird thing is that American business owners will tell you that paying their staff low wages and forcing them to rely on tips help them to keep prices down, to the customer's advantage. While it keeps the advertised price down, it's no advantage to the customer, who's obliged to pay AT LEAST an additional 20%. It benefits the business owner, no-one else.
"As for some tips for fellow travelers who may find themselves dancing on the tightrope of cultural adaptation, first and foremost, research, my friends!" Alex told Bored Panda. "Google is your best pal. Learn about local customs and etiquettes before you step off that plane. It can save you from a world of awkward encounters."
"Next, don't be afraid to embrace the unknown," the travel expert continued. "You're in a foreign land, after all. Experiment with local customs, even if you look like a lost puppy trying to fit in. Most locals appreciate the effort, and they might just teach you a thing or two."
Working in Japan temporarily:
Yeah, we'll be here ready to go at 8AM
Ok, it's 8PM, time to call it a day.
But first, the boss and the big boss want to take us out to dinner
Now we have to go with them to the bar for drinks and karaoke.
Ok, it's 1AM, Boss and Big Boss have left. See you in the morning at 7:30.
Yep. That's Japan. And during those 12 work hours there is no time to walk, you have to run.
Tipping and taxes not included on the price tag.
Alex also urges travelers to keep an open mind. "Remember, you're not just observing customs; you're experiencing a way of life. Be patient with yourself and others, and be ready for some slip-ups. It's all part of the adventure," he explained.
"And here's a secret sauce tip: learn a few essential phrases in the local language. Nothing earns you more goodwill than a heartfelt 'hello' or 'thank you' in the native tongue," Alex added. "It's like sprinkling a bit of magic on your interactions."
If you'd like to gain more travel tips from Alex and the rest of the offMetro team, be sure to visit their site right here!
Squatting toilets. I know it is just local culture/tradition, but I hate going into a public toilet and be welcomed by others' effluence...
In Serbia where people mistreat their dogs. Leave them in cages in the front yard, or just outside unwashed on a chain, even in the snow.
The lack of spatial awareness in China, like people rushing to get into the elevator before you can exit it. Men casually coughing up phlegm and spitting everywhere. Shirts rolled up above belly to cool down. All the stench that can catch you off-guard anytime anywhere.
Aaah yes, the Beijing Bikini, greatest of belly flexes
Lack of air conditioning in Europe and no screens on the windows. I was staying in Italy at a Marriott property and the hotel room was sweltering in December. I opened the window and the room was immediately flooded with mosquitoes.
Portuguese waiters disappearing after serving you the desserts!
A guidebook told me that dessert is seen as the best part of the meal therefore they give you plenty of time to enjoy it. But I wanna pay and move on!
On the other hand: in the US they bring you the check when you haven’t even swallowed the last bite. I don’t like that either 😆
Find some middle ground!
They are not disappearing, they are leaving you alone to enjoy your meal without pestering or useless small talk. If you need anything (reorder, check) just raise your hand or call them, is that so hard?
Squat toilets. I'm a woman and I live in jeans. Every time I encounter one where there aren't other options (which has been infrequent, thankfully), I feel like I'm about to try solving a quadratic equation where if I get the answer wrong, my foot gets soaked in pee.
I've been to Spain twice and can't get my head around everything happening 3-5 hours later than I'm used to... Breakfast at midday... Dinner at 11pm... Out for drinks until 4am...
I can't get used to how nothing in the US is the advertised price, and why starters and mains have the wrong name on menus
As i said elsewhere: It sort of violates a rule of contracts. The contract is, e.g. , the restaurant advertises a meal at a certain price, and the customer accepts to pay that price. But the restaurant then repudiates that contract by expecting the customer to pay another 20% on top of the advertised price. Same goes for state and local taxes not mentioned in the advertised price.
The amount of food on a plate in most US restaurants, and how much leftovers of it go to the garbage, along with the exaggerated use of single use disposable cutlery.
Don't forget that giving them to homeless or letting homeless dive for them in the dumpster is illegal too.
For me, it's in Mexico where the septic system can't handle toilet paper, so there are small trash cans next to every toilet for the.. um.. used paper.
People clapping after a plane lands. This is done in several places but I’m most familiar with it in Russia. Men squatting in public, as often witnessed in Central Asia. People in Bulgaria shaking their heads to mean yes and nodding to say no.
I have a mnemotechnic thing for that! They're NOdding...they mean NO! Hope that helps
Women being hissed at as they walk down the street. A method of catcalling in many countries. I experienced it most in Latin America.
Cat calling for real. Hissing and meowing at people sounds like a mental disorder.
Idk how to phrase this but the absolute disregard for noise pollution in Manila. It's almost impossible to escape the noise. There's loud cars and beeping everywhere. Also, nobody uses headphones. People will play videos at full volume and nobody seems to mind and so many of those videos have these really annoying sound effects. I feel like I developed some disorder there lol.
I’m Filipino. Brought my Canadian husband home, he had a hard time adjusting his appetite because we eat 5 times a day. 😅
For me it's the chronic car dependency (US, Canada and the Gulf are particularly egregious). Also I love Iraq but always find it somewhat unsettling how disproportionally few women you see in public (federal Iraq anyway, Kurdistan has is much better in this regard)
US and Canada are massive countries with 500 million people. And poor public transport systems.
I learned in Italy if you see a shop you want to visit and it’s open, go in right then and there because they’re bound to close with no notice at any time during the day without explanation. I don’t think I could ever get used to unpredictable business hours.
They’re not unpredictable, they’re different than what you’re used to (lunch break / nap break / afternoon break / early closing etc) It’s usually written somewhere, or so customary that it’s not necessary.
The lack of public trashcans in Japan. I realize it's Japanese custom to take your trash with you / dispose of it at your own home, but having trashcans at least in heavy tourist areas would be appreciated!
Note: this post originally had 55 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
Some of these people need to stay home. The rest need to research before they go to a country because, guess what?, they're not going to change for you.
If you want everything to be like it is at home, then don’t travel abroad. Otherwise, get used to doing some things differently. It’s part of the fun!
I am not understanding the complaints about store closures on Sunday. I'm 46 and live in a fairly large city in the US and when I was little it was still very normal for small stores to be closed on Sundays. I feel like the open on Sundays has only expanded in the last 20-25 yrs.
All people have to do is check the opening times within the country they're visiting and make arrangements around it.
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In France, most of the time, you will not get served in any retail outlet (largely cafes) unless you greet them (Bonjour) first.
Time sense. Be there at 10, means be there at 10. Not 10:30, 10:50 or 11:15
Part of the fun of traveling is to get out of your comfort zone. Why travel to a different country if you are not open to experiencing other people's cultures and learning? Yes, some customs may different from what you are used to, but please remember that you are a visitor in someone else's home.
Thank goodness there is finally one post on BP that isn't sh**ing on the USA exclusively.
Correction, this list is not awful, it's absolutely horrendous.
Load More Replies... This is local travel in the US, but I'll never get used to Vegas, where traffic is supposed to stop for pedestrians *ANYWHERE*, not just on traffic lights or crosswalks. On my first trip, I was astonished to see 4 lanes of traffic frozen if you even got close to the curb. We didn't want to cross, were just dumb tourists looking around at the sights & taking pics, but we learned quick. I hope I never have to drive there. May end up running someone over since this is not the custom anywhere else in the US (that I know). Certainly not in NYC where I lived at the time.
How does any of that prevent a store putting their full price on the shelf? It's on their computer system for the till - so they do know it.
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BP can't win, can they? You whine when they do an article about the US, so they do an international article and you post a whinge on that as well. Be careful - the lesson you're teaching them is that you're going to moan either way, so they might as well do whatever gets more clicks rather than worry about keeping people happy.
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Of the 55 entries, 43 of them either make no reference to America or are by Americans talking about somewhere else. If you can't see them there may be a problem with your browser.
Load More Replies... Some of these people need to stay home. The rest need to research before they go to a country because, guess what?, they're not going to change for you.
If you want everything to be like it is at home, then don’t travel abroad. Otherwise, get used to doing some things differently. It’s part of the fun!
I am not understanding the complaints about store closures on Sunday. I'm 46 and live in a fairly large city in the US and when I was little it was still very normal for small stores to be closed on Sundays. I feel like the open on Sundays has only expanded in the last 20-25 yrs.
All people have to do is check the opening times within the country they're visiting and make arrangements around it.
Load More Replies... In France, most of the time, you will not get served in any retail outlet (largely cafes) unless you greet them (Bonjour) first.
Time sense. Be there at 10, means be there at 10. Not 10:30, 10:50 or 11:15
Part of the fun of traveling is to get out of your comfort zone. Why travel to a different country if you are not open to experiencing other people's cultures and learning? Yes, some customs may different from what you are used to, but please remember that you are a visitor in someone else's home.
Thank goodness there is finally one post on BP that isn't sh**ing on the USA exclusively.
Correction, this list is not awful, it's absolutely horrendous.
Load More Replies... This is local travel in the US, but I'll never get used to Vegas, where traffic is supposed to stop for pedestrians *ANYWHERE*, not just on traffic lights or crosswalks. On my first trip, I was astonished to see 4 lanes of traffic frozen if you even got close to the curb. We didn't want to cross, were just dumb tourists looking around at the sights & taking pics, but we learned quick. I hope I never have to drive there. May end up running someone over since this is not the custom anywhere else in the US (that I know). Certainly not in NYC where I lived at the time.
How does any of that prevent a store putting their full price on the shelf? It's on their computer system for the till - so they do know it.
Load More Replies... BP can't win, can they? You whine when they do an article about the US, so they do an international article and you post a whinge on that as well. Be careful - the lesson you're teaching them is that you're going to moan either way, so they might as well do whatever gets more clicks rather than worry about keeping people happy.
Load More Replies... Of the 55 entries, 43 of them either make no reference to America or are by Americans talking about somewhere else. If you can't see them there may be a problem with your browser.
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