Vacation faux pas: the most rude things you can do as a tourist

When you finally plop down in that airplane seat after all the packing stress and running to the gate, the vacation can really begin. Every new destination also brings a different culture with it, and that can sometimes take a bit of getting used to. To prevent the locals from trying to push you back onto the plane with all their might, it's good to adapt a little. According to etiquette experts, there are a number of things to pay attention to, and especially things you should not do.

Expecting everyone to speak English

In the Netherlands, we are lucky. From primary school onwards, we learn English and can manage quite well across the border. Let's forget that characteristic accent for a moment. There are also many countries that do not pay much attention to English lessons, where you won't get much further than a ‘hello, how are you?’. So, you can't just assume that people will understand you when you start using more complicated sentences. A little tip: repeating your sentence much louder or slower won't make them suddenly understand you. Google Translate is your best friend in these situations. It can also help to learn a few handy phrases in the local language before your trip. This is often greatly appreciated, making people more willing to engage in conversation with you.

Not immersing yourself in your vacation destination

Being well-prepared for holiday going is always a good idea. But by preparation, I don't just mean selecting the nicest restaurants in advance. According to etiquette expert Nick Leighton, it's smart to also familiarize yourself with local customs and etiquette beforehand. If you don't do that, you might run into trouble with the locals. With a bit of Google work, you can often quickly find a list of things you should and especially shouldn't do. For example, in Hungary, it's considered rude to toast with beer, and in France, it's better to say bonjour when you enter a shop. Also, check whether it's normal to make eye contact or nod at someone, or if that's considered rude. You just have to know, but it can save you a lot of awkward situations.

Noisy tourist behavior

Discovering new places is of course fun, and you want to share that enthusiasm. However, it doesn't have to be at stadium speaker volume. So, try to keep that call to home a bit calm. The rest of the restaurant doesn't need to hear how beautiful your hike was; there's a good chance they won't understand you anyway. If you've enjoyed some summer cocktails one evening? Then pay a little extra attention. You don't want to be seen as that annoying drunk tourist who keeps the hotel awake.

Always check how tipping works

In the Netherlands, tipping is not something that is done as a standard. It's a nice extra, but no one will be angry if you skip it once. In other countries, it can sometimes be a must. Sometimes, it's even expected that you tip a certain percentage of your bill. If you don't know how it's arranged at your vacation destination, you might end up having an argument with the waiter. Checking before you leave is therefore quite handy.

Dress codes exist for a reason

Before you go on vacation, you've of course carefully selected your outfits. But just because something looks great doesn't mean you can wear it anywhere. It's obvious for churches, but not all eateries will be happy if you walk in wearing shorts and flip-flops. Again, it's a case of doing your homework before you board the plane and thinking carefully about what you take out of your suitcase before you go sightseeing.

You don't have to take a photo everywhere

All those beautiful hotspots on vacation must of course be captured for the next photo book. Although taking a quick photo sounds quite innocent, it can sometimes backfire. For example, if you're in a church or another religious place, there may be services going on or people wanting to pray. If you then pop in to take a nice picture, they probably won't be too happy about it. So, pay attention before you grab that camera again. phone Bargaining too aggressively on vacation? Really a no-go.

Dutch people are often known abroad as stingy. We all know the saying 'look, look, don't buy'. But often we contribute to that reputation ourselves by haggling aggressively; and you need to be careful with that. In some countries, bargaining is seen as disrespectful, and in others, you should at least be careful not to go too far. Saving a little money is nice for everyone; but those people also need to make a living. If you start offering extremely low amounts, that's obviously not very polite.

On vacation, time is a bit different.

On vacation, you sometimes meet people with whom you later arrange to go for a drink. In these situations, it's good to pause and consider how people handle time there. In some countries, this is very strict, and seven o'clock is exactly seven o'clock. In other countries, setting a time is more of a suggestion; you'll see each other around that time. If you know that, you can adjust and determine whether you really need to be somewhere on time or if you have a bit more leeway. You can also decide whether it's reasonable to get angry if the other person is a bit late or if you should have expected this. It saves you some discussions.

Greeting incorrectly while traveling.

To blend in completely with the locals, you might want to greet someone on the street or in the store kindly. But how you do that can greatly influence the response you get back. Not everywhere will they appreciate a nod or enthusiastic waving. Each country has its own list of what is and isn't respectful. To avoid those awkward 'do we shake hands or hug' situations and to dodge arguments, a little Google search can be your salvation.

Every country has its own culture, and that takes some getting used to. According to etiquette experts, there are also a number of things you really shouldn't do on vacation.

Source: Huffpost