International Travel Tips

[Sunrise Lord]

I need them.  I'm planning on taking a trip or two sometime in the near future, and I'd like some pointers before I blunder off to a foreign land.  Pretty please?

[Mystica]

which countries are you going to?

 

In General some tips to make you stand out as a polite tourist (I'll focus on Americans, but they go for everyone obviously): 

 

1. Don't constantly compare everything to America. Nothing pisses us off more than some obnoxious tourist going on and on about how everything is better at home. We will tell you to stay there then in the future.

 

2. Expect to be surprised (good and bad). Most countries in the world have a longer history than America was discovered by accident. They are bound to have things that will seem odd to you and even shock you. You don't need to agree with it, but you won't make any friends acting like a lone cruisader either. Do your homework and if a country has a severe issue that you cannot support no matter how open minded you are then choose a different country to travel to. Dogs are eaten in Asia and horses do make it on the menu in Europe. I find eating dogs as inconceivable as Americans find eating horse, but when I was in Asia I didn't judge people. I found a polite and non-insulting way to refuse to eat dog. (I said I was a dog in Asian astrology so I felt uncomfortable eating one). Learn the culture you are going to and if you don't agree with it, at least respect it.

 

3. When in doubt what to do: watch the elderly. They have survived that culture for many many decades. They are masters in what to do. For instance, crossing a street in Vietnam would have gotten me killed stone dead if I hadn't watched an elderly lady before attempting to cross. They do the exact opposit of what we do. Humbleness can save your life. Be prepared to learn instead of imposing what you think you know.

 

4. When ordering meals in a restaurant don't start with 'this on the side' and 'no sault please' or whatever. If you have dietary needs that limit your choices talk to the waiter and ask them their recommendations for someone with diabetes or any other medical requirenments you may have. Instead of changing the chef's meals as if you know better than him. Not only will you enrage the chef, but you will also get on the wrong side of the waiters who have to deal with that enraged chef now.

 

5. Be courteous but not pushy. In France I met a Canadian worker who thought it would be very impressive to show off his money to me by taking me to a casino. Not his fault that I'm not impressed by money but by people's personality, behavior and general interactions. He then proceeded to tell me how difficult European girls were because he hadn't found any that would sleep with him yet. Apparently (according to him at least, which I don't buy btw) in canada one only had to ask a girl for sex and then she would say yes or no and if it was no you could get on with finding someone else. You didn't have to spend (read: waste) all night trying to woe her. Later he asked if I wanted to come up for a coffee... Um yeah..... right. So basically.... treat the opposit sex as you want your sister/mother/daughter to be treated (or brother/father/son). This goes for every country, btw. Not just the European ones.

 

6. When local people engage in conversation with you at random don't do what the american family I met last year did with me. Do not tell them how you are there for lack of a choice and how you would much rather be in <insert any other country> because it was much better. This seems a no-brainer, but apparently that family had no brains. So, yeah.... Kara (a LOA Green from here and my bonded sister) was visiting me from the UK and we had a very hard time keeping our mouths shut and not telling them to piss off back to America. Kara was insulted in my place and she wasn't even from here.

 

7. Which brings me to the following: observe local customs while eating... That same family that did so uppity to me seemed incapable of figuring out how to use a fork and knife. Or how to eat with their mouths shut. They were smacking and dropping food from the corners of their mouths something terrible. Manners are very much appreciated. However, manners in one part of the world can be considered very rude. It is not up to the locals to adapt to the tourists but the other way around. In Western countries blowing one's nose discretely is considered the right thing to do. In Vietnam, people consider it the height of filth to put your snot in a tissue that you hold with your hand and then you put that filthy tishu in your pocket and then you use that hand to eat with. They consider it much cleaner and much more hygienic to push one nostril closed and shoot the booger out by blowing out the open nostril on to the floor. To us it looks absolutely disgusting. But there is a logic to it and as a visitor you need to respect that.

 

8. Nothing will make you faster friends than a genuin interest in the local people, place and history or produce. Even the most humble of people will silently and secretely glow with pleasure if they see you enjoy 'their' country/city/food/museums/monuments/parks/etc.

 

 

Almost forgot....

 

9. Do NOT, I stress.... N O T start talking about how you saved Europeans during WOII. If you're lucky you'll get a lukewarm smile followed by the cold shoulder and you will be cut off from any type of warm hospitality that we love to give. If you're unlucky you will be face-to-face with one like me. America helped, yes. But millions upon millions of people from other countries were also involved long before America even joined in the war. So simply don't go there. It's not worth wasting your holiday over. And we'd much rather shower you with our hospitality than with our forced defensive capabilities. Be a courteous hero. You won't know what hits you when you do, and this time in a good way.

 

 

 

Ok, I think that should do it to start with LOL.

[Elaevia]

Make sure that you have travel insurance, just in case.

 

You don't want to be stuck in a foreign country, maybe where you don't speak the language, where they are trying to make you pay a huge medical bill cos you needed strong painkillers cos you pulled a muscle (or something equally minor)

[michellem]

If in doubt, go to a place where you know most people speak English. In Europe, that's the whole of UK (obviously) and the Scandinavian countries, I don't know that much about Netherlands or Belgium but my impression is that they are quite good in English too. French people do not speak English, and according to a friend of mine who regularly attends tattoo conventions in Germany, suprisingly few German people (at least cab drivers) do too. In Spain, Italy and Greece, you'll find people who speak ok English in the most touristy places.

 

Always try and learn a few key phrases in the language of the place you are going; asking for directions, "I don't speak alot of your language", asking for toilets, resturants, banks and hotels.

 

Buy a guide book! And a map. Maps are brilliant.

 

 

I had to laugh quite hard at your post, Myst :D None of the Americans I've met here has behaved anything close to that. You've really been unlucky in those you've met!

 

But I gonna agree on the "don't complain"-thing. The only thing that really annoys me with tourists in Norway is complaining over how expensive everything is. Yes, for foreigners it is, because we have a very strong economy, so we make more money, but things are also equally expensive. Nothing will annoy a Norwegian faster than complaining about how expensive things are Well that and try to say to an average Norwegian that Sweden are better than us at winter sports XD (*sigh* I hate sports)

[Sunrise Lord]

I want to see London for sure, but I'd also like to visit Italy and Amsterdam too.

 

 

Do Americans really have a bad rep when it comes to tourism?

[blank]

Yeeeeah.

 

Sorry Sunshine....I'm sure you are lovely 

[Elgee]

I want to see London for sure, but I'd also like to visit Italy and Amsterdam too.

 

 

Do Americans really have a bad rep when it comes to tourism?

 

All over, it seems ... lol

 

My tips:

 

Be security conscious. Don't flash your fancy cameras / phones / whatever all over the place if you're in a place like, for instance, Africa. You're just asking to be robbed. Carry your wallet/money/cards inside your clothes, not in your easily accessible back pocket. Don't go into dangerous areas unless you're well protected, and don't wander around ANYwhere after dark, again unless well protected.

[Sunrise Lord]

Who knows, I might even come visit you Mother. ;)

[Elgee]

Who knows, I might even come visit you Mother. ;)

 

Yes!! I demand this! hehehe

[michellem]

There are bad sorts of tourists from all countries. Scandinavians in southern europe are drunk and stupid

[Nyanna al'Meara]

XD Well from my experience, a lot of cab drivers in Germany can hardly even speak German, so....yeaaaah. At least they seem to know the street names.

 

Ahhh.... Myst you made a few really good points there. Though I haven't met any tourists quite that obnoxious XD (....except a couple of pretty idiot German once that came visited us in NZ. Geez they were embarrassing. Oh well there's idjits in every country.)

 

But yes, 've been raised to be really respectful when it comes to foreign countries.... no wonder, I have travelled quite a bit already :p But yes, the last WWII thing. Alot of yes.

 

Ok, travelling itself!
 

Travel light. This is a very very important thing I myself ignore every time until it's too late. It's also how I recently found myself in 40 degrees C Australia lugging around a 20 kg backpack aaaand a 10kg sports bag. It got even worse when I got to NZ and hitchiked home then had to carry it up the farm. And I didn't even need half the stuff I took all month. *facepalm*

 

I agree, always keep track of all your belongings. I get angry at myself for losing a lot of stuff like beanies and sunnies and grrrr. But YOUR PASSPORT etc IS MUCHO IMPORTANT cos if you lose that, you're screwed for a while.

 

INSURE YOUR FLIGHTS. It only costs like 25 dollars/euro more per flight, and you won't regret it especially if you're flying with cheaper airlines where it's likelier to happen.

 

ALSO, safe packing. Bubblewrap gifts if you're putting them in the main baggage - they throw the stuff about something fierce.

 

More packing. Unless you're feeling risky, do NOT attach stuff to the outside of your backpack. I had too much faith in the airline I was flying in, and buckled a sleeping bag and tent to the outside of my pack. They barely made it, but the paper-wrapped present I'd buckled in right under them didn't.... my guess is someone stole it, but yeah. The tent bag was also half-hanging off. Even if it seems rock solid it's probably gonna slide out.

I might think of more stuff later but unfortunately I'm one of those learning by doing peoples..... :/
 

Oh, one last thing.

 

 

 

Sometimes stuff doesn't go according to plan, don't fuss and just roll with it. If your flight is cancelled, or you don't make your connection because your former flight was late, the company will give you a new boarding pass/maybe even a hotel stayover for free. Even if it gets stressy, they'll organise everything so just lean back and try to relax. SLEEP A LOT. Jetlag's a beyoutch.

 

p.s. Galaxy Guide references aside, a towel really is handy ;) The bigger airports have shower facilities - in those that don't, the airport hotels often offer shower access for a cheap price. If you tend to be so unlucky and get 16 hour stopovers all the time (*points at self*) showers are heavenly things after a 7 hr flight.

[Sunrise Lord]

I don't really pay attention to who did what in what war, so I highly doubt it'd come up. :D

 

 

I'm deathly afraid of heights, so I'm thinking a cruise would be more to my liking maybe.

[Elgee]

Sunshine, I'm so petrified of heights I can't even stand on a chair and can barely use stairs (but only if someone walks directly in front of me) ... yet I love love LOVE flying! There's really no comparison.

 

More tips: carry everything you can't afford to lose, toothbrush & toothpaste, small amounts of toiletries (samples are perfect for this) plus a change of clothes (at LEAST underwear) in your carry on luggage. This is handy not only for long layovers, but also if your luggage goes on a separate holiday from you.

 

Carry at least 1 certified copy of your passport (with visa stamps) somewhere, in case the passport itself gets lost. Also of whatever other type of identification document your country has.

[Mystica]

still don't know where you're going. Curious minds want to know

[Sunrise Lord]

I don't know for sure myself.     The UK for sure, but elsewhere... there's so many places I want to see.  My dream is to take a world tour someday.

[michellem]

I have a pretty comfy couch and there's an airport close to me where planes come in from London

[Ryrin]

Sunny, let me know when. Great topic by the way.

 

I'm planning. I made it to Israel and I'm going there again. Cape Town International is close to a 10 hour flight from Tel Aviv.

 

Yeah, gonna stalk Nyn too.

[Ryrin]

 

I want to see London for sure, but I'd also like to visit Italy and Amsterdam too.

 

 

Do Americans really have a bad rep when it comes to tourism?

 

 

All over, it seems ... lol

 

My tips:

 

Be security conscious. Don't flash your fancy cameras / phones / whatever all over the place if you're in a place like, for instance, Africa. You're just asking to be robbed. Carry your wallet/money/cards inside your clothes, not in your easily accessible back pocket. Don't go into dangerous areas unless you're well protected, and don't wander around ANYwhere after dark, again unless well protected.

So we'll wander on over to your house after dark?

[Ryrin]

I have a pretty comfy couch and there's an airport close to me where planes come in from London

I'll keep that in mind! :)

[Sunrise Lord]

I have a pretty comfy couch and there's an airport close to me where planes come in from London

I detect a little "hint, hint" in there. 

[michellem]

 

I have a pretty comfy couch and there's an airport close to me where planes come in from London

I detect a little "hint, hint" in there. 

 

 

Well I don't know if I'll ever be able to afford to go to the US, so I gotta try and lure as many as possible of you to come to me

 

Plus Norway is beautifuuuuuuuuuuul in the summer season.

 

 

 

And Ry, you should Hopefully in six months time+ we'll have a new apartment so we'll have an extra bedroom too.

[Ryrin]

Mish, I have friends who went to Norway. We were at dinner looking at pictures and all we kept saying was "why can't we be Norwegian?"

[Mystica]

very cool sunrise! I love travelling. I get to do it not nearly often enough :)

But two more (not counting the poles) and I'll have been on every continent. But I doubt I'll ever get there lol.

[Ryrin]

Great stuff here!!! I love traveling too.

 

Security of personal belongings, I think is important, even on the plane. A member of our tour group had $500 AND her passport stolen on the plane.

[Rekinu Alasayaar]

Myst, everything you listed is RUDE over here in America too... some crass members of society just are too... lame... to realize it, AND since they seem to have the money to travel abroad (or at least the credit cards) they give a lot of us a bad name for ourselves. 

 

Especially the WW2 card... though I dont know how much longer Britain was going to hold out, there were LOTS of resistance groups that did as much as they could, and paid as heavily as any US losses in our involvement in the European Front (Warsaw rebellion? The defense of Russia by an under-armed military? they took a huge beating besides, and their population was decimated wherever the Nazis pushed to before they started to push back with the assistance of Winter, and armament from GB and the US)... anyways, to NOT give a history lesson, and beyond that, using an act, that happened more than 50 years ago... well, thats called irrelevant... So many other things have happened in the world that it doesn't matter in a 'trump' war if you are trying to do one.

 

Just saying that a good 80% of us here in the US think the things you stated are ultra rude too, especially about the eating stuff.

 

 

 

Anyway, my suggestions, just eat it... if you DON'T want to know, don't ask.  I am pretty sure I ate dog and maybe even horse in Chile (though its not as big there as it is in Peru).  Learn a little about the history of the places you are going to, try to find out if they have any museums that you can visit, particularly if it is a language that you understand.  I LOVED learning Chilean history when I was there, though I did NOT have the opportunity to see any museams, I DID go to a few Iconic Chilean monuments, El Faro en la Serena (a lighthouse where it is useless... still don't understand that, haha) the Flower Clock in Vina del Mar, the defenses in Coquimbo used to defend against pirates in the old days, the sideways elevators in Valparaiso, those things are different, and can help define your time... You have a unique opportunity in such a varied group as this, as there is likely someone here who lives where you want to go, and they can help you weed out what would be a great use of time, and what is a waste!