In recent years the term “tourist” has been shrouded in a cloud of negativity. Nobody these days wants to be a “tourist“, opting instead for the more esteemed title of “traveler“.
Unfortunately there are those people who do commit travel faux pas when abroad, earning them that tourist badge. In an attempt to diminish the negative views of tourists, here is my helpful guide to being a less sucky tourist!
1) Its okay to leave the Beach
I’m all for luxurious all-inclusive beach vacations. Bring on that sand and sun! But you can’t really say you’ve been somewhere if you’ve only seen the beach and the bottoms of several Coronas. Leave the resort property! See the town you’re in. Eat at a local restaurant. If you’re too nervous about the surrounding area, check out some day excursions offered by local tour companies!
2) Raising your voice won’t make people understand English any better
Okay, I really don’t understand this one. Why is it that when people don’t speak English, we think it will help if we just speak louder? It’s not going to help. And you’re going to look like a jerknugget. Instead, learn some key phrases used for the country you’re visiting. You may feel awkward and like you’re not going to say it right, but that’s exactly what non-English speakers feel when they try to communicate with you! You can always bust out those high-school drama lessons and act out what you need. Just don’t yell in English. It’s not going to get you anywhere.
3) Read up on the local culture and RESPECT IT
One of my biggest pieces of travel advice that I’ve already written several times over: “Just because it’s different, doesn’t make it bad or wrong.” Seriously though. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE stop wearing your bikinis around town in conservative countries. Leave your booty-shorts and mini skirts at home. Please don’t jump on stage and start shakin’ your thang during a performance of traditional music. [Story about that one coming later…]
4) Take the time to understand where you are
Learn about where you are visiting. Get an idea of the history. Understand what happened there. Don’t frolic through memorial gardens. Don’t make a silly pose next to the veteran statue. It’s disrespectful and just not cool. You know who isn’t going to ‘like’ your selfie at Auschwitz? The estimated 1.5 million people who died there. #perspective
5) If you want to take a photo or consult your map, just move to the side
What is with this! Quit stopping in the middle of the sidewalk to take pictures. Especially if you’re in a crowded city! There are other people around that are trying to walk and nobody is expecting you to just stop. Simply step to the side to allow others to go around you while you do what you gotta do. Shifting yourself by a foot or so is not going to ruin your perfect photo op.
6) Skip the Big Mac
Why would you pay to travel to another country, only to eat the same things you can get at home? I understand the comfort factor. I get it. But odds are you’re going to have a much better tasting meal at a local restaurant. If you’re worried about foods in another place, do some research before leaving. See what foods other people have recommended. Look at pictures and the ingredients of local foods to see what looks/sounds good. Write down the names of the foods in the local language so you can find them while you’re there. Ask people at your hotel or the driver of your taxi for recommendations! You can do it. I promise.
7) Stop expecting everything to be the same as home
Food will be different. Hotels will be different. Transportation will be different. People will be different. Please do not complain when things are different than you’re used to. If you don’t want to embrace what is different about the world, just stay home.
8) Your guidebook is not the Bible
I love guidebooks. I read them all the time! They’re great for getting an overall picture of your trip. But it’s also okay to venture outside of the guidebook. Don’t get stuck only in recommendations. Tuck that guidebook away and just take a walk to see what you can find on your own! You may find something that those guidebook writers don’t even know about!
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What are your tips on being a less-sucky tourist?
36 Comments
Awesome post! More people need to read this! Too many sucky tourists about, it’s all about being a great tourist to get the most out of your time abroad.
Love the term ‘jerknugget’ too! Haha!
Also… as much as I agree with ALL of these, there’s one which I tend to do – I admit it! I eat at McDonalds on holiday… but only because I like to try the ‘non-UK’ menu items… in Lisbon I had a McFrango (!) and in Egypt they serve a McArabia, in Italy they had an awesome Pistachio flavoured McFlurry, but don’t judge me… I do make an effort to try all the local, more traditional dishes too 😉
Okay okay I can understand the trying of new things at McDonalds. When I lived in Australia, I couldn’t get enough of their “Pasta Zoo Meals”, which we definitely do not have here in the US. I was just making a general point. My dad always has to find a Subway when he travels and we always make fun of him 😉
Also, pistachio McFlurry? Yes please.
I try to always be a nice tourist.
Speaking louder LOL. I was in St. Thomas, having gotten off a cruise ship. Yes English is the language , but in a store was the cutest little girl and a friend said something to her (don’t remember what). The little girl didn’t respond so she repeated herself. Then her mother said to my friend she doesn’t speak English, they were French. Just because you are in a foreign country where the people speak the same language doesn’t mean who you are speaking to isn’t a tourist.
Haha. What a great perspective!
Very interesting post and your guide is really helpful!l There are really so many sucky tourist around, uffa
It all has to do with the motivations to travel. Unfortunately some peoples’ motivations are far too self-centered!
Haha these are great – and true
Everything in this post is SO ON POINT. I remember losing faith in humanity while in Rome when I overheard a North American family’s loud complaints that there was “no McDonald’s”. YOU’RE IN ITALY!!! You could spit and hit a fantastic restaurant. GOD!!!
Some people just don’t get it, right?
NOPE!
Love your list. Elaine Sciolino said that McDonalds is extremely popular in France, lol!
The understanding and respect one is so important. I don’t know why anyone who has the privilege to visiting another country or place not have the manners to be respectful. I understand not knowing the rules and breaking them by accident but some people do it on purpose.
As of the speaking louder one .. I don’t understand that either! Hahha they don’t understand the words you are saying. They are not deaf.
Great list!
Thanks, Jojo!
So true, a traveler sees what she sees, a tourist on the other hand, sees what she has come to see! – HyperGypsy
I agree with everything on the list! But I always visit the McDonalds to try out the local menu items 😛 They are always worth a try haha
I travel only domestically, but I try to act like I fit in instead of sticking out like a sore tourist thumb.
Went to Mexico with my mom not long ago and she kept yelling trying to make people understand English! Ha! I had to keep reminding her that wasn’t helping! Enjoyed your post!
What a terrific post, thank you. As an Australian who regularly travels to Bali I am constantly appalled by the lack of respect and cultural sensitivity shown by mostly Australians. It feels downright abusive and I wonder why some of them don’t just take a holiday at their local pub or swimming pool.
I know US citizens often get a bad rap as travellers but many Aussies are pretty appalling too.
We need more travellers like you.
It’s up to us to educate travelers! Sometimes people are just ignorant of the world around us and its up to us to open their eyes. Thus, the purpose behind this blog 🙂
Thanks for reading!
I love this post! I agree with Tip#4 especially. There are times and places where it is okay to take selfies, memorials, cemeteries, and religious buildings are not some of them!
Couldn’t have said it better! I cringe so hard everytime I see tourists really hamming it up at some of the London memorials. It can be easy to forget that your exotic vacation is someone else’s home and memorial, but it only takes a few seconds to read signs and/or use common sense!
Well said!
Fun stuff! #6 is a HUGE pet peeve of mine…even when traveling in my own country.
Yes!!! I agree with all of these points, especially #8. I’ve had some of the best experiences exploring more obscure places typically not in guidebooks. Also just did a collab when someone mentioned trying foods other than McD’s haha. Awesome post, Brianna!
Haha, you made this fun to read! I have to admit, my husband is very good at raising his voice in foreign countries thinking it will help them understand. I always crack up and give him a hard time but once I do the locals tend to do the same! And, the McDonalds thing? Well, once on a fam trip everyone said they were dying for a Big Mac. I was sort of grossed out by that. But we found the food was not microwaved like here in the states. It was actually a great burger! Not all MickeyD’s are the same!
I love this one: Skip the Big Mac! Local food should be one of the reasons we visit a place in the first place!
I like the fact that you make it clear that there is a difference between a tourist and a traveler. There is a time and a place for both but I love learning about different cultures and people and that requires you to be more of a traveler.
Ha, I just made a comment elsewhere about making sure we don’t take on our own rituals and expectations when we visit another country. Seeing people behave like this drives me insane. “I always have tomato sauce with my x”, “I always eat dinner at 6pm, why can’t I order food now” etc. You’ve got some great tips here and I agree with all of them.
Great tips! I hate to admit I’ve been guilty of some of these before, as I’m sure we all have. Hopefully everyone realizes when we travel places we are a guest in that country.
Awesome and so true, being an expat and have lived in Multiple countries it seems there are always those people who travel or live in a new place yet want it to be the same as home. I always wonder why they came in the first place. 🙂
Ha ha this was great! I 100% agree with all of these 🙂 AND you put it together in a funny way – good job 🙂
Great tips for tourists!! So many of my friends travel to countries and stay in all inclusive resorts and think they have seen that country. What makes it enjoyable for me, is mixing with the locals and getting to know the local customs 🙂
Yes yes yes!!! I totally agree with every single one of your above points. The beach one baffles me the most. I don’t quite understand how people can travel and never leave the resort. Like the beach is awesome but so are other places….
Ha, love these tips! You’ll only find my in a McDonalds abroad if I’m desperate for wifi 😉 Great post, thanks for sharing!