If you've ever lived in a tourist town, then you know that clueless
visitors are often more trouble than they (or their wallets) are worth.
And because you've likely tripped over enough clueless clods, you'd also
likely know how NOT to be one when
you're the out-of-towner.
What you do on your vacation isn't really regulated by rules. But it
should be. And that's why we've enumerated these 10 easily avoided
vacation pitfalls to help you enjoy your next trip and not make a
Shockmaster-level ass of yourself.
1. Making no attempt to blend in/trying too hard to fit in
There's a fine line to tread when visiting someplace new: you don't want
to stick out like a sore thumb, but trying to avoid being "that tourist
guy" can make you look like a foolish wannabe. If you simply must
wear your Mets cap and dress Asics, at least follow these two basic
rules: shirts with the name of the place you're visiting should only be
worn once you're home, while American flag tees shouldn't be worn... at
all.
2. Taking pictures of everything
While it's always nice to enjoy vacation photos, it's even nicer to
enjoy the actual vacation. If you spend the entire trip trying to
capture the absolute best shot of the Taj Mahal, it cheapens the whole
experience. Not to mention it can drive your travel partner(s) insane.
Take the photo and put the camera down.
3. Skipping local restaurants for the stuff you eat at home
Even if you're not a diehard foodie willing to try anything once,
there's really no excuse for dining at the Hard Rock Cafe in Florence.
Unless you collect the pint glasses. Ok, still no. You've already spent a
boatload to fly miles away from the local Cracker Barrel, why not give
the regional specialties a try? If you don't like 'em, you can at least
feel justified when you tell people that fresh pasta and Chianti are
totally overrated.
4. Breaking the law
Being an American abroad, you've already got one strike against you.
Don't add fuel to the fire by starting a fight, relieving yourself on a
statue, or flaunting your
Buddha tattoo. If you're lucky, you'll spend an hour in a holding cell before paying a fine. If you're unlucky (or in any of
these countries), the arresting officers might opt to give you a
wood shampoo instead, or worse.
5. Expecting every shop to take credit cards
You might think plastic should be an acceptable form of payment in every
Mumbai shirt peddler's back-alley stall, but think again. Not only is
it impractical in some places, but not all shops want to pay the fees
that accompany accepting credit cards. Be smart and keep cash on hand,
or else you might not get to take that hilarious "Ayatolla Assaholla"
tee home with you.
6. Complaining about how expensive/weird everything is
Getting upset because prices in England are outrageous is something you
do while planning your visit to London, not while sitting down to dinner
in Mayfair. Vent your frustrations/argue with your GF before
the trip, budget for the increased prices, then suck it up and pay the
damn bill. The same goes for culture shock and etiquette: everyone knows
"this isn't how it's done it back home". That's why it's not home. Do
some research on local customs and try your best not to offend.
7. Expecting everyone to speak your language
English is one of the most commonly spoken languages in the world, and,
unfortunately, this leads many a sunburnt American tourist to simply
talk louder and slower when traveling abroad. Look, you don't have to
learn the whole language before your trip, but at least give a
few phrases a shot — hell, there are even
apps that’ll do the work for you.
8. Over-sharing on social media
Remember that bit about taking photos? It applies here too. By
posting selfies as you
bike through Amsterdam,
or checking into a Tibetan 7-11 on Foursquare, you're sending a message
to the people who follow you: "I'm more interested in letting you know
that I'm here than I am in actually being here". You might be surprised
how little people care about the minutiae of your vacation.
9. Going someplace amazing and never leaving the resort
Sure, the San Juan Marriott is pretty awesome, but if you're going to
spend every waking moment at the pool (or in the casino), you may as
well have just stayed home. Stop cheating yourself and see what's out
there, like the
world's highest zipline, or
Bioluminescent Bay, or something else, if you're
not
in Puerto Rico. You might not save any money in the end, but at least
you'll have a legit experience you can tell your friends about at the
pool (or casino) back home.
10. Being an oblivious pedestrian
If you're used to walking around one big city, you can probably navigate
them all. But if you've never been to a place where walking is the main
mode of transportation, here's a free piece of advice: stopping
abruptly on a busy sidewalk is great way to get body checked into a
lamppost. Treat the sidewalk like the road, and the people like cars,
and everyone'll be better off. Also, taking photos in the middle of the
street's probably a bad idea just about everywhere.
Gianni Jaccoma
is an editorial assistant for Thrillist Travel, and he's not usually
this preachy, honest. Follow him, judgment-free, on Twitter @gjaccoma.
44723
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please leave a comment-- or suggestions, particularly of topics and places you'd like to see covered