Rude Things Americans Do Abroad Without Realizing It

Believe it or not, tipping differs from country to country. You want to avoid over-tipping in countries where service charges are included, and under-tipping when it’s expected. When heading to Europe, be sure to check out our handy tipping guide or the worldwide tipping guide from worldtravelers.org. This way, you can avoid offending your server, driver, or any other worker who is (or is not) expecting a tip.

Americans are known for being expressive and loud. In countries like Germany and Japan, these loud tones can come off as intrusive and even disrespectful, especially in places like trains, restaurants, and museums.

While most other countries in the world have a much higher bilingual (or multilingual) rate than here in the United States, you should never assume the local you are speaking with can speak English. Be sure to learn some basic phrases in the local language, and have Google Translate downloaded on your phone. Chances are, most people working in hospitality will notice your effort and switch to English, but they'll appreciate your effort. However, not everyone will speak English, so be prepared for that.

Americans typically are pretty casual when it comes to greetings, friendliness, and even wearing a hat indoors, but that is not the norm everywhere. When greeting someone, start in a more formal way. Not everywhere uses a handshake as a typical greeting, so be sure to brush up on your greetings before you head abroad. This guide from Diversity Resources gives you the basics from several countries.

Clothing that is acceptable in most places in the US, like shorts, flip-flops, and sleeveless shirts, can be offensive in other parts of the world. Visiting religious sites in tank tops or failing to remove shoes when entering a home or temple can seem highly disrespectful. In conservative regions like the Middle East or parts of Southeast Asia, modesty in dress is not just recommended, it’s expected.

Table manners differ throughout the world. Did you know that eating while walking is frowned upon in Japan? And in India, leaving food on your plate is considered rude. Several countries don’t use utensils. Be sure to research the dining etiquette in the country you are visiting.

Entitlement in restaurants, hotels, or shops will likely not get you what you think you deserve. Being overly demanding, snapping fingers at waitstaff, or getting aggressive when service is slower than expected can make Americans appear entitled and disrespectful.

While haggling is typical in countries like Morocco, that isn’t the case everywhere. In places like Japan and Western Europe, haggling over prices in stores or restaurants is considered impolite. Many Americans try to negotiate in fixed-price environments and come off as pushy or unaware.

Refusing to respect standing in line is sure to get you some dirty looks in several places throughout the world. When abroad, stay in your place- don’t cut, and don’t be pushy.

In this era of social media, people tend to take pictures of everything. However, there are some places, like inside religious buildings, during ceremonies, taking photos of people (especially in some small, remote villages), and even inside some stores where photography is not allowed. Always ask permission, especially if you are taking pictures of people.

Saying “back home we…” or “this would never happen in America” comes off as condescending, snobby, and rude. Locals do not want to hear comparisons to the U.S.

In other countries, openly speaking about politics or religion is taboo. Keep these topics to yourself, unless someone brings it up (and you are comfortable discussing).

Recently, a group of tourists was criticized for dancing in a fountain in Seville, and earlier this year, a tourist was fined for jumping into the Trevi Fountain in Rome. Climbing on ruins, touching sacred artifacts, or taking selfies in solemn places can come across as deeply disrespectful. Americans who treat these sites as Instagram backdrops rather than places of historical or spiritual significance may leave a bad impression.