It’s glorious to jet off to exotic climes and explore new locations. But it’s easy to forget that travel is a luxury and a privilege (yes, even flying Jet Blue). Although it may significantly enrich our lives, it’s not always the same for the locals we encounter. So, unless you really don’t care, do U? challenge the stereotypes and don’t be them. Please read up on our five top travel tips for how to behave better abroad and be a good tourist.
Speako de lingo
You don’t need to go full-out Rosetta Stone, but speaking a few words of the local language gets you far. For starters, it helps you connect with others; it shows that you respect their culture and are open to learning more about it. Even if it’s just a few words, like “hello,” “goodbye,“ and “thank you,“ just something. Don’t assume people in a foreign country will speak English; if they don’t, do not do that thing where you talk slower and A LOT LOUDER…. They still won’t understand, no matter how high the volume. If you have a smartphone, use Google Translate. And don’t be embarrassed; if you mess it up, who cares? You’re a dumb tourist anyway; most people find it cute, unless you’re in Paris.
Respect the culture
If ever you get confused, look out the window and check if you can see [insert whatever local landmark] because if you’re from Manhattan and you can’t see the Statue of Liberty, you’re probably not in Manhattan. OK, OK, you may be in Las Vegas, but, well, you get the drift…. The point is, you’re not in your home country. Therefore, the rules, laws, social norms, and culture will likely differ — sometimes slightly and sometimes drastically. Whatever the degree, be respectful. Eat local food, occasionally step away from the inevitable tourist spots, and dress appropriately. Always dress appropriately. Don’t wear a bikini top and shorts inside a cathedral. Just don’t be that person. Don’t get wasted and pass out on the beach in Dubai. You can easily find the hotel bars to help you do so. However, you may find your holiday is unexpectedly extended by a few months, and your new accommodation definitely won’t be up to scratch, not to mention the roommate.
Barcelona
Reduce your footprint
Nobody is asking you to be the new Greta; just one in the world is enough. Bless her. But do try to reduce your footprint when you’re traveling overseas. A good rule of thumb when you want to behave better abroad and be a good tourist is to try and leave a place at least the same as when you arrived if you can’t manage any better. Try to avoid big hotels and resorts; aside from being bland, impersonal, and uniform, they also utilize a ludicrous amount of natural resources. If you’re in the developing world, drastically reduce showering and skip the baths. Two hot showers a day are for the USA, not Mumbai. Be aware that you may be in a country where many people don’t have any running water, let alone constant hot running water. With that in mind, don’t be wasteful:
- Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth.
- Don’t leave the fan or air conditioning on all day when you’re out of the room.
- Turn the lights out when you leave a room.
- Don’t steal seashells from the seashore (It’s not just a tongue twister)
It may seem like little things, but they all add up.
Just because you can doesn’t mean you should
Sure, you can go explore the Galapagos Islands, and who wouldn’t want to see the massive ancient tortoises, the penguins, and those giant lizard things? However, do you really need to? Do you need to place your ability to do something over the negative impact it will have? Maybe you do. But, hey, that makes you a terrible person. Tourism in areas like the Galapagos is causing irreparable harm to the islands’ ecosystems in addition to damaging the income of the natives. Splash out on an amazing TV instead and watch a David Attenborough special. Meanwhile, don’t go on a poverty tour if you travel to the developing world. Nobody in a favela wants to see you gawping at them as you drive past in a luxury air-conditioned bus. And don’t swim with the dolphins. Nobody wants to see a fat pink tourist clinging to a poor, imprisoned dolphin’s dorsal fin. NOBODY.
Don’t be an a**hole
It shouldn’t need saying, but still. It does. If you want to behave better abroad and be a good tourist, then… Don’t. Be. An. A**hole. Quite frankly, if somebody needs to tell you how not to be, there’s likely no hope for you.