How to Avoid Embarrassing Yourself While Traveling: 15 Honest Tips That Will Save You

It's one thing to look like a complete idiot when traveling to another country, but it's quite another to offend the locals. So, to avoid that, try to follow the advice in this episode. It was written by Reddit users in response to the question: "What should tourists NEVER do in your country?" As it turns out, the answers are much more interesting than a standard country guide. They will definitely help you stay out of trouble.

1. Australia

Tip #1: Don't say the word "mate" unless you speak the language 100%. You'll probably be forgiven for your accent, but remember that the word "mate" has 7-8 meanings that can be neutral or rude.

Tip #2: Don't go to the beach without sunscreen. Come with clothing and polarized sunglasses. We have the highest rate of skin cancer due to the strongest UV radiation in the summer.

Tip #3: Don't assume that because you can swim, you can swim in the ocean, even if other people are doing so. Learn to judge the waves, read any signs and plaques nearby, and if there are lifeguards nearby, listen to their instructions and swim between the flags.

2. Canada

Tip #1: Canada is a big country, so don't expect to see all the provinces quickly... unless you want to spend your entire vacation in a car.

Tip #2: Don't get out of your car to look at bears. Don't feed bears. Don't stop in the middle of the road to look at bears.

Tip #3: Same goes for moose. You can cause an accident on the road or even get hurt by the animals themselves.

Tip #4: Don't add ketchup to your poutine (national dish, stress on the "i").

3. England and Great Britain

Tip #1: Don't think that because you and I speak the same language, our cultures are the same.

Tip #2: Don't call every country in the United Kingdom "England". The UK is made up of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. If you think all of that is "England", it's not, and it makes us incredibly angry when you refer to all British people as English.

Tip #3: Never, ever criticise the BBC or the NHS. They are our national treasure; we can complain about them all we want because our taxes keep them going. And by the way, we love complaining about them. It’s a British pastime. And you’re just a visitor, if you have to deal with the BBC or the NHS, don’t complain about them!

Tip #4: We call French fries “chips” and crisps “crisps”.

4. France

Tip #1: Don't joke about the German invasion. The German occupation is still very much alive in the French memory - it's a period of French history that we are all ashamed of.

Tip #2: Don't treat people in shops like servants. Yes, the customer is king and is always right, but in France, kings were beheaded.

5. Iceland

Tip #1: Don't be too friendly. It's not that Icelanders are impolite or rude to strangers on the street. We're just used to everyone being quite reserved in public.

Tip #2: It's usually quite weird to suddenly talk to a stranger, say in a museum. A stranger coming up to you and saying "Hi, how are you?" is the weirdest thing that can happen to any Icelander.

6. India

Tip #1: Please keep in mind that India is a country of diverse vegetarians. You may meet people who don’t eat eggs because they are “pure vegetarians” and then meet those who eat meat every day but wince at the mere mention of beef or pork. Beef is banned in Mumbai, avoid it whenever possible.”

Tip #2: Don't be offended if people ask you personal questions about your job, family, etc. In India, polite conversation usually starts with questions about how much money the other person earns or how he got married.

Tip #3: Never say cricket is boring.

7. Ireland

Tip #1: If you have Irish roots, please do not tell the natives of the country that you are "Irish" or "part Irish". We don't give a damn. In our eyes, you are not Irish at all!

Tip #2: Never use the supposedly native Irish greeting "Top of the morning to you." It's unlikely that the Irish will take this phrase without irritation. And keep in mind that if they get offended or irritated with you, then most likely they are starting to like you.

Tip #3: Don't talk about the Irish Republican Army or ask people if they are Catholic or Protestant. Please dig deeper into this. It will help you avoid stupid questions like "Well, is Ireland part of the UK?"

Tip #4: Don't ask for an Irish Car Bomb or a Black and Tan in bars. In some bars, this is considered very offensive. If you want a Black and Tan (a mix of dark and lager), ask for a Half and Half. The terms Irish Car Bomb and Black and Tan are considered offensive because their origins go back to the Irish War of Independence.

Tip #5: Don't just stick to Dublin. It's always amazing when people come to Ireland and never show their nose outside the capital.

8. Japan

Tip #1: Don't shout or speak loudly. This is not the custom in Japan, and if you do this in a public place, you will be considered a barbarian.

Tip #2: This tradition is slowly dying out, but try to avoid eating on the street anyway. A kid with an ice cream? Cute. A guy with a kebab and a disgusting hungover face? Horrible.

Tip #3: Don't dip your kushikatsu into the hot sauce twice. In Osaka (depending on the establishment), this can get you reprimanded or even kicked out of the restaurant.

Tip #4: Don't do drugs. In Japan, weed is a drug, and drugs are bad, and the penalties for using them are very severe. Don't even talk about drugs with Japanese people you know: young Japanese are more understanding, but such talk will still give you a bad reputation among most locals.

9. Netherlands

Tip #1: Yes, weed is legal in our country, but that doesn’t mean you can smoke it on the street, in public transport, at someone’s home or anywhere else – you can only do this in special coffee shops.

Tip #2: Don't walk on bike paths, and if you do, don't be surprised if you get yelled at.

Tip #3: Don't rent a bike just because you want to experience Dutch culture. If you're not used to cycling, be aware that it can be dangerous even in small towns. Instead, explore the city on foot and find a nice, easy bike route in advance.

10. New Zealand

Tip #1: Don't go camping overnight in the wild without proper gear. Tropical forests are very humid and sunlight never reaches the ground. So you can die from hypothermia at night, even in warm weather.

Tip #2: If you are visiting a geyser region and see a sign that says "Risk of death after passing this point," then you should take it seriously and avoid going there.

Tip #3: When visiting New Zealand, don't compare it to Australia, especially if the comparison is not in New Zealand's favor. We don't care if Australia had something better.

11. Norway

Tip #1: Don't ask people how they're doing unless you're willing to hear the full story. We really do answer that question.

Tip #2: Don't go hiking on the Svalbard archipelago bare-handed. It's better to take a firearm with you to protect yourself from polar bears if you stray off the beaten path.

12. Portugal

Tip #1: Don't go swimming without thick-soled shoes, and always stop by the pharmacy before your first visit to the beach to buy some fish poison spray. It's cheap and will probably save you a trip to the hospital.

Tip #2: Never say "gracias"! Say "obrigado" or in English "thanks". Everyone speaks English here, but many tourists think that speaking to us in the language of our sworn enemies is not so offensive.

13. Scotland

Tip #1: Never go hiking without proper equipment. Remember that people die in the Scottish Highlands every week.

Tip #2: Don't drink in a pub without windows, as this could be a sign that there are some shady types hanging around. There are no windows because they have been stoned and broken so often that the owners have simply decided to brick them up.

Tip #3: Don't talk about London or the Tories.

Tip #4: Don't ask why we don't all wear kilts and eat haggis. We only wear kilts for weddings, formal events or Scottish games.

Tip #5: Don't be afraid to approach the locals. They may look a bit tough, but Glasgow is home to some of the friendliest people in the world. Scots love to laugh and have fun, so don't be alarmed if a stranger on the street suddenly starts talking to you. Edinburgh, on the other hand, is not so friendly.

14. South Africa

Tip #1: Don't say "safari", it's called "game drive". And close the doors and windows in the car, otherwise you risk becoming Simba's lunch. Respect Mother Nature, keep in mind that this is not a zoo, but wild animals that will kill you without hesitation.

Tip #2: Don't dress in khaki from head to toe, even if you're going on safari. Regular clothes are fine, but few people wear khaki here, so you'll look pretty weird.

15. USA

Tip #1: In states where marijuana is legal, you shouldn't smoke it in public. The main problem, for example in Colorado, is that the vote was almost tied, and now local officials are openly saying that legalization was a mistake. Many would like to shut this shop down, so they get annoyed when someone starts smoking under their noses.

Tip #2: Don't think that our country is the same everywhere, and don't say that you didn't like American food just because you ate it at some restaurant in Minnesota.

Tip #3: Don't try to imitate the Southern drawl. Those who do so sound like idiots. And don't assume that all Southerners speak like that, because they don't.

Tip #4: Don't stand too close to people in line. You should stand so that you can stretch out your arm and not reach the person in front of you.

Tip #5: Americans generally don't like to be stared at, so if you're being stared at, you're doing something really weird.