7 Rude Things American Tourists Do Without Realizing
What accidentally rude things do Americans do while traveling, even without realizing it? After asking the internet for their insight, they delivered this list of top-voted responses.
So if you’re traveling outside of the United States this year, make sure you’re not “that” American tourist.
1. Talking Very Loud
The number-one voted answer is to talk very loudly. Guilty. Someone added, “Talk super-loud. Some of them have no concept of an indoor voice.” However, others argued, “From my experience, this is far from just an American thing. Brits, Spanish, and Australians are pretty loud.”
2. Believe Everyone Speaks English
One replied, “Pretending or believing that everyone speaks English.” One person added, “And when they don’t understand, they say it slowly and with weird hand motions. That doesn’t help.”
Another joked, “Or they shout at locals since this improves their comprehension of English. It works every time.”
3. Believe the Rest of the World Works Like America
“The ones who think everything works elsewhere the way it does in America,” confessed one. “Especially their constitutional rights – like, no, sir, the Second Amendment does not apply here in the U.K.,” replied another.
4. Not Researching Culture and Traditions and Then Acting Entitled
Someone suggested, “Doing zero research into the culture, local traditions or food, then acting entitled about it. Squat toilets, food with insects, removing shoes in a house, etc., are all things that come to mind.”
5. Not Even a Proper Hello
Another added, “Not beginning interactions with greetings but jumping straight to the chase of what they want from you. It feels very rude and dehumanizing.”
6. Comparing Everything to the U.S.
“Spending the whole time audibly comparing the U.S. with the place they are in,” shared one. “It’s not necessarily rude, but it is very cringe. Appreciate the differences, but mind your manners.”
“It gets rude when they get openly over-enthusiastic about something exotic, like a person walking with a donkey down the road and a basket on their head, and start taking photos and stuff. That person isn’t doing this for tourists’ entertainment.”
7. Standing In the Way
“I despise how Americans stand still anywhere they want on the escalator and spread out, blocking the whole thing,” professed one. “YES! And doorways. I went to a European palace and constantly waited behind Americans standing in doorways.”
A third suggested, “It’s partly their phones. They stop mid-walk and don’t consider the other people trying to maneuver around them.”
Finally, someone commented, “Every time I travel, I see people like so mad but also too polite to say excuse me or explain the system, and it’s a little dance while they try to hurry around the Americans without being rude.”
We hope you enjoyed this Reddit picks list of rude things American travelers do without even realizing it.
