Too Many Americans Are Making These 15 Mistakes Abroad (Don't Get Arrested!)

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Today's video breaks down all the ways Americans (and tourists in general) annoy Europeans without even knowing it. Avoid embarrassment and learn how to not be an annoying tourist in Europe this summer. These are the tourist habits that Europeans can't stand!
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Welcome to Portable Professional, where I, Megan, use my experience from over 300 flights to offer you simple, practical and game-changing travel tips and hacks. Our mission is to help you reduce stress and make the most of every trip.
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🐶 Chapters
00:00 Annoying tourist habits
00:22 Jaywalking
01:00 Bike lanes in Europe
01:30 Disrespecting way of life
02:17 NEVER complain about...
02:59 Treating Europe as a Playground
03:35 Do not speak like this
04:06 Do you speak English?
05:27 Don't mess with food
06:38 How much to tip in Europe
07:05 Never stand here
07:39 Instagram photos
08:22 Never take pictures here
08:59 NEVER make this joke
09:21 Don't skip this line-up
10:05 The most annoying thing tourists do...
10:52 Research THIS before you travel
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[@PortableProfessional]

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[@user-nb9jm3xo8u]

I already purchased an unlimited subscription to Babble. Happy. 👍

[@catherinemccollister2103]

When at a London hotel eating breakfast, all languages were spoken. I reminded my teen son that just because we don't understand them, doesn't mean they don't understand us. Be on your best behavior.

[@PortableProfessional]

So true! I noticed the same at a restaurant in Madrid. Happy travels!

[@Grazilla52]

EXCELLENT advice!

[@HenrikWind]

That is true. It is different from country to country, but most people in europe, have had some english in the schrool. Especially the younger generation. Some have never used it, so they preferer not to speak english, but they understand it.

[@nybsbfan18]

Someone may not look like they're fluent in another language, but they might be...

[@tcconnection]

Yes, and while many don't learn others languages, many all over the world learn English

[@DC-pr2bq]

I live in a US beach resort town. We're in the thick of tourist season right now. My #1 gripe is tourists shopping at the grocery store wearing bathing suits. This store is not on the beach. Aside from the fact that most of us don't have Instagram worthy bodies, it just grosses me out. People, when you leave the beach, please put on some clothes.

[@Immortal-_-0n]

Non photo come out nice from a dim weather.Without light it just that cold and boring.

[@casaraku1]

tourist are good for the economy no matter what they wear...you don't have to admire them.....

[@rubychurch3466]

Agree.

[@letakennedy7342]

I”m Canadian, one annoying thing for me is when people (tourist or locals) stop short in the middle of the sidewalk to find out where they are going or to confer with family and friends. I think it’s much more polite to move to the side so people don’t walk into you or have to divert around you. I think it’s just good special awareness 😀

[@HariSeldon913]

That's just as annoying in the US. Add reading a text to reasons for stopping.

[@bobanderson413]

I thought we Americans can be rude, but Asians and Indians, especially older adults, would walk on the wrong side of sidewalks , expecting everyone else to get out of their way. They would look oblivious. Just got back from Rome and Athens where this was common.

[@kateofone]

Uh yes that’s so annoying

[@michelepineau9657]

For bike lanes- on my first trip to Europe, several of us in my group were walking on a wide sidewalk in Berlin that had a pink concrete strip which we thought was decorative. A man started yelling at us in German from behind and when we turned around, we saw he was on a bike. He saw our cameras ( pre-digital age) and figured out we were tourists and proceeded to point to his bike then the strip and we realized it was the bike lane. We apologised and moved off and he smiled and everyone went on their way.

[@davidhandley6747]

Similar experience. Can't remember the country just now, but the sidewalk was wide, and had a row of copper looking bumps. No words, no signs, just bumps. It was clearly a delineation of some sort, but it wasn't possible to tell if you were supposed to walk on one side or the other. Had to wait for a cyclist to go by to know which side of the bumps was 'permissible'. Both sides of the bumps were more than wide enough for a bike and a pedestrian, two bikes or 3 pedestrians abreast to share without any conflicts, but who needs to be yelled at? :o

[@KhuBear]

There is a certain group of foreigners that don’t know about personal space… mainly because it doesn’t exist where they’re from. I get annoyed when I’m in line and they squeeze into the small gap in front of me. Additionally, when I stop to take a picture and they walk directly in front of me to take a picture too.

[@juyint]

I was in Nepal many years ago. I was visiting with a tour guide. I asked her if she ever had a problem with American tourists. She said they get a little loud sometimes. I asked her who were loudest. She said Texans and New Yorkers. I agreed and laughed being a native Texan.

[@BrianRP1209]

I don't like to generalize, but you're probably right. -- A lifelong New Yorker :)

[@Charbond]

So in summary, just be a polite and considerate human being.

[@madchatteress]

AND research the norms.

[@RurbanWalker]

That plus don't overtip apparently.

[@flyingnow4233]

As an American I was horribly embarrassed by a family who showed up five minutes before the dining room closed and demanded to be served since the restaurant wasn't "closed".

[@thompsonterry4804]

@@flyingnow4233 that happens in America, too, with Americans, even in small towns like where I live.

[@fabcol1888]

Got see plenty last year when I was in Rome some idiot carved his name on the Colosseum and his response was "I didnt know it was an old building".....lady was filling her water bottle inside the trevi fountain and people kept taking pictures inside the sistene chapel and talking loudly, even after security kept announcing to be quiet and no pictures.....no respect at all.

[@lisaphares2286]

Ewww filling a water bottle from a public fountain? Was she looking to compare health care in different countries? We always fill our water bottles at our hotel. If we drink it all, we buy bottled water. It supports the local businesses and local economy. We also often choose to avoid the really touristy areas. Try touring a mine in Wales!

[@fabcol1888]

@@lisaphares2286 actually Rome is one of the only city in the world where you can drink from all fountains, problem she did it from a major monument.

[@madchatteress]

WOW .... I remember the Sistene Chapel's policy and respected that. When it comes to places with restrictions on photography, I just wait until I'm online and download photos from Google for my keepsake. No need to be disrespectful.

[@jmi5969]

Why "no pictures"?! Art museums in my city - including operating churches - on the contrary have "yes, you can (just disable the flash)" welcome signs. Some church padres frown upon noise SLR shutters, but photography as such is not an issue. Hey, one in three people (including yours truly) continuously wears a bodycam, who cares about one camera more or less?

[@pamelaiverson5527]

They make the rules, you adhere to them whether you agree or not.

[@msmargiek48]

We are in Lisbon now and have been traveling "Europe" for 3 months. I have seen all of these that you mentioned and it's not just American's tourist, they are from all nations. My most frustrating one is Tours and families feel like they can walk 5 wide on the side walks and everyone needs to move our of their way. I get holding your kids hand but both parents and both kids can be behind each other not all in a line and no one can get round unless you walk in the street. In Lisbon, they eat all times of the day so that is generalization about when to eat. Also some bike lanes in Budapest are for both people and bikes they have signs that parents are to hold their kids hands so you should stay on the side that is for walking and not bikes. The phone is another things, oh my gosh, people are doing video calls with family and showing them the sites and obstructing everyone else on the side walk. I want to add one as well. People want to take pictures of monuments so don't casually sit on the steps so you end up in all their pictures. The loud part, I step in the back of a church by accident , the priest was saying mass and I went to leave and 30 people walked in and was so LOUD, the priest looked up and they still wouldn't be quiet I was so embarrassed, I just hurried out. It was terrible Thank you for venting all my frustration about frustrating things when we travel.

[@jmi5969]

"The phone is another things..." - isn't this common everywhere now, for locals or visitors? I see reckless "smart phone" behaviour mostly among the locals of young age.

[@phuttyyt]

A big YES to being aware of bike lanes - particularly in Amsterdam, where it often feels like there are more bikes than cars. Tourists are the biggest culprits when it comes to accidents (and near misses) where cyclists have to swerve to avoid them as they blithely step out into two-wheeled traffic. Another point for anyone coming to Europe and visiting multiple countries (or even multiple cities/regions within a larger country) is to bear in mind that the people in different parts can be *very* different in terms of temperament. Where I live, in Northern Europe, the locals can be absolute worlds apart from, say, louder and more outgoing Southern Europeans. But even in places like the UK, someone from Edinburgh is not necessarily going to be the same as someone from London or Cardiff. Basically, don't treat everyone as an homogenous mass or expect them all to respond to you in exactly the same way :)

[@madchatteress]

Exactly. I also want to add as I've had conversations with locals in Portugal ... If you don't know Portugal, they would rather you speak in English vs Spanish. They get offended when people assume that Portugal is the same as Spain.

[@phuttyyt]

@madchatteress Unless you're actually Spanish and in a city like Aveiro, which is largely subsidised by tourism from Spain 😅 But yes, this applies elsewhere as well, and can be even less well received - such as people attempting Russian in the Baltic States rather than Estonian, Latvian or Lithuanian. Just stick to English.

[@rw80]

It doesn’t feel like there are more bikes than cars. There are more bikes than cars. Which should be the case in any city.

[@alisong2328]

When I lived in Spain, I would run into tourists who complained about how few people spoke English. I said to them "Well, you are in Spain" and told them to stop into one of the many language schools if they really needed help.

[@TracyKMainwaring]

We're going to Spain for 3 days this fall. Five years ago I started learning Spanish for a cruise with 2ports in Mexico. After I stopped to go back to French (I frequently work in an FI school), but after booking this trip, I'm back on the Spanish. My husband, on the other hand, won't learn anything for his upcoming trip to Slovenia.

[@steven_dekok]

I have found that most people like to practice their English with me. But yes, it is always good to learn a few local phrases. It is a good way to transition into an English conversation.

[@philipdouglas5911]

Jay walking is unheard of in Europe due to the lack of the grid system. You can cross a street at any safe place. Americans leave your tipping culture at home as generous over tipping can lead to expectations and traps which others from other cultures can fall into. A tip that is not seen as generous enough can lead to ugly scenes.

[@RurbanWalker]

She generalized there. Jaywalking is very unacceptable to locals in Germany. Don't think it's a particular issue in most other European countries.

[@lellab.8179]

A little tip from a local about queues in Italy: just because people are not in a line, it doesn't mean that there isn't a queue. Most of the times you have to take a number, and that is pretty obvious, but other times you just look at the people there and you know that you are after them. If there are a lot of people, you can ask who's the last one ("Chi è l'ultimo, per favore?"). You are after that person.

[@HawaiiDave]

I thought it was funny when you mentioned that people who just stand on the escalator should not stay on the left but your video example was from Japan where you’re supposed to stand on the left and let people walking pass you on the right. Like you already know, different rules for different places.

[@mcmike2001]

In Tokyo, on the left, but in Osaka, on the right! 😉

[@HawaiiDave]

@@mcmike2001 I’ve only been to Osaka 4 times as a tourist so I never really noticed but I’ll take your word for it. I’ll definitely be on the lookout the next time I go there and wherever else I go to in Japan. Just assumed it was the same everywhere in Japan but I’m always learning.

[@RurbanWalker]

​@@mcmike2001wow, that's weird

[@renferal5290]

I'm actually using Babbel to learn French right now!! I'm leaving for the UK on Tuesday and will then take the train to Paris. It makes such a difference when you make an effort. They really appreciate it

[@Christine-zk6hk]

I can totally understand how people stop in the middle of a sidewalk to figure out where they need to go. When I was I. Amsterdam, we were constantly getting lost. We stopped one guy to ask where something was and it turned out we were going in the complete opposite direction. We did move out of the way most of the time, but I'm sure there were times when we didn't.

[@s.patrickmarino7289]

The big secret I have learned, if you are obviously making your best effort to blend in, people will give you quite a bit of slack. If you seem to think you know more than the local culture, not so much slack.

[@mikni4069]

Believe it or not, the blending in does not work well spot you a mile away… but being respectful towards the culture and customs will get you a long way and I guess it goes for everywhere

[@ajc-ff5cm]

@s.patrickmarino7289 I can't even pretend to hide that I'm American, so I don't even bother. I will try to speak a little of the local language or ask how to conduct myself if needed. Being genuine and respectful I find goes the furthest.

[@s.patrickmarino7289]

@@ajc-ff5cm, I think the difference in my case is, I am moving to the country permanently in about two weeks.

[@HeikoEbeling]

You don't need to blend in (and the attempt is pointless anyway). Just don't stand out in a bad way. As long as you're generally polite and respectful, people will forgive your little faux pas and if you're lucky, someone will make the effort to educate you on how to do it right.

[@s.patrickmarino7289]

@@HeikoEbeling, I think it is a bit different when you have permanent residence status on a track to citizenship and you are purchasing property and starting new businesses.

[@patricejohnson4411]

One thing I have learned from traveling to 20 countries (yes to everything in the video) is if you are unsure of a custom, to tip or not tip, being patient while waiting in line and being ALWAYS courteous and respectful of the locals, it all goes a long way. I like to think I am travel savvy, but sometimes I have made mistakes. Apologize for your mistake, and the locals will be more than happy to help you out. One thing to mention, not all European airports have the same security protocols, boarding process, etc. I was recently returning from Ireland and my carry on got flagged. The security officer told me they noticed scissors inside. I said yes, they were small travel scissors (which you can travel with now with carry on) and he told me I would have to forfeit them. I said no problem, go ahead. I apologized for my mistake, and he was very nice. Do not make a big deal at international airport security If they ask you to do something or if they have a question for you, be polite. Funny thing, I have taken these small scissors with me to many countries over the last several years and never had a problem. Again, be patient with the people who work in these airports.

[@philipdouglas5911]

Its the same with shoes. Never made to take them off at my local airport or when coming home from Europe's sun spots. With TSA its a different story and they are uniquely rude about how they manage people..

[@PattiePenguin]

I used to work for a college registrar office for International Students. Now I get to travel abroad since my children have grown. Why do we ( mostly) respect there customers but I see they mostly do not follow our customers. They follow the country where they come from. Examples: they do not know walk on the right side, they do not tip, leaving trash in the classrooms or in public places and friends wrapping their arms together and you have to walk round them. I know not all do these things but so many do since I interacted with visitors and students for over 20 years.

[@igorchiandetti5981]

These are excellent advices but it must be considered that habits can be very different across Europe. In Italy you could get away with only "don't mess with food" 😂

[@RurbanWalker]

True. Nobody will be bothered by jaywalking or PDAs in Italy or Spain.

[@HR-wd6cw]

Most of these can be "Resolved" ahead of time if people would just take some additional time and read up on the culture and the location they are visiting, and possibly when is the best time to visit and when is the worst (most busy) time. It should be part of your trip planning process especially so you're also not breaking laws that could land you a hefty fine or possibly jail time (and saying you're a tourist and not from the area/country may not be enough to get you out of a situation as it is also your responsibility as a tourist to know the local laws/rules as well). Some the authorities may let go if they are more minor (as I've found in a few European countries, such as making a right turn on a red light which is not legal everywhere but is in many US states), but others may not be as forgiving or may be more serious than you thought. (Luckily for my incident with the right-on-red, the police saw I was from the US and just let me go with a warning saying it was not legal and was dangerous but they understood that in the US it is allowed).

[@robojunker]

I made so many mistakes in Paris over two visits. The worst was when my phone started playing music and I didn’t realize it was my phone. I thought it was music from the store speakers. I was thrilled with their playlist. As I walked from store to store I was so surprised at the good music. Then I got back to my hotel room. Still hearing the music and realized it was my phone. No wonder I was getting looks from everyone. But really I was unaware because I was so overwhelmed with my surroundings. lol. I try to appreciate and respect the differences in places when I travel but will most likely make many errors like almost getting killed while crossing a street I didn’t realize was a street

[@garmtpug]

Well the music was an innocent mistake and actually not really that bad. I don't mind hearing music just about anywhere! LOL!

[@beverleygibson1394]

Thank you Megan. I am British and this is very nice to hear. I know most Americans are very respectful of European culture but a little extra information is always helpful.

[@jonathanradut2595]

I am European and I have to disagree with the smoking one. As someone who has a sensitive nose I can not stand smoking. I don’t complain out loud but I will complain to my traveling companions and friends. I also think these can also depend on which country in Europe you are in as not all are the same.

[@wncjan]

My experience is that smoking is normal in Eastet Europe..

[@dkeith-fc8hn]

Whiteout asking if they may smoke NEXT TO YOU. English almost always asks if they can smoke.

[@blakpurl14]

That why a lot of countries in Europe have the "No smoking" rule inside some places. Some restaurants have "Smoking" and "No smoking" zones inside , so if you are in one of those and sit in a "No smoking" area, if want to do it you will have to go outside , doesn't matter what kind of smoke is .

[@mikni4069]

It depends on the country, the times I’ve been in the Balkans, southern Europe smoking outside in cafes is very common and normal practice, in northern Europe it can be viewed differently depending on the place.

[@jenniferaustin3336]

My daughter and I rented a flat with an outdoor patio in London, and a room with an outdoor balcony in Paris. We were shushed in both locations! Thought we were savvy about this but apparently STILL chatting too loudly. Embarrassing. Yes, must converse very softly in Europe.

[@LeolaGlamour]

So weird because my encounters with Europeans is that THEY are loud.

[@janus1958]

An example of "bad tourist behavior" recently happened to my wife. We live in a US city, and there is a Catholic sanctuary close to where we live. It is open to the public, and has an area where you can purchase a candle, then place and light it in remembrance of someone who has passed. She had just lost a close friend, and even though neither of them were Catholic, decided to do this in her memory. After placing the candle, she was standing with her eyes closed for a few minutes of reflection, when she was interrupted by someone asking her to take their picture.

[@celinedubreuildutango]

I live in Paris, Montmartre and one of those things which ennoys me the most is when some of my neighbours have American people as Air B'nB tenants and they speak very loudly at night in the common spaces ans stairs, just as if they were alone ... I'm a runner too, and the second thing is when tourists ask me to take a picture of them while I'm running !

[@yaowsers77]

The littering thing really ticks me off. Large groups taking up the entire sidewalk and moving at a snail's pace annoys me to no end.

[@johnwilson6721]

A couple of exceptions relating to Britain, which floated away from Europe a while ago:- There are no laws relating to pedestrians crossing roads and you are free to cross where and when you wish. In fact, it is considered inappropriate to press the button to change the lights when traffic is so light that crossing is easy. We also stand on the right on escalators, and there are often signs indicating this.

[@user-qi1rf4ve9u]

Just returned from my first ever cruise. I never anticipated for a second prior to the cruise that I would have to exit some spaces due to the sheer volume of many of the American fellow cruiser's. Exhibitionism and loud boasting increased with alcohol consumption. I was quite taken aback by this. Thought it was just a cliche. Just saying what many of us non Americans commented on.

[@lisaphares2286]

I’m American and I dislike when any nationality does this, in any country. Have some consideration for others.

[@mflong100]

Where I lived, we get so many winter tourists. No offense, but Canadians were the worst. They showed up without reservations and demanded immediate service. They expected us to drive them around without payment for a driving service, and were terrible tippers.

[@PortableProfessional]

That does not surprise me and not a pleasant experience for you.

[@juliea.]

Respecting local customs and ways is a must no matter where one travels. I'm sure many North Americans "annoy," Europeans, but then again, what would happen if we chose to spend our hard-earned money elsewhere? Tourism is a must for major cities, including my own: NYC. That being said, as a native New Yorker, I can guarantee you that I have heard both French and Italian people being loud on the subway and honestly, it does not bother me one bit because quite frankly, everyone's loud in NYC LOL! That being said, I think we have to have a (no pun intended), "When in Rome, do as the Romans," mentality...if you board a train and it's very quiet, don't be loud. If no one is eating in public, don't eat in public, etc. Happy travels to all.

[@wncjan]

In many European cities people are not happy about tourist. Right now inhabitants of Malaga, Spain protest against tourist. Venice charge tourist to enter town. Some cities have banner building of new hotels, Skotland is introducing a tourist tax and so on.

[@juliea.]

@@wncjan Oh wow, I had no idea. Thank you for telling me. Italy, Spain, and Scotland are countries on my list to one day visit.

[@mikni4069]

😂 because those where from those specific countries, Italians can and often are by other European nationalities viewed as being loud. Again there differences how it’s viewed depending on the country, however if you go north speaking loudly is generally not appreciated, your unlikely to be hushed but it doesn’t mean the behaviour is appropriate

[@damselinadress2069]

The stereotype of Americans being loud is a big generalization. I was in Nepal a couple of months ago, where I took a cooking class. The instructor was saying just that about us being loud. All the while we could hardly hear her because the locals outside were extremely noisy and that is everywhere you go. Go figure. I travel extensively and particularly in Europe, I have some found locals to be just as loud in many situations. I reside in NYC. I see it daily. Raised voices. Maybe it's just me.

[@nunyabeezwacks1408]

Maybe it's different now, but it was my experience while traveling through Italy that Italians didn't queue.

[@cbuatal]

If queueing means forming a straight line it is almost always true that Italians didn't, if it means not taking precedence into account at all it is often false even if there is certainly no shortage of rude people. The classic question when you get to a place where other people are already present is: "Who is the last"

[@nunyabeezwacks1408]

@@cbuatal Thank you for the explanation.

[@HR-wd6cw]

I think if people (tourists) would spend a little more time researching the country (or city at least) that they are visiting ahead of time would be helpful in helping people avoid some of these annoyances. And by doing research I mean looking into the culture a bit more, other than the basic history of the culture, but trying to learn basic phrases (like "Please","Thank you","Hello" and "Goodbye" for starters). Tipping is another area that can be a concern and was mentioned (I had read that in some Asian cultures for example, tipping may actually be frowned upon, and not every country tips at 20%+ like what seems to be standard in the US... for example, I found while researching an upcoming trip to Portugal that 10% is the norm and appreciated, but is also not expected either (like it is in the US for example).

[@PortableProfessional]

Thanks for your comment. So true how differently tipping is regarded depending where you are!

[@terryschima4964]

Thank God I learned these good manners when traveling many years ago.

[@SimonJones49]

Here in Spain a queue is made by leaving your shoes in a line and then taking a seat. Everyone adds to the line and when it your turn you pop your shoes on and take your turn, even happens in banks.

[@PortableProfessional]

That is so interesting. Beats standing in line!

[@joannharrington2279]

Many useful tips..thank you.

[@PortableProfessional]

You’re welcome. Safe travels!

[@letterbox203]

I’ve often wondered about this and now you’ve addressed the subject from one point of view. Thanks for your insight. Respecting bike lanes is very important to prevent accidents. I know of a fatality in town due to complications from a bike accident caused by a pedestrian, sadly. Btw, I never made it on Behemoth, though I tried. It was too busy with larger crowds.

[@nicolasmoniqueeliadis5233]

G’day from France. One thing I don’t understand is why Americans pretend that French smoke a lot. While travelling around Europe I have found that Greeks Spanish Portuguese or even Italiens smoke more than the French. Wishing you all a great time in Europe 😊

[@tonymatthews2344]

thank you Megan and Ollie, totally agree, it costs nothing to be polite and respectful, look around you and follow the example😊😊😊

[@SteveGrin]

Next video you can talk about the annoying things that Europeans do when they're over here.

[@zwiderwurzn5908]

For example, when they ask for a knife and fork when they eat a pizza 😁

[@SteveGrin]

@@zwiderwurzn5908 🤣🤣🤣

[@superwebsitehero7261]

Never been so early to one of your videos Megan! Thank you for always being so helpful! Sending You So Much Unconditional Love and Blessings! Keep on Radiating Brightly Always in All Ways! 💖💎🙌♾️

[@PortableProfessional]

Thank you so much! Glad you enjoy watching.

[@dkeith-fc8hn]

I invited an American couple at a hotel/ restaurant to have French wine and the guy was nonstop on his smartphone which is VERY rude. He apologised but it stuck. Means he didn't have any respect for the invitation.

[@MariaSaldivar-qo7xp]

Lovely your KZbin channel video nice to know beautiful country we need to respect not be annoying to join beautiful country we go to see ❤❤❤will keep watching your video on KZbin great job 👏👏👏👏👏👍👍👍👍👍👍✌️✌️✌️✌️

[@kookarini]

In Central Europe, not giving up your seat on public transportation for retirees, pregnant women, or women with a stroller or with small kids/babies in tow. Locals are done with seeing Bachelor parties. Not paying attention while crossing near trams. Everyone have a safe trip abroad this Summer!

[@TheFroggie66]

In my highly visited Northern Colorado town, one of the most annoying things done by tourists is walking abreast on the sidewalks as groups, and NOT providing enough space for anyone else to walk in the other direction (or around their slow saunters or sudden stops mid-sidewalk) and expecting people to step down onto the street to walk around them. RUDE! Some of us work and live our daily lives in this town and have to walk to our offices and homes on those same sidewalks. Don’t walk more than two abreast!

[@PortableProfessional]

You make a good point that can apply to any sidewalk in any town in any country! Thanks!

[@redhatbear1135]

I’ve taken to just stopping when there are 5 abreast not paying attention, but then I have an electric wheelchair so they have to at least go around me! Some do even figure out they shouldn’t be so many across!

[@TheFroggie66]

@@redhatbear1135 sheesh. Clueless people. Sorry you have to deal with that.

[@Vid.186]

I agree Megan, thank you! 👍

[@PortableProfessional]

Thanks for watching!

[@magietagie]

I use to work in a downtown shopping center that was very popular for tourists to visit in Toronto, Canada. One day an American came in to a high end men’s clothing store and when he went to pay, he said “Do you guys take REAL money?” He meant American money… needless to say almost everyone that heard him was offended.

[@MiaHessMusic]

Great video, Megan and Ollie! What kind of dog is Ollie?? He's so cute!

[@4Fidget]

Being gluten free and being allergic to garlic is an ongoing issue for me when travelling. I work hard at trying to make sure that I'm not disrespecting the chef's hard work in a restaurant. Often I go to a market and get some fresh food that I can eat picnic style.

[@davesaunders7080]

Even as a Canadian sometimes when sidewalks and bike lanes are side by side in EU I have to avoid "drifting" in the bike lane when walking while sightseeing. I suspect that gum on sidewalks is not just a tourist thing but slobby locals too. I am pretty good to not be annoying for the other 14 items you mentioned and try to be a "cultural chameleon" and attempt to adapt to the local customs.

[@AlbertusMagnus_44]

In the past few years I have made 7 trips to the UK and “Europe.” I can confidently state that I have not done any of these. 😎 Great video! This is always good information.

[@madchatteress]

Thank you for this video. I'm grateful that I don't engage in a majority of the items you mentioned but there are things that I have to continually be aware of as an American tourist (watching out for bike lanes, not talking loud as a hearing impaired person and researching the tipping norms). Although I can see some of these items can be honest mistakes for the uninformed, a majority comes down to basic respect (especially in regards to respecting monuments and refraining from photography when requested). I remember my first time visiting NYC and as my airport shuttle was transporting me to my hotel, I watched as several tourists would nearly get hit which made me anxious. Turns out, I followed the crosswalk rules but was surprised at the number of people that would endanger themselves by jaywalking! I love selfies but no way will I put myself in danger to get that "perfect photo" ..... I do try hard to follow the norms and learn about the culture especially trying out regional foods. The last thing I want is to "Americanize" my meal. As for language, I try really hard to learn at least greetings and thank you as well as other key words but I definitely struggle with learning languages due to my hearing impairment. Overall, I try my best to set a good example as an American. I love my country but will not wear "American" t-shirts or other logos to other countries as I'm trying to blend in as much as possible and definitely make sure I follow the local laws and customs.

[@mspSelSil]

Yeah like you said you made some generalisations. I appreciate you pointing that out though. I'm from Germany, and you definitely shouldn't jaywalk here. But when I go to the UK, everybody does. Queueing is also afaik mostly a UK thing... In Germany, splitting the bill in a way where everyone pays for their own stuff is very common. And adjusting meals for your specific needs is accepted or frowned upon depending on what kind of restaurant you go to:) Addition: it's absolutely correct, do not walk on bike lanes! In reality though, there's lots of locals who use it as a sidewalk too though... which pisses cyclists off.

[@PortableProfessional]

Thanks for sharing!

[@12GaugePadawan]

Great video as always. 💓💗💖 One thing that they French find annoying is when tourists come up to ask questions without saying bonjour or salut. 😐

[@scollyb]

Jay walking is very cultural dependent. Verboten in Germany, acceptable with care in UK, pretty much compulsory in Italy

[@jfrancobelge]

Jaywalking... that really depends on the country you're in. Dinner time does vary a lot according to the country you're in as well; generally the more south you go, the later you have dinner. In France, which is a country "in between" (culturally and geographically), most restaurants open for dinner at 7:00 PM, but most people usually show up later - between 07:30 and 8:30 PM

[@DebraFlower]

I love these videos

[@PortableProfessional]

Glad to hear it!

[@martqbd]

In my city we have a lot of bachelorette parties. They get slightly annoying. Then I remember they pay a lot of money to our economy

[@sherrygraham8650]

I live in a tourist town, mid~west USA. We are the home of the Tulip Time Festival, Holland, Mi. Our tulips are the star and there is a hefty fine for destroying them. We have visitors from all over the world and it is a large community effort to put on the festival. Of course the tulips make wonderful backdrops for snapshots but many just tromp all over them or sit their kids right in the middle of a patch of them. Many let their kiddos pull them or break them. We love our visitors but wish they would respect that our flowers are here for everyone to enjoy.

[@winny4765]

As a child I was told that when abroad you become an ambassador of your country, so behave that way.

[@kovie9162]

I've seen locals jaywalk all the time in European countries, but generally on narrower side streets or when there are no vehicles close by. If I see them doing it--and I always wait--then I often do it too. Otherwise, no. But by far the worst thing that a tourist can do is disrespect local customs, rules and people, and acting like the place that they're visiting isn't a real place where real people live and work but rather a sort of ungated Disneyworld where the normal rules of proper human behavior aren't necessarily expected. No, you're basically in other peoples' "home", and have to know and respect the house rules, which includes not acting like you're better than the locals and above all their seemingly petty rules. As for stopping at the end of an escalator, regardless of which direction it's going, it's not just rude, but dangerous, and about the dumbest thing that a human being can do in public that isn't clearly illegal. I mean, what are these people even thinking, that there's no one behind them or that others will somehow magically go right through them? This happens everywhere and not just in tourist areas, including the US.

[@mcmike2001]

Not just in Europe! Pretty much everything you mentioned will be x10 annoying for locals in Japan!

[@cachecow]

I saw it last week, but I wasn't sure, is that a breathing pillow behind you? Where in your travels did you find that?

[@robertjames-life4768]

All of these apply-everywhere!

[@j.kristineemmons]

Truss, European workers are usually not mad at Americans overtipping

[@LeolaGlamour]

Yeah this comment made me 😡 like at some point is it you just don't like us because dang, you are mad I overtipped.

[@michaelmedeiros9337]

You’re right on. Thank you. Please add a no no leaving motor bikes parked anywhere and bicyclists riding around on sidewalks. Always learn from you. Thanks.

[@PortableProfessional]

Thanks for watching!

[@kessas.489]

Touching everything at a museum like I saw once in a museum in Berlin...

[@lucabenedetto5381]

FYI Megan in quite all Restaurants in Italy you can ask for gluten-free stuffs, also pasta gluten free!

[@pattifeit4354]

I'm also from a popular tourist destination in the US, and I find that many of these guidelines should be applied here as well.

[@garyrobinson8665]

This might sound petty but what annoyed me this time was people sharing food at a restaurant. There was this group of Chinese people at a restaurant in Portugal. Four people. They shared one soup and split two meals between the four of them. Ordered no drinks. They even asked for a doggy bag.

[@mercyt2828]

Extra kisses !! 🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕

[@patriciateague8677]

I think HATE is a pretty strong word. Annoyance is understandable as locals are just trying to go about their daily lives, and tourists tend to be a bit oblivious to their surroundings.

[@DebraFlower]

🤷🏾‍♀️

[@birbluv9595]

I have not been in Europe for several years, but i have been around European tourists. I find that the French are shockingly disrespectful of cultural monuments and the young Italians often wear inappropriately skimpy clothing.

[@artursandwich1974]

Littering, being loud, being drunk and loud, not respecting queues, not yielding seats to the elderly on public transport, watching videos without headphones on, using loudspeakers in public space, disturbing neighbors with noise.

[@shawnbell6392]

This also applies strongly to Japan travel. Learn the culture if you plan to go.

[@riderramblings]

Jay-walking is the norm in most of non-Germanic Europe. The same with punctuality, the more Latin the country the more unpunctual they are. In the UK, "time" is 5 minutes before "time"! In France it is common to split the bill at the till (cash desk), either by what you ate or between the diners

[@RurbanWalker]

I'm glad you covered yourself with #15, cause I was going to say......jaywalking may annoy Germans, but most other Europeans won't care. And as far as respecting lines, Americans only trail the UK for that. So, if Brits find Americans annoying for this the must be out of their mind when Italians and Spaniards visit the UK.

[@stoffls]

#9: tipping is a minefield, this is so different from country to country. Even I as European am not always sure if and how much to tip.

[@bud3442]

I enjoy your channel. Before I get started let me say I love Italy and spend four to five months out of the year there. That being said, jaywalking is fairly common, even in Rome. On small streets it happens everywhere; on busy streets people use the crosswalk but cross against the light if there’s no traffic. Many Italian towns are littered with cigarette butts. Like in America, many people don’t think of butts as trash. And watch out for the dog poop, even on narrow sidewalks you’ll see at least a couple of piles a day. As for being loud, at ten or eleven at night you can hear people talking loudly on the street, and if it’s not a school night the kids are out that late playing and screaming. Italian cafes are usually very loud when they’re crowded, just like American ones. As for standing in the sidewalks, that’s a normal thing. If you approach a group of Italians clusters on the sidewalk, be prepared to step into the street. And if a group approaches you on the sidewalk it’s a game of chicken to see who will give way first. Are these complaints? Not at all. They’re realities. As I said, I love Italy and the people, once you get to know them are terrific. I will continue to return as often as I am able.

[@Roberto-xc5xy]

Don't they already have a service charge included in the bill in Europe? That's tipping, then leaving a few extra euros should be ok ... ?

[@MPricci-xj2xj]

Italy does cater very much to people with gluten issues. Menus have labels on the different meals that indicate whether gluten is in the dish. Gluten-free pastas and breads are common in restaurants, groceries and even pharmacies. In fact some menus have a list of symbols for many allergies and the list of meals have the symbols.

[@americafirst9144]

What bugs me is people brushing against me when they could easily move over an inch and avoid me.

[@markomarten]

We all get distracted when we are in holiday mode as it were, to some extent it’s easy to do. A bit of careful planning makes a difference. Try to know where you are going and if you do get lost don’t be afraid to ask someone, in most cases folk are helpful. I would suggest watching a video or two about a country or city before going there to visit. These days we have KZbin so it’s unlikely you won’t find a video about things to do in Paris or Portugal for example. A bit of courtesy goes a long way, in most cases folk are just doing their job so being polite is appreciated.

[@PortableProfessional]

All good points! Thanks for watching!

[@patmos68]

I chuckled when you mentioned always being on time, as a Greek-American I have spent my life in rebellion against Greek time. Time is sort of a nebulas thing to Greeks, you get there when you get there. I try to always be on time.

[@danpatterson8009]

15 Annoying Things Tourists do Everywhere.

[@ruximuzicuta4320]

Speaking loud and not respecting the silence in residential area and feeding birds.

[@Cindymeetsworld]

Oh wow, so right about being silent in residential areas. Was walking the Camino Frances recently and I was embarrassed by other pilgrims talking loudly through quiet residential areas at 5 a.m. or any other time really. So rude.

[@mauricegodfrey1163]

I guess you have never skied in Italy, jumping lines is an art, a very annoying one at that.

[@percyparaiso3958]

I am in Italy with my family. I saw people going to churches in clothes that are very inappropriate like short shorts or very low neckline almost revealing their bosoms. I find them very disrespectful of the culture.

[@iblackfeathers]

just realised all your thumbnails are with that x sign. 😂

[@nanemoon9968]

Mistake Number One: "Europe" We are very different nations with very different culture norms. That's part of the fun of traveling Europe. Do your research based on the country. And keep in mind that city life is different to country life.

[@rogerairborne]

The situation in Venice is simple. "We hate the tourists but we love their money".

[@jmi5969]

My impression of Austria and Czech Republic (the only two places I regularly visited in the past 40 years) is that the concept of "jaywalking" is almost nonexistent. Certified locals of all ages would just cross the street if it's more or less quiet, regardless of signals and signs. As for the bike lanes, I have as much beef with them as the worst American tourist. They are always made of perfectly smooth, springy asphalt - but the pedestrians must struggle over rough leg-breaking cobblestones. No wonder that OAPs with spine and joint issues like yours truly often encroach in bike lanes. Pain matters. As for the escalator code... it's complicated. The rule in my city, for ages, was "stand on the right, walk on the left". Then the city decided hey' it's overloaded let's make it "stand on the right AND left", causing a never-ending conflict of big-endian/little-endian crowd. If a visitor asks a local about escalator code, they would quite likely get an incorrect of incomplete answer. Garbage sorting: depends on what they actually do with it in a particular city. If all the coded bins end up in the same "single stream" landfill, locals won't treat them as sacred cows.

[@Mostopinionatedmanofalltime]

I think it’s annoying how you have to drive on the left in the UK. Lol😅😅

[@Gamble661]

I've traveled Europe extensively, both for business and pleasure and I have to admit that I find the behavior of a lot of American tourists there embarrassing. Then again, I live in Boston, MA and every summer the city is overrun with European tourists...a lot of them are no walk in the park either.

[@johnwollenbecker1500]

After many years in Hawaii, people not respecting the power of the surf.

[@pattifeit4354]

Or the advice of locals, or the food, or just about any of the other items on this list.

[@allenmontrasio8962]

You are totally welcome to jaywalk in Italy, we all do it.