Being a Less Annoying American Tourist ✈️

8 things I wish I had known when I first started traveling...

One thing you realize when you move abroad is that Americans — like it or not — have a reputation as being rather annoying tourists.

Admittedly I have definitely been an Annoying American Tourist™, and cringe thinking back to my behavior during my early travels.

Things are increasingly tense in other countries right now, and anti-American sentiment does, unfortunately, seem to be growing. So, in case you plan to hop over that star-spangled border in the months to come, here’s a bit of wisdom I can impart on you, American-to-American, to hopefully make things easier:

Check Your Volume 🗣️

The first thing most folks will tell you about American tourists is that we are sooooooo loud. I used to think that claim was silly, but we really seem to think that other people want to hear what we have to say. Or that we for some reason want it known that we are American? I don’t really know what the explanation is. All I know is that it’s true.

Get on any train, group tour, or restaurant patio and the loudest people around you are almost always going to be Americans. This seems to be especially true of younger Americans — so if you have kids traveling or studying abroad, talk to them about their volume.

Finally on land after four days of sea kayaking + camping in Croatia.

Assume They Know English ✌🏻

I don’t mean this in the sense that you should expect people to accommodate you by speaking English — what I mean is that you should assume that everyone around you understands what you’re saying when YOU are speaking English — because in most cases, they do.

This of course comes back to volume, but also just the type of things you are willing to express in public. People say some pretty rude things under the assumption that the people around them can’t understand (complaining about prices, criticizing the local culture, etc.). Even if a local chooses not to speak English with you, you should assume that they understand what you are saying in their presence and behave accordingly.

Dinner on a hillside above Prague.

Travel Light 🎒

Another thing Americans are known for abroad — traveling with an ungodly amount of luggage. Our mass consumerism even comes with us on vacation!

Many Americans also don’t consider the noise and disruption created when they pull their large, wheeled suitcases through the quaint cobblestone streets. As someone who lives on one of those quaint cobblestone streets (and close to a metro station) I cannot tell you how annoying this is. I know, you think you are just one person — how disruptive could it really be? But consider that hundreds of people walk past our open windows on the average summer day en route to public transport — it is a constant annoyance.

If you’re physically able, consider traveling with a backpack or pack as light as you can — in a way that allows you to carry your bag for 50-100 yards if needed. You can also test out suitcases and try to find options with soft-rubber tires that make less noise when being pulled or have straps and handles for easier carrying.

Climbing through the hills of Morocco with my trusty travel backpack (The Osprey Porter 46)

Humble Yourself 😊

Unfortunately our “American Exceptionalism” doesn’t melt away as soon as we wave our passport in customs. We carry it with us — and are often not aware of how pompous and entitled we can seem.

Try to be conscious of this, and begin your travels with a dose of humility. If you’re lucky enough to engage with some locals, be open to them being honest with you about their views on the US. Be willing to feel uncomfortable or offended. Try to sit with what they say rather than pushing back or disagreeing. Spend time in museums and explore how certain historical events are remembered outside of the American lens. Consider that what you were taught might not be accurate and is certainly not the only valid experience. Travel can make us better people in so many ways and I’m a firm believer that opening ourselves up to criticism is one of the best ways to grow through travel.

Standing across from Hungarian Parliament in Budapest.

Watch Your Camera 📷

You can often spot an American in the wild because they are usually the ones either A. Taking an inappropriate photo with the nude statue or B. Filming everyone with no regard for local privacy laws.

First thing is a bit obvious: grow up and act mature. You don’t need to take a photo groping a statue’s boobs or pretending to lick its butt. I have seen grown American adults do this repeatedly — even once watching an American man climb up a statue in order to grope it.

Next, you should avoid photographing or filming other people without their consent. I think this is good practice no matter where you are or who the people are (friends! family! strangers!) but in many countries it is against the law — or at the very least, against local customs — to capture other people in your content without their consent — especially if they are the subject/focus of that content but may also apply even if they are simply in the background.

This includes someone doing something you think is cute or “viral worthy” — like proposing — as well as someone simply doing their job — the local barista or bartender. If you don’t have their permission to capture them in your content, refrain from doing it. This has gotten so out of hand in recent years, that some cafes in Copenhagen have put up signs explicitly stating that filming the staff is prohibited.

If you do capture someone, be thoughtful about where you share it. Consider only sharing it in closed spaces — a private album or Instagram Story, and not in a public or monetized way like YouTube, public Reels, etc.

So, be aware of this — especially if you are traveling with teens, talk to them about what is allowed and encourage them to be discerning about what they post. Try to read up on local rules/laws/norms ahead of time or pay attention to how locals are behaving with their devices. If there’s a scene you are dying to capture, ask for permission!

Skinny dipping off a remote beach on a Greek island.

Put a Fork (and Knife) In It 🍽️

Table manners are quite class-specific and what is customary varies by area. In most of Europe, it is standard to eat with a knife and fork, something that is incredibly foreign to most Americans.

I’m not going to tell you how to eat — but I can say that you may stand out less and possibly feel more comfortable if you learn to eat with a knife and fork (or your hands, chopsticks, whatever fits the region you’re traveling to!) and practice ahead of your travels. Here’s a great 1-minute tutorial for eating with a knife and fork.

Also try eating slowly and mindfully while enjoying the experience and good conversation — another telltale sign of Americans is rushing in and out of a restaurant in under 30 minutes. You’ll also likely want to get used to asking for the bill, refills etc.— as waitstaff in places like Europe generally avoid interrupting your meal or conversation and expect you to come to them if there’s something you need (friends of ours visiting the US made a game out of betting how many times they’d be interrupted during any given meal).

Enjoying afternoon coffee in Rome.

Learn to Recycle ♻️

The building we live in currently has two Airbnbs — and as a traveler I haven’t always considered how Airbnbs, especially in residential buildings, impact the people who live there.

It should go without saying that you should treat these spaces how you’d want someone to treat your own home. You should also put in a bit of effort to understand the protocol for things like recycling — we are constantly having to remove wine bottles and other trash from our garbage bins and dispose of them properly (which means walking them to the glass depository a block away). Recently someone left their entire rolling suitcase (full of trash) out by our bins! Your Airbnb host will typically provide this information in a guide, but if not — ask!

Drinking a beer in public in Copenhagen (where it’s legal).

Prep in Advance ✅

You can save yourself a lot of trouble with a bit of prep-work. Before a trip, do some research so you know basic things, such as: what the climate is like, what the exchange rate is, customary dress, or a few phrases in the local language.

Download a few apps so you can hit the ground running as soon as you arrive:

• I like to have a currency converting app on hand. I use Currency Converter so that I can pay attention to what I’m spending.

• I use Google translate frequently when traveling — I love that you can take photos and it auto-translates them — so nice for menus or signs. Consider taking the local language(s) “offline” so you are able to translate even when you don’t have service.

• If you’ll be in remote areas, consider taking necessary maps offline, too.

• I like to research public transportation options and download any maps or apps I might need, such as metro tickets, ride share, or bike/scooter rentals. Its nice to have these apps installed and payment options set up before you’re standing in the rain with your luggage.

• You might also like to have a weather app that is specific to the region you’ll be traveling in, as it can sometimes be more accurate. I’ve found Windy and Accuweather to be great for most of Europe.

A weekend in Stockholm after canoeing The Stockholm Archipelago.

Is there anything you’d add to the list or any questions I can answer? What have you noticed about tourists in your city? I hope this was helpful and that it feels less like harsh criticism and more like trusted advice from someone who has learned a few hard lessons and wants to save you the trouble. Most importantly, I hope you’re able to relax, have fun, and open yourself up to new experiences and ways of life while you travel!

If you find yourself headed to Copenhagen, be sure to grab my travel guide — complete with language cheat sheets, packing guides, and a detailed map!