This Is the Rudest Thing You Can Do When Traveling Abroad, According to an Etiquette Expert

If you’ve ever traveled abroad, you’ve probably had a moment when you cringed at the sight of a fellow American behaving badly. Or maybe you’ve been the one who caused a scene. According to a survey by Radical Storage, 62% of Americans surveyed have been embarrassed by the behavior of someone they were traveling with, and 50% admit they’ve been embarrassed by their own behavior. It’s not always our fault. Sometimes things that seem inconsequential in the U.S (like a big ol’ belly laugh) can come across as obnoxious elsewhere.

After more than 20 years of traveling and living around the world, I have a pretty good sense of cultural no-nos in other countries. But according to an etiquette expert, there’s one specific behavior that is the worst—and chances are, you might be engaging in it.

So what is it, and how else can you tidy up that “rude American” reputation—at least for yourself? Read on to find out and save yourself from some accidental embarrassment on your next trip.

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What behavior brands you as rude when traveling abroad?

“The rudest behavior is being unaware in shared spaces,” says etiquette expert Lisa Mirza Grotts, author of A Traveler’s Passport to Etiquette in a Post-Pandemic World. Now, you might not even realize you’re interacting with strangers as much as you are in public places, but think about it: You’re doing that everywhere from airports and hotel lobbies to restaurants and museums. And if you make yourself the main character in every scenario and disregard the people and environment around you, chances are you’re coming across as both rude and selfish.

Even worse? This etiquette misstep—a lack of consideration in shared spaces—is the root of pretty much every rude travel behavior.

What behaviors stem from this major travel faux pas?

Oh, so many. And brace yourself, because you will likely recognize yourself in a few of them. The good news? You are in the proverbial driver’s seat, and a little tweaking will go a long way. Here are the behaviors to avoid, and what to do instead.

Thinking everyone speaks English

Although you’ll likely meet some people who speak English, it’s rude to expect everyone to. “It tells the person on the other end of the conversation that their language, their culture and the place they call home isn’t worth five minutes on Google Translate,” says Daniel Grainger, the founder of Ranking Atlas.

Raising your voice won’t help either (though it will certainly attract attention). Growing up in multiple countries, Grainger regularly observed this. “American tourists would walk into a shop in Prague or a market in Ho Chi Minh City and just start speaking English at full volume and full speed,” he says, “often getting louder when they weren’t understood, as though volume were a universal translator.”

What to do instead: Learn phrases in the local language, be patient and show an interest in communicating with people in their language rather than at them in yours.

“When you learn even a few words, something shifts,” Grainger says. “You go from being a tourist extracting an experience, to being a guest who showed up with respect. A clumsy ‘xin chào’ (hello) in Vietnam or a butchered ‘dobrý den’ (good day) in Prague opens more doors than a perfect English sentence ever will.”

Expecting everything to be like home

It’s natural to notice differences between the U.S. and the country you’re visiting, but highlighting those differences in a disparaging way is, of course, rude. “I hear this sort of thing all the time: how you’ve had better pasta at your hometown chain restaurant, or that your beaches back home are just so much better,” says Mary Jane Cuyler, an archeologist and a tour leader for Limelight Arts–Travel. “If you are in a public place surrounded by people, it is extremely rude to complain loudly about the country or city you’re visiting.”

What to do instead: Be open to experiencing life in a new way. This, to me, is one of the biggest joys of travel, so don’t miss out because you’re too busy comparing and complaining! For example, rather than worry about the pace of dinner service, says Ralston, “soak in the atmosphere, take your time with the menu and contribute some sparkling observations to the conversation.”

And if you want to chat with your travel mates about things that are different or challenging, don’t do it in public. “You’re allowed to have those opinions,” Cuyler says, “but keep them to yourself until you’re in a place where you won’t be overheard by others.”

Taking up too much space

This includes talking too loudly in quiet settings, crowding an airport gate or standing too close to people in the checkout line. “If you’re the loudest person in the room, you’re usually the rude one,” says Brooke Morrison, a travel expert and content creator known as JetSetBrooke. “And it reads as entitlement almost anywhere—for example, in Japan, Finland, Korea and Switzerland, where quieter public behavior is the norm.”

What to do instead: Watch and learn. Grotts recommends putting on your “situational awareness” cap, which we may forget to do when our brain is in vacation mode. Morrison offers a simple approach that can be used anywhere: “Dial it down, observe first, then match the room,” she says. “Do a little research from quality sources before you go, and practice those habits before your trip.”

Treating everything and everyone as content

When you see baby turtles hatching on a beach in Trinidad, cruise among giant icebergs in the Arctic or watch the perfect cotton-candy-pink sunset in Thailand, of course, you want to capture the moment. (I get it—I’ve done all those things!) But being too snap-happy in some scenarios can be disrespectful.

“In Moroccan culture, for example, especially among the Amazigh people, they value discretion. Photographing a colorful vendor display without buying or asking first is disrespectful to them,” notes Alexandra Dubakova, a travel expert at FreeTour. “For indigenous groups, landmarks and ceremonies that are sights for us are sacred secrets for them.”

And no, turning the camera on yourself is not necessarily the answer. “When travelers move through a place as if it exists for them, rather than understanding they’ve stepped into someone else’s everyday life, that’s a big red flag,” says Amanda Persi, founder of travel company The Getaway Co.

What to do instead: As I remind people coming to Hawaii: These places are not just a playground or tourist destination; they are someone’s home. “Be aware of the flow around you, which can make a big difference for you and for the people living their everyday lives,” Persi says.

And if you’re ever unsure whether it’s OK to film or photograph, listen to the locals. I’ve been invited to several places and gatherings around the world where I was advised in advance not to take photos or videos. In some instances, it was due to privacy or cultural norms, and in other cases, it was for my safety (in places where capturing content could be illegal or seen as a threat).

Dressing inappropriately

Grotts says that dressing inappropriately for the setting is one of the rudest things you can do while traveling. Morrison adds: “When what you’re wearing is in direct opposition to local norms or the tone of a public space, it can draw attention in a way that feels disrespectful. For example, places with clear dress expectations, like the Vatican in Italy.”

What to do instead: Research in advance to find out how locals dress in that setting. I’ve noticed in my travels that clothing norms in a capital city are often very different from those in the countryside or at a religious site. So be sure to research dress codes for specific sites and the regions you’ll be visiting. “Take advice from travelers who’ve been there multiple times,” Morrison says, “not just someone who visited once.”

Disrespecting sacred sites

Sometimes what’s perceived as rude or inappropriate may very well be unintentional, such as pointing your feet at a Buddha statue in Thailand. Other times it’s overt. The Radical Storage report revealed that a third of Americans surveyed have posed inappropriately with a statue when traveling—yikes!

What to do instead: Research sites and customs so you can arrive prepared. Always respect local signage and instructions. This may involve removing your shoes or wearing a special covering, putting away your camera, speaking in hushed tones or not walking in certain areas. And be especially considerate at sites of worship.

That said, keep in mind that some sacred sites outdoors may not always be well-marked (for example, what appears to just be a stack of rocks in Hawaii could be part of a traditional heiau), so it’s best to always err on the side of respect, stick to designated trails and never remove rocks or leave rubbish behind. “Honor the land, the culture and the people who call it home,” Grotts says.

How can you avoid the “rude American” stereotype?

If the rudest behaviors stem from a lack of awareness in shared spaces, the solution is simple: Be aware—of yourself and your surroundings. Do some research about the culture and language in advance. Stay open to the experience. And my personal fail-safe: Hire a licensed local guide. You’ll learn so much from spending time with a person who knows the place so intimately.

Other than that, be flexible, be open to new experiences and be grateful for the opportunity to encounter new-to-you places, people, cuisine and culture. “Take any and every opportunity to show your gratitude to the people who are welcoming you into their country,” Cuyler says. “Let them know how much you enjoy the food, the landscape, the friendly people, the architecture—whatever it is that you truly admire. People love to know that you appreciate their country.”

And, overall, just be considerate. As Grotts says simply: “Just because you’re on vacation doesn’t mean your manners should take one too.”

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Sources: 

• Radical Storage: “Tourist syndrome: Do people behave worse on vacation?”
• Lisa Mirza Grotts, etiquette expert known as the Golden Rules Gal and author of A Traveler’s Passport to Etiquette in a Post-Pandemic World; interviewed, March 2026
• Daniel Grainger, founder of Ranking Atlas; interviewed, March 2026
• Mary Jane Cuyler, archeologist, Latin scholar and tour leader for Limelight Arts–Travel; interviewed, March 2026
• Jeannie Ralston, travel expert, author and founder of travel company NextTribe; interviewed, March 2026
• Alexandra Dubakova, travel expert at FreeTour; interviewed, March 2026
• Brooke Morrison, travel expert and content creator known as JetSetBrooke; interviewed, March 2026
• Amanda Persi, founder of travel company The Getaway Co.; interviewed, March 2026

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