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“Taking Cheerful Selfies In Inappropriate Places”: 30 Major Travel Mistakes Tourists Still Make
When traveling in a new country, it’s important to have a good time and learn or experience something new; but it’s even more important to be respectful of the place and the people you’re visiting.
Failing to do so can, in the best case scenario, make you look foolish, and in the worst one, cause serious injuries or even death – there have been one too many stories in places like Iceland of people underestimating the power of Mother Nature or ignoring the safety signs provided.
Members of Reddit’s ‘Travel’ community recently discussed the biggest “no nos” tourists have ever encountered—or even engaged in themselves—in a thread started by the user ‘danielgmal’. Their question encouraged quite a few netizens to share their stories, so if you’re interested in reading them, wait no longer and scroll down to find them on the list below, where you will also find Bored Panda’s interview with the OP themselves, who agreed to discuss the whats and whys behind the question.
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#1
TW: Holocaust / Concentration Camp
Years ago, I was in Auschwitz KZ.
It's hard to describe how particular this place is. It's not a nice place. Entering the gas chambers where so many people were murdered feels solemn. Seeing clear clawing marks at walls is disturbing.
When you enter, a somewhat simple yet clear information sign is translated in over 25 languages. It's direct: you're about to enter a small space where a ton of people were murdered for who they were. We ask you to respect this place. Do not run around, do not laugh, do not play games and avoid talking.
I took a deep breath and entered. My brain quickly making all sorts of connections with my family history as the hair on my neck perked up from how eerie the place is. How instantly terrible I felt on this desecrated ground. I was immediately physically unwell.
About two hot seconds later a gentleman struts in wielding a selfie stick cell phone on some Skype call with some family members was speaking very loudly, his high pitched voice resonating loudly on the walls as he obnoxiously yapped on in mandarin even throwing in a few laughs about who knows what. He was touching the walls and his partner, also with a selfie stick, was taking selfies with him.
Murder suddenly made a tiny bit of sense in my mind.
I never hated anyone so much in such a short amount of time.
If you visit a KZ. Be respectful.
The Doom Song 4 months ago
This needs to be way higher up the list. Some people just absolutely have no respect.
#2
If you’re in Hawaii (or really anywhere with coral reefs for that matter) for the love of god, don’t touch the coral! (Also seek out reef safe sunscreen if possible).
Frog On A Log 4 months ago
Also:PICK UP UR TRASH PEOPLE it ruins the beach and makes you look like an a*s :(
#3
People who get to a scenic viewpoint or landmark with a narrow/small angle for the photo everyone wants, then proceeds to do a full on model shoot with dozens of poses and retakes for the Instagram. Most of the time I don't even want a selfie, just the viewpoint without a teenage girl in it.
In a recent interview with Bored Panda, the OP, ‘danielgmal’, revealed that it was their personal experience while traveling that inspired them to ask this particular question. “A couple of years ago—pre-pandemic and pre-Brexit—I was messing around on Skyscanner looking at flights. I loved travel, and thought about it a lot, but I very rarely actually did it,” they recalled.
“So when I saw a flight to Faro, Portugal that was cheaper than a coach within my own city, I impulsively booked it. That was the first trip in what ended up being an unbroken three year chain of monthly trips to different countries.”
#4
1. Behaving in a way that would be unacceptable in your home country/culture. For instance, I've seen way too many woman going to temples in Bali, Cambodia & India in bikinis or very scantily clad. You would never go to a church in your hometown dressed that way. And way too many guys behaving obnoxiously with local women when they well know they won't be able to get away with even a fraction of that bad behavior back home.
2. Being more interested in taking selfies or instagram videos than actually seeing and experiencing the place you're in.
3. Disrespecting the local culture.
#5
When I was 16 my family went on our first and only Intl holiday, to Hawaii from Australia.
I distinctly remember a Japanese family being kicked out of the Pearl Harbor Memorial because they would NOT stop taking photo's, laughing and joking around loudly.
I still can't f*****g believe that. It's been over two decades and it still is upsetting. Disrespecting a literal war grave, and coming from the nation that literally caused it... It's like a Saudi doing that at Ground Zero, or an American doing the same at the Peace Museum in Hiroshima. It is absolutely beyond f****d up.
Kiyoko_tanaka 4 months ago
I'm Japanese, and that's just disgusting that someone would do that
The redditor shared that what started as one trip to Portugal turned into an accidental odyssey across Europe, which they continued once the pandemic ended.
“As a result, I've really gotten to know the continent of Europe and I've noticed that you can travel through several countries in a matter of hours and find traditions, cultures, and even laws totally change just in a matter of a few miles across a border.”
#6
Dudes going to poor countries acting like they're god's gift towards local women. Super cringe :/.
frank behnsen 4 months ago
I think it’s always annoying (also for bystanders), no matter which country. Or am I too strict?
#7
“WHY DON’T YOU ACCEPT DOLLARS?!” I’ve heard this in Italy, England, and Japan.
#8
Taking cheerful selfies in inappropriate places (saw this happening in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park for instance)
Generally bad camera etiquette (shoving your camera in local people's faces, posing tastelessly in some bad imitation of "local" fashion based more on stereotypes than reality, taking up too much time on a photoshoot and blocking other people's way, etc).
Kiyoko_tanaka 4 months ago
I'm Japanese, and you will be surprised the amount of people that take selfies in Hiroshima peace memorial park
“So that’s why I asked the question,” the OP continued, “I wanted to know about the times people had come across these differences—big and small—because I think it's interesting to put a spotlight on how different customs and expectations are throughout the world.
“I also know there's a lot of anti-tourist sentiment across Europe and elsewhere and I wanted to provoke a conversation about being a responsible and conscientious tourist, mindful of ‘rules’. Often there really are clear social rules, both spoken and unspoken, and this was a chance to emphasize them.”
#9
Being a loud English speaker in a non-English speaking country assuming/forgetting others can understand you perfectly.
Edit: or just being a loud tourist in general. 🤫.
#10
Europeans: please stop wandering into our deserts and dying from severe lack of preparation and research.
It’s a massive bummer, because we love that you’re fascinated by the American Southwest and we want you to have a safe time. The information is readily available, so please educate yourselves before coming here.
Thank you :).
Rayne OfSalt 4 months ago
To add: Germans, stop going swimming in lakes and creeks in north qld, australia. they are full of crocs and you will be eaten. Yes this is a thing that happens regularly enough that signs in german to not go swimming have been erected near most bodies of water.
#11
People in National Parks treating animals like they're theme park attractions. It's wild seeing how many people get out of their cars to take pictures of bears.
Also people who (for some weird reason) think places like Yosemite and Yellowstone are warm weather places. Those places have snow storms in the middle of may. It's kind of humorous seeing tourists show up in summer clothes to find it non stop snowing. Neither of these places (especially Yellowstone) ever get "warm.".
Bob Jones 4 months ago (edited)
Same here in Australia. In a lot of places, like where I am, it gets really cold in winter (and a lot of places aren't well heated)! A friend from the US came to visit in winter and only brought summer clothes. People are often shocked when they find out that there are ski resorts in Australia!
‘Danielgmal’ admitted being quite taken aback by the number of responses their post received and how many differences there are, despite people often saying that there’s generally more that unites us than divides us.
“It’s interesting, for example, to see the American confusion towards how seriously Italians take their food, as they will literally physically stop you from seasoning your food until you've tasted it, whereas Americans will often douse it in sauce and cheese as a reflex. For the Americans the personal liberty seems more important, and for the Italians respecting the work the chef put in takes precedence. Very different takes, but no one is ‘wrong’.”
#12
Don’t take photos of locals without permission ESPECIALLY children. I see it a lot in African countries and it bothers me a lot.
Sue Denham 4 months ago
It doesn't matter where you are - travelling or in your home town - You just don't take photos of people without their permission and absolutely not children.
#13
Nepal: tourists filming a funeral procession. It wasn't even a "known" person's funeral, just some regular funeral and tourists were filming the grievers like they were a zoo exhibit. Why would you even want to do that? Go back through your vacation photos to look at a funeral? It's as bizarre as it is utterly tactless.
#14
Expecting waiters in France to check in on you every five minutes during your meal. Restaurants are not like in America. The waiter will come when they see that your plate is empty or if you've stopped touching your food for a while. And waiters let you take your time to order food, so they give you the menu with all the dishes and come back a while after. To signal that you've made your choice, you close the menu and put it on the side of your table.
The OP admitted being no stranger to tourist “no nos” themselves, as they have made themselves or others rather uncomfortable with certain poor choices.
“In Southern Africa, it was very clear that I misjudged the mood by appearing in my shorts in front of my employers while walking to the bathroom early in the morning. They thought I was in my underwear and they had to explain that it wasn't, in their view, modest or proper and our relationship never recovered,” the redditor shared, adding that to some extent, they posed the question on the subreddit looking for an alternative way to discover these sort of things instead of having to learn it the hard way.
#15
Posing and imitating Buddha in temples in Thailand- so offensive and tacky.
#16
This isn’t cultural but leave your f*****g drone at home.
#17
I'm from Québec. Mistake #1 from tourists is thinking we don't speak/understand English. lol Number of times I heard idiotic comments about the French accent here is mind-blowing. We do understand talkshitting us. And yes, we speak differently but yes, it is still French.
Another good one. I went to Costa Rica and a bunch of European girls were mad at the beach because everyone stared at them! They decided it was totally okay to go topless on the public beach. Jeeezz READ THE ROOM. If you see no local women topless, don't! And no, they don't stare because they are "all perverts". They stare because they don't understand why you are topless in an area where it is illegal to do so!
Don't assume the social values are the same as in your home country just because foreigners make up the majority of the people around you. This applies to Bali, Dubai and anywhere touristy!
Ace 4 months ago
There is a weird snobbery amongst French people about the Quebecois accent, and odd ly in reverse as well. I recall speaking my Anglo--accented French to a French waiter in a French restaurant in Montreal, whose demeanour totally changed once he'd realised I was not local but actually lived in France (it came up because of the wine list, some of the areas mentioned being not far from my home). Like, OK, I'm going to drop the Snooty French Waiter persona now, that I only put on because Americans expect it as part of the experience.
In the netizen’s eyes, part of being a responsible tourist is knowing what is expected of you as a guest in someone else's home country. But it can also be a matter of safety: “If, for example, you went to Morocco and didn't know homosexuality is illegal, you could get in a difficult position. So it's practical too,” they said.
“In Germany, you can be naked in the public parks and many beaches, but I wouldn't recommend trying that in Malta where nudism isn't legal.”
#18
If you are visiting French gothic cathedrals, take off your damn baseball hat. Take off any hat in a house of worship. It infuriates the locals when we treat their churches like a tourist trap.
frank behnsen 4 months ago
… except in jewish houses of worship and cemeteries, where men are supposed to not go bareheaded.
Katchen 4 months ago
Or if you are a woman, who also may have their heads covered in cathedrals.
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Annik Perrot 4 months ago
But women are supposed to have their head covered, or they were in my youth.
Lil Miss Hobbit 4 months ago
It depends on the location and religion I think. In the West, taking off your hat is always respectful.
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Strontium Dog 4 months ago
I'm an atheist and have been for as long as I can remember. I always take my hat off before entering a church... and have done for as long as I can remember.
Colleen Glim 4 months ago
Just be respectful, period. Churches, temples, synagogues, mosques, doesn’t matter
Trillian 4 months ago
Depends. Not in a catholic church, especially for men. Don't know about headscarves, I mean nuns wear them.
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Kel_how 4 months ago
I had a boss who wanted me to make a video showing the diversity in our city for a conference we were hosting. He specifically wanted religious diversity and asked if we could get footage of different types of worship. I contacted several churches, synagogues, mosques, and temples around and one Hindu temple invited me. The people worshipping were very suspicious and uncomfortable (totally understandable!) and I felt a bit icky. After that, I found random footage online, used it with attributes, and never did anything like that again. My boss couldn't tell the difference anyways.
Kimberly Herbert 3 months ago
In HS my drill team went to Greece. One of our tours was supposed to be of a Cathederal. It was a year with Western and Eastern Easter fell on the same week, and we were there during Holy Week. After checking with our Greek Orthodox neighbors Mom sent me with her mantilla with instructions to take it and put it on if it was being worn by worshipers. The day we were set to go we were told to wear our shorts and short sleeve shirts. I objected bc it was Good Friday. I was told it was for tourist. I flat out told my principal that I wasn't going in a Catherdral in shorts on any day but especially Good Friday. I was told I could stay on the bus. They went up the stairs, were turned away, and back on the bus in less than 10 min. When my Mom was told about my disrespectful behavior by a chaperone that didn't like me - Mom told her off and asked the principal where their brains had been that day.
Joy Chapman 4 months ago
For that matter, take off your hat in ANYBODY's house out of respect. Read the room or ask the docent of attendant what is appropriate. Women, this is another time the pashmina is your friend.
Marianne 4 months ago
So you're saying that you shouldn't have to behave respectfully to believers in a church, because people shouldn't impose their religion on you?
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#19
Everywhere: watching videos on your phone and talking on the phone with the speaker on.
#20
Taking photos in museums that strictly prohibits them.
Visited Prado Museum last year and it was so nice because there weren’t 100’s of iPhones up in the air taking pictures of a picture…people actually had the time to enjoy the art.
Except a few idiots who kept on trying to sneak photos. Thankfully the museum staff quickly caught them, but they did it like 3-4 times. It was obnoxious.
Virgil Blue 4 months ago (edited)
Flashes of bright light can damage the pigments in paints or age photos faster. So it's not just that other visitors can enjoy their experience without walking through an epileptic person's disco nightmare.
#21
(Usually in major cities) walking very slowly while taking up the entire sidewalk, making locals who actually have to get somewhere walk into oncoming traffic just to get by. Same effect when stopping to check a map or guide or to take photos.
Walking on the road, assuming it's pedestrian only because it's cobblestone.
Walking on cycle paths.
Sergy Yeltsen 4 months ago
It should be legal to boot phone zombies out of the way. Some of the most obnoxious behaviour and no respect - or even acknowledgement - of others around them. I detest them so much.
#22
Walking around supermarkets with no shirt on or in your swimming stuff. I hate it. So disrespectful.
Ample Aardvark 4 months ago
I lived for a few years in a seaside town, you could spot the tourist from a mile: red as a lobster, walking barefoot 🤢 and/or without a shirt or in swimming costume when not at the beachfront. Not only supermarkets and shops, but restaurants and even museums, then get pissed off when turned away!
#23
If you're a tourist, don't trash-talk about other people (tourists and locals alike) thinking that no one can understand your language (unless it's Ayapaneco).
I, a non-Hispanic American, was once in Costa Rica. At the cash register of a grocery store, the cashier asked me for my ID. I had been hiking in the rain and had put my U.S. passport inside a ziplock bag. When I took it out, the Spanish tourist behind me made fun of my ziplock trick to her partner. My Spanish is basic but I have a good ear for Spaniard accent (have friends in Valencia).
I didn't say anything back but made sure to chat with the friendly cashier loudly enough for the Spanish woman to hear me. Yeah, Spanish is such an unknown language...
Šimon Špaček 4 months ago
Spanish is the third biggest language by native speakers. It is not "secret". If you want to trash talk other people, learn something little bit more obscure, I would suggest Czech (because if you want to learn another language just for trash talking, you can learn something with damn hard pronunciation). Or Finnish, it is amazing language (and pretty useless outside of Finland).
#24
Being loud, drunk and violent are among the worst things tourists can do.
Sergy Yeltsen 4 months ago
Just look at the English doing that in Spain. I'd be bitterly angry as well. It's disgusting and disrespectful, especially when fights break out.
#25
Saw a group of Italien men try to pick up women while visiting Auschwitz. That was beyond cringe.
#26
Do not touch delicate artwork or ancient artifacts.
I see this happen everywhere. Drives me nuts.
#27
Wearing immodest clothing in typically modest countries. Look what the locals of your gender are dressed like, and try to cover the same body parts. I cringe when I see “influencers” posing in front of the pyramids wearing a tiny crop top and shorts. Have a bit of respect for the local customs and culture. What would you think of someone walking naked down your city street? Would it be okay, just because they walk around naked in their own country?
Islandchild 4 months ago
Don't wear your bathing suit in a town or city without some sort of reasonable cover-up. Men wear a shirt and shorts if your bathing suit is less than shorts.
#28
In Athens, Greece and many other big tourism cities, if someone randomly tries to “give” you something - a blessing, a bracelet, etc. just don’t accept. You’ll end up being surrounded by them and their homies demanding money.
#29
Jaywalking is a shockable offense in Germany. Pedestrians will wait at an empty crosswalk with no cars in sight and wait until the little man tells them they can walk and if you walk across the (empty street) they will stare at you like you just mugged an old lady in front of them.
cerinamroth 4 months ago
I live in Germany and can confirm. I usually say to my daughter "Let's be British" and cross on the red man if there are no cars in sight. I have certainly taught her to look before crossing regardless of whether the green man is there or not. Lots of German pedestrians just obey the lights!
#30
Those are not garbage cans outside shops in Japan those are for umbrellas. Don't be me A.K.A a dummy.
What are some of your biggest “no nos” you have ever encountered while traveling?
The Doom Song 4 months ago
Leave the quokkas alone people! Yes they are cute and yes take a picture but please don't touch or feed them.
Alexandra 4 months ago
Most of these posts boil down to bad planning/preparation. If you go to a foreign country that's very unlike your own, always look up the currency, how to get around, when shops are open, what the National Holidays are and what the policies are when visiting museums. I also look up what to avoid at any costs. And, of course, I have the number of my embassy/consulate in my phone and on paper.
BookFanatic 4 months ago
As parents, try to instruct your young kids. I visited the Vietnam Memorial with my parents when I was eight. All I saw was a big black wall surrounding a park that would be great for running around and playing. My dad was in Vietnam, and he and my mom made sure I understood why I had to walk carefully and speak softly.
Apatheist Account2 4 months ago
Maybe don't get overly offended if someone from another country doesn't follow your traditions or culture. Remind them politely rather than aggressively (Eg "Oi mate! We queue in this country!" etc).
JB 4 months ago
In the UK (and possibly Australia) that would be considered a polite reminder.
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The Phantom Stranger 4 months ago
I recently took my wife to France for her 50th birthday. Unfortunately, due to caring for my terminally ill father, my plan to learn French prior to the trip never materialized. I was able to learn one phrase, however, "I apologize, but I'm an ugly American and I don't speak French," (which I've already forgotten!) Fortunately, my wife speaks fluent French, and in spite of my self-deprecating joke, we always try to be respectful of the culture and customs of where we're visiting, and as such we found most of the French people we encountered to be friendly and welcoming (and had a lot of questions about life in the US). It was only when some of the hotel staff offered condolences on the death of my father that I discovered my wife had been telling people behind my back that I hadn't had time to learn French due to my caregiver status.
Zedrapazia 4 months ago
Does someone here perhaps know since when the French insult tourists as rosbif? I've never heard anyone say that before and I can't find the origin of that either on Google.
CanadianDimes 4 months ago
If I’m in Thailand and my money blows away and I need to catch it by stepping on it, so be it. The royal family will live. It’s more disrespectful to myself to lose my money
Lace Neil 4 months ago
Don't ask random people in England if they know your English friend. Don't ask random English people in London for directions, ask a taxi driver.
The Phantom Stranger 4 months ago
I live in the US, but I have a childhood friend from Austria, whose family runs a famous international hotel in Vienna. She never really grasped how big the United States is, so whenever American guests stayed at the hotel, she would always ask if they knew me.
Load More Replies... The Doom Song 4 months ago
Leave the quokkas alone people! Yes they are cute and yes take a picture but please don't touch or feed them.
Alexandra 4 months ago
Most of these posts boil down to bad planning/preparation. If you go to a foreign country that's very unlike your own, always look up the currency, how to get around, when shops are open, what the National Holidays are and what the policies are when visiting museums. I also look up what to avoid at any costs. And, of course, I have the number of my embassy/consulate in my phone and on paper.
BookFanatic 4 months ago
As parents, try to instruct your young kids. I visited the Vietnam Memorial with my parents when I was eight. All I saw was a big black wall surrounding a park that would be great for running around and playing. My dad was in Vietnam, and he and my mom made sure I understood why I had to walk carefully and speak softly.
Apatheist Account2 4 months ago
Maybe don't get overly offended if someone from another country doesn't follow your traditions or culture. Remind them politely rather than aggressively (Eg "Oi mate! We queue in this country!" etc).
JB 4 months ago
In the UK (and possibly Australia) that would be considered a polite reminder.
Load More Replies... The Phantom Stranger 4 months ago
I recently took my wife to France for her 50th birthday. Unfortunately, due to caring for my terminally ill father, my plan to learn French prior to the trip never materialized. I was able to learn one phrase, however, "I apologize, but I'm an ugly American and I don't speak French," (which I've already forgotten!) Fortunately, my wife speaks fluent French, and in spite of my self-deprecating joke, we always try to be respectful of the culture and customs of where we're visiting, and as such we found most of the French people we encountered to be friendly and welcoming (and had a lot of questions about life in the US). It was only when some of the hotel staff offered condolences on the death of my father that I discovered my wife had been telling people behind my back that I hadn't had time to learn French due to my caregiver status.
Zedrapazia 4 months ago
Does someone here perhaps know since when the French insult tourists as rosbif? I've never heard anyone say that before and I can't find the origin of that either on Google.
CanadianDimes 4 months ago
If I’m in Thailand and my money blows away and I need to catch it by stepping on it, so be it. The royal family will live. It’s more disrespectful to myself to lose my money
Lace Neil 4 months ago
Don't ask random people in England if they know your English friend. Don't ask random English people in London for directions, ask a taxi driver.
The Phantom Stranger 4 months ago
I live in the US, but I have a childhood friend from Austria, whose family runs a famous international hotel in Vienna. She never really grasped how big the United States is, so whenever American guests stayed at the hotel, she would always ask if they knew me.
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