Americans Recommend Foreign Visitors Avoid These 45 Things When They’re Traveling The Country

The United States is full of diverse cultures, histories, and landscapes, creating a rich and complex national tapestry that takes time to truly understand.

So when foreigners come to this unique place of the world, they want to take in as much as possible. However, in their quest for authentic experiences, travelers may end up in awkward and uncomfortable situations.

Interested in how they can protect themselves from this, Reddit user AlainasBoyfriend posted a question on the platform, asking the locals, "What should a foreigner avoid while visiting the United States?" Here are the most popular answers they have received.

This post may include affiliate links.

Americans Recommend Foreign Visitors Avoid These 45 Things When They're Traveling The Country Leave all your stereotypes about America home, it's a hugely diverse country and your experience in one part of the US will be very different to your experience in another. Keep an open mind and have fun.

zerbey , Samson Katt Report

Final score:

342points

POST

Zedrapazia 1 year ago

This comment has been deleted.

80points

View More Replies...

View more comments

Americans Recommend Foreign Visitors Avoid These 45 Things When They're Traveling The Country Don’t be bullheaded when it comes to the weather. If the locals are worried, you should be worried.

TakeThisification , Nikolas Noonan Report

Final score:

339points

POST

The Original Bruno 1 year ago (edited)

Love the accompanying photo. America does have much more violent weather than Europe: the majority of all tornadoes in the world, plus huge numbers of hurricanes (which are completely unrelated things), hailstorms, and radical shifts of temperature like you can't believe: I remember reading about the difficulty in creating a memorial for the Alfred E Murrah bombing victims in Oklahoma, because several proposed media couldn't take the sudden drop of about more than forty degrees that can happen when ice falls from the sky in the middle of a 40-degree Celsius heat wave.

62points

View More Replies...

View more comments

Americans Recommend Foreign Visitors Avoid These 45 Things When They're Traveling The Country You should avoid any sweeping generalizations about the USA. The US is effectively 50 separate countries. It’s an absolutely massive landmass with pretty much every type of terrain, climate and a huge variety of cultures. Anyone that tells you otherwise probably barely travels.

_lippykid , NASA Report

Final score:

319points

POST

Gina Babe 1 year ago

Honestly true. I live in the northeast where I can drive an hour to a beach, to a major city, to ski, to hike... etc. And we have few major natural disasters, have four seasons, and though it varies slightly, it is pretty evenly divided in the year. It really is a great place to live and I take for granted how much we actually have here.

82points

View More Replies...

View more comments

Americans Recommend Foreign Visitors Avoid These 45 Things When They're Traveling The Country If it says no trespassing don't trespass.

Dragonbourn00 , Adam Lowly Report

Final score:

287points

POST

Mel The Axolotl 1 year ago

So true. If you have hesitation, remember that statistic about how many guns there are compared to people here...

130points

View More Replies...

View more comments

Americans Recommend Foreign Visitors Avoid These 45 Things When They're Traveling The Country If you are visiting a more rural area, like Montana where I live, don't underestimate the rural-ness. You might not be able to get a hotel in a small town and there are plenty ty of places where there aren't any hotels or accommodations. You can take highway and run out of gas because there aren't any gas stations for 70 miles. Also, if it is a dirt road, and there are a lot of them in the rural U.S., don't ever assume that you will have cell/GPS reception or that the dirt road goes anywhere besides 50 miles into the mountains where you can get stuck or break down. It's hard to conceptualize for people who live in more populated areas. Your best bet is to plan ahead and read reviews. It is absolutely worth it to visit areas where there is wilderness. That is why I live here. That being said, it's dangerous in a different way than visiting a city.

Violet624 , Matthew Lancaster Report

Final score:

276points

POST

Zephyr343 1 year ago

I am sure the Australian outback is much the same

123points

View More Replies...

View more comments

If you get pulled over DO NOT GET OUT OF THE CAR. Do not take your seatbelt off, keep your hands visible, move slowly, be polite. Especially if you're darker skinned in any way.

CreativeAd190 Report

Final score:

275points

POST

StrangeOne 1 year ago

Apparently there's a highway going from Ontario to Florida. Along a stretch in North Carolina there are US police pulling over Canadians and giving them excessively high tickets for bogus reasons and make the driver go to court to dispute but end up paying in the end. There's a theory that the police are scamming foreign travellers to get more money.

107points

View More Replies...

View more comments

Americans Recommend Foreign Visitors Avoid These 45 Things When They're Traveling The Country If you go to the national parks, don’t attempt to take selfies with the wildlife. A full grown bison will throw you through the air like a crumpled piece of paper.

abby-rose:

I want to really emphasize this. There are US Park Rangers who are full-time employees of the National Park Service. Their job is to protect the park, the wildlife, and visitors. Take the posted signs seriously and listen and do what rangers advise.

Yearly, a dozen or so people die in the Grand Canyon National Park, often tourists who go hiking without enough water or food and are not aware of how treacherous the terrain and weather can be. Same for Big Bend NP in Texas.

Juergen2993 , Lukas Kloeppel Report

Final score:

260points

POST

Gustav Gallifrey 1 year ago

Warning appreciated, but not necessary. I'm from Australia. We have birds that can kick you to death.

150points

View More Replies...

View more comments

Americans Recommend Foreign Visitors Avoid These 45 Things When They're Traveling The Country Don't go to the big chain type places. Go to the mom and pop little restaurants and coffee shops and specialty shops. You will usually find new cool things you enjoy.

OpeusPopeus:

To add to this: FOOD TRUCKS!!!

ElectionProper8172 , Joana Godinho Report

Final score:

246points

POST

Ruth 1 year ago

Visiting Waffle House late a night is definitely an American experience! :)

93points

View More Replies...

View more comments

Americans Recommend Foreign Visitors Avoid These 45 Things When They're Traveling The Country Avoid a hospital visit. Whatever you think it costs, it’s more.

N0t_N1k3L:

Medical travel insurance that goes into the 7 digits. Someone from my country had the misfortune of having a stroke in the USA. 150k+ in expenses. When I went there it was my number 1 concern: getting insurance.

pug_fugly_moe , Thirdman Report

Final score:

229points

POST

Sunshine Lady 1 year ago

I was in USA on work trip when I found out I was pregnant. Didn't even think about going to hospital there, just waited 2 more weeks to go back home.

99points

View More Replies...

View more comments

#10

Anyone wearing a MAGA hat.

yourpaljax Report

Final score:

229points

POST

Alex Martin 1 year ago

This comment has been deleted.

151points

View More Replies...

View more comments

#11

dont go walking around late at night by yourself ESPECIALLY if youre a woman. I have friends from korea which is a country where its safe to go walk around at 1 am. When they visit here i always have to tell them that its not like that here and a big risk to be out alone especially in cities like LA.

SojinxGSD Report

Final score:

200points

POST

Gina Babe 1 year ago

This is very very true. Even in safe neighborhoods.

70points

View More Replies...

View more comments

#12

Americans Recommend Foreign Visitors Avoid These 45 Things When They're Traveling The Country Always ask the locals where they like to eat. They know better than any travel blog.

mikemac412 , Alex Haney Report

Final score:

198points

POST

Barong 1 year ago

Pretty much standard advice when traveling anywhere.

119points

View More Replies...

View more comments

#13

I feel like this answer changes depending on where you are coming from. Certain parts of the country REALLY dislike certain nationalities. There's no way coming here as a german/swede or European is the same experience as middle eastern/African/Asian.

Hbimajorv Report

Final score:

193points

POST

Gina Babe 1 year ago

Yeah this is a weird one but true.

63points

View More Replies...

View more comments

#14

Americans Recommend Foreign Visitors Avoid These 45 Things When They're Traveling The Country When visiting the U.S., it's best to avoid discussing sensitive topics like politics and religion with strangers, even if they bring it up. Also, be mindful of local customs and etiquette, as they can vary widely. And of course, don't forget to tip in restaurants—it's a common practice here. Enjoy your time in the States!

Vexina1997 , Jessica Da Rosa Report

Final score:

183points

POST

Zaach 1 year ago

Not just common practice - the only way your server can survive

136points

View More Replies...

View more comments

#15

I was in a bar in Russia once and the bartender told me he wanted to visit the US and to go to Alabama because of the song sweet home Alabama.

Literally the only time anyone has said they want to go to Alabama to me, don't go to Alabama foreigner.

DaveinOakland Report

Final score:

175points

POST

Gina Babe 1 year ago

This is adorable.

53points

View more comments

#16

It’s not uncommon for perfect strangers to greet you, unlike most of the world where people tend to keep to themselves. If someone says “How are you doing?” it’s not really a question, just a greeting.

kindest_asshole Report

Final score:

174points

POST

Headless Horseman 1 year ago (edited)

And the generic response is usually expected to be "good, you?" Then the stranger who asked in the first place says "Good" and then that's it. You never see each other again 🤭

137points

View More Replies...

View more comments

#17

Taking weed across state lines. It’s not legal everywhere.

Gromit801 Report

Final score:

172points

POST

Gustav Gallifrey 1 year ago

Here's one for US tourists: don't try to take a gun to Canada. Second Amendment stops at the border.

145points

View More Replies...

View more comments

#18

Honestly, most of the bad areas will be intuitively bad to any human being with basic decency and common sense. That said, I would avoid Texas.

Yak-Fucker-5000 Report

Final score:

169points

POST

Michael P (Perthaussieguy) 1 year ago

*Adds Texas to the growing list of places to avoid*

98points

View More Replies...

View more comments

#19

Americans Recommend Foreign Visitors Avoid These 45 Things When They're Traveling The Country America is HUGE and things are a lot further apart than Europeans realize.

UnspecificGravity:

The flight from London to New York is only about an hour longer than the flight from New York to Seattle.

MrRGG , Mackenzie Cruz Report

Final score:

164points

POST

Ambyr Miller 1 year ago

As a Canadian I find this one cute.

105points

View More Replies...

View more comments

#20

Don't smoke in public buildings, this is illegal.

Don't smoke in someone's house, apartment, or condo without asking for permission. This isn't illegal, but it's still extremely rude.

Max10imus Report

Final score:

155points

POST

Gina Babe 1 year ago

Do people just light up in houses all w***y nilly elsewhere?

67points

View More Replies...

View more comments

#21

Americans Recommend Foreign Visitors Avoid These 45 Things When They're Traveling The Country Ordering a large at a restaurant, or *especially* a movie theater. I don't care how hungry you think you are, you will not eat/drink it all in one sitting.

Amazing_Excuse_3860 , Geraud pfeiffer Report

Final score:

154points

POST

Mel The Axolotl 1 year ago

So true. Our portions here are huge

58points

View More Replies...

View more comments

#22

Americans Recommend Foreign Visitors Avoid These 45 Things When They're Traveling The Country Heavily depends on where you are going....but don't assume the price you see is the price you pay. Sales tax isn't included on most price listings and Tip is expected for food service.

bluejams , Kenny Eliason Report

Final score:

153points

POST

Zephyr343 1 year ago

Yup. So Dane county, WI where I live is 5.5% sales tax. Cook County in IL (where Chicago is) has a 12.5% tax

51points

View More Replies...

View more comments

#23

DO NOT TRY TO BRIBE COPS. As f****d up as American cops are bribery does not fly. Unless you're wealthy or powerful.

gaghan Report

Final score:

153points

POST

michael Chock 1 year ago (edited)

Do not bribe them with money. Flash them some skin, a smile, religion, beg for pity, stroke the ego, all of it will get you further than cash. Think power tripping ego manics that if they want cash they will just take it. There few good cops will understand.

39points

View More Replies...

View more comments

#24

Americans Recommend Foreign Visitors Avoid These 45 Things When They're Traveling The Country I find a lot of foreigners have about 2 1/2 inches of a personal space bubble, while us Americans value our space. Keep at least a 2-3 feet distance when conversing with strangers. I've had an Italian guy come so close I thought he was going to kiss me. Very uncomfortable for someone who isn't used to a lack of personal space.

MasterPip , cottonbro studio Report

Final score:

149points

POST

Torben Møller-Nielsen 1 year ago

Obviusly you don't meet a lot of scandinavian tourists :-)

112points

View More Replies...

View more comments

#25

Americans Recommend Foreign Visitors Avoid These 45 Things When They're Traveling The Country Driving from New York to LA.

MedicinalTequila:

We had an exchange student from France staying with us (NY). one day, we saw her with a map of the US, said she was going to take a bus to California because she had heard so much about it on television.

We had to sit down and explain it was going to take a week, each way.

MarbleousMel:

"Lol I have some German friends who flew into Texas and wanted to make a day trip to Los Angeles during the week they were in the US. After that first trip, they planned much better and now visit the country by regions and give themselves more time."

No_Finish_2144 , Ekaterina Belinskaya Report

Final score:

143points

POST

Sexual Harassment Panda 1 year ago

It actually takes about 2 days to drive through Texas.

75points

View More Replies...

View more comments

See Also on Bored Panda

Dutch Swimmer Goes Viral For Super Revealing Trunks During 2024 Olympics: “Is This Legal?”

Thrill-Seeking Diver Jumps Down Extreme Waterslide, Ignoring The Strict Ban For Women

#26

Americans Recommend Foreign Visitors Avoid These 45 Things When They're Traveling The Country Don't interact with police unless you absolutely need to.

Snackdoc189 , Jacky Lam Report

Final score:

141points

POST

Sarah Lopez 1 year ago

Most cops aren't racist. Stop.

54points

View More Replies...

View more comments

#27

If there is garbage on the street or on the floor of the establishment, there are other regulations being ignored. If the floor isn’t clean, the rest of the place isn’t clean either. I know that sounds very snobbish and privileged, but coming from absolute poverty and climbing my way out, it’s absolutely correct.

PilkShots Report

Final score:

139points

POST

michael Chock 1 year ago (edited)

Also if a restaurant smells off, walk away. The health department only makes sure you won't die eating there, they do not make sure it is clean. (Can vary by state) This includes expensive restaurants. Strip mall places are usually safest.

42points

View more comments

#28

If you're visiting a well-known and large city (New York, Boston, Seattle, Las Vegas, Houston, etc.) Avoid contact with people passing out CDs or offering to give you free things because they will try to charge you for it once they reel you in.

noellemackenna Report

Final score:

134points

POST

Zephyr343 1 year ago

However, if they are passing out laserdiscs, you talk to that person because they got stories to tell

46points

View More Replies...

View more comments

#29

If you’re visiting Alaska, DO NOT visit rural or remote areas alone, especially if you’re inexperienced.

Alaska has the highest missing persons rate (about 168 missing people per 100k of the population, and we have 730,916 residents as of 2023), and the VAST majority of the state is unpopulated, unexplored and untamed wilderness. There’s even the Alaskan Triangle, a huge expanse of land between Anchorage, Juneau, and Utqiagvik (formerly known as Barrow) where more people go missing, along with disappearing aircraft, alleged paranormal and extraterrestrial sightings, and much more.

My advice, if you’re a first-timer to Alaska, is to stick to Southcentral Alaska. You’ve got Anchorage and the Mat-Su Valley, where there’s plenty of tourist attractions. If you’re feeling more adventurous, there’s whale-watching and glacier tours in places like Seward and Homer. If you want somewhere further in the interior, there’s a two-hour drive to Talkeetna, or a another 6 hours to Fairbanks!

totallynotalaskan Report

Final score:

131points

POST

Zaach 1 year ago

Just because you can see Denali on the horizon, you can't get there from here (unless it fills the horizon)

33points

View More Replies...

View more comments

See Also on Bored Panda

Woman Put A Water Fountain With A Camera In Her Yard, Here Are 24 Photos Of Regular Visitors (New Pics)

“Ma’am I Live Here”: Woman Refuses To Back Out Of Driveway, Learns A Lesson The Hard Way

#30

Americans Recommend Foreign Visitors Avoid These 45 Things When They're Traveling The Country Avoid looking lost and unorganized in areas of big cities with high crime rates. Dress functionally, always keep the illusion of knowing where you are and where you're going, pay attention to your surroundings. Bad people will target folks who look lost and unorganized more often than people who appear oriented.

xtrasmolpp , Szymon Shields Report

Final score:

124points

POST

Ash 1 year ago

Also (and I know this isn't just a US thing), don't carry your purse the way the person in this photo is carrying their bag! It could get snatched very easily. Put the strap over your shoulder, tuck the bag under your elbow.

66points

View More Replies...

View more comments

#31

Americans Recommend Foreign Visitors Avoid These 45 Things When They're Traveling The Country Don't expect the US to be pedestrian-friendly. Some of our larger cities are, but even they pale in comparison to EU cities. You need to drive here. NYC is basically our only major city that's not true of, but even there, public transport is not as good as that found in a lot of European and east Asian nations. You should expect to have to rent a car as part of your vacation expenditure if you don't have other accommodations.

MothraWillSaveUs , Refine 網頁設計 Report

Final score:

121points

POST

michael Chock 1 year ago

Be careful what cities you bike in. Many people die trying to bike in new cities, assuming drivers are polite everywhere.

45points

View More Replies...

View more comments

#32

Gary Indiana!! Do not, under any circumstances, go to Gary, Indiana. Ever

stublycurious Report

Final score:

116points

POST

La Voca 1 year ago

What did Harold Hill do now?

44points

View More Replies...

View more comments

See Also on Bored Panda

50 Of The Most Incredible Shots That Were Submitted To The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

French Diver’s “Jewels” In Tight Swimming Trunks Become Talk Of The Town At Olympics

#33

The heat. If you're going to hike in the desert, bring plenty of water.

tacobelmont Report

Final score:

113points

POST

Rinoboyrich 1 year ago

Tell friends and family where you are going, and when you expect to be back!

4points

View More Replies...

View more comments

#34

Americans Recommend Foreign Visitors Avoid These 45 Things When They're Traveling The Country Generally, you should tip at sit-down restaurants with full service (ie waiter comes and takes your order, brings food, refills drinks and clears your dishes). At these places, traditionally the minimum is 15%, but most people I know tip closer to 20% standard.

Heliawe , Gül Işık Report

Final score:

98points

POST

Zephyr343 1 year ago

Yes. I know it's stupid but servers rely on that. And before anyone says "pay them a living wage". Yes. But that is not the reality right now. So if you are coming, this is the expectation

75points

View More Replies...

View more comments

#35

Americans Recommend Foreign Visitors Avoid These 45 Things When They're Traveling The Country Hollywood Boulevard.

Ok_Response_3484:

My cousins came from Oklahoma with preteens/teens and I tried to warn them that it wasn't really a good place and especially not for kids. They didn't listen. When I saw them that night, their mom said "I should have listened to you. It was horrible"

Wishing4Signal , Aman Report

Final score:

97points

POST

Miki 1 year ago

Ok.. But why?

20points

View More Replies...

View more comments

#36

Don’t do the kiss on the cheek greeting. Well, as someone already mentioned, the US is 50 separate places with different customs, but the peck on the cheek, if that’s common where you’re visiting from, isn’t so popular here. It was something I had a hard time getting used to when visiting friends in Colombia.

5hrs4hrs3hrs2hrs1mor Report

Final score:

88points

POST

FakeOptimist 1 year ago

Yep, different countries, different cultures. Reminds me of friends of my mother who emigrated to Australia, and got weird vibes from their neighbours. Turned out, they are Dutch and are used to greet visitirs with coffee. In Australia serving coffee to guests is a politie way of asking someone to leave 😂

28points

View More Replies...

View more comments

See Also on Bored Panda

Woman Moves Out Of Parents' Home After They Asked Her To Give Her Space To Brother, They Freak Out

Mom Leaves $250k Inheritance To Son, Throws A Fit When Daughter Stops Looking After Her

#37

Don't lock anything valuable in your car. This includes the trunk.

Affectionate_Ask_769 Report

Final score:

81points

POST

Zephyr343 1 year ago

In general keeping it in your trunk is the best place if you have to bring something. I always keep my bag and laptop in my trunk when I park in Chicago.

36points

View More Replies...

View more comments

#38

Look up the crime rates of any city before you go there so you know which areas to avoid.

anon Report

Final score:

78points