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If you've ever traveled abroad as an American, the chances are you know how it feels to be detected as one. It’s not that we hide it (in fact, we are prouder than anything else!) but sometimes you just wish you could blend in with the rest of the crowd and feel what it’s like to be treated as a local.

And all it takes is to step foot inside, for example, a “bar” in Italy and order a beer on tap, or worse, a cappuccino after 12, and here you've earned a bunch of eyerolls with a solid “where in America are you from?” But in order to find out what really gives Americans away in an instant, we have to look at what non-Americans have to say about their radars themselves.

So below we collected some of the most interesting responses to “How do you spot an American tourist ‘from a mile away’?” on “AskReddit” and wow, this is kinda weirdly specific.

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#1

30 Non-Americans Share How They Spot American Tourists From A Mile Away Americans are very loud, I swear you have loudhailers hidden in your clothes somewhere.

Over 40, the tourists tend to be more on the very overweight side, but the women still wear yoga pants and the men always have a combination of button up shirts and loose fitting cargo shorts. And both men and women wear baseball caps and Oakley's or sunglasses similar to that style; with white trainers.

Under 40, you're very friendly, in a way that's both endearing and creepy. When we chat I feel like I'm being indoctrinated into a cult.

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Leah Person
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’m American and I really cannot stand how loud most people are here. I have a quiet voice and it’s considered some kind of a fault by some. It’s actually really stressful.

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#2

30 Non-Americans Share How They Spot American Tourists From A Mile Away The way they dress. For some reason Americans abroad dress like they're doing some hard core exploring in the Amazon...even when they're just visiting a European city.

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Pixie
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ah yes, the thrilling and dangerous urban jungle of an European metropolis - beware of the bike lane

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#3

30 Non-Americans Share How They Spot American Tourists From A Mile Away "Hey oh you're [Irish/Scottish/Italian/etc]! I'm [same] too!"

"Oh really? Whereabouts you from?"

"California. My great great great grandpappy was from here though!"

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Sarcastic Cow
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you are so proud of your country, why do you still mention the origins of your ancestors?Sounds like a European saying he's a Celtic, a Roman or a Viking... (even if it was cool, tho)

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#4

30 Non-Americans Share How They Spot American Tourists From A Mile Away Amazed by things which are more than 200 years old, presumably because they don't have many things that old in the USA.

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Tenacious Squirrel
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Same in Australia. We once went to a “historic” attraction that people were really fawning over. It was from the 1950s, my mum is older than it 😆

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#5

30 Non-Americans Share How They Spot American Tourists From A Mile Away Saying “hi, how are you?” to the barista, servers, retail workers. My country doesn’t quite have that culture so I find it really sweet.

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Ba Loeloe
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Seems like Americans don't expect a answer when they say "Hi, how are you?

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#6

30 Non-Americans Share How They Spot American Tourists From A Mile Away when they cross the street, they expect cars to stop for them. in my country, the cars will run you down without thinking twice.

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WilvanderHeijden
WilvanderHeijden
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In the Netherlands pedestrians are legally protected into the extreme. If a driver collides with a pedestrians, the driver is always 100% at fault and liable. But even here pedestrians wait till it's safe to cross the street.

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#7

30 Non-Americans Share How They Spot American Tourists From A Mile Away When they introduce themselves they never say they're from America: mostly the state/city they're from.

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Caro Caro
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The USA is frigging huge. Nothing wrong with that !

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#8

I remember I was a small kid in Tijuana. They were typically a lot more good looking than the local population. The girls were hot as hell. The Marines that would come around from San Diego looked like superheroes and made these other guys look like sh*t.

We'd get European tourists as well but the American ones looked bigger and kind of stronger. Especially the military guys, like something out of these Marvel comics, at least the ones in their twenties.

All buff, tall, etc.

The military tourists were always very friendly to me and made me want to be like them when I grew up, which is why I'm going to enlist in the USMC a few years after college, haha.

Very friendly, generous people, very funny too.

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#9

30 Non-Americans Share How They Spot American Tourists From A Mile Away They complain that the portions at restaurants are too small.

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Caro Caro
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Unfortunately I've heard this too. It's a culture thing I guess.

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#10

You can hear them in museums when everyone else is extra silent.

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#11

30 Non-Americans Share How They Spot American Tourists From A Mile Away In my experience, any combination of the following:

white socks
wearing a sun visor
Talking incredibly loud
Their phone will be on a belt loop
American teenagers are usually better at blending in however, so the trick with these guys is to wait until you're in a restaurant, at which point they'll make their presence known by complaining about the local food.

In terms of positives however, I find most American tourists are incredibly friendly and sociable, they usually have no problem talking to strangers and striking up a pleasant conversation, something we Europeans never do with each other (this is also another "tell", but it's one we should adopt).

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eirini
eirini
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In South Europe we do have pleasant conversations with total strangers. Not all Europeans behave the same way.

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#12

30 Non-Americans Share How They Spot American Tourists From A Mile Away The absolute fearlessness of asking anyone on the street about anything

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#13

Expecting everyone to speak English and/or not wanting to learn the local language.

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Caro Caro
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I remember I was at the French border (Back when we had to stop and show our passport) and a car in front of us was at the checkpoint. A woman yeeted herself out of the car screaming "I don't need a passport, I'm American".

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#14

30 Non-Americans Share How They Spot American Tourists From A Mile Away They always look cheerful and are constantly smiling and seeming happy. Tourists from other places look more neutral or even unhappy.

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troufaki13
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How can you travel to another place and not be happy??? I'm with the Americans on this one!

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#15

30 Non-Americans Share How They Spot American Tourists From A Mile Away They get over-excited over very ordinary events and say things like “OMG look that grass how green it is!

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troufaki13
troufaki13
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I find this very endearing to be honest. It's how children react and how we should all react in my opinion :)

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#16

30 Non-Americans Share How They Spot American Tourists From A Mile Away They wear white socks pulled all the way up.

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#17

I always felt embarrassingly underdressed when traveling in Europe.

On the flip side, as a native Arizonan I can always spot the European/English tourist because they will be bright red.

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#18

30 Non-Americans Share How They Spot American Tourists From A Mile Away Many of the things we say loudly, includes many irrelevant details. In Israel, no one gives a f*ck about irrelevant details. “Yes” or “no” answers are of high value in middle eastern culture; but in American culture we like to tell you all about why something is or that our daughter got married last year or our cat has diabetes.

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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I didn’t know yes/no answers had high value in Middle Eastern culture. Interesting!

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#19

They’re looking for a store open at like 11pm. Even if in most European countries stores close at like 7-8 pm

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WilvanderHeijden
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

American: "Can you imagine not being able to buy a microwave at 3 AM?" European: "Yes."

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#20

Americans think the world impressed by their city. No one cares that you’re from Las Vegas

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Susan Widomski
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And why do so many tourists visit Las Vegas or New York or California?

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#21

30 Non-Americans Share How They Spot American Tourists From A Mile Away Tipping. Americans will try to tip everyone, even in countries where tipping isn't a thing/is considered a serious insult.

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Caro Caro
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And the other way around tourists from outside the USA forget to tip or don't tip enough.

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#22

30 Non-Americans Share How They Spot American Tourists From A Mile Away They're always asking for extra ice in their drinks.

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September Meadows
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I prefer my drinks at room temperature unless they're supposed to be hot.

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#23

Quite often on the heavy side weight-wise (sorry!)

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#24

30 Non-Americans Share How They Spot American Tourists From A Mile Away They ask for ketchup no matter what they're eating.

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Leah Person
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

American here and cannot stand ketchup. I know most people do though

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#25

30 Non-Americans Share How They Spot American Tourists From A Mile Away They have impeccable facial hair. Maybe Americans get a trim before they go on holiday, but I'm always impressed by the tidy beards and mustaches.

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Ba Loeloe
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Every hipster in every countrie has impeccable facial hair.

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#26

dollars. God damn it, people - hit a money exchange before you hit the market. Especially in a country where hard currency was still illegal.

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Al Cook
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To be fair, most vendors in third world countries are happy to receive dollars because they're worth so much more than the local currency. In first world countries though, you'd have to be pretty stupid to think they'd be legal tender.

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#27

They’re the first to kick off when it’s a hot day and the Grade II listed hotel I work in doesn’t have air-conditioning.

Then they leave a bad review :( believe me, I would LOVE air con but we’re not allowed to change the building.

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WilvanderHeijden
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why would you leave a 900 year old historical building intact, when you clearly can ruin the façade with air conditioners?

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#28

30 Non-Americans Share How They Spot American Tourists From A Mile Away Their college t shirt, sweater or cap

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#29

We are morons about diet. Another American moved to where I lived. He preached about high protein diets, b*tched about how he couldn’t find fat free milk or pasteurized egg whites, in a country that specializes in high-fat cuisine.

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#30

fanny pack.

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Al Cook
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

F***y usually means something completely different in other English speaking parts of the world!

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#31

I've lived in the USA for 18 years, originally from England. It's not really anything specific, and it's hard to explain but Americans have a certain attitude and way of holding themselves that's easily noticeable. They just seem more confident and at ease than other nations. You don't notice it at first, but it's easy to spot after you've lived here a while. Last time we were in England we stopped at a convenience store and two young Americans were sitting opposite, they hadn't spoken but we knew immediately.

My wife walked up:

"You here on vacation?"

"Oh.. yeah! Wow, how did you know?"

"Duh. Where are you from?"

Proudly. "We're from the USA"

"Oh, really honey? Where do you think I'm from?!"

Turns out they were from Ohio and the last thing they expected in some quiet British convenience store was to find someone from their home country.

My wife says I've never acquired it either, she can usually spot English people really quickly too.

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Tenacious Squirrel
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They’re definitely more confident! I admire this about them (when it’s appropriate, not about arrogance or ignorant confidence). Me and my partner have discussed before: do they all go through some secret special confidence school at the age of 3 or is it genetic?!

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#32

30 Non-Americans Share How They Spot American Tourists From A Mile Away Everyone else is freezing outside and then there's that American walking around in shorts as if it's nothing.

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#33

They ask things like 'what is that in degrees Fahrenheit?' 'How many miles?' and 'That's two pounds'???

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WilvanderHeijden
WilvanderHeijden
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Like Europeans ask "What's that in degrees Celsius" "How many Kilometers?" and "That's 1 KG?" when they're in the US.

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#34

In the UK, first-time American tourists look bewildered trying to navigate their rental car in busy roundabouts (traffic circles).

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WilvanderHeijden
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People in the UK are driving on the wrong side of the road, so that's understandable.

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#35

All the Americans I saw abroad always traveled as a family and had a MILLION bags, usually the mom would be carrying the largest/most.

Also, we are the only ones who would differentiate between different parts of the country. My European friends never understood why I always asked where in America another American was from. I guess they didn’t understand that people from California can be VERY different from Kentucky or Southern people, so you gotta know in order to judge this new person based on stereotypes.

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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It is a shame you judge people by where they are from, and not by who they are... Says a lot about you.

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#36

The way they like to say "oh you call this X? We call that Y in America" or something along those lines

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the Kat who says ni
the Kat who says ni
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When being a tourist in US, I told my husband there was a queue to get to the toilet... the table next to me (locals) made fun of my choice of words (hahaha , queue, who says that). I speak Dutch, french and English and have a good notion of several other languages... I'm doing the best I can, people....

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#37

"Does that come with a side order of French Fries?"

This phrase and that sentence alone are so foreign here even if you faked an accent perfectly it would stand out.

i am Central African.

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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

See, I didn't figure OP didn't know what French fries were. I figured he found it strange that Americans presume every meal comes with a side of fries. (Sorry, but fries at restaurants are kiddie food... familiar, comforting food when other food at a restaurant can be unfamiliar and therefore intimidating to children... but now generations of us Americans have grown up getting fries with dinner at restaurants.)

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#38

For some reason, American tourists in Norway always seem to be marveled at how technologically advanced Norway is. Read: how everywhere takes and prefers card, how chuggers that go about with those money jugs also have a sign with an account number you can send money to, how there's a lot of electric cars here, etc etc etc.

Also, they always seem to automatically assume that if you aren't norwegian, you're either a tourist, or, if you're middle eastern, a refugee. It's always a button annoying when you try to help some lost American couple find a stave church and they brush you off just because you have an Australian accent and are apparently a tourist who doesn't know the place like them even though you've lived in that area for ten years.

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#39

Footwear. Americans for some reason wear sneakers / running shoes when unnecessary. Also usually loud along with their accent, it's very distinct when heard abroad. Except some Canadians have a very similar accent. And dress, kind of hard to explain this one though. Usually unintentionally stand out when back home they'd blend in perfectly.

Just an American view on identitying other Americans overseas.

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Vicky Zar
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When are Sneakers unnecessary? I‘ve heared it was the other way around. That US woman wore always heals while European woman wear casual footwear because of the cobble stones.

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#40

staring confusedly at the food you just ordered. Beef Stroganoff in a fancy restaurant doesn’t look like your Hamburger Helper version, and fish soup is traditionally served with the head still attached

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#41

If they have kids they say "Good job!" to them a lot

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Lovin' Life
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's positive reinforcement! It encourages them to behave or strive to be better.

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#42

In Germany, I never realized how many other Americans wore baseball hats.

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#43

The huge American flag they are wearing usually gives it away

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#44

Hand-held fans, maybe because air conditioning is very common in the USA.

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Isabel Care
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As a woman of a certain age, I find a hand held rechargeable fan necessary at times. I also hug an ice pack occasionally.

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#45

Look for the crocs, walking cane, Hawaiian shirt, shorts, wiiide hiker’s hat, and a map.

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#46

30 Non-Americans Share How They Spot American Tourists From A Mile Away Asking for the bathroom in a restaurant or public place. Do you need to take a shower? No. What you're really looking for is the toilet.

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Caro Caro
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is ridiculous. So the Americans use a different word. So bloody what !

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#47

He's politely letting an entire tour bus full of Chinese jump the line by pushing past him and his entire family.

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#48

Touching everything behind "Do not touch" sign.

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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's what all tourists have in common. In the Netherlands Chinese tourists are notorious for trampling the tulip fields despite numerous signs telling them to stay out of the fields. One flower grower once said on TV that his fields looked like they had been attacked by a swarm of locusts if a bus with Chinese tourists had stopped at his place. He closed his fields for the public.

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#49

He/She/they will usually be the only that takes up the space where 2 people should be.

Easy joke aside, living in Switzerland i've noticed the american trends tend to be more blatant here. Things like popped collars, sunglasses even during the rain, obnoxiously loud talking in bars are usually a dead give away to me. Dont know why, but it seems that the US people living here are just generally stand out more compared to the rest

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#50

I mostly find them in the most visited beaches when I go for a vacation inside of my own country and a real easy tell there is that they're the most sun burnt around. Most of them look like a walking tomato.

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#51

They're usually tanned, and grinning ear to ear as they marvel loudly about some aspect of our culture. Also very likely to strike up conversation with any passer by, which many of the locals here (rural UK) find intimidating or annoying. Also their accents are super distinct, so if any of them ever talk at a normal volume level (jk that never happens) you can still hear them from a mile away.

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Caro Caro
Caro Caro
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This might be American but it wouldn't bother me too much. What I hate are the (way too) high pitched voices of women....

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#52

They ask for to-go coffee cups. Everyone else in Europe sits and drinks their coffee, but Americans always seem to be in a rush so they take their coffee to go.

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troufaki13
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What? "Everyone else in Europe"? No no. In Greece we do it all the time

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#53

They pronounce things horribly and make zero attempt to say it correctly.

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WilvanderHeijden
WilvanderHeijden
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Most tourists aren't interested in the language or the culture of the country. They just go there because of the weather and cheap food and drink. A few of my Dutch friends have been going on holiday to Spain for 20 years. None of them have advanced beyond the point of "Dos cerveza, por favor." "Quanta costa?" and "Gracias." All said with a heavy Dutch accent.

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#54

The accent, you can usually hear an American tourist no matter how far they are from you.

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#55

They take their shoes off for airport security, even when there is a sign saying not to take shoes off.

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#56

They put cheese on everything.

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#57

In New Zealand, American hikers were the only ones with Nalgene water bottles.

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#58

They are little sweet, little shy & little soft spoken. They usually respect everyone around them. They take selfie with old age people. The best part is they apologize too much. Sometimes it feels like they are just scared to come to my country Vietnam.

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V33333P
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This sounds like the opposite of American tourists tbh (to clarify, while I'm a kiwi, I have a tonne of USA friends who are nothing like this, and it's a generalization yadda-yadda) but here they tend to be very loud, anything but shy, come across too strong with compliments etc.

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#59

I've seen multiple American tourists here in Canada asking their partners "WhErEs tHe sNoW?" I really hope they were joking it was summer at the time.

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lara
lara
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Legit question in Hawaii, too. Was on Maui in July, freezing ass cold on Mount Haleakala and snowing.

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#60

I live in Toronto, and the most obvious sign of a tourist is turning around, seeing the CN Tower and trying to take a group selfie in front of it. Get off the sidewalk.

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WilvanderHeijden
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The same problem exists in the Netherlands with tourists on the bicycle path. Bicycle paths are painted red. They also have bicycles painted on them. It is not the best place to stand with your entire family for a photo. A crash course in swearing in Dutch will be your reward. And I will get downvotes but Dutch swear with diseases.

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