Upon returning from my recent months long trip to Europe, my stepfather asked me a question. “Which country was most welcoming to American tourists?” My initial response was one that left him puzzled. “Few people really like American tourists,” I said. “They like the money American tourists bring, but Americans aren’t really known for being good visitors.”

This, of course, sparked a conversation. Why aren’t American tourists good visitors? (Obviously this is over-generalizing.) For that matter, what is the difference between being a tourist and a visitor? Today, let’s talk about this, and about what we, as American travelers, can do to improve that image that so many have of us.

Language Issues

American tourists are notorious for assuming everyone speaks English. Part of this is a failure of the American education system; we teach languages very poorly, and few Americans who don’t speak another language at home growing up are bilingual. But while English is the most common second language worldwide and many places are possible to visit solely in English, assuming that others are responsible for learning our language is pretty ridiculous.

Visitors, on the other hand, try their best to at least learn some useful phrases in the local language before coming, especially things like hello, goodbye, and thank you. Deference to other languages, even in such a simple manner as a greeting, goes a long way.

American Products

Sometimes, things we can easily obtain in the US aren’t available in other countries. I’ve seen numerous American tourists get visibly and demonstrably upset at their inability to get things like decaf coffee (isn’t really a thing in most places), over the counter medications like sleeping pills (prescriptions are needed most places), or a specific name brand of any number of other things.

While I certainly understand the frustration at not being able to obtain something needed or desired, anger directed at a pharmacy employee at the rules not allowing purchase of something easily bought back home is not the answer. Upon finding out something is unavailable, try asking for an alternative. If decaf coffee isn’t at the cafe, adapt. Get an herbal tea. Understand that part of the fun of being a visitor is being forced outside of our normal comfort zones. You might even find something you like better!

Dining Out

This is one of the bigger ones. Dining out in the US follows some basic rules. You will be served free tap water. The server will check up on you reasonably regularly. The kitchen will try to get dishes out as quickly as possible. You can modify a menu item based on allergies and preferences. Well, these may not be true elsewhere. If you sit down in a restaurant in Belgium, for instance, water will not be free. Your server will generally leave you alone. You’ll normally be expected to take a while, so the staff won’t be in any hurry to get things out, bring the bill, ask if you want something else, etc… Asking for modifications might be considered rude. Taking leftovers away in a doggy bag might not be allowed. And so many more. American tourists expect things to function the way they are used to. They make the “check” gesture, which isn’t likely to be understood, and even if it is will be thought of as incredibly crude. They decry the inability to ask for their salad with extra tomatoes and no olives, or get upset when there is an up-charge for it. They get angry when it takes a long time to get the attention of someone to get the bill or another beer.

A visitor sees the positives in these things. Unlike an American restaurant that is trying to turn tables to get more diners, most places will let you have your spot the entire evening. So they won’t be in a hurry to bring your check, but neither will they imply that you need to leave soon. They might have a charge for water, but wine and beer might be much cheaper. Doggy bags might not be a thing, but portions are also much smaller.

Conclusion

Travel is amazing. But the best part of the experience is being somewhere new. It means immersing into a place and a culture that is not American, and not only being ok with it, but thriving. American tourists are some of the worst (generally speaking) at trying to adapt to that. But we can be better, working to be visitors rather than mere tourists. We can learn some basic phrases in another language, realize that some things we want won’t be available, and understand that accepted norms in things like dining might be different. And we can just go with that.