5 Most Annoying Habits of Terrible Travelers

Travel is a wonderful opportunity to learn new things about the world and about yourself. When you travel, the world opens up to you and you’re given an opportunity to grow as a person.

Unfortunately, when many people travel, they miss out on this chance and end up bringing their terrible habits from home with them. People who travel terribly don’t just limit their own experiences, but they hurt other people along the way as well. Terrible travelers leave us with a mess to clean up; literally they are very messy, but they also make a mess by creating a bad reputation for fellow travelers or by disrespecting locals.

Here’s a quick list of behaviors to avoid, so you don’t travel terribly!

1. Taking pictures of locals without their permission

If you take anything from my blog, please, please do not do this. This is by far the thing I hate the most that travelers do. I have already ranted about this in the past for my Morocco Travel Tips, but as I hate this so much it deserves to be mentioned again.

Find someone who wants a photo taken, like this guy in Naples giving me espresso in an edible cup!

Why shouldn’t you do this?

It suggests that you think you’re in a zoo. These are people living their normal lives. Even if you think it’s really awesome how that old woman in Morocco walks down the gorgeous blue street , you shouldn’t take her picture without her consent. How would you feel if a haggle of foreign tourists started snapping your photo while you’re on your way to work?

These are people with needs and feelings, who don’t exist to make sure your vacation is “authentic”. These people are not actors whose sole purpose is to entertain you. They are people who just so happen to live in the place that you are visiting. They are not animals to be ogled at. Respect that, and aim your camera elsewhere.

It also suggests that you are objectifying these people. Ask yourself: why do I want to take this photo? Is it because this person is fulfilling some kind of stereotype about this culture that I want to capture? Why don’t I feel comfortable asking for a photo? Is it because I already know this is a weird thing to do?

Look, some photographers take pictures of people and the photos are beautiful. I have also traveled to places where locals have posed and wanted a photo taken. The act of photo taking isn’t inherently selfish, but when you do it without someone’s permission, you convey the message that you don’t respect or recognize their humanity. So don’t do it.

What you should do instead:

Ask for a photo of the person, or recreate the act yourself. The individual may enjoy the attention, or you might also look really cool walking down the street doing whatever thing you liked that was so authentically [whatever nationality or culture of the place you went to].

Or, take a photo of an a*hole on your trip who will inevitably take a photo of a local. Now that is a photo of an authentic travel experience!

If you really must take the local person’s photo, do it from far away, or with their back turned so you don’t bother them. Then, when you’re ready, never produce spawn because you seem like a terrible person.

Kidding! Sort of.

Anyway, moving on to more terrible behaviors...

2. Getting stupidly drunk.

Guys, I like to drink. It’s fun to have fun with friends, and wine and beer are delicious (when enjoyed separately). Also, you’re probably traveling to relax, and drinking culture is hugely tied to the need for relaxation after being overworked.

In other words, I totally get it if you want to drink while traveling. Heck, I totally get it if you want to get really drunk. I am not your mom, and I am in my early twenties, so I can’t judge you.

Life is stressful, and beer is good (wait, I already mentioned that. Is it happy hour yet?) But guys, please don’t get stupid drunk when you travel. Save your blackouts and newborn baby-like behavior for when you’re at home.

Why shouldn’t you do this?

Well, since you’re probably selfish like most of us, I’ll start with the selfish reason that it’s dangerous. Are you sure you want to numb your brain in a city with unfamiliar streets and people looking to pickpocket you (or do worse things)? Are you sure you want to risk a hangover in a country where water isn’t free and you’ll be doing a lot of sightseeing the next day? Hmm, didn’t think so.

Furthermore, it’s a totally obnoxious thing to do to the people around you. There are plenty of people who actually live in this place and want to respect it and behave normally. They didn’t just work a 60 hour week and they sip their liqueurs slowly as digestives after dinner (if they drink at all). Is being the loud, crazy, disrespectful tourist really how you want to thank them for hosting you? I hope not.

I don't even like whiskey.

What you should do instead:

Enjoy the drinks at a reasonable pace! They’re probably new and delicious, so enjoy them. Have a few, relax, dance, talk, whatever. Just try to avoid downing 12 of them in one sitting! You can handle that, right? Drink water every so often and remember your amazing night tomorrow!

And on that note…

3. Don't buy drugs.

Some of you don’t need this tip. Move to numero 4, you upstanding citizen, you!

For the rest of you crazy characters...

This statue in Liverpool isn't even offering you real drugs!

Unless you’re in a country where drugs are regulated, like in Portugal or the Netherlands, avoid buying street drugs. Just because you haven’t had problems buying drugs at home, doesn’t mean it’s a good idea abroad. Drugs could be laced with something, and because you’re not a local, you’re an easy target to get ripped off or worse. Plus, consequences for being caught can vary a great deal. Depending on where you go, you could wind up in jail.

What you should do instead:

Travel somewhere where drugs are regulated, if that’s your thing. Otherwise, stick to the non-baby-like drinking behaviors described in #2.

4. Expecting everyone to speak English.

English is a widely spoken language. Many people will be happy to practice their English with you, or at least will be very accustomed to speaking it with tourists. However, if you come across a situation in which someone can’t speak it, don’t get annoyed. This person isn't stupid, the same way you aren’t stupid for not knowing whatever language it is that you don’t know.

You can expect English in Edinburgh, but you still might not understand them!

What you should do instead:

Know at least how to say “yes”, “no”, “hello”, and “thank you” when you travel. People will be happy that you tried, and you’ll learn something new!

Related:

5. Assuming that now that you’ve visited, you are an expert on the place.

So as a travel blogger, I understand that this is a hilariously hypocritical thing to say, but hear me out: I hate when people act like experts after a brief visit somewhere. To be clear, this mostly bothers me when people become experts about the people from a certain place.

Of course after traveling you will learn something and want to share it (ahem, the purpose of this blog). The thing that is a terrible-annoying habit is when people make expert observations about people based on generalisations made during a brief trip. As a student of anthropology, these “wise” travel reflections—made from the comfort of the seat taking you back to the powerful country you call home—really bother me.

I think we all know someone who took a vacation to some nice warm place and then made generalisations like “My trip was amazing! But the people there were so [insert ignorant, maybe racist thing here].”

A lot of people like to make generalisations about things they don’t understand, and haven’t come close to studying. I can’t give you a history of the whole world, or even an sufficient introduction to anthropology, but you should know that many cultural behaviors come from impossibly vast ranges of influences, including for example, the place’s history or environment.

When in Morocco, dance like the Moroccans do! Just kidding, my dancing sucks everywhere.

Even more importantly, know that just because you perceive something, does not mean that’s what is really happening. Often, we go to a place and carry our stereotypes with us there, obstinately ready to see them come true. As soon as we see one person fulfilling what we perceive is the stereotype really happening, we conclude the stereotype to be true. The people in [place you visited] really are [quality you imagined that is probably under-evaluating what is really happening].

Isn’t it better to use travel to open your mind to new people and experiences, rather than confirm things you thought before ever leaving home?

Self-reflection and growth should be what travel is all about!

Furthermore, if you do observe a certain stereotyped behavior, keep in mind that this behavior is probably from one or two people, and not therefore representative of the entire population. Or, as one of my favorite authors, Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche says in her TedTalk:

“The problem with stereotypes is not that they are untrue, but that they are incomplete. They make one story become the only story.”

Just because you visited a place for a short period of time, does not mean you now know what all [insert nationality] are like. Just because you had one experience, does not mean that you experienced the experience of that place.

What you should do instead:

If you must generalise, why not generalise positively? You’re still probably wrong, but at least you won’t be a total a*hole for doing it!

For example: “I know, people in [insert place] are really nice and don’t think I’m annoying!”

So there you have it, the 5 Most Annoying Habits of Terrible Travelers. Please keep these in mind for your next trip, to keep the travel community considered in a positive light by locals!

Or don’t, but please don’t make your next trip anywhere near my current location.

Have something to add? Want to share an annoying travel experience? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

#generaltraveltips #culture