Don’t make these international travel mistakes

by Erin Richards

Make a good first impression

“In some cultures you hug, in others you shake hands, and in others you kiss,” says Cindy Post Senning, a director at the Emily Post Institute. “It’s easy to disrespect locals if you aren’t familiar with how to greet them, both formally and casually.”

Avoid careless judgments

Travelers love to talk about how places are different from home. Unfortunately, says Senning, innocent observations can come across as superior and judgmental, as in: “Your cars are so small here!” or “I can’t believe this restaurant doesn’t have ice cubes.”

Watch your gestures

The wrong move with your head, hand, or foot can be a surefire way to get on a local’s nerves, or even pick a fight. “We also fail to do our homework about space relationships,” says Roger E. Axtell, author of eight international etiquette guides, including Do’s and Taboos Around the World.

“Latin America and the Middle East have smaller personal ‘bubbles,’ so you must refrain from stepping away when they move close.”

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