I have found out that there ain’t no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them.

— Mark Twain, Tom Sawyer Abroad

If you want to get the most out of your travel experience, avoid becoming the stereotype of the “ugly” tourist. Try to fit in as a local.

The unprepared business traveller thinks business is the same everywhere.

If you are traveling for work, get the basics down on where you are going.  When meeting business colleagues or customers, make a good impression by knowing local business etiquette such as how to greet and dress for success. Body language will also play a big part in making a good first impression. Be sure to understand what is acceptable. InterNations is a great resource to start your research on business etiquette. The article, Business Etiquette Blunders from around the World shares first-hand experiences from expats around the globe.  Also, CT Business Travel’s business etiquette infographic provides helpful information to get you started on the right foot.

Observe, listen and learn.  From the subject of small talk to who leads a meeting and makes decisions will help you understand office dynamics.  Avoid going in blind and making a brutta figura and being labeled the “ugly” business traveller.

The “ugly” tourist acts like he is at home.

Respect the rules, know the culture. Everything from putting your feet up on a train seat, to how you address a sales clerk in a shop, to following COVID-19 protocols, know how to behave.  Don’t draw attention to yourself by screaming and acting like an out-of-place fool. This includes being a loud drunk in a public square, which will undoubtedly make you the “ugly” tourist. Everyday things like tipping, eating lunch at your desk, to actually knowing what a bidet is used for might seem odd for one person but completely natural to another.  Read Insider’s 23 things that are considered ‘normal’ in the US but that the rest of the world finds weird to see how we Americans seem strange to the rest of the world.

The “ugly” tourist is always making comparisons.

This is how we do it, and it’s just better our way. Turning your nose up at food or customs that vary from yours will not get you far.  Leave your superiority complex at home or you will certainly be labeled the “ugly” tourist.  Constantly making comparisons on everything from what you eat for breakfast to how business is conducted, is a big mistake.  Go down this path and you will not make many friends nor will you learn much from your experience.  To get the most out of your time abroad, go with the flow and be open minded.

Travel, whether it be for business or for pleasure, is an opportunity to step outside your comfort zone.  Learn, have fun and take advantage of every opportunity. If you do, you will return home that much richer than when you left. By doing just a little bit of preparation, you can ensure that you will not be labeled the “ugly” tourist.

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels

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