Without bashing any particular nationalities, or re-opening the "tourists vs. travellers" discussion, there really are a lot of people who have never left their home country. If you were going to give advice to people who were traveling abroad for the first time, what would you tell them? I'll start with this:

Learn the local money. For every country you are visiting, memorize the local equivalent for the common units of trade in your home country. For example, as an american, I should know off the top of my head how much local currency equals one dollar, five dollars, ten dollars, and twenty dollars. Also, discover the local cost of some key items you expect to buy as soon as you can...preferably before you have to buy them. How much is bottled water? A taxi ride? A local meal? Don't expect things to have the same relative value as in your home country. You may find that a can of soda costs more than a beautiful carving.

What else?

La

Learn how to say a few basic things...Even if you can't manage the whole language....Hello, How are You? Thanks Alot. Have a Good Day. WHere do you keep the live Satanic Chickens?

Learn how to say hello, thank you, yes and no in the laguage of the country you're in. At the very least.

It goes a hell of a long way.

KPG

quote:

Originally posted by Piecar:
Learn how to say a few basic things...Even if you can't manage the whole language....Hello, How are You? Thanks Alot. Have a Good Day. WHere do you keep the live Satanic Chickens?

Great minds think alike - fools seldom differ...

KPG

*You will get sick. Accept this now and let it just pass on through when it comes.
*Haggle like you mean it. Smile while you haggle.
*Dont let the taxi driver push you around.
*Learn the money as much as you can...if you feel like you're getting ripped off then speak up.
*Dont wear expensive jewelry
*Study up on the culture to find out what is and isn't offensive behaviour.
*Sunblock. Burns can ruin a good time.
*Learn how to say hello, thank you, goodbye, and leave me alone in the local language.
*Dont assume they are all out to get you.
*Dont assume they wont try to swindle you.
*Listen to your gut at all times and under NO circumstances argue with it.
*Smile, Relax, you're on holiday for pete sakes.

learn the place you are going too

take a look at a map before you leave

make sure you know how you are getting from the airport to your hostel/hotel/motel

make sure your flight gets it at the airport you think it does (like if you fly into London and it's not heathrow)

many museums in several places throughout the world are closed on a particular day of the week, so if you are interested in going to certain museums make sure they will be open when you are going there

oh and make sure you have emergency money that you can access if something goes wrong

In addition to the phrases above...learn how to say PLEASE in the local language. A little politeness goes a long way.

If you are a finicky eater (like me), learn the names of foods. For instance, I can't eat pork or seafood (makes me ill), so I try to learn what some variations on the names are.

Be gracious.

Be aware of your surroundings. Don't be scared, but don't think nothing can touch you. Be aware.

Local holidays and holydays, shop and bank opening hours are important, as are restrictions on smoking and alcohol.

I've found that best way to make friends in a strange city is to strike up a conversation about local stuff, so google the place, find out about local sports teams, celebs, etc. - people love to gossip.

I meant to add Please, Bananie. Oversight.

Also. First on the list in a Primer. Take only what you think you'll need. Lay it out...Then take away a third.

I agree with all of these and I'll add a slightly practical one:

Figure out how you'll get from the airport to your hotel.

On my RTW last year there were a few times when I landed in a new city without knowing the options or the prices. I discovered the hard way that unscrupulous taxi drivers and others love this situation and very often will try to REALLY rip you off.

Since airport transportation varies so widely in price and convenience depending on where you just landed, I would sometimes be steaming trying to sort out my options while being trailed by aggressive cabbies and other hustlers. A few times it gave me such a bad initial impression of a city that it took at least a few beers before I could think straight and not let that experience ruin my stay.

Just accept the fact that not everything works the same way as in your home country. For example the concept of "time" and "customer service" are very different in different parts of the world. They aren't being rude......it is just the way it is. Go with it.

always keep tissues on you (they can serve numerous functions)

when you get yourself into a bad situation, just think about the funny story its going to make after the fact

don't get TOO wasted... you're not in Kansas anymore

if possible, have the phone number of the hostel/hotel you are staying at

when in doubt, observe the locals and do the same

plan to get to the train/bus station EARLY!

Always carry hand sanitizer! I recommend having a few different sizes and refilling the tiny ones you can stash in your pocket, camera bag, purse with a larger one you carry in your pack.

Don't be afraid to try the local food - just use the crowd numbers as an indicator of whether or not to eat there!

Always be courteous, polite, and smile - you can still bargain hard, say no to aggressive taxi drivers, and not be the foolish traveler with a smile! Often you'll get help, a better price, left alone - anything you want!

Definetely learn a few phrases - especially "no thank you", "I don't want it", "please", "how much", "Thank you"

Orient yourself with a good map and then walk like you know where you're going.

quote:

If you were going to give advice to people who were traveling abroad for the first time, what would you tell them? I'll start with this:

All of the above re phrases, customs, smiling, locations nous, numbers and money but because you ain't going to remember it all

Prepare yourself a little pocket size memory jogger card, one for each country if need be.
Your jogger card can even have some key web sites on it.

And half a toilet roll can be flattened, and can be used as a wipe/tissue and some with your card as a backing for even writing on.