Planning a trip abroad? Ever wondered if you stand out as an American tourist? According to Laura Olds in “17 American Tourist Stereotypes That Are Undeniably True” from Mindfully American, many Americans unknowingly act in ways that pinpoint them as an American tourist when they’re abroad.
Based on over a decade of travel experience, the author highlights 17 common clichés that can be funny, or sometimes cringe-worthy, to locals and fellow travelers alike.
Here are 17 of the top contenders for American tourist stereotypes:
1: Everything Old Is Marvelous
Given that the United States has less than 300 years of history, Americans are not used to seeing truly old architecture. Gawking at old buildings is understandable.
However, the potential issue arises when American tourists want to touch everything old they see and squeal every time they encounter something old that is new to them, which can grow tiring to locals.
2: Being Obnoxiously Loud
American culture tends to praise people who are outgoing and chatty. To locals, this can come off as Americans being too loud.
Sometimes, American tourists are straight-up obnoxious with their loud and attention-seeking ways, particularly after they’ve had a few drinks.
3: Rocking Knee-High Socks
A simple and harmless stereotype is Americans wearing knee-high socks. White socks are the classic stereotype, but some Americans take it further by wearing socks with flip-flops.
The source suggests observing locals and other tourists – it’s unlikely you’ll see them in knee-high socks, so following suit is advised unless you intend to buck the trend.
4: Expecting Everyone To Speak English
While English is often considered a universal language, not everyone speaks it. Some Americans resort to embarrassing tactics to get their message across, including shouting and seemingly angrily acting out the message they want to convey.
5: Getting Rowdy Over Baseball Caps
Americans love sports. However, it’s suggested they keep their opinions about opposing teams to themselves abroad if they don’t want to stand out.
Similarly, enthusiastically hollering about a shared favorite sports team with a stranger based on their baseball cap can create an embarrassing scene overseas.
6: Overly Cheerful
The author has had personal experiences with people from other countries commenting on how annoyingly cheerful Americans are.
While some cultures encourage upbeat, smiley personalities, this can seem intimidating and obnoxious in cultures where an introverted personality is praised.
7: Utter Confusion
Perhaps related to English being a universal language, Americans supposedly have a knack for looking perplexed when their meal or service is not what they expect, even if it was described accurately. For instance, being confused if a fish dish comes with the head attached.
8: Being Agreeable
According to some, Americans are too agreeable. For people from cultures that value directness and healthy debate, American tourists who agree with everything to avoid upsetting someone can deeply annoy other nationalities.
9: Refusal To Learn the Metric System
Few locals will fault tourists for occasionally slipping out a number in miles instead of kilometers. However, many Americans’ lack of effort in learning the metric system can frustrate some.
Americans benefit from fewer language barriers when traveling globally compared to many others, so learning the world’s most widely used measurement system is suggested as a minimum effort.
10: Traveling Heavy
This doesn’t refer to body weight; the United States is not among the top 10 heaviest countries. Instead, Americans are notorious for traveling with excessive luggage.
While traveling with many bags can be necessary in some situations, drawing attention at an airport due to excessive luggage or expecting hotel staff to be constantly available to help can be embarrassing to fellow Americans nearby.
11: They Want Diet Everything
Ironically, while the US is the most obese nation among high-income countries (though not among the heaviest globally), American tourists often make numerous special requests for their meals to keep calories down, which is observed by locals.
12: Waiting To Be Seated
Most Americans don’t have a “wait-on-me” attitude, but it can appear that way to some foreigners. Americans are known for arriving at a restaurant entrance and waiting to be seated.
The issue is that walking in and choosing one’s seat is normal in many countries, so waiting doesn’t always happen.
13: Asking for Western Food
Few things are more embarrassing to Americans than seeing a fellow citizen complain about a restaurant not serving Western food.
Also, not all countries douse everything in ketchup, so keeping calm if it’s not available is advised.
14: Phone Belt Holster
Phone belt holsters are seen as screaming “American tourist”. While a harmless stereotype in itself, using one can make life easier for pickpockets, making you stand out in a crowded area as an American lacking basic street smarts.
15: Making Eye Contact
Most Americans don’t intend harm by making eye contact with strangers they pass on the street. However, receiving eye contact can feel intimidating in other cultures, depending on the country and the individuals involved.
16: They Believe There Isn’t a Restroom
Many countries use the letters “WC” to indicate a bathroom, but some Americans are unfamiliar with this. “WC” stands for “water closet,” a British term from the 16th century referring to rooms built around new indoor toilets.
17: A Constant Need To Tip
Many Americans are surprised that some countries view tipping as rude. This surprise is mutual; locals from certain parts of the world can find it perplexing that American tourists are unaware of how rude tipping is in their culture.
Alicia Richards