Think You’re Travel-Savvy? These Faux Pas Say Otherwise…
I assumed “everyone speaks English” and “the customer is always right.” Turns out, I was embarrassingly wrong!
“When you assume, you make an ass out of you and me….”
I had just landed in Paris, ready to live out my Hemingway fantasy, minus the war wounds and an overinflated sense of self-importance.
I strolled into a cool little café in Montmartre straight out of Hemingway’s a Moveable Feast, stood like I belonged there, and, without hesitation, blurted out,
“Puis-je prendre un café à emporter?”
“Can I get a coffee to go?”
Hey, at least I said it in French, right?
However, the waiter, an older gentleman with an expression that suggested he was having none of it, stared at me as if I’d just asked for a side of nuclear codes with my espresso.
He gave me that slow Parisian blink, the kind that silently says: This is why we can’t have nice things.
Confused, I tried again. “Vous comprenez, un café à emporter ?” (“You know, like…a takeaway coffee?”). I even used the formal “Vous” French conjugation form.
This time, he let out a deep sigh, one that carried the weight of centuries of French cultural superiority, before responding, “Monsieur… ici, on prend le café assis.”
Translation: Have a seat Cowboy, civilized people drink their coffee sitting down.
And that was the first of many lessons I’d learn about how American assumptions don’t always translate well overseas.
Because the reality is, a lot of what we take for granted as “normal” back home doesn’t apply once you step off U.S. soil.
In fact, some of these assumptions can get you laughed at, ignored, or in serious trouble.
Take it from someone who’s spent years abroad: If you think “everyone speaks English” or “the customer is always right,” you’re in for a humbling experience.
These six false assumptions could land you in awkward, or even dangerous, situations.
Let’s get into it.
1. “Everyone Speaks English”
Ah yes, the great American myth: English is the universal language, and everyone, from taxi drivers in Kyiv to bakers in rural France, is just waiting for their big moment to flex their high school English skills.
And guess what? They’re not.
I learned this the hard way in an average sized Bulgarian town, where my attempt to order a simple coffee turned into a tragic game of charades.
I pointed, gestured, nodded, and even tried the universal “slowly repeating in English but louder” method.
The old woman behind the counter watched me like I was having a medical episode before she finally called over a teenager who, thankfully, had just enough English to spare me further humiliation.
Here’s the reality: Yes, many people speak English, especially in big cities, but expecting it everywhere is a recipe for frustration.
Just because someone understands English doesn’t mean they want to speak it with you.
In France, speaking English before at least attempting a “Bonjour” is like walking into a dinner party and immediately demanding to be served, it won’t go over well.
What to do instead: Learn the basics. A simple “Hello,” “Please,” and “Thank you” in the local language will get you further than you think.
It’s not about fluency, it’s about respect.
2. “The Customer Is Always Right”
This one is a tough pill for many Americans to swallow, but let me be clear:
Outside the U.S., the customer is not always right. Sometimes, the customer is just annoying.
I once watched a fellow American demand a refund in a Spanish café because their “latte wasn’t hot enough.”
The barista stared at them with a mix of confusion and pity before shrugging and saying, “It’s coffee.”
That was it. That was the whole response.
No apology, no offer to remake it, no concern for their “customer experience.”
In much of Europe and parts of Asia, service culture is different.
Waiters don’t hover around, refilling your drink every 30 seconds.
No one is going to chase you down, demanding their 20% tip.
And arguing with staff like you’re about to call corporate?
That’s not going to end well for you.
What to do instead: Adjust your expectations.
Be patient, be polite, and remember, you’re the one visiting their country, not the other way around.
3. “Tipping Is Universal (Or Optional)”
Speaking of tipping, if there’s one thing that baffles Americans abroad, it’s tipping culture.
We’re so used to our 20% gratuity rule that we either a) assume tipping is expected everywhere or b) refuse to tip where it actually is.
Case in point: A friend of mine (a fellow traveler) once tipped a waiter in Japan, only to have the cash returned to them like they had just insulted the guy’s ancestors.
On the flip side, I’ve seen Americans leave no tip in Italy, completely unaware that while service charges are sometimes included, tipping small amounts is still considered polite.
What to do instead: Do your research. In some countries, tipping is offensive.
In others, it’s an absolute must.
A quick Google search before your trip can save you from looking clueless, or worse, rude.
4. “Laws Work the Same Way Everywhere”
Here’s a fun fact that might save you from a terrifying night in a foreign police station: “I didn’t know that was illegal” is not a valid legal defense.
I once met an American who thought they could casually snap photos inside a government building in Georgia because, and I quote, “It’s a free country.”
It took less than three minutes for security to step in and start asking very pointed questions.
Another time, a fellow expat in Ukraine assumed he could talk his way out of a minor visa issue because “it’s just paperwork.”
And get this: He ended up detained for half a day.
Americans are used to their rights following them around like an invisible shield, but guess what?
Your First Amendment rights don’t mean much in a country with strict censorship laws, and your right to a “fair trial” might look very different elsewhere.
What to do instead: Read up on local laws before you go.
No, really.
Things like drugs, public behavior, and even visa rules can be completely different from what you’re used to.
5. “Casual Jokes About Politics Are Fine”
Look, I get it. Americans love to joke about politics.
We roast our leaders on late-night TV, meme every government decision, and argue about elections like it’s a national sport.
But what flies in the U.S. can get you into serious trouble abroad.
A well-meaning British traveler I met in Greece once told me about a casually joke he made about a local politician at a dinner party while in Turkey.
Within five minutes, he had sparked an actual shouting match between two Turks, one of whom was now gesturing wildly with a kebab skewer.
So, if you think a simple joke is risky, just wait until you try discussing politics in a country where people have actually been jailed for it. Like in Turkey.
What to do instead: Read the room.
If you wouldn’t crack a joke about the local government back home in a room full of strangers, don’t do it abroad.
6. “Personal Space and Small Talk Are the Same Everywhere”
Americans love small talk.
“What do you do?”, “Where are you from?”, “How’s your day going?”
Blah, blah, blah…
But guess what? Not every culture shares our enthusiasm for casual conversation.
I’ll never forget the first time I asked a Ukrainian man what he did for work.
His response?
A deadpan stare, followed by, “Business.”
That was it.
No elaboration, no polite follow-up, just a vibe that suggested I should drop it immediately.
Turns out, in many places, discussing your job with strangers is weirdly intrusive.
And then there’s the personal space issue.
Americans tend to like a good arm’s length of breathing room.
Meanwhile, in certain European countries, people will stand so close to you in line that you’ll start questioning if you’re in a relationship.
What to do instead: Observe before you interact.
If people aren’t engaging in chit-chat, take the hint.
If someone stands closer than you’re used to, try not to back away like you’re about to be mugged.
Travel is About Adaptation, Not Expectation
Look, I’ve made every one of these mistakes. I’ve embarrassed myself, annoyed locals, and walked into situations where I was definitely “that American.”
But here’s the thing… that’s how you learn.
Travel isn’t about expecting the world to cater to you.
It’s about stepping outside your comfort zone, adapting to new environments, and most importantly, not being the person who demands ice cubes in their wine because “that’s how we do it back home.”
So, what’s the most awkward cultural mistake you’ve ever made abroad?
David Peluchette is a Premium Ghostwriter/Travel and Tech Enthusiast. When David isn’t writing he enjoys traveling, learning new languages, fitness, hiking and going on long walks (did the 550 mile Camino de Santiago, not once but twice!), cooking, eating, reading and building niche websites with WordPress.