If you watch shows such as “Emily in Paris,” you can be forgiven for thinking the world is enchanted by Americans who travel abroad. Silly gaffes, like mistaking a public urinal for a monument and taking selfies in front of it, come across as charming quirks on television. However, as a single American woman who moved to Europe and made a LOT of faux pas of my own, I can assure you that the real world is definitely not amused.
It’s a hard pill to swallow, but sadly, we’ve gained a reputation around the world for being, well, “stupid Americans.” Is it offensive? Yes. Could we get upset about it? Sure.
But with tens of millions of Americans traveling abroad every year, the likelihood is that you’ll encounter us wherever you are in the world. Therefore, our reputation is completely understandable. The reality is, we ALL do “stupid” things, especially when we are in foreign places and we don’t know the local customs, cultures or surroundings.
No one is immune from this humiliation, not even genius scholars. However, smart travelers know that doing “stupid” things abroad can not only be disrespectful and embarrassing, but it can put you at risk of being arrested, hurt or the victim of crime. That’s why, instead of letting labels upset me, I choose to focus on how I can become a master traveler.
After 20-plus years of exploring the world, I think I’ve managed to crack it. So, here are my top 10 tips on how you can avoid the “stupid American” stereoty.