It’s helpful to understand the subtle differences in terms of how and when to tip and knowing the hours and locations of currency exchanges.
Don’t put all your money in one place just in case you lose it.
At some stores you can’t return or exchange items you’ve purchased.
I’ve learned that most people of the world cannot afford to travel for fun because it is too expensive.
It’s taught me that there’s always another way to do something. In other words, what seems to be the common-sense method to handle a public issue can be solved by an entirely different means somewhere else in the world. And when I discover how it’s done elsewhere by experiencing it for myself, I gain new perspective.
Ed
Travel with hand sanitizer and baby wipes. Combined they can be as good as having a bath in an emergency.
Travel light.
Walk if at all possible. You see lots of things when you walk that you won’t notice otherwise.
Keep track of the Mcdonalds, KFCs, etc as you have no idea when you’ll be needing a ‘relatively’ clean bathroom. Figuring out how to squat over a hole in an emergency while keeping your clothes from getting the back blast on them is not pleasant.
Also, not all cultures are created equal. Some are definitely better than others, although all seem to have some good points. Focus on the good points and you won’t feel like committing genocide.
Do not smile at, act friendly with, frown at, or argue with, any form of border guard. They are all dicks and would like nothing better than to stick a bayonet up your ass to search for contraband. Act neutral, calm, and follow their instructions to the letter.
When traveling in taxis keep the expected fare in your hands. If the taxi driver gets in an accident hand him the fare and get out of the taxi and move away immediately. In a lot of places, you, the foreigner, are the one who is responsible for the accident because the taxi wouldn’t be driving there otherwise (or because it is expected you have money and they aim to get it from you).
I will second traveling light- even in NYC in winter, it’s one carry-on bag each for us (it doesn’t mean you look like shit- we stay at the Ritz and go out to very nice places- it just means “pack smart”). Tying yourself to too many big bags is ridiculous, marks you as a stupid tourist, and slows you down and distracts you. If at all possible, use a backpack instead of a rolling case- having your hands free comes in very handy.
Many places have stuck with me in odd ways. If you put me on a plane and blindfold me as we’re landing, I will know we’re in London as soon as the door opens, because of the smell. I have no idea why, there is nothing particular I can identify IN the smell- it’s just… London.
Talk to people. Strike up a conversation with your cab driver, your waiter- find out if he’s local or a transplant, ask him about local food/sports/whatever. You will rarely be disappointed.
Walk as much as you can. The closer you are to the ground, the more you will see, learn, experience and enjoy.
Don’t stick to tourist areas- get out! If you are looking for a place to eat, pick a place that doesn’t have anyone in it who looks like you. 
Ask the waiter about the house specialty, then order it.
Take 1st world medicines with you. My doc will give me a 'script for Cipro before I leave, with instructions to take it at the first cramp if I’ve eaten something dodgy, but I have never needed it, not even in the jungle in the Yucutan eating at a local Mayan place.
Take your children with you. Travel gives you a new perspective on your own life, and that is at least as valuable to young people as formal education, maybe more so. Find a project for them before you go- a report on what you’ll be seeing (then they have to be the tour guide!), or find a local charity where you’re going and have the kids get donations together to take with them.
DON’T LOOK/DRESS/ACT LIKE A TOURIST. Leave your nice jewelry at home. Dress like most other people you’ll see walking around. Or, if you’re American, dress like a European tourist- you’ll still be better off. Relax and “go with the flow” as much as you can- you’ll be happier and so will the people around you.
Try to visit places that do not have McDonalds and KFC. To quote a fellow traveller, “The diversity of the world is not found in London, Paris or Rome, rather it is in the Third World.” Syria, Uzbekistan, Burma… no McDonalds and a much better insight into the diversity of the planet.
Try to be friendly and polite with everyone… border guards included. While crossing on foot from Turkey to Syria at a little-used post, we were given tea by the border guards, struck up a conversation and were given a free lift into town as a huge thunderstorm began.
While crossing on foot from Turkmenistan to Iran, the chief of the border post arranged a car to take him home and take me (at no charge) to Mashad (the closest significant town), more than 2 hours away.
How do European tourists dress? Can you give some examples?
That just because you’re in Germany doesn’t mean the person you are about to speak to, speaks German.
I always thought the USA was “The Great Melting Pot”.
Nope
Q
Sorry- it’s a joke between my husband and I. I always tell him to look less American and more Euro when we travel- funky walking shoes/sandals (with socks, probably), man capris, facial hair, a cross-body bag, some jewelry borrowed from the Johnny Depp Collection…
But an honest example might be not wearing clothes with prominent logos on every. single. item. More “don’t look look a tourist” stuff is not having cameras hanging off of you (or obvious camera bags- if you can, go stealth) or walking around with your nose in a guide book.
Sages over centuries have been saying, “Travel builds character!”
And they are not wrong. The ways we tend to define ourselves in western culture, what we do, who we know, where we live, what car we drive, what degree or title we have, these things don’t travel with you. There needs be some sort of core person in there, NOT defined by these labels.
An open heart and mind, a hearty appetite, a smattering of the local language, will truly take you farther than you could possibly imagine in the world. Let your surprise, amazement and wonder show on your face and you will never be without friends.
After a lot of years and a lot of trips it was the experience of ‘seeing with new eyes’ that I came to treasure the very most. Seeing what you thought you knew undone, seeing into a new culture, seeing your own culture reflected back at you. Then coming home and seeing your own culture, through those ‘new eyes’. Heady stuff.
Elbows, Wanderlust sufferer.
I’m going to plaque-mount some of this so I don’t forget
I move around roughly every 2-3 years for work I am currently in Paris and I have done a lot of travel on my own…and I can honestly say I wouldn’t live any other way.
Go and do it - travel and see the world will be the best education you get.
Learn a few phrases or if you are going to to live there take a few classes - lots of places offer ‘Conversation 101’ or find a local who wants to improve their English so you can trade!
Walk & use public transport as much as possible
Try the food
Sit in a cafe drink capuccino and watch the world go by
Smile and don’t be afraid to ask for help/directions/recommendations from a local/waiter/passing stranger
Try new things
Live the local lifestyle - it is is a post lunch siesta take the siesta!
Go and have fun
I’m not as well-travelled as most of the posters in the thread. Still, I can add a few things.
If you see something on the menu you’ve never eaten before, it will be, at worst, very interesting. More likely, it will be wonderful.
The people who herd the passengers get peeved when the herd begins to moo.
If you’re far from home, and you need medical attention, take the time to get it. Yes, even if it screws up your day’s schedule.
From my numerous visits to the US (6 thus far in 10 years) I’ve found that despite the various similarities in culture there are some huge differences even though Ireland is perhaps the most Americanised country outside North America.
It depends on whether you want to see other cultures, or wallow in them. The way I figure it, my ancestors spent many a year trying to invent the first proper toilet for good reason. Shitting in the woods gets old after a while.
Ah, sorry. You are correct. If you are in a remote area, it is better to be friendly than not. In areas where the guards are under close scrutiny they look to find ways to impress their bosses. Not finding things to harass travelers over isn’t the way. Be calm, polite, and don’t linger. And honestly, this is more aimed at first time travelers. If you try to be friendly while being nervous you look like you’re trying to hide things. If you are an experienced traveler you can be friendly and look like that is all you are trying to do.
This is the difference between a tourist and a traveller.
One can do both. A person can visit the local village and mingle with the locals, but it shouldn’t stop them from going back to their hotel to sleep at the end of the day just so they can say they are one over the other. It depends on what a person’s goal is. It doesn’t make one better than the other.
Sigh - my travelling days were so long ago.
But I agree with travel light
comfortable shoes
be careful about drinking water (& be aware that some people are more sensitive than others- my husband was a lot more susceptible to “Delhi belly” than I.
I would add research is very important & always check & recheck visa requirements.
For people travelling to NZ (where I live) I would say most NZers are extremely friendly & helpful but don’t be beguiled by that & lose track of basic common sense. Don’t hitchhike & don’t leave valuables in your car (esp in car parks of popular tourist spots) or in your hotel/motel room. & young woman - don’t walk home alone at night. You can google the sad case of Scottish tourist Karen Aim to find out why.
Take every opportunity to get your fortune told in the local fashion.
I mostly learned that I do not really care for travel.
Even so, it’s still possible to make the experience somewhat enjoyable and meet nice people.
When taking pictures of famous stuff (landmarks, buildings, natural wonders) … just buy the postcard. You can even wait until you get home so you’re not carrying it around!
Money makes a lot of things more comfortable.
Grocery stores are a great, affordable place to shop for gifts for people back home – there are lots of candies, coffee, tea, and snacks in cool foreign packaging.
Bring a book.
I lived in Italy for my job, and did a lot of traveling to our various European offices, most frequently to France and Spain.
I’ve learned not to worry about whether I’m being a tourist or a traveller. I’ve learned to be in the moment. I’ve stayed in truck stops in Siberia, office floors in Baghdad, and posh rooms overlooking the harbor in Singapore and I’ve enjoyed them all. Sometimes you need a Big Mac and sometimes you need to take a shit in a toilet that is familiar.