8 Annoying Traits Of American Tourists Who Dine Abroad

Trying new restaurants and cafés is one of the best parts of traveling. Whether you’re wandering through Barcelona, Sydney or somewhere in between, heading out to dinner or popping into a new café each morning gives you the chance to experience new foods and learn about a new culture. But dining culture varies greatly around the world, so you can’t exactly roll into a restaurant anywhere you travel and expect things to be done exactly as you’re used to at home. Sometimes, you’ll need to adjust your ways to make sure your behavior and expectations match the local cultural norms.

Navigating unfamiliar dining customs can feel daunting, and with this, there are a number of common mistakes people make when dining out internationally. But don’t worry, we have you covered with some advice. Depending where you’re going on your upcoming travels, here are some common mistakes you’ll want to do your best to avoid.

Rushing through your meal.

Remember dreaming of long, drawn-out lunches while planning your summer vacation to the Mediterranean? Well, once you’re there, it’s important to actually slow down enough to let those extended afternoon meals happen.

The United States is a very go, go, go kind of culture. But rushing through a meal isn’t the norm everywhere else. “In Italy and France, rushing through a multicourse meal would be a big no-no,” said Kelly Duhigg, who is a travel blogger and founder of Girl With the Passport. “They savor the experience of dining, and the restaurants won’t feel rushed to turn the table. It took me a while to slow down and truly appreciate all the elements of every dish.”

Timon van Basten , who is a tour guide in Spain, echoed that sentiment. “I’ve seen tourists get really impatient and demand