The Seven Deadly Travel Sins

Planning a gap year or career break? Take note of these common pitfalls to avoid any bother while you're off on your adventures!

Almost all of us have done it at some point or other – rocked up in a foreign country with little or no knowledge of the local customs and ended up embarrassing ourselves, or worse, offending others. Western (especially British!) travellers are all well aware of the pangs of shame felt when seeing our sunburnt and booze-toting countrymen and women embarrassing themselves across the globe, and we’re sure you don’t want to be lumped together with them!

So, in the spirit of Wanderlust magazine’s fantastic Put Your Brits Away campaign to get British people to cover up abroad, we thought we’d put together a list of common mistakes that people make on their travels… you have been warned!

1. Exposing too much flesh Just because it’s hot, don’t be tempted to show off everything that your mother gave you! If in doubt, it’s always best to cover up. Remember that you need to be extra careful when visiting any temples – it’s always worth carrying a sarong so you can quickly cover your shoulders if need be.

2. Refusing to learn the local language You don’t need to be a linguistic genius, but you’ll find life much easier if you learn the words for ‘please’, ‘thank you’ and ‘hello’ at least. Check out these tips for travelling where you don’t know the language for more info.
 
3. Political ignorance Tread carefully in country’s which have sensitive political pasts (and in some cases presents), like China and Sri Lanka. You may risk offending people by expressing your opinions too forcefully.
 
4. Disrespecting religions Pretty self-explanatory really! Don’t drop litter at religious sites and make sure you’re dressed appropriately (see point 1).
 
5. Photographing people without asking Imagine if some random person approached you in the street at home and started snapping away. Unless you’re a celebrity getting papped on a daily basis, this might feel a tad unnerving. This doesn’t mean you can’t take photos of people though – just ask – most people are all too happy to pose!
 
6. Failing to tip in certain countries Tipping etiquette varies around the world – from the ‘as and when’ attitude of the British to the ‘always no matter how shoddy the service is’ feelings of the Americans. To avoid any mishaps it’s worth either asking someone while you’re there or checking out a guide book.
 
7. Giving gifts to children If you’re off to volunteer in a school or community project, it’s a good idea to take some small gifts for the children there, like stationery and sweets. But it’s not a great idea to go overboard and start handing out presents to kids in the street, as it can encourage begging. If you want to help, you’re better off giving money to a local charity instead.
 

Are there any sins you think we’ve missed off? Post your comments below!

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