Traveling overseas can be one of life’s most enriching experiences, but it can also quickly turn sour if you accidentally offend locals with thoughtless comments. Let’s be real here: Americans have developed quite the reputation abroad, and unfortunately, much of it comes down to the words we choose. Recent research suggests that American tourists face increasing negative perceptions globally, with 72% of surveyed travelers believe US tourists will be perceived more negatively abroad in 2026. The good news? Most offensive comments stem from ignorance, not malice, making them entirely preventable once you know what to watch out for.
Currency Comments That Make You Look Clueless
Nothing screams entitled tourist quite like expecting locals to accommodate your American money preferences. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve seen an American whip out their dollar bills at a foreign market only to be met by a shopkeeper’s blank stare. The U.S. dollar isn’t the only currency in the world. Acting like it is – or demanding locals tell you how much something costs in dollars or “real money” – can make you look clueless and self-centered. This behavior essentially broadcasts that you think American currency is the global standard. Look up a country’s currency before you visit, and use a currency conversion app to keep track of your spending.
Yet countless Americans continue making this mistake daily across Europe, Asia, and beyond. The phrase “real money” is particularly offensive because it implies that local currencies are somehow fake or inferior to the almighty dollar.
Colonial Language That Triggers Bad Memories
Your choice of travel vocabulary matters more than you might think, especially in countries with colonial histories. For example, words like “conquer,” “explore,” and “discover” have colonial undertones that may not be welcome in countries still recovering from the impacts of colonization. Calling a place “unspoiled” can erase its indigenous history. These words might seem harmless to American ears, but they carry heavy historical baggage elsewhere.
Instead of saying you’re going to “discover” a place, try “visit” or “experience.” Rather than describing somewhere as “unspoiled,” consider “beautiful” or “pristine.” The difference seems small, but locals definitely notice when tourists use language that echoes their oppressors.
The Third World Country Trap
Calling a country – especially one you’re visiting – a “third-world” country can come off as judgmental. Instead, I use “developing country,” a phrase that doesn’t carry the same connotations. It just doesn’t feel right to judge a place whose people I hope will welcome me. This terminology dates back to Cold War politics and has since become deeply problematic.
The phrase reduces complex nations to outdated political categories that many locals find insulting. Think about it: would you appreciate someone visiting your hometown and immediately labeling it as inferior? The same logic applies internationally.
English Superiority Complex
English is the most commonly spoken language in the world, with an estimated 1.5 billion speakers around the globe. It’s an official or widely spoken language in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Ireland, Malta, Singapore, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and several Caribbean islands and African countries. It should never come as a surprise to encounter someone who has impeccable English in a predominantly English-speaking country. Yet, I’ve lost track of the number of times people have said that to me in the U.S. and shudder to hear it when I’m traveling.
Comments like “Wow, your English is so good!” often come across as condescending, especially in countries where English is widely spoken. Many Americans travel abroad speaking only English, rarely attempting even basic greetings in the local language. Leading with fast English idioms, speaking louder when not understood, or skipping simple words like “bonjour” or “gracias” comes across as entitled and deeply disrespectful to locals.
Cultural Judgment Calls
It’s not your place to comment on someone’s culture … that’s their tradition. So if you’re surprised to see certain behaviors or habits, you shouldn’t utter a phrase like, “Oh, I can’t believe they still do that here,” whether referring to the use of plastic straws or a specific cultural tradition. These observations reveal an American-centric worldview that positions our way of doing things as the universal standard.
I think the broader theme is just assuming the way that you do something is the way that it should be done, or is the only way to do something, or is the best way. I think this often gets us into trouble. And I think the more you travel, the more you realize, ‘Oh, the way we do it back home is actually not the way’.
Volume Control Issues
Americans are consistently ranked among the loudest tourists in the world, with conversation volumes noticeably higher than locals in European cafés and Asian trains. What feels like normal conversation volume in New York or Texas comes across as shouting in Stockholm or Kyoto, where public spaces are treated like shared living rooms that deserve quiet respect.
This isn’t just about decibel levels; it’s about cultural awareness. While loud conversations might be normal in American restaurants, they can completely disrupt the atmosphere in quieter cultures. You always hear Americans because they are loud, according to professional tour guides who work with international tourists daily.
The Customer Service Entitlement
Something I actually heard: I was in London last week, somebody was arguing with the front desk of the hotel, and they were saying, ‘Well, the customer is always right,’ and it’s sort of like, that’s actually a very American approach to customer service. It’s not a globally-shared thought pattern. And very often, the customer is not right. In a lot of places around the world, a business is happy to push back on that. Meaning, you may not get the outcome you’re hoping for.
This American business philosophy doesn’t translate globally. Many cultures prioritize respect and politeness over customer demands, making aggressive service expectations particularly offensive abroad.