When we travel abroad for the first time, sometimes mistakes happen. Sometimes they can be laughed off as simple, other times, not so much. You can be as prepared as ever to travel outside your home country. You can have practically a master's degree in currency conversion and be as fluent in the language as a native local. But sometimes, mistakes happen. According to MSN.com page Crazy Nomad, here are 9 cringe-worthy mistakes every tourist will make or may end up making
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1. Standing on the left side of the escalator
-The golden rule for navigating The Underground is stand on the right, walk on the left. NEVER stand on the left. The left side is for those who think they are qualifying for Formula 1 racing. Simply stand on the right and let the speed demons get to where they need. Not only that, but by respecting the rule of standing on the right, walking on the left, you'll earn respect from the locals and stand out a lot less
2. DO NOT call The Underground a subway
-First things first, for the love of all that is absolutely holy, DO NOT call The Underground a subway. Call it a subway and you'll get an annoyed look from the locals. Using the proper terminology will win you respect points from the locals while calling it a subway will show you have not done your homework. It can be referred to as The Tube or The Underground. If you learn to navigate it properly, you can go anywhere
3. You can get tripped up mispronouncing names
-A lot of city names in England look like they would be pronounced the way they look. That is not the case. Any city ending in "shire" is typically pronounced "sher." As in Leicestershire is pronounced "Lestersher." Or Lincolnshire is pronounced "Lincolnsher." A lot of locations in London are pronounced much the same way. Leicester Square is pronounced "Lester", Marylebone is pronounced "Mar-lee-bone" and Southwark is pronounced "Suthark." Pronouncing the area names correctly will win you big respect from the locals and also show you did your homework. If ever in doubt, ask a local how to pronounce the name. This will show you want to make sure you do things right. The locals will love that you're making a conscious effort. Mispronouncing names is a major red flag that you're not from around here
4. Do not expect customer service standards to match up to standards in the US
-First and foremost, remember this: You are in another country. They have different standards, rules and requirements they follow. You are not at home. Do not expect everything to match up to US standards. Being overly enthusiastic is simply something not done in England. Customer service is polite but not overly friendly. While tips are appreciated, they are not expected. Customer service is slower paced, while meals tend to be stretched out. When you want to cash out at a restaurant, you ask for the bill, not check. Make sure to understand these and your dining experiences will go smoothly
5. Don't be a sidewalk roadblock
-We've all seen it, no matter what country we live in. We're walking along, trying to get to our destination and then we run into someone who is looking at their phone, turning the sidewalk into a bottleneck and being a sidewalk roadblock. Don't do this! In London, sidewalks or pavements as they are referred to, are narrow and jam packed with people trying to get to one place or another. Locals will not outwardly say anything, but if body language could talk, the eye rolls would be screaming the obvious message. If you need to do something, step to the side, stand near a wall, sit on a bench or move close to the curb so other pedestrians can pass by. Be respectful of this tradition and you'll earn respect from the locals and show you have done your homework.
6. Don't forget to tap out on The Tube
-An Oyster Card is a helpful little tool that helps you pay for transportation. Tourists remember to tap it upon entering the station, but forget to do this upon leaving the station. Make sure you tap it on entering and leaving the stations otherwise you'll be charged the maximum fare, which adds up quickly. Tapping in and out guarantees that you are only charged for the zones you go through. You can check online or at a kiosk to fix it. It certainly helps to remember this, especially if you plan on using a lot of public transportation
7. Trying to visit too much in one day ruins your experience
-Anyone who goes to London has one or two destinations or more they want to see. The first mistake is trying to cram it all into one day. Take at least 1-2 weeks and spread out the sightseeing so that you're not running around, stressing out. Instead, spread it out so you can enjoy things. Take some time to relax in a cozy local pub. Visit a local market. Catch a theatre performance in the West End. Sometimes the best things to see in London are not the major sights-it's the little things that, to locals, are everyday things but to tourists, they have an extra bit of magic and awe to them
8. Don't assume everyone drinks tea
-First things first, NEVER assume everyone in England drinks tea. This is first and foremost a stereotype. The last thing you want is to insult the people of the very country you are visiting. Yes, while tea in the UK is consumed in times of crisis, to relax or reflect or other times, not everyone is walking around with a steaming cup of English Breakfast, Earl Gray or chamomile. You'll find that coffee is plenty popular here too. Just don't assume it's all tea, crumpets and scones. You'll find those in tea rooms
9. London is not a theme park
-This city offers so much to see and experience, both big and little things. Treating it like a day at a theme park guarantees you're going to miss something. Some tourists stick to only the areas where major sights are located. And with this, they miss out on areas that are vibrant in their own way-Brixton, Camden, Shoreditch, Hackney, Peckham. Experience the small things. Try food at the Borough Market. Catch a show in Soho. Board a double decker bus without a destination in mind. Go to Leytonstone and find the Cart and Horses Pub, which is emblazoned everywhere with the words "Birthplace of Iron Maiden." Experience London like a local would. Take in the small things and you'll get experiences that a travel book with a checklist can't beat
-Besides, if theme parks are your thing, head to Alton Towers in Stoke-On-Trent. They have great rides there, including Nemesis Reborn, Oblivion and The Wicker Man. Or head to Thorpe Park in Chertsey. They have great rides there as well. Or go to the Blackpool Pleasure Beach. Or head up to Yorkshire to see Flamingo Land, a combination zoo and theme park. The zoo part of the park features a large area called Flamingo Flats. There's also Fantasy Island in Skegness. There are two locations: one in Skegness and the other on Canvey Island
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