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Making an offensive hand gesture - Giving a peace sign (palm facing yourself) in the UK is effectively flipping someone off, which is the same case for giving a thumbs up in the Middle East, Latin America, or western Africa. Suprising customs are offensive around the world!

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Speaking the wrong language - One Amsterdam local shared on Quora that tourists actually speak German to them. 

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Getting horrific lobster sunburn - And on the first day! Joining the rest of the easily-identifiable red-faced tourists who underestimated the sun.

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Snoring in public - You're exhausted, you have a long layover, or the jet lag is hitting, but either way you're still drooling and passed out in public, attracting attention with your vacuum-sucking snores.

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Asking dumb questions - One Quora user from Alberta, Canada, shared some dumb questions tourists ask at Banff National Park Gates, including: “At what elevation does an elk become a moose?”

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Posting social media clichés - Whether it's hot dog legs on the beach, a mooning picture on top of a mountain, or a picture with elephants at a sanctuary in Thailand, we've all succumbed to the desire to be seen.

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Accidentally drinking tap water where you're not supposed to -

It's in salads, juices, ice… and it will get you when you least expect it. The results can be explosive.

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Not wearing the right shoes - In Croatia, hikers in flip-flops were a local concern, relying on the Mountain Rescue Service to save them so often that a flip-flop ban was enforced at Plitvice Lakes National Park in 2016.

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The posed photos - Yes, everyone's taking the same photo, but you don't want to feel left out in tourist hot spots...

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Buying those baggy pants - You know the ones: stretchy waistband, garish design, and MC Hammer-approved bagginess, often accompanied by a big backpack.

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Going to McDonald's - You're in a country with new and vibrant cuisine, but something is still tugging at you to try the Croque McDo or McFalafel. It's okay, just don't tell anyone.

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Washing your underwear in the shower/sink - You always run out faster than you think, but you refuse to pay the extortionate prices in your accommodation. So what else is there to do but hand-wash your intimates?

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Speaking slowly to a local and using lots of gestures… - Only to find that your language is their first language too. Oops!

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Too much PDA - So you're on a loved up getaway and feel the passion of the city well up inside you? Not only is PDA offensive in some countries, it can be weird in tourist-heavy locations where kids are around.

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Fighting in public - Traveling can bring out the worst in people, and the stress (from getting lost, forgetting to pack something, etc.), paired with the anonymity of the location you're in can quickly lead to a screaming match in public.

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Running out of money - Either your card gets cancelled for "unusual activity" overseas, or you just budgeted poorly, but there's nothing more embarrassing than calling home for money.

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Keeping up with your favorite TV shows - Yes, you're on vacation. Yes, the show can wait. But you just can't wait!!

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Not showering for, well, too long -

Whether there was no hot water, or no time, we've all resorted to the wet-wipe wash at some point.

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Using an English word abroad that means something else entirely - For example, try not to say "gift" when you offer someone food in Germany, as it translates to poison. 

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Wearing a money belt every day -

It's often sensible to wear a money belt in more dangerous cities, but pulling out a sweat-drenched accessory at the beach is not the greatest look.

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Making a cultural faux pas - Something as small as asking for condiments in southern Europe, for example, is an insult to the chef. Drinking a cappuccino after lunch in Italy is also the quickest way to be branded a tourist (go for espresso). But sometimes you just want ketchup and cappuccinos in the afternoon!

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Answering nature's call... in nature - On vacation, you finally have the time to prioritize hydration, but a liter of water later while you're on a bus or hiking in the wilderness with strangers, you're panicking.  So you scramble behind a sparse bush and do your business.

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Dancing at the resort disco - Dads are especially good at this, particularly after four glasses too many of a fruity alcoholic beverage.

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Failing at haggling - Negotiating prices with playful street vendors is a fun and exciting experience for many tourists—when it works. When it backfires, however, you either move on defeated, or hand over your money, still defeated, but with souvenirs you probably don't need.

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Taking a taxi instead of the cheaper metro - Sometimes you just don't want the hassle of figuring out where you're going, and you're willing to fork over a ridiculously high taxi fare for it.

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Dressing way, way down - There is no other time you'd be caught dead wearing gym shorts for a week straight.

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Using the hotel safe for non-valuables - You didn't bring many valuables, but you do put your special shampoo in there. Do what makes you feel special.

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Checking your emails/social media - Being obsessed with work and scrolling your social media feeds is a very unhealthy habit, and it can really ruin the restfulness of a vacation, but even when you know that, the thumbs keep moving.

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Spending money on a tacky shot glass - It's only embarrassing until you forget that one person you were supposed to buy a souvenir for, and then you'll be glad you did.

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Taking some selfie time - Vacations are a great time to slow down and really anchor yourself in the moment. Sometimes that means taking photos to remember it and being an annoying tourist with a selfie stick.

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Spending a night (or several) in with a movie - You've been out exploring all day, it's okay to stay in and watch some Netflix. You can only soak in so much culture!

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Creating a cheesy soundtrack - Whether they're filled with Top 40 hits that have memories attached to them, or cheesy songs you associate with the country, just try not to play them too loud in public.

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Going shopping - Especially at huge commercial stores with chains in several countries. It's a bit embarrassing, so at least make sure you flaunt your new stuff in those vacation pictures.

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Socks with sandals - Dads, we're looking at you.

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Pretending to know the language - But really just putting on an accent and cluelessly ordering things off the menu.

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Drinking too much - This is especially true on cruises and at all-inclusive resorts with swim-up bars. Whatever, you're on vacation!

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Tipping way too much/little -

Many countries have a suggested tip percentage, but in Japan, for example, tipping can be seen as degrading.

See also: How to tip in different countries

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