Things to learn about a culture before travelling
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Being culturally aware on vacation has multiple benefits, including shorter wait times, understanding instructions, ordering food, staying polite, even enjoying local holidays and traditions you might have missed out on otherwise. A few minutes of research on your destination of choice can enhance your experience a hundred fold.

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Learn a few language words and phrases
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While there are many words and phrases that are fun to learn, we focus here on the ones that will help you get around and stay safe. Before entering a country it is wise to learn the following as a start:

Hello
Good buy
Please
Thank you
Directions
I Need
I Want
This
That
Help!
Police!

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Currency
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Understanding that currency exchange rate for you destination is important to prevent overpaying or being conned out of your vacation funds. While on vacation, you can type “currency exchange calculator” into your search engine and use the calculator that comes up. However, vacationers should start studying currency months in advance so that the rate exchange is almost a knee-jerk reaction on vacation. Along with studying currency, one should get an idea of how much locals pay for food, clothing, and other necessities. This will help prevent one from being caught in a tourist trap and losing more money than they need to.

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Local customs
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Stepping in beat with the local culture of a place requires taking a look at some common practices among the people.
How and When to tip
What side of the road to drive on
Upcoming holidays
Curfew and store closing times

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Local foods
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A great way to connect with the local lifestyle is to go where the locals go. Don’t just eat at fancy restaurants; you can pay for overpriced food anywhere. The true key to really experiencing a new place is to find the fast food or mom and pop shops the locals keep returning to. Talk to a local resident to find out his or her recommendations.

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Avoid Offensive words
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Start by learning the curse words. Many times, common words in your hometown can mean something derogatory in another place. One example of this is the word “randy,” which is a name for both boys and girls in the United States but is a slang term for “horny” in the United Kingdom.

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Avoid Offensive gestures
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The next time you visit a Disney theme park, notice how the employees direct visitors. Employees are required to point with two fingers because it is offensive in some cultures to point with one finger. Make sure to research offensive gestures before entering a country or province. The better you treat the locals, the better they will treat you.

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Stay away from danger spots
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A vacation is only half planned for when you decide on which places to visit. In order to stay safe, you should also take a few minutes to research high crime or seedy areas to avoid. When visiting California, for instance, steer clear of Compton, which is known for its crime rate and offers no enticement for visitors to stray there.

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