Use this tag when your question involves traveling where you know little to nothing of the local language.
51
votes
13answers
1k views
How do you avoid “tourist traps” when traveling to a country where you do not speak the language?
Too many easily accessible restaurants and attractions cater heavily to tourists, and, in doing so, create an environment that they feel will be comfortable to people from other cultures.
Spending ...
29
votes
5answers
1k views
Will I be able to travel around India speaking only English?
I am to travel around some Indian cities: Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and others. Will I have trouble speaking only English, or should I learn some phrases in Hindi?
23
votes
7answers
2k views
If I travel to Paris, can I get by with just English?
If I plan on visiting Paris, but not really the rest of France, is it still important for me to learn at least enough French to get by? Are people in Paris going to be willing to speak English if they ...
21
votes
4answers
2k views
Can we get by as English speakers visiting Iceland?
We're going to Iceland for the first time in September. Will we be able to get around ok just speaking English, or should we try to learn some rudimentary Icelandic? And is that even what their ...
17
votes
6answers
989 views
How to overcome the language barrier when visiting France and Spain?
I may be traveling to France and Spain for business purposes, and I'm likely to mix some pleasure with that business trip.
I do not expect many language issues during the business conversations.
...
17
votes
3answers
807 views
How do you know if a Japanese person means no when they say yes?
I have come across a few situations when a Japanese person will extend themselves beyond what they probably should to help people. I am often worried when asking them to do something that they will ...
16
votes
5answers
654 views
How much Russian do I need to know for travelling within Russia?
Or alternatively - how well-spoken (and widely-spoken) is English?
I intend to visit St. Petersburg, Moscow, Irkutsk and Vladivostok. I feel like I might have the most troubles in the latter two ...
14
votes
8answers
1k views
Can you really get around everywhere with only speaking English?
I had a discussion with a friend on how many language one should learn to be able to be understood worldwide? My estimate would be with around 4-5 languages, but this is a gut feeling which I cannot ...
12
votes
4answers
255 views
What is more widely spoken in the Baltic countries: Russian, Ukrainian, or English?
Wikipedia says that about a quarter of total population in Estonia, Latvia are Slavonic people like Russians, Ukrainians etc., and I wonder if Russian is well-understood and how natives treat tourists ...
12
votes
3answers
485 views
What language to use in Georgia (the country)? Is English widely spoken?
I don't speak Georgian. I have been told not to use the little Russian that I know because it might be problematic considering the edgy relationship with Russia. My question is which language should I ...
11
votes
4answers
365 views
How can I translate medicines?
I know that if I have stomach issues I can take an Enterogermina or an Imodium if things get severe. I know that if I have throat ache, I can take a Benagol. I know that if I have a strong headache a ...
11
votes
3answers
428 views
How to “speak” Russian, if you don't speak Russian?
I saw this really amazing film, called Chapiteau show. It is one of those films, after which, you want to go there. Although it is a Russian film, imdb shows that it is filmed in the Crimea (Ukraine). ...
10
votes
1answer
200 views
Will I be understood in all Portuguese-speaking countries, if I learn Portuguese in Portugal?
I really like the Portuguese language, but if I want to be understood in all Portuguese speaking countries (e.g. Brazil, Cape Verde, Angola, Mozambique), would it be enough to speak "Portuguese" ...
9
votes
3answers
1k views
Can Westerners use the free Wi-Fi at Guangzhou international airport?
My route home at the end of my trip will have me on a 4-hour connection at Guangzhou airport in China.
I've read online that it's an unpleasant airport but it would be more bearable if I knew I would ...
8
votes
1answer
344 views
How to know “your number” for a machine haircut in a foreign country?
When traveling for an extensive period of time, you may need to get a haircut in a country where you do not speak the language.
I usually get a machine haircut and just saying or showing the number ...
7
votes
2answers
161 views
How many accommodation types are recognized in German?
Next to the usual hotel aggregators like booking.com, expedia, etc I am using Google Maps to search for accommodation. It really works well if you search for accommodation in the local language.
For ...
6
votes
3answers
279 views
What foreign language is the most common in Serbia?
What foreign language is the most common in Serbia? In which language have I the most chances to communicate with locals (in shops, railway stations, hostels etc.) if I don't know Serbian?
6
votes
2answers
145 views
What technique do you use to remember city names in foreign languages?
When I try to remember where I traveled or where I have to go to catch a bus, train or something else, I always have great difficulties to remember city names if they are in a foreign language. The ...
5
votes
4answers
811 views
How to find “night and day” decongestant for a head cold when there's a language barrier?
So I've been in Tbilisi, Georgia for almost a week and the temperature is now dropping below zero Celsius sometimes and I have the dubious honour of being the first in my hostel to contract a head ...
5
votes
3answers
227 views
Does knowing Japanese help in neighbouring countries?
I know a bit of Japanese, but don't know any other Asian languages.
Does knowing Japanese help in neighbouring countries such as South Korea and Taiwan?
Am I likely to encounter people who are ...
5
votes
1answer
2k views
What is the difference between “Gazole” and “Diesel” in France
I am driving a car with a Diesel engine. I always thought that "Gazole" and "Diesel" were synonymous to each other, only to drive in a gas station which mentioned both terms, as in "Gazole" and ...
5
votes
1answer
169 views
Picture cards for common tourist needs to avoid the language barrier?
I will be traveling around several countries (in southeastern europe) later this year. And I'm worried about the language barrier.
It occured to me, that it would be cool if I had a collection of ...
5
votes
0answers
150 views
Shared bathrooms: How to indicate that it wasn't me who has muddied the toilet? [closed]
While traveling you have to share a lot of bathrooms with other people, e.g. in the train, the plane or in hostels. Very often these toilets are very dirty. Now sometimes, I have to use them ...
4
votes
2answers
179 views
Overcoming the language barrier while experiencing traditional Japanese culture
I'd like to see live performance of traditional Japanese culture. For example, watching noh theatre or bunraku, as opposed to merely seeing artworks or pottery. Unfortunately, my Japanese is fairly ...
1
vote
0answers
28 views
What should a non-French speaker anticipate when visiting Paris? [duplicate]
What should a non-French speaker anticipate when visiting Paris? I heard that the French don't like people who only speak English; is it just a myth?
Is there anything wich I really should learn how ...
0
votes
1answer
38 views
Most frequent words required while foreign travel [closed]
Which are most important words required while visiting countries having a different language understood by you?
How do you manage a situation where you need to explain other person not understanding ...
-5
votes
0answers
76 views
Learning a bit of French with not much time [closed]
A native English speaker who I follow on twitter, who's speaking (in English) at a programming conference in Paris tweeted
What's the best way to learn a tiny bit of French in a week? A week in
...
