Questions tagged [local-customs]
Something normal at home may be unusual or strange in another country, and vice versa. What's different and how to avoid problems.
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I am camping and have been raided by a human. What is the correct course of action?
When camping in rural North Macedonia, I keep my food and some toiletries in a dry bag more than 30m from my tent, to avoid any hungry bears coming into my tent. I put the dry bag into a drably ...
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Carrying contraceptives in Abu Dhabi
Can me and my girlfriend (not married) carry on our hand luggages some condoms and a morning after pill in Abu Dhabi or we could face some troubles with local authorities?
I heard that in this emirate ...
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Is it allowed to bring Bukhoor from abroad to UK?
Is it allowed to bring Bukhoor (incense - air perfume) to the UK from abroad?
I've bought a couple of packets from Dubai and was wondering if it will be seized in customs, or would it be fine as long ...
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Can I bring prepackaged food into the Netherlands?
I’m going on a trip to the Netherlands and I’m wondering if I’m able to bring prepackaged food. All guidelines seem to be about fresh fruit, dairy, and meat. Specifically, I’m wondering about crackers,...
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Why can't I take photos inside of stores in Portugal?
In a para-pharmacy in Porto, I was stopped from taking a photo of a product in their store. (I was going to use it to look up the product online to see if I could switch out the power cord when I got ...
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Two phones Indian customs
Is it okay to bring two phones (unpacked, in use) back to India? (Indian Citizens coming back from US)
One of the phone is purchased in India (this should be exempt from custom duties?)
The other ...
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Is it okay to mix in local language when I know it poorly?
I'm traveling to Finland for a week and mostly doing touristy things. I've been excited and decided to learn some Finnish for fun. I know everyone there is going to know English better than I learn in ...
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What do Italians call the striped doorway curtains seen commonly in Burano and elsewhere?
Is there an Italian name for the doorway curtains found especially in towns in the Venice lagoon, such as Burano? How would a local go about purchasing these?
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Is 'kaaskop' considered a racial slur in the Netherlands?
My father would sometimes call the Dutch cheddar-heads in reference to the term kaaskop. Is this considered a racial slur if you were to travel in the Netherlands? Just so I know not to use it if it ...
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How "cheap" it is not to order drinks together with the meal in the restaurant?
It's not something I do anymore, but on my student times, when the money was more limited, and I needed to eat something when travelling, I used to save costs by drinking my own water before entering ...
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Is breakfast in the Balkans only coffee?
I went through Albania, Macedonia, and Bulgaria recently, and noticed that in the morning, the local cafe are full of people but everyone only orders a cup espresso or a bottle of water. Is that the ...
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Are taxi drivers in Bangkok expected to round up the taxi fare to the nearest multiple of 10 THB?
For example, if the taxi fare is 53 THB and I give 60 THB (for lack of coins), the taxi drivers typically will not give any change back. I wonder whether this is because I don't look Thai or because ...
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In winter, do Norwegians typically change shoes at the door in a business setting?
I'm visiting Norway on business next week. Our partner company is an engineering firm (metal fabrication, etc) in the northern part of the country. I expect to spend most of the trip in ordinary ...
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How do I provide restaurant with box to return my coat?
I reside in the (continental) US. I was recently on a trip to northern California. While there, I unfortunately forgot my coat at a restaurant; a coat that isn't overly expensive, but I find ...
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Portugal Customs - goods in quantities greater than those permitted
I am a Brazilian with a Portuguese resident authorization.
I will visit my hometown in Rio Grande do Sul state and I would like to bring a kind of tea (Chimarrão tea) to here. As I will have a bunch ...
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What is the purpose of this single box found in Rome B&B room?
I found this box in the room of the B&B in Rome:
I am wondering what is its purpose as it is the first time I have found something like this in a room. There is only one of these even if the room ...
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Can I bring metamizole (dypirone) to the US for personal use?
Assume a person is traveling to the US from a country where metamizole is a common over-the-counter drug.
1) Can it be brought?
2) How it should be packaged?
3) Is there need of any special ...
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Buy smartphone in US while visiting, fees in Europe
If I buy a smartphone ~700 USD from New York while travelling and come back to Greece, will there be fees while entering the country? The same phone costs about 1000 USD in Greece i am guessing from ...
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International student travelling to the UK. Must I pay duty on items I bring? [closed]
I’m an international student set to join a University in the UK for a 1 year Management course. I’ll be taking my laptop, iPad and camera with me. Am I supposed to pay duty at the airport for any of ...
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Transitting through Spanish Airport-customs rules
I will be arriving to Barcelona on a flight from the US. 22 hours later I will have to catch my flight to Russia from Barcelona. I have a question regarding my imported goods then.
I am in transit ...
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Should I refer to the city as Astana or Nur-Sultan when speaking with locals?
I'm traveling to Kazakhstan this September, and I was wondering what the best way is to refer to the capital city. I know that there were some minor protests over the name change back in March, and I ...
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Expected tax (GST) when eating out in India?
So I have eaten out several times in India and every time the amount of tax on the final bill seems to be different.
Sometimes it is 9.5% other times two lots of 2.5% (cGST & sGST?)
Also on a ...
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How much to donate at Hindu temples in India?
At many Indian temples, on entering the inner sanctum, devotees and foreign tourists alike are often met by a priest who will apply a tilaka (dab of paste) to your forehead and perhaps "gift" you a ...
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USA Customs duty: multiple small packges vs one large package [closed]
When shipping (by an international courier company) to the US items purchased abroad, is there any difference in the US customs duty, between sending the items in multiple small packages versus one ...
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How many medications can one take on a plane?
I have a sick dog and unfortunately the drug is not available in Poland because there is a break in production till June. It is relatively cheap and available in USA and my friend is flying back to ...
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How do North Americans use toilet paper? [closed]
I saw a joke on an American late-night show about that Germans fold their toilet paper. I got confused. As a German myself I thought "Wait what? What's wrong with that?" and I assumed North Americans ...
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Should I declare chocolate as "food" when entering the US?
It is being customary we bring a few authentic Russian chocolate bars/sweets to the US but we are always struggling whether we should check that "food" checkbox in the "Customs Declaration" form?
It ...
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Should I put toilet paper in airplane toilets?
During a recent international flight my 4 year old daughter informed me that I shouldn't put toilet paper in the toilet but should instead use the bin provided.
My gut told me she was wrong, however ...
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What duty fees can I expect to take a new bike into Bangladesh?
Can I buy a bike in India while I am travelling here, and take it back to Bangladesh?
If yes, then how much will be the duty charges for a bike? (Price ₹60000-70000)
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Eating while out on a public street in Japan
I have read somewhere that in Japan, it is rude to eat anything while walking in public. However, is it also rude to simple be eating something while standing out on a street corner?
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How/Where do I make local friends in a short-term (1 month) stay in Japan?
Not sure if I should ask here or in Interpersonal Skills, but the situation arises because of travel, so I'll try here. Feel free to move it if needed.
Last year I travelled for 1 month with a couple ...
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Sending a new laptop into japan for 1 month stay
I want to order a new laptop to be delivered to my airbnb in Japan. Basically the same as if I were carrying it with me in the airport, and leaving a month later (in which case customs need not apply) ...
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Do I tip a bellhop for services other than transporting luggage?
I'm staying at a nice (U.S.) hotel for a conference. When I check out, they're going to let me leave my luggage there for a few hours until my flight in the evening. The concierge has informed me that ...
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Is it rude to speak Swedish in Norway?
I speak Swedish quite well, but my active Norwegian is very basic, although I can understand most of it if I concentrate. I'm aware Norwegians can usually/always understand Swedish. I'm told ...
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What types of entry points for travelers are available at Incheon Airport and what are their respective terms of use? [closed]
For example, there usually are counters for citizens / PR and counters for foreigners. What exactly does Incheon airport have?
Per the suggestion by the community, “immigration entry point” could be ...
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In a restaurant in Italy, should I be seated when my food arrives?
I sat at the table, ordered the pizza. While it was being prepared, I decided to go to the bathroom for a short visit. An employee came (the griller) and while I was in the middle of my business, he ...
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How to organise a homestay in Myanmar?
My wife and I are planning a trip to Southeast Asia over a long period (~5 months). One of my goals of this trip is to try and engage with locals, to learn about their language, culture and just ...
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How to deal with other tourists taking pictures of my children?
Recently, my family and I (two parents, two daughters below 3) were in Spain. We had a great time in Barcelona and then in Andalusia. However, I found myself several times annoyed by other tourists ...
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Do I need to go through quarantine at Sydney?
I am travelling from Bangkok to Melbourne via Sydney with a 2 hours 20 mins layover. The journey is on a single ticket. From BKK to SYD it is Emirates code share with Qantas and from SYD to MEL it is ...
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What could be the Customs duty at Chennai (MAA) airport for Panasonic 55 inch used (>3 years) TV [duplicate]
I bought a TV (Panasonic 55 inch NON-Smart TV) like 3 years back and using it. The airline says, extra baggage will be $200 which I can do, but I'm not sure how much will be the custom duty at Chennai ...
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I'm a man with long hair. Am I likely to encounter harassment or other problems in Moscow?
First of all, I am really sorry if what I am asking seems prejudiced or offends someone. I really have no intension to cause any harm. I will be for a summer school in Moscow for about 3 weeks, from ...
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Two letters of my first name transposed on boarding pass. Should I be worried?
My wife made a typo on my ticket where my name reads Micheal instead of Michael. Other than this everything is OK.
I was able to use the ticket when leaving the USA, as I did not need this ticket to ...
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Is it appropriate to wear a knee-length yukata on summer festivals?
My friends and I are planning to attend a natsu matsuri, a summer festival, in Japan. We all have bought our yukatas online, and unfortunately two of our yukatas are only knee-length long. Is this ...
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Guide for how to behave or what to expect at a Panto in England?
I have been invited to a Panto in England.
Now have I been told quite a bit about it, but I think it is going to be quite a shock for people who have never been to such a theater performance.
Is there ...
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Facilities around the Loony Dook
We are a group of Germans travelling to Edinburgh for New Year's. We're taking part in the Loony Dook and we're wondering about facilities around the event.
Our number-one question is: where do you ...
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How to meet my Persian girlfriend in Iran and have privacy while not being married?
I plan to visit my girlfriend in Iran. She's Persian (from Tabriz), I'm French and we’re not married.
We're planning to see each other for a week. We don't know yet where but Tehran would be nice ...
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4 people in a cab in London? Is that allowed?
I have found that different cities have different regulations and I have been in places where 4 persons can travel in any cab (3 in back seat, one in front seat) while other cities don't allow front ...
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Is 'wai' greeting a serious thing? Is it inappropriate to 'over-wai'?
This morning I had to go to Phnom Penh and Giant Ibis bus company had all the seats booked. Normally there was always space, but due to high season, the bus was full. However, they were very nice and ...
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Is it normal that people in front of the bar demanding keys to my car?
While I was visiting Mykonos (a Greek island), I've rented the car for few days. I've visited many places across the island, however I've experienced unusual situation with few of them (such as ...
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Should I try and use basic Italian when on holiday in Italy?
Wherever I go on holiday I always try to learn and use some basic keywords and phrases. As a minimum I look up things such as please, thank you, hello, good morning etc. I think it's polite and hotel/...
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