The Bizarre Things Americans Do When Traveling

Our travelers have, over the years, developed an international reputation for displaying what might be considered some unusual habits and behaviors while traveling.

Everyone is just 10% more odd when they travel. But Americans often seem to grow even odder.

A 2012 survey of Americans even showed that we believe we are actually the world’s worst tourists.

What makes the American tourist different from the rest? Do we behave differently? Yahoo Travel investigated by talking to tour guides, taxi drivers and American tourists themselves.

Here are the eight things Americans do on vacation that seem bizarre to the rest of the world.

1. Tape money to their bodies

In a recent survey carried out by the financially savvy lot at PayPal, American tourists were found to have some fairly insane practices when it comes to carrying and storing their money when traveling. The study found that 7% of American tourists go so far as to physically tape money to their bodies in an attempt to keep it safe.

Another 3% even admitted to traveling with their own safe deposit box. And nearly three quarters of American travelers still use a fanny pack or neck wallet to carry their cash. All fashion faux pas aside, almost everywhere on the globe takes Visa or MasterCard, so we aren’t quite sure there’s a need to stash your cash under your clothes. Just take a credit card with you.

2. Fake an accent

“Oui! I am frahm zeee Frahhhnce.” (Photo: Getty Images)

For some reason that completely escapes all of us at Yahoo Travel, American tourists have a habit of attempting fake accents when they travel. You know we have all tried it at least one time; don’t try to hide it. Madonna woke up one day speaking in a perfect English accent. How weird was that? And there are countless articles online about how to fake an accent successfully.
It isn’t just people from the U.S. who try this tactic. A survey conducted last year by the British company Trulawn found that 4% of Brits have also adopted a foreign accent at some point in their lives. But why? Why do we do this? One friend who’s been guilty of such attempts suggested that she does it to try to fit in. “I want to feel like a local, and I thought it would help me blend in a little,” she said.

Related: The Worst Things Americans Say on Vacation

But believe it or not, there may actually be a medical reason for at least a couple of the people you encounter who appear to fake foreign accents. Foreign Accent Syndrome (FAS) is a recognized psychological disorder in which sufferers randomly start speaking with a foreign accent.

I have to say, as a British-born person now living in the U.S. who has experienced far too many people mimicking my accent, I can tell you: Lots of you do it, and few do it well. So give it a rest.

3. Stock hand luggage with food and drink from the plane

Filling one’s hand luggage with airplane snacks and drinks you’re “saving for later” is more common than you’d think. I will admit to smuggling the odd bread roll or pack of peanuts off a flight, but according to an airline stewardess friend, some people are a lot worse. In fact, sneaking a few snacks or beverages for the road is like a competitive sport to some people.

“We get some people who will come and ask for cookies and chips, then put them straight into their bags, with no intention of eating them until later,” she revealed. “There are even people who will ask for drinks every hour and put the miniatures straight in their luggage. Stockpiling the free booze.”

But what’s weirder is people bringing their own food on board. “I’ve seen everything from KFC to caviar,” my snitch said. “It happens a lot — more often on domestic U.S. flights.“

4. Attempt to join the Mile High Club (or watch porn on laptops or tablets on a plane)

That just doesn’t look like it’s going to work out too well. (Photo: Patrik Giardino/Corbis)

As someone who travels a lot, I personally strive to spend as little time in an airplane toilet as physically possible. However the urge for some is just too strong. In a survey conducted by Skyscanner, a staggering 20% of people claim to have attempted sex at around 35,000 feet. The study discovered that men in their 30s and 40s were most likely to have done the deed onboard, while over a quarter of those asked said they would go for it if the opportunity arose. Pardon the pun.

5. Take cheesy posed photos

“It totally looks like we’re pushing the tower. Hi-larious!” (Photo: Getty Images)

You know the ones. Where you’re touching the top of the Eiffel Tower like it’s really small or posing cross-legged in front of a Buddha statue that’s posed cross-legged. As you go about your daily life of selfies and “look at my cute baby” pictures, what suddenly changes when you leave the country? We seem to regress to a bunch of overexcited 5-year-olds on their first trip to Disney.
And it was the U.S. that first popularized the “selfie stick.” Need we say more?

6. Wear unusual clothing

Matching outfits? Must be American. (How did dad get a free pass, though?) (Photo: Ben Welsh/Design Pics/Corbis)

The fanny pack and neck wallet have already been stricken from the list of appropriate attire for anyone, but American tourists make some other unusual clothing choices while on vacation.

Firstly, there are a few things Americans wear that differentiate them from the rest of the world’s tourists, including lace-up sneakers with white athletic socks, baseball caps, North Face jackets, apparel with the name of their hometown written on it, and camouflage gear as casual wear.

Related: Are Americans the Rudest Tourists?

But one highly unusual activity, specific to the population of the US of A, is dressing the entire family in matching outfits. Color coordinated clothing, matching slogan T-shirts, identical backpacks … we’ve seen it all. This shouldn’t be allowed, even if your last name is Kardashian.

7. Clap when a plane lands

Why? Maybe out of excitement? Or relief that they’ve arrived in one piece? Regardless, the eruption of applause upon touchdown is the single weirdest action anyone from outside the U.S. can witness.

Related: The Most Offensive Things Americans Do While Traveling

And actually, it isn’t just the end of a flight that gets a round of applause. Movies, bus rides, tour presentations all get the same overly enthusiastic treatment.

8. Start conversations with complete strangers

“Hi! Are you, like, from here?” (Photo: Hill Street Studios/Blend Images/Corbis)

Americans will talk to anyone. About anything. Anywhere.

In an elevator, on the bus, on a plane, if they sit down at the table next to you in a cafe, in the middle of a completely silent art gallery. Sparking up a conversation with a complete stranger is just a normal and friendly behavior for an American. But for people from other countries, it is just downright peculiar.
This love of conversation only goes on, however, if the chat can continue in English. Because, as we all know, the rest of the world should speak English, right?

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