Americans have a few habits and quirks that seem perfectly natural at home but may seem a little strange to others around the world. When Americans are spotted in another country, some of these habits might seem downright weird.
Here are a few of the ways people claim to be able to spot American tourists when they’re abroad.
Ice, Ice, Baby
Starting things off with a response on the Reddit thread “Besides their accent, what’s one way you know a tourist is American?”, apparently Americans are notable for asking for extra ice in their drinks.
In cooler countries, like the UK, it’s not as commonplace to have ice with your drinks at all. Supposedly, even in warmer countries, the amount of ice you get isn’t enough to satisfy American tourists.
Coffee to Go
Caffe culture is a big part of life in a lot of European countries. Visiting a coffee shop isn’t a quick trip to get a shot of caffeine or a pastry; it’s more of a ritual.
Since this is less the case for Americans, Europeans say it makes them easy to spot. Americans order their coffee in to-go cups, seemingly in a rush compared to the European patrons sitting comfortably enjoying their drinks.
24/7 Convenience
It seems many Americans abroad have gotten very used to the comforts of home and expect to find them everywhere.
You can spot an American abroad because they assume that stores stay open late, or are 24/7. This isn’t the case in many European countries, where a lot of outlets close by 8 pm.
Dressed for Aventure
According to Reddit user jckofharts94, American tourists have a uniform of sorts that lets you spot them.
American tourists can sometimes appear a bit over prepared for their day’s adventures: “The way they dress. For some reason Americans abroad dress like they’re doing some hard core exploring in the Amazon…even when they’re just visiting a European city.”
…Or Not Dressed for Adventure
Though, often, American tourists can also be spotted for the exact opposite reason, with many pointing to their over-relaxed attire.
Per mangiboo: “Everyone else is freezing outside and then there’s that American walking around in shorts as if it’s nothing.” Maybe it depends on what state the tourist is from as to whether they over- or underdress.
Mispronunciation
Foreign pronunciations can be difficult, as anyone who has ever looked at a UK town or city name like Worcestershire or Cholmondeley can probably attest to.
American tourists stick out with their pronunciation attempts. According to Reddit user YesHunty: “They pronounce things horribly and make zero attempt to say it correctly.”
Amazed by History
There are a lot of great things to see in America, from natural wonders to man-made marvels. But compared to the rest of the world, our nation’s history is a relatively short one.
This might be why locals note that American tourists “act so amazed by things that are more than 200 years old”.
Eating Habits
Perhaps missing the comforts of home, Americans have restaurant habits that make them stick out to locals. While the quality of the food is excellent in many countries, there’s often not enough of it to satisfy travelers from the US.
American tourists frequently complain that restaurant portions are too small. They also ask for ketchup regardless of what they’re eating and ask for cheese on everything.
Where Are You From?
How someone goes about introducing themselves can also be a giveaway as to where they’re from. American tourists have a habit of not saying they’re from the US, but immediately saying what state or city they’re from.
They’re also noted for constantly wearing their college sweater, t-shirt, or cap, essentially walking around wearing a sign saying “Hi, I’m an American tourist.”
Tipping
One big cultural difference between the US and other parts of the world is tipping culture. In other countries, tipping for services isn’t as commonplace as it is in the States, where tipping is a normal part of virtually any exchange.
This can make Americans stand out, according to one Reddit user: “Americans will try to tip everyone, even in countries where tipping isn’t a thing and can even be considered insulting.”
Spotting an American in the Wild
These telltale ways to spot American tourists largely come down to just small cultural differences that become much more noticeable when they’re out of the norm. Though we’re not sure exactly what part of American culture involves wearing white socks pulled all the way up.
It’s probably the same the other way around — Americans could likely spot non-Americans a mile away based just on their tipping habits.
