Traveling where you don’t speak the language? 8 traveler-tested communication tips

While English is one of the most commonly spoken languages in the world, if you really want to be comfortable traveling in a country where English is not the native tongue, it pays to know how to communicate best when traveling. Understanding and being comfortable with the many nuances of communication, no matter where you are in the world, is one of the key differences between being a traveler and a tourist, especially if you don’t speak the local language.

Remember too, when traveling in a country where you don’t speak the language, you may need help in an emergency, if you miss a train, or for health or medical reasons, among others. You need to be prepared to communicate in some way.

Here are 8 tips to help you communicate when traveling in a foreign country

1. Know a few basic words. An excellent start is learning how to say hello, goodbye, please, and thank you. “I need help” and “where is…” are also practical phrases. This may become more challenging for Westerners in Eastern countries with languages that are quite foreign to our ears. Fortunately, there are alternative ways to communicate, so read on….

HITT Tip: Sometimes, small, courteous gestures or words can take you far. In France, you don’t just launch at somebody. Instead, you politely say, “hello” first, usually followed by a greeting or title, e.g., “Bonjour, madame!” And in Asia, you never write on a business card or grab it and stuff it in a pocket. Instead, you stop to admire it first and then place it somewhere in sight until you depart. 

2. Carry a phrase book, phrases you might want to know on a piece of paper, or use an offline-capable app on your smartphone, such as Google Translate, Microsoft Translator, and iTranslate. With apps, you can always quickly look up something and point to the translation to get what you need. In China, shop owners regularly used Google Translate to communicate with us about prices and to help us find the products we wanted.

Alternatively, carry an offline dictionary of basic terms on your smartphone or tablet. Do not count on having a Wi-Fi connection or connecting with data roaming, however. Offline, we have used dict.cc (free), but you have to think about this in advance: download the app and choose your language pair. There are, of course, many options available, but most only allow free use when online.

HITT Tip: If you’re going to be staying in a country for longer than a few weeks and really want to learn to communicate when traveling in the country’s native tongue, you could consider paying for one of many offline language apps and start to hone some basic words and phrases you can speak and understand. Even knowing how to say a few simple words in the local language is often very appreciated. 

3. Get in touch with your inner artist. Ever played Pictionary? Trying to get to your cruise ship? Draw a boat, some water, a dock … and then point. But realize, too, that just because you think your drawing made sense doesn’t mean the one trying to interpret it will understand. The boat you drew might take you to a port miles away from where your cruise ship is actually located.

4. Try a game of charades, but be careful. You absolutely must understand that certain gestures some countries deem normal are taboo or mean something vulgar in other countries. In some countries, for example, nodding your head up and down means “no,” while a side-to-side shake means “yes.” In many countries, pointing or showing your palm is a no-no. As with the caveat about drawing pictures, don’t assume your charades are clear – as our friends Diane and Jerry found out when she pointed to her water bottle to mean water, as in the sea and the port where their ship was. They instead ended up at a coffee shop because the taxi driver thought she wanted water.

5. Get to know offline mapping apps and download your favorite to your device before your departure. In addition to Google Maps (which has robust offline features, but you need to learn how to use them), we like the CityMaps2Go app. With CityMaps2Go, you don't need a connection, and you can mark locations on the map with stars very easily. Thus, you can always put a star on a destination to show a taxi driver. There are other offline map applications available.

CityMaps2Go maps can be used offline and are available for almost anywhere in the world.

6. If you are in a hotel or on a cruise ship, take a business card or brochure so you can show that to get help. In addition, many hotels and ships in different countries will offer small cards that literally have written on them, in the native tongue, something like “Please take me to X.” If there is not an appropriate business card or brochure, ask a desk staff member to write down for you the address and location (e.g. the area of town or neighborhood), as well as a phrase in the native language that is something like, “Please take me to X.”

7. Be firm and insistent, without being tourist-rude, if you feel you are being taken advantage of or the seriousness of your request is not being taken seriously.

8. Allow extra time and be patient. And, remember, a smile will always get you further than loud demands – particularly if the person you’re talking to can’t understand. Those are words of wisdom every traveler follows, albeit not every tourist.

Being polite and respectful of people and their local customs. That is the first step in opening the door to communication, even if neither of you speaks the language.

HITT Tip (somewhat tongue in cheek): If the person you are addressing does not speak your mother tongue, the solution to being understood is NOT to speak louder. Being loud doesn’t improve your communication skills.