This Simple Tip Can Turn Out To Be Extremely Useful During International Vacations

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Traveling abroad — while certainly thrilling — can be an intimidating affair. After all, by jumping on a plane and leaving the relative comfort of your home country, you are putting yourself in a situation where many things could go wrong. From canceled flights to bad weather to getting pickpocketed in Europe, there are myriad ways your travels can take a turn for the worse. While some of these factors are out of your control, there are also concrete things you can do to make sure that you have the best trip possible.

First off, know the things tourists do that drive locals up a wall and avoid them at all costs. You also should familiarize yourself with the country's customs and traditions and follow them accordingly — whether it's rules for dining, how to dress, body language etiquette, punctuality, or more. However, if you're looking for one of the most useful ways to get the most out of your vacation, try learning a bit of the language. Little will do more to engender the goodwill of your hosts than knowing a few key words and phrases of the local tongue.

While the proliferation of translation apps and AI has made communication while traveling easier, it has arguably made people lazier. After all, why bother to learn any of the local language when you can just speak into your smartphone and have it do all the work for you? While this is certainly convenient, it takes away the human factor. The app may deliver the information you need, but it is still an impersonal, robotic device and can't convey the warmth that comes when one person honors another by speaking a bit of their language.

It can take years to become fluent in a foreign language, and no one expects you to put that kind of time in for each country you visit. However, memorizing a handful of words such as "hello," "goodbye," "thank you," "excuse me," and "I'm sorry" certainly goes a long way, and if you can manage a few phrases ("Where is the bathroom?" "How much does it cost?"), all the better. By personally conveying these things in the local language, you are showing your hosts basic respect. "At every destination, beyond the monuments or the traditional dish, there are people," writes Wilson Santiago Burgos, a Puerto Rican travel blogger, in USA Today. "If we take the time to say hello in their language, ask for help in their language, give thanks in their language — we're already building a bridge." By employing a bit of the local language, you're opening doors, doors which may prove extremely useful during your trip. People are much more likely to go out of their way to take care of you if they feel that you're making the effort, which will only serve to enrich your experience.

Language acquisition is never easy, but with just a bit of effort, you should be able to learn a few basic words and phrases that will serve you well once you're on the ground. The most popular method is via language learning apps such as Duolingo, Memrise, or Babbel. These feature daily exercises that will get you in the habit of using key vocabulary through repetition and memorization.

That said, several studies suggest that — at least when it comes to retaining information — writing by hand is much more effective than typing or looking at a screen. This means that you may wish to attempt to memorize any new words or phrases by repeatedly writing them down on paper. This may help them stick in your brain for easy access once you need them during your travels.

Another option is to purchase a good old-fashioned phrasebook. These slim tomes — such as Dover Language Guide's "Easy Spanish Phrase Book" – contain vital vocabulary and sentences and also include phonetic spelling for easy pronunciation. They also fit easily in a coat pocket or small bag, for quick access. And let's face it, opening up a book and attempting to sound out words in the local language is also a lot of fun, even if you come up a bit short in the effort. For more ways to make your vacation go smoothly, check out these travel tips from Rick Steves.