Travelore Tips: 10 Quirky Local Customs Travelers Should Know

Contributed by Tommy Burson

Anna Fox

Flight: booked. Hotel: reserved. Language podcasts: Completed. What else do you need to prepare before jetting off on vacation?

Most of us would probably never think that feeding pigeons in parts of Venice could get us fined as much as our plane tickets there cost. Likewise, while we always leave a substantial tip after dining at a restaurant in North America, the practice is a foreign concept to many international visitors. Needless to say, very diverse cultural customs abound around the world. Here are a few quirky ones that we love and think are useful to know for preventing cultural mishaps abroad.

Brazil: Brazilians love to touch each other, so don’t be surprised when you talk to a Brazilian and they tug at your shirt or wrap their arm around you. It’s not a sign of flirtation but a means of friendly communication.

China: Finish all of your food? That could potentially make you rude. In China, some interpret a completely 

cleaned off plate as a sign that guests weren't fed enough. They could take offense — or try to stuff you with unwanted extra helpings. To be safe, leave just a bite or two on your plate when full.

Germany: It could be 4 a.m., there might not be traffic, and there might not be even the hint of a car. No matter: You never jaywalk. Unlike most places where jaywalkers plague the streets, jaywalking in Germany can often met with scoffs and disapproving glares. That’s why some crosswalks now let you play ping pong against those across the street while you’re waiting for the light to change.

Greece: The Greek word “moutza” or “mountza” refers to thrusting an open palm with all fingers extended and stretched to another person. With a reference to a period in time when criminals’ faces were smeared with cinder as punishment, the extremely rude gesture equates to the American middle finger. Avoid throwing out your palm at anyone, whether you’re hailing a taxi or motioning for someone to stop.

India: India’s a diverse society, but who would have guessed that its alcohol laws are just as complex? The legal drinking age ranges from region to region; in some states it’s 18, others 25. In a few areas, mostly in the East, alcohol is prohibited entirely.

Ireland: Stand your round – meaning you never order a drink for just yourself, which is interpreted as standoffish. In order not to ostracize your Irish brethen, always offer to pay for a round. And if you can’t quite drink like the Irish? Stand your round early so you can sneak away before total inebriation.

Italy: Feeding the festering pigeons in Venice’s St. Marks Square may accrue a $700 ticket, and shorts and tank tops in an Italian church might get you some glares.

Japan: With a few exceptions like tour guides and private drivers who mostly work with international visitors, most Japanese find tipping insulting. But if a restaurant truly wowed you, for example, return for another meal to show your gratitude.

Mexico: Many Mexicans, especially of the older generation, consider it rude to stand with your hands in your pockets – it signifies a casual lack of interest. In the same vein, standing with your hands on your hips indicates anger. Needless to say, one generally minds not only where but also how they stand.

United States: The tag price is not the actual price. For example, your $10 dinner really costs $10.80, and that’s not even factoring in the tip. This isn't news to most of our readers, but it especially baffles plenty of visitors from other countries.

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4 Neighborhoods Parisians Think are Très Cool

Contributed by Stephen Lioy

Flickr/joel52

First-time visitors to Paris should definitely visit the Marais for art galleries and falafel shops, and Bastille for modern art and antique records, but these areas are just too “bobo“ to impress your Parisian friends. Instead, head for these lesser-known neighborhoods for a rendezvous that will show the world that you’re very chic. We’ve offered tips on a couple of places to visit in each neighborhood, but be sure to explore on your own to see what other surprises you can find.

Republique
You’ve probably switched metro lines here, but have you ever actually had a look around? Full of students, cheap bars, and affordable restaurants; Republique is a great place to hang out.

Do: Wander along the popular Canal St. Martin, and be sure to stop by Point Ephemere for artists’ workshops by day and live music by night.

Eat: For down to earth food, the traditional(-ish) crepes at West Country Girl are worth waiting in the line you’re likely to find.

Drink: The area around Republic Square is full of bars, and on busy nights your best bet is to listen for the music that draws you in. If you can’t make up your mind, Le Cinquante  is always a good bet for music and reasonable drink prices.

Belleville
Famous for its taverns as far back as the 14th century, until recently Belleville has been considered a fairly rough part of town that didn’t draw a lot of visitors. With great food options and tons of music and drinking dens, the area has seen resurgence.

Do: The terrace at the top of the Belleville Park offers an unexpected but impressive panorama of Paris. Though the park itself closes at 6:30 p.m. or earlier, the terrace is accessible all day and night.

Eat: Belleville is one of the best places in Paris to find East and SouthEast Asian restaurants and grocers. For a spectacular Vietnamese Bahn Mi sandwich (for only €3.50/$4.75), visit the unassuming Panda Belleville restaurant.

Drink: Right in the middle of Belleville Boulevard, Le Buzz is a reliable favorite for undiscovered musical acts and cheap drinks any night of the week.

Menil Montant
Compared to Belleville’s rough-and-tumble feel just next door, Menil Montant is all arts and diverse blend of cultures. You can find a little bit of everything here.

Do: The Pere LaChaise Cemetery may be a popular tourist draw, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth your time. Both a manicured park and a historic graveyard, it can be equal parts beautiful and atmospheric.

Eat: La Maroquinerie offers a limited but tempting dinner menu, and since you’re already here, you’ll be in prime form to catch a show here or at the Bellevilleois performance venue across the street.

Drink: Flea market by day and bistro by night, Eva Pritsky is something altogether different from most of Paris’ drinking spots. Stumble in here while a live show is on, and in a room where thirty patrons is a crowd you’d have to try hard not to make new friends.

Aligre
Despite the annual Festival d’Aligre and one of the most centrally located flea markets in Paris, the Aligre neighborhood remains relatively unknown. This area has a very down-to-earth, and welcoming, vibe.

Do: While the covered market at Aligre operates daily, with stalls selling meat, cheese, and everything else a Paris market should offer, the real draw here is the Sunday flea market. Antique and vintage goods abound, and there’s a fair bit of international art as well.

Eat: If you’re looking to eat a lot of good food without spending a lot of money, the couscous at the 3FC restaurant is a winner. At 16 rue Aligre, the restaurant is just steps from the flea market on the main square. 

Drink: After picking up groceries and vintage clothes at the market, and filling up at 3FC, celebrate your day with a glass of red wine at  Le Baron Rouge. On a sunny Sunday, after shopping at the flea market, this is one of the best ways to spend a day in Paris.

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Jumping Ship: Carnival’s New Money-Back Guarantee Explained

Contributed by Donna Tunney

iStock

Carnival Cruise Lines endured a negative media frenzy earlier this year when its Carnival Triumph lost power due to an engine room fire and became stranded in the Gulf of Mexico. Shortly after, propulsion and power problems affected two other Carnival ships, causing the suspension of a cruise and missed port calls.

In order to convince potentially weary consumers to book a cruise, the line has launched the “Great Vacation Guarantee,” a policy that enables dissatisfied passengers to disembark the ship and end their voyage early. They’ll also receive a 110 percent refund, free transportation home, and a $100 credit for a future sailing – that is, if they weren’t sufficiently spooked to never book again.

Taking a closer look at the new “guarantee” policy, a few things jump out:

To qualify for the refund, transportation, and $100 credit, passengers must notify the ship’s guest services desk within the first 24 hours of the voyage. That’s not much time. The first day of a cruise tends to be chaotic. People are unpacking, finding their way around the ship and recovering from travel. A Carnival spokesman said the clock starts ticking when the ship departs the port, and that’s typically 4 p.m. Twenty-four hours is probably not enough time for most passengers to make an informed decision about whether to stay or go. (But just enough time to make them think they can).

That being said, refunding 110 percent of the cruise fare paid is a nice bonus, albeit a small one. On a five-day Western Caribbean cruise from Miami in mid-December, for example, an inside cabin sells for $219 per person via the Carnival website, thus entitling the customer to an extra $21. Book a suite on that same cruise, for $699 per person, and the bonus refund is close to $70 – pocket change to some, but it could offset some portion of the onboard bill, which is not reimbursed under the guarantee.

The cruise line also pledges to cover return air fare, ground transportation, and hotel costs, if necessary, for those who call it quits. Consider that hotel rates are particularly high in the Caribbean during winter season, when a last-minute stay in a mid-range property can easily run $300 a night. As a result, this actually can have a lot of value, potentially worth hundreds of dollars, depending on the passenger’s final destination and whether an overnight is involved.

As a part of the guarantee, Carnival will handle the return arrangements. And if your vacation is coming to a close after just one day, you probably don’t need any more aggravation. Let the cruise line figure it out for you.

Our conclusion? The Great Vacation Guarantee is a solid, valuable offer that will entice mostly first-time cruisers to give Carnival a try, without fear of losing money or time.

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5 Cruise Myths, Debunked

Contributed by Donna Tunney

Christian Lambert Photography

Of all the vacation trip choices out there, cruising appears to have the greatest need to defend itself. Non-cruisers often are misinformed about shipboard life, landlubbers are anxious about the possibility of seasickness, and those who dislike closed spaces will avoid cruise ship cabins — just to name a few. But we think that these “obstacles” shouldn’t dissuade consumers from booking a vacation at sea. Here are five cruise myths, debunked:

1. Mass market ships are just party boats.
While it’s true that many cruisers aboard  lines such as Carnival Cruise Lines, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Royal Caribbean International are looking for a festive atmosphere, others who want peace and quiet can easily find it on those very same lines. Today’s cruise ships are large enough to provide tranquil spaces, in the form of adults-only pool and lounge areas, out-of-the-way bars, and intimate dining venues. Passengers can read a book, sip a drink, or enjoy dinner well away from the mayhem in all of these spaces. If you are looking for extra relaxation, take a look at a ship’s deck plans and review public area descriptions to see if the facilities fit the bill.

2. Cabins are claustrophobic.
Cruisers have a wide range of cabin choices these days. For those who don’t like closed spaces, a balcony cabin is the answer. Of course, not all vacation budgets can accommodate such staterooms — but options like a partial-view porthole cabin provide a less-cramped ambience at very small increases in cost. (A partial-view cabin refers to one that has a window that’s partly obstructed by something outside, such as a lifeboat.) Disney Cruise Line also boasts “magical portholes” in many of its inside cabins, featuring screens displaying outside views to give the illusion of a window.

3. Cruises are more expensive than land trips.
Cruise rates change very frequently, based on occupancy levels day to day and week to week. The industry currently is offering some of its lowest rates in years on summer and fall Caribbean cruises, many as low as $50 or $60 per person, per day. Considering that all meals and entertainment are included in the fare, consumers are likely hard-pressed to find a better value. (Tip: You can find one if not more of such cruises in ShermansTravel’s weekly Top 25 deals.)

4. I’ll get seasick.
High winds and rolling seas can make a cruise ship tilt from side to side as it steams toward its next port call. But anti-seasickness medications are always available — for free — from a ship’s medical office. Passengers have also had luck with anti-seasickness wristbands, found in any pharmacy and reusable.

5. I’ll be bored on a ship.
This statement may have been true 20 years ago, but certainly not today. Outdoor activities on many ships include ropes courses, climbing walls, basketball courts, mini-golf courses, dive shows, and more. Inside, a vast array of music performances, movies, games, and sports bars provide hours of entertainment. That’s not to mention shore excursions where cruisers can stretch their legs dockside (a weeklong cruise will typically have at least three ports of call).

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