Not speaking the local language is one of the first worries before a trip. Yet millions of travelers manage perfectly well every year. Here are 8 tips to make yourself understood, from the first message to the last day.
1. Learn about ten words
Hello, thank you, please, how much, where, sorry, the bill: these few words are enough to make a warm connection. Locals always appreciate the effort.
2. Prepare important exchanges in writing
To book a guide, a place to stay or a driver, writing is easier than phoning. On Globamigo, you write in your language and the other person reads the message in theirs: translation is automatic, both ways.
3. Keep a card with key information
Write down your accommodation's address in the local language, any allergies and a few useful phrases. Showing a screen or a piece of paper is often more effective than searching for words.
4. Use pictures and maps
A photo of a dish, a pin on a map, a number written on paper: visual communication works everywhere.
5. Keep it simple
Short sentences, simple words, a calm pace. Avoid idioms and wordplay, which are hard to translate.
6. Choose professionals used to travelers
Guides, places to stay and planners who welcome travelers from all over the world know how to adapt. Their reviews often mention whether communication is easy.
7. Travel with others
Sharing a tour with travelers who speak the local language, or simply another language than yours, helps a lot. And automatic translation lets you chat with those who don't speak yours.
8. Keep smiling
A smile, a little patience and curiosity are worth more than any grammar book. Misunderstandings often become the best memories of the trip.