Phrases and Questions to master before your next trip

There is nothing quite like the excitement of planning a vacation overseas, but we may
overlook little things that could make a difference, such as like learning the local language. Learning how to communicate with locals could open up to new opportunities or experiences, and go a long way to making your next trip much more pleasurable. Here are some phrases and questions for you to master before embark on your next trip. Before you leave, remember to get some practices in. It also does not hurt to purchase a travel guidebook, it could help you familiarise with popular destinations. Should you get stuck at any point, you can always point your finger to photos in your book for help.

Greetings

Seems obvious enough, learning how to greet people properly according to the local cultural customs show your appreciation for the people you are speaking with. Greetings such as “hello”, “good morning”, “good afternoon”, “good night”, and “goodbye” can make any exchange much more pleasant. To take a step further, you could even throw in some eye contact and smiling.

Please and Thank you

Manners and humility can go a long way when you travel, it is simply polite to rely on kindness of strangers. Be it someone who helped you to navigate in an unfamiliar city, or help you with getting home safely. Either way, “please” and “thank you” are important to show your appreciation towards the locals, and they are likely to respect and acknowledge the effort it took for you to learn their language.

Yes and No

Learning how to say “yes” and “no” is crucial to getting around. In some countries, it is not enough to simply nod or shake your head. Although they are common in many places, these gestures may have opposite meanings in different cultures.

Help!

This is crucial if you find yourself in the event of an emergency, it is always helpful learning how to say “help” in another language. When accidents happen, you will not even have time to flip through your travel guidebook. Hopefully, you will not be using this, but it is better to be safe than sorry.

Questions

Where is … ?

If it is your first time in an unfamiliar country, you will probably need some help getting
around from people who are actually from that area. This phrase is useful to help you find the nearest bathroom, or directions to your destinations. Even if you do not know anything else, this phrase will help you direct your taxi driver, speak to the workers at the train station, or receive advice from people on the streets. Learning how to ask for directions will make your trip runs more smoothly.

How much … ?

This is a shopping and dining must-know. Learning how to ask for the price could be
intimidating especially for countries where price tags are optional and bargaining is expected. This will ensure you not to get cheated at the flee market or souvenir shop when you wander around for delicious food and handmade crafts.

Can you think of any other questions that will be used frequently in your trips? Please don’t hesitate and share with us!