Fasten Seat Belts, a light hearted guide to avoid misunderstandings while travelling. An innovative way to learn languages and pick up cultural tips.

 

Travel by Type / Do's & Don'ts

In various countries, you may be asked to remove your shoes before...

Visiting people, Do's & Don'ts, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Romania, Slovenia, Sweden, Turkey

In the Czech Republic there are many particularities surrounding beer...

Bar Culture, Table manners, Do's & Don'ts, Czech Republic

In Germany & Austria, lightly tap your knuckles on a table to greet a...

Greetings, Do's & Don'ts, Austria, Germany

In Turkey, the "OK" sign is very rude.

Body Language, Insults, Do's & Don'ts, Turkey

In Poland and Romania, it is courteous for a man to kiss a woman's hand...

Greetings, Visiting people, Do's & Don'ts, Poland, Romania

In Portugal, it is considered rude to write in red ink

Insults, Do's & Don'ts, Portugal

In Greece, holding your hand palm out towards someone is an insult: the...

Body Language, Insults, Do's & Don'ts, Greece

In Italy, eat your pasta with a fork (spoons and knives are rude !)

Table manners, Do's & Don'ts, Italy

In Belgium and France, slapping the back of the wrist means "let's go"

Body Language, Do's & Don'ts, Belgium, France

In Germany & Austria, do not twist your finger on the side of your head...

Body Language, Insults, Do's & Don'ts, Austria, Germany

In Turkey, in crowded buses (Dolmus), the way to pay for your ticket is...

Miscellaneous, Do's & Don'ts, Turkey

In Hungary, when drinking beer, avoid « clinking » your glasses.

Bar Culture, Table manners, Do's & Don'ts, Hungary

In Denmark, Norway and Sweden, wait for the host to propose a toast and...

Bar Culture, Table manners, Visiting people, Do's & Don'ts, Denmark, Sweden

In Italy, only tourists order capuccino after 11 a.m.

Bar Culture, Do's & Don'ts, Italy

In Greece, you may see people mock spitting, for luck: « ftou ftou ftou...

Body Language, Do's & Don'ts, Greece

In Turkey, it is rude to show the soles of your shoes

Body Language, Insults, Table manners, Do's & Don'ts, Turkey

In the UK, stand on the right side of the escalator

Miscellaneous, Do's & Don'ts, United Kingdom

In Germany (and Latvia), you should unwrap flowers before you offer them...

Gifts, Visiting people, Do's & Don'ts, Germany

In different parts of Europe, people have dinner at different times.

Miscellaneous, Table manners, Do's & Don'ts

In the Netherlands, tapping your finger on the center of the forehead...

Body Language, Insults, Do's & Don'ts, Netherlands

In some countries, people could be offended if you reveal too much skin...

Miscellaneous, Do's & Don'ts

In Spain, in tapas bars, you are expected to throw rubbish on the floor.

Bar Culture, Table manners, Do's & Don'ts, Spain

In Ireland and the UK, people usually take turns buying each other...

Bar Culture, Gifts, Do's & Don'ts, Ireland, United Kingdom

In Austria, it is customary to say "Grüss Gott" when you enter a place

Greetings, Visiting people, Do's & Don'ts, Austria

In the UK, the V-sign with the palm facing inward is extremely rude

Body Language, Insults, Do's & Don'ts, United Kingdom

In Finland, don't be surprised if someone invites you for a sauna (they...

Visiting people, Do's & Don'ts, Finland

In Italy, people touch iron instead of wood for good luck

Body Language, Do's & Don'ts, Italy

In the Netherlands and Germany, don't walk on bicycle paths !

Miscellaneous, Do's & Don'ts, Germany, Netherlands

In France and Belgium, when someone 'twists' his nose, he is saying that...

Body Language, Bar Culture, Insults, Do's & Don'ts, Belgium, France

In Germany, the thumbs up sign means "1"

Body Language, Do's & Don'ts, Germany

In the Netherlands, it is the custom on someone's birthday to...

Gifts, Miscellaneous, Do's & Don'ts, Netherlands

In Portugal, it's impolite to tear paper in front of someone without...

Miscellaneous, Do's & Don'ts, Portugal

In Belgium, when eating mussels, use an empty shell as a tool to eat the...

Table manners, Do's & Don'ts, Belgium

In Lithuania and Poland, don't shake hands over the threshold

Greetings, Visiting people, Do's & Don'ts, Lithuania, Poland

In Bulgaria, moving one's head from left to right means 'yes' and up and...

Body Language, Do's & Don'ts, Bulgaria