“Toilets Have Too Much Water In Them”: 30 Things That People From Other Countries Find Bizarre When Visiting The US

To gain more insight on this topic, we reached out to Karen Simmons, Editor in Chief of the travel blog offMetro, to hear her and her team’s thoughts on what American quirks stand out to foreign tourists. Some examples Karen shared that are commonly brought up are: “the large portion sizes and the amount of sugar and fat in the food; the gaps in the bathroom stalls and the lack of bidets; the tipping culture and the low minimum wage for servers; too much advertising everywhere; the high drinking age and the strict ID checks; patriotism and the abundance of flags; and the small talk and the excessive politeness.”

“We, as Americans, naturally have mixed feelings about these things,” Karen noted, speaking on behalf of her team. “Some of them we agree with, some of them we don’t. We like the diversity and friendliness of American culture, but we don't like the excessive sugar and fatty foods. We don’t mind the tipping culture or the advertisements, but we respect that other countries do things differently. We think every country has its pros and cons, and it’s interesting to learn from other perspectives.”

Karen was also kind enough to share some things that her team actually thinks the United States does well. First, she noted the national parks and the public land system. “The US has a vast and diverse network of protected natural areas that offer recreation, education, and conservation opportunities for millions of visitors and wildlife,” Karen explained. “The US also has a strong culture of outdoor exploration and adventure that encourages people to appreciate and respect nature.”

Next, she pointed out the accessibility of travel to and within the US. “The US has a robust and efficient transportation infrastructure that connects different regions and attractions within the country,” Karen added. “The US also has various programs and policies to reduce barriers and enhance security for international travelers, such as the Visa Waiver Program, Global Entry, and Trusted Traveler Programs.”

Customer service and hospitality of the travel industry are two more things the United States certainly does well. “The US has a high standard of quality and professionalism in its hotels, restaurants, attractions, and other tourism-related businesses,” Karen continued. “As mentioned above, the US also has a culture of tipping and rewarding good service, which motivates the staff to provide excellent customer satisfaction.”

Finally, the travel expert pointed out the innovation and entrepreneurship of the travel sector. “The US is a leader in developing new products, services, technologies, and experiences that cater to the changing needs of travelers,” Karen explained. “The US also has a strong spirit of entrepreneurship that encourages new ventures, partnerships, and collaborations in the tourism industry.”

And when it comes to what Americans might find challenging when visiting other countries, Karin says the lack of personal space and privacy might be tricky, depending on the country visited of course. “Americans are used to having a lot of space and being able to do what they want without being bothered or judged by others,” she explained. “In some countries, especially in crowded cities or rural areas, people may live in close quarters, share facilities, or be more curious and intrusive about strangers’ lives. Americans may feel annoyed by this.”

The US also has vast food and drink options that may not be available everywhere. “Americans are accustomed to having a wide variety of food and drink choices, especially fast food, snacks, and soft drinks,” Karen noted. “They may also have specific dietary preferences that are not common or well-known in other countries. In some countries, the food may be too spicy, bland, exotic, or unfamiliar for Americans’ tastes.”

Language barriers and cultural differences may also be challenging for American travelers. “Americans may not speak or understand the local language or dialect in other countries, which can make communication difficult or frustrating,” Karen says. “They may also encounter different customs, norms, values, and etiquette that they are not aware of or used to. They may unintentionally offend or disrespect someone by doing something that is considered rude or inappropriate in their culture.”

American travelers must also be prepared for the different standards of service and quality they may experience in other places. “Americans are used to receiving fast, efficient, and friendly service in most places they go, such as restaurants, hotels, shops, and attractions,” the travel expert says. “They may also expect high standards of quality and cleanliness in the products and facilities they use. In some countries, the service may be slower, less attentive, or more formal than Americans prefer.”

If you’d like to gain more travel insight from Karen and the whole team at offMetro, be sure to visit their site right here!

We also reached out to Canadian travel expert King Siu, of Solo Traveler, to hear his thoughts on this topic. King was kind enough to provide plenty of examples of things foreign travelers might be struck by when visiting the United States. First, he noted prices that don't include sales tax. "I didn't think it was that big of a deal until I lived abroad and realized how strange and inconvenient it was that we only add the tax on after the sale," King shared. "I'm still hoping for a world where the price I see is the price I pay."

Wearing shoes inside is another typical American behavior that King says is rare in other parts of the world. "Even in Canada, where we often behave similarly to the U.S., I've found the majority of Canadians will not wear their shoes in the house, so that's what I'm used to as well."

Next, King mentioned the notorious ice in drinks. "A common question I've been asked by my foreign friends who visit the US is why so much ice is put in their sodas, and similarly my American friends will complain about the lack of ice in their drinks when they're abroad," he shared. (Guilty! I just love ice!)

"It's always been quite comical for me to hear both sides," King added. "I'm not terribly bothered either way as long as my drink is cold, but it does seem to be a passionate topic for many. I feel the problem stems from the fact that outside of the U.S., it's not as common to have unlimited refills of drinks, and therefore you wouldn't want to feel like you were given a glass full of ice so that they could cheat you and not give you as much soda. Whereas Americans are expecting unlimited refills, so they're not concerned about how much space is being taken up by ice as they can always ask for more."

Tipping culture and customer service are two more things that the United States tends to do differently than the rest of the world. "[Tipping culture] is generally very confusing for people from other countries," King says. "Tipping either doesn't exist or isn't as commonly expected as it is in the US. I've found that it's getting so complicated these days that I'm even confused at times about who needs to be tipped. So, I'm not surprised when foreign visitors complain about the confusing state of tipping in the US."

"Strange as it is to hear, foreign visitors often complain about getting too much customer service," the travel expert continued. "No one does customer service better than Americans, and all this attention, smiling, and politeness can unnerve visitors who aren't accustomed to so much attention. I personally love good customer service, but I can totally see how it might freak someone out." Now that I've lived in countries where it's extremely rare to even get a greeting from grocery store employees, I can see how this is odd too. But I have to admit, I miss my weekly chats with Trader Joe's workers!

"Foreign visitors are still confused as to why the US hasn't joined the rest of the world on the metric system," King continued, adding that most Canadians actually don't care whether or not the US converts, as they've "always lived in a world where both metric and imperial measurements exist."

Apparently, TVs in restaurants are a distinctly American thing as well. "This is something I've heard mostly from Europeans, as it's not as common for them to have TVs in their restaurants," King says. "However, they've remarked that Americans will cover every wall with them. I must say that I didn't think this was weird until they pointed this out. I do, however, enjoy the convenience of always knowing the score when I'm out without having to check my phone."

And many foreign visitors are struck by the antiquated payment technology in the US. "[They're] often confused when paying their bill at a restaurant with a credit card that they have to manually sign the bill," King says. "Outside of the US, it's more common for the staff to bring a payment terminal to you that completes the payment transaction with a PIN instead of a manual signature."