I recently read one of the myriad travel articles I receive, this one regarding travel sins one can commit.  This got me thinking that there is a lot more useful information that was offered besides the patently obvious, like leaving the plane bathroom in a complete mess or shouting at the flight attendant or even walking off with someone else's bag!  Herewith, a sampling of Travel with Teri B. do's and don't's (by no means all of them!):

Do adhere to the local custom of donning head-covering, covering up bare arms/legs, and/or removing your shoes if you're in a place where that is not only the custom but expected.  After all, you're technically invading someone's turf and the expectation is to respect the custom even if it doesn't make sense to you.  

Don't take a picture of someone without first asking permission. That doesn't mean one can't surreptitiously get one in ... as I did at Buckingham Palace of Kate's dress.  At least it wasn't of a person.  But while visiting the Vienna Zoo last year, we encountered the most precious group of 5-year-olds and we were speaking to some of them about what it is like to live in America, etc..   I asked to take a photo, to which the chaperone nicely said no.  I get it; I could be a stalker and these kids were her responsibility.  It is irrelevant that I know there would be no harm; it wasn't my place to question.

Don't feel that you must re-use your hotel towel.   I am very conscious of the environment at home -- recycling like crazy and even using both sides of copy paper.   But when I am spending my hard-earned cash on a hotel, I'm dumpin' the towels on the floor (in a neat pile). I believe that is what I'm paying for.  Do I necessarily waste?  Absolutely not.  But towels are a luxury and I often evaluate a hotel based on the quality of said towels.  Call me crazy, but that is a big comfort that I have come to expect.

Don't (and this is a big one) put your bag in the overhead space at the front of the plane when your seat is in the back!!  I might add if you can't lift it yourself, it's probably too heavy for carry-on in the first place! The funnyman Adam Carolla recently said he believes the bin over one's seat is sacrosanct territory and everyone should know that.  There is a definite absence of reasonableness and courtesy when some passengers literally lay out their belongings end-to-end and then become incensed when someone invades what they believe to be their space ... the nerve! 

 

Taking it to a whole new level ...

Do go ahead and leave a tip even if it isn't the local custom.  Who among those hard-working folks in the hospitality and tourism industry cannot use a few more shekels?? And what seems like a pittance to many Americans goes a very long way elsewhere.  So be generous and the return is bound to be more than the investment!  

Do make every attempt to keep your voice down in an airplane. 

No need to talk above the din (nonstop sometimes). Seriously, does one not realize that we all must get along in tight quarters and be respectful of that?  Obviously crying babies will forever be in our midst, but must there be the unnecessary additional noise factor?  God bless my family for the wonderful recent birthday gift of noise-cancelling headphones!