Is not speaking the local language keeping you from hitting that desired bucket list destination?
Well, I feel you.
Travel is fun and all until you can’t speak the language.
That’s why in today’s post I highlight tips and hack for traveling when you don’t speak the language.
These are the things that worked for me on a recent trip to South America, a continent that is predominantly Spanish (and Portuguese) speaking.
And that I was traveling solo, It was the most challenging trip I had ever been on.
However, I wouldn’t trade that experience for a thing as it helped me grow, and I left me with memories for a life time.
My advise for you all is to travel to those places where you don’t speak the language.
With the following tips, you will hack it! Even if you don’t speak the destination’s local language.
What's Covered in This Article
Learn key words and phrases in your destination country’s language
Learning basic words such as excuse me, please, thank you, hi, good morning, good evening, water, hotel, etc.
To be on the safer side, its prudent to also learn key phrases such as Do you speak English? Where is the toilet (not ladies/gents/bathroom)? How much does this cost? I’m lost, can you help me? Where is the nearest bus stop/train station, etc.
This strategy goes a long way in demonstrating to the locals that your appreciate their culture and are willing to try, and in return they will be more eager to assist you.
Make Google Translate your friend
Or any other translation apps out there that you’re comfortable with.
Google Translate was a life saver for me while in Puerto Iguazú, Argentina whenever I wanted to communicate with my taxi driver.
NOTE: There are no Ubers in Puerto Iguazú.
My advise is that you download the app before you leave home.
Speak slowly and clearly using simple vocabulary
Unless you are traveling way off the beaten path, in most cases even when you travel to a destination where you don’t speak the language, you will most likely find some locals who know a few phrases of basic English or can fluently speak English or whatever your language may be.
As they may not have fluency in the language, make sure to speak slowly using simple words. For instance, instead of asking where is the ladies/gents/bathroom, simply ask, where is the toilet?
Consider staying in a hostel or hotels geared towards international travelers
Hostels are a great way to meet other travelers that speak the same language as yourself – mostly because they target a younger demographic who more often than not speak major languages such as English, French, Spanish and Chinese; and also that most hostels have “common spaces” which increase your chances of meeting up with other guests.
On the other hand, hotels geared toward international travelers though usually more expensive, have the advantage of hiring multi-lingual staff which makes it easier for guests to communicate with employees.
Take advantage and capitalize on the multilingual options that your hotel can offer by asking for any insider tips, directions, and anything else to ensure a more comfortable and seamless stay for you.
Write/Print addresses in local language
This is one hack that has worked for me over and over even in destinations where I speak the language.
Every time when traveling, before I leave home, I make sure print out all my hotel addresses in both English and the destination country language.
Take advantage of hotel aggregation sites such as Booking.com which automatically gives you the option to download your hotel address in either/both your local language as well as the destination language.
You also want to write down or print out names and addresses of all major tourist sites you would like to visit in English/your local language and its translation into your destination language.
Again, Google is your best friend here.
So for instance, if you plant to visit The Zhangjiajie National Forest Park on your trip to China, simply type “Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in Chinese Characters” in Google search engine and print out the translation: 湖南张家界国家森林公园.
Take pictures of landmarks
Another tip for when you’re traveling to a destination where you don’t speak the language is to take pictures of landmarks, your hotel/hostel with name clearly visible, bus stop nearest to your accommodation, etc.
This especially comes handy in the event that you get lost or need direction while using public transport.
If say you board public transport and not sure where to alight, simply show a picture of your intended destination to either fellow passengers of the dirver and most people will be more than happy to alert you where you need to get off.
Book an AirBnB experience with an English speaker
The beauty of booking an AirBnB experience over traditional tours is that you get to experience a destination as a local does while at the same time immersing yourself in the host’s unique world.
Above that, you have the privilege of being guided by someone who speaks English/your language of choice and the local language.
This was my experience in both Argentina and Brazil where I purchased various AirBnB experiences, re: photo shoot in Buenos Aires, photo shoot in Rio, Little Africa Tour, Rio in One Day with a Photographer, Sunset Sailboat Tour in Rio de Janeiro, Patagonia Foto Tour & Trekking, etc.
In addition to these experiences that I’d paid for, I had the added benefit of being guided by people who speak both English and Spanish.
They not only shared with me insider hacks for experiencing their cities but were also kind enough to respond to any questions or doubts I had even after my experience with them had ended = peace of mind. Win win!
Furthermore, these experiences generates income for the hosts with minimal cost, and on a larger scale it injects much needed revenue to the local economy.
Apart from AirBnB experiences, you can also book Free Walking Tours which are found in most tourist destinations. The three main advantages of these Free Walking Tours is that 1) you get to meet many other tourists; 2) the tours give you a hit of the city’s main attractions so you can pick on those you want to return to and explore in-depth; and 3) most of these tours are usually conducted in the English language.
