Category "etiquette"

What's the courtesy: wipe off the wash basin?

Commercial airliners often have a sign in the bathroom that reads: As a courtesy to the next passenger may we suggest that you use your towel to wipe off th

Japanese ryokan with a baby of 20 month

I am travelling with a baby of 20 months. Is there a specific etiquette to respect when staying at a Japanese traditional ryokan?

Is it OK to play the piano housed in the lobbies of hotels?

I travel a lot and often find grand pianos in lobbies of hotels. Is it appropriate to just sit down and play them for a while (FWIW, I am good and play slow cla

How can I deal with people asking to switch seats with me on a plane?

I'm sixteen years old, and I have mild claustrophobia so I always travel in the aisle seat. However, I'm constantly asked (not politely) by others to change sea

Can my wife and I swap seats in different classes during a flight?

Consider the following situation. My wife and I are flying together. She is flying SFO-EWR-BOM and I am flying DEN-EWR-BOM. Both on United, with the same EWR-BO

How do I avoid conversation with strangers while traveling?

Personally I hate traveling not just because I hate going to a new city but because of seeing strangers who are watching and trying to start conversation with m

Rideshare etiquette (Lyft, Uber, etc)

I used Lyft for the first time last week, and realized I don't know the proper etiquette, if there is any. With a taxi, it's common that the driver comes aroun

What is the etiquette around sex in hotel beds?

What etiquette is involved for copulation in hotel (not motel) beds? There doesn't seem to be a lot of information about this around.

Is it rude to tell the ice cream man in Istanbul not to mess with me?

I have never been to Istanbul but I am planning to go there with the kids. A friend of mine showed me yesterday a video of him buying ice cream from a tradition

Gift-giving rules for Japanese dinner host

I'm invited by a Japanese family for a home cooked dinner at their house. I'm wondering, given the Japanese gift-giving culture, what is appropriate to bring wi

What is a polite way to tell a Scottish person that I am struggling to understand his/her accent?

I am flying to Glasgow tomorrow. English isn't my mother tongue. In spite of living in London for the last 10 years, I still struggle with understanding differe

Is it rude to ask if the food contains pork or alcohol?

Some years ago, I was invited to a friend's place. The home-cooked food contained alcohol, and I don't eat or drink anything that contains alcohol (religious re

Is it rude to pay tips in Iran?

One of my friends, asked me if he could tip the waiter after we had a delicious Kebab :) for dinner, and I was just puzzled since I didn't know the answer. It'

How can I respectfully greet in Thailand?

I am in Thailand now, and this morning I tried to shake hands with our guide, but although she shaked my hand, it seems like this is not the way it should be do

How do I bring the level of interaction with Airbnb hosts to a minimum?

When booking a flat on Airbnb one might have the following interactions with the host: Write an introductory text about yourself and the trip Confirm that the

How to tip in Israel?

What's the proper etiquette for tipping in taxis, restaurants, cafes, hairdressers, etc.? See equivalent question for the US. I've heard many different opinion

Etiquette for visiting a Hong Kong family in mourning

My girlfriend whose family hails from Hong Kong has recently lost her grandfather, and her family is in a period of mourning. Being an "outsider" of the family,

What should be done before returning a rental caravan back to the rental company?

I'm going to leave my on-site caravan in a few days, but I wanted to know: Generally, what condition should I leave it in? Should I empty the garbage can, sho

Do flight attendants prefer I press the button or walk to the back? (Long-haul flights)

I fly Abu Dhabi - Amsterdam - Portland, OR and back frequently. Each leg is about 8 to 10 hours. For most people, it is their one 'long flight,' and are sleep

How does one sleep in a sleeper train in Europe?

Planning to travel from Germany through several other countries eastward on a sleeper train, I wonder what am I expected to encounter and how am I expected to d