The most annoying tourist behaviors (by country)

Methodology 

Saily commissioned a survey which included seven countries: Australia, France, Germany, Japan, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States. With the exception of Spain (where 804 people responded), each country had a sample size of more than 1,000 individuals, aged 18 to 74.  

Survey questions fell into three categories. First, respondents were asked about the annoying travel behaviors they engaged in themselves. Next, they reported the tourist habits that particularly irked them. The last question was about intervention — how likely they were to ask a traveler to stop some inconsiderate action.

The great thing about this data is that you’ll be able to learn exactly which countries are most opposed to certain behaviors, allowing you to blend in a little easier while visiting them. You might also be surprised by the results per country — like which nation is most likely to clap when the plane lands (it’s not the US!). 

Global results 

We’ll go deeper into the details for each country later, but let’s start with the global results of the survey, combining all the responses into a single dataset. 

Top 10 most common annoying travel behaviors worldwide

According to our data, these are the annoying travel activities that most people admit to:

1. Talking to strangers while traveling (on a plane, for example): 46%

2. Taking off shoes in a plane or other transport setting: 29%

3. Only speaking one’s own language: 28%

4. Browsing a phone instead of enjoying the view: 27%

5. Overeating at an all-you-can-eat buffet: 26%

6. Urinating in the sea, lake, or ocean: 22%

7. Standing up immediately after landing and preparing to move: 20%

8. Clapping when the plane lands: 18%

9. Using both armrests when taking an aisle or window seat: 18%

10. Reclining one’s seat a little too far on a plane: 17%

Remember, these aren’t necessarily the most annoying behaviors people display while traveling — just the behaviors most people were willing to own up to. Interestingly, the majority of the top ten replies in the survey referenced the travel portion of the trip, but how does that compare with the behaviors that people find most annoying?

What annoys people most on vacation?

Wherever you go in the world, these are the behaviors that are most likely to irritate locals and fellow travelers alike:

1. Leaving trash on the beach: 54%

2. Arguing loudly: 47%

3. Having phone or video calls on speakerphone: 46%

4. Coughing or sneezing without covering your mouth: 46%

5. Talking at full volume: 45%

6. Playing music or videos without headphones: 45%

7. Reclining your seat too far: 45%

8. Talking loudly in quiet places: 43%

9. Taking up extra seats with bags or belongings: 40%

10. Bringing and eating smelly food: 40%

Notice any patterns here? When we combine data from all the countries we surveyed, 50% of the top ten most annoying behaviors relate to noise. Arguing loudly, having calls on speakerphone, playing media without headphones, and talking loudly (especially in quiet places) all made the list.

So — want to be liked wherever you travel? Avoid making too much noise and don’t forget your headphones!

Of course, you’re probably going to a specific part of the world for your next adventure. Let’s cover all seven countries from our study to find out what travel habits you should avoid while you’re there.

Top 5 tourist habits that annoy Australians

Heading to the Land Down Under? Australians are famously friendly — at 48%, the Aussies’ most common annoying travel behaviour is talking to strangers. But what do Australians find most irksome? According to our data, the following habits are most likely to get you disinvited to the barbie.

1. Coughing or sneezing without covering your mouth: 52%

2. Leaving trash on the beach: 52%

3. Reclining your seat too far: 50%

4. Arguing loudly: 47%

5. Talking at full volume: 46%

In a country where sunshine and surfing culture are such integral parts of life, is it really a surprise that leaving trash on the beach is going to annoy the locals? When you’re traveling in Australia, keep the sand clean, your mouth covered, and plane seats in an upright position.

Top 5 tourist habits that annoy the French

While many joke that the French dislike tourists, that couldn’t be further from the truth. People can be a little more brusque in large cities like Paris, but overall, tourists often receive a warm welcome in France — especially if they try to learn a little of the language beforehand.

According to our survey, however, five particular tourist habits are likely to make that welcome a little cooler. 

1. Leaving trash on the beach: 55%

2. Having phone or video calls on speakerphone: 50%

3. Talking loudly in quiet places: 47%

4. Playing music loudly in public: 45%

5. Playing music or videos without headphones: 42%

Just like the Aussies, the French aren’t thrilled when visitors treat their beaches like a trash can. Respect for the scenery and a little volume control — that’s the formula for staying in the French good books.

Top 5 tourist habits that annoy Germans

Germans are said to appreciate courtesy, order, and people minding their own business — in a good way. So when visitors disrupt that balance, it stands out. Our survey pointed to a handful of habits that really rub Germans the wrong way.

1. Leaving trash on the beach: 58%

2. Having phone or video calls on speakerphone: 53%

3. Arguing loudly: 51%

4. Coughing or sneezing without covering your mouth: 47%

5. Playing music or videos without headphones: 46%

None of these results are too surprising — but one unexpected datapoint came with the Germans’ own bad habits. They receive the dubious award for being most likely to clap when the plane lands, with 34% of German respondents admitting to it! Around the world, clapping when a plane lands is seen as a uniquely American habit, but our results show that quirk is widespread across Europe and beyond.

Top 5 tourist habits that annoy the Japanese

Japan can be welcoming, but it’s also a country that prizes social harmony. Here, standing out in a negative way tends to get noticed quickly. Our survey shows that while leaving trash on the beach still matters, it shares the top spot with loud arguments — finally, a twist on the usual “beach litter comes first” pattern.

1. Arguing loudly: 51%

2. Leaving trash on the beach: 51%

3. Talking at full volume: 49%

4. Taking up extra seats with bags or belongings: 46%

5. Talking loudly in quiet places: 45%

So while keeping the coastline clean is appreciated, it’s just as important to mind your volume and be considerate in public spaces. 

Top 5 tourist habits that annoy the Spanish

Spain is full of sun, sea, and golden beaches — and the locals like to keep it that way. According to our survey, one thing consistently ruins the vibe. Once again, it’s trash on the beach. 

1. Leaving trash on the beach: 64%

2. Reclining your seat too far: 56%

3. Talking at full volume: 54%

4. Playing music or videos without headphones: 54%

5. Arguing loudly: 52%

If it’s not completely obvious by now — littering really annoys people, and this is especially true when you’re littering on beaches. Notably, the Spanish come in with the most intensely negative response to this practice, which makes sense. Warm countries with a lot of coastline and high levels of tourism probably have to deal with a lot of littering around the sea, and Spain fits into this category perfectly. 

Top 5 tourist habits that annoy the British

In the UK, good manners aren’t just appreciated — they’re practically a national pastime. So when visitors flout the basics, it’s noticed. According to our survey, the top annoyances all boil down to one thing: forgetting your etiquette.

1. Coughing or sneezing without covering your mouth: 48%

2. Leaving trash on the beach: 48%

3. Playing music or videos without headphones: 46%

4. Having phone or video calls on speakerphone: 46%

5. Talking at full volume: 44%

Of course, the stereotype that Britain is obsessed with etiquette is a little overblown. And Brits abroad have their own bad habits! They lead the world when it comes to taking their shoes off while flying (32%).

Top 5 tourist habits that annoy Americans

Americans like to think they’re very different from the Brits — from humor to fascination with royalty — but when it comes to annoying tourists, both countries are surprisingly in sync. Our survey shows the top irritations are almost identical across the Atlantic.

1. Coughing or sneezing without covering your mouth: 52%

2. Leaving trash on the beach: 52%

3. Arguing loudly: 47%

4. Playing music or videos without headphones: 44%

5. Having phone or video calls on speakerphone: 44%

In America, basic politeness goes a long way, whatever side of the road you drive on. Keep public spaces tidy and cover your mouth when you cough to receive more smiles than side-eyes.

Which nationalities don’t put up with annoying tourists?

Saily’s survey also asked people from each country how likely they were to intervene and ask a tourist to stop behaving in a way that annoyed them. The answers to this specific question vary across the world but seem to bear out a few cultural stereotypes.

The United States is the country where a tourist is most likely to get in trouble for annoying behavior — which really fits the image of Americans as straight talkers. That said, only 17% of US respondents said they would ask a tourist to stop doing something annoying — not a huge percentage. At the other end of the spectrum are the Japanese respondents, of whom just 4% said they would confront someone under these circumstances.

What’s interesting about these findings is that they show how reluctant most people are to voice their discomfort when someone around them is being annoying. Just because the person next to you hasn’t said anything about you taking your shoes off mid-flight doesn’t mean they’re happy about it.

When in doubt, search online! 

Next time you go abroad, you can remember the results of our survey, and maybe you’ll get along a bit better with both locals and fellow travelers. If you’re ever in doubt about what is and isn’t annoying to people in a particular region, though, it’s always a good idea to double-check. With a reliable internet connection, you can research local customs and preferences as you go.

The easiest way to stay online when you’re abroad is with an eSIM app. With Saily, you can avoid sky-high roaming fees without having to buy a new physical SIM card — just download the Saily eSIM app and get a data plan with a duration and allowance of your choice to connect the moment you land.

Wherever you go, Saily will keep you connected so you can keep the locals on your side. Just don’t leave your trash on the beach — the Saily app can’t help you with that one.