The US may be a major destination for them and Hollywood movies may be coming to their homes, but that doesn’t mean Brits always have the right etiquette on a trip across the pond.
But they shouldn’t panic.
To help ensure mistake-free forays, MailOnline sat down with travel experts to find out all the unspoken rules Brits need to know before landing in the US – from the one drink they should never order to the dangers of swearing and only tipping five per cent.
Do…
Remember to tip
Travel experts have told MailOnline the rules British tourists should follow in the US, including how much they should tip.
Elaine Warren, travel blogger and founder of The family cruise companionsays: ‘In the U.S., tips are not only appreciated, they are expected. Service workers, such as waiters, taxi drivers, and hotel staff, often rely on tips as a significant part of their income.’
Remember when a British friend left an American waiter unhappy because he had only left a five percent tip, believing it to be “generous.” In the United States, tips are expected to be between 15 and 20 percent of the price.
Esteban Touma, professor of Babbel Live and stand-up comedian, adds: ‘Over the years, Brits have gained a bad reputation within the American hospitality community for not tipping enough, if at all. This can often lead to awkward, even hostile, encounters across the pond. Brits should be aware that most waiters earn their wages through tips.’
Try using American English.
Brits, that’s a “sidewalk” above, not a pavement. And those vehicles have “trunks,” not “boots.”
Esteban explains: ‘Brits visiting the US have the luxury of not worrying too much about the language barrier while travelling. However, don’t be overconfident and forget that there are actually significant differences. So remember the words that are often confused: pants are ‘trousers’, sidewalk is ‘sidewalk’ and trunk is ‘trunk’.
‘This applies particularly to some common culinary words you might encounter when eating at a restaurant, café or diner, such as when we say “appetizer” instead of entree and “check” instead of bill.
‘Also, when you read the menu, remember that “jelly” means jam, “arugula” is rocket, “cilantro” is coriander, “zucchini” is zucchini, “berenjena” is eggplant, and we say “galleta” instead of “bizcocho.”‘
Respect cultural differences
Elaine says: ‘America is a melting pot of cultures, and what may be a norm in one area may be considered offensive in another. I once had a pleasant chat with a Texan who was perplexed by a British tourist’s comment that cowboy hats were “strange”. Remember, what you find peculiar may be integral to someone’s identity.’
Esteban adds: “Tourists shouldn’t make the mistake of thinking that all Americans are the same. Think about how accents can vary dramatically in just a two-hour car ride in the UK. Now, think about the fact that the UK as a whole is smaller than several US states and is about 40 times smaller than the US.”
Take part in a small talk
Elaine says: “I’ve seen many Brits surprised by the American enthusiasm for small talk. Don’t be surprised if a stranger in an elevator asks you how your day is going. It’s not an interrogation, it’s just a show of kindness. Accept it and you might just have some nice conversations with the locals.”
And not…
Don’t use bad words in public
Esteban warns: ‘In the US, swearing in public is frowned upon, much more so than in the UK. It would be rare for a stranger to tell you off for using a ‘bad word’ in public on the streets of London or Manchester, but if you swear too loudly in some parts of the US they will let you know what they think of it.’
Don’t ask for a cup of tea
The “old British tradition” of having a cup of tea is unlikely to survive in the United States, where tea is served iced, if at all.
Stephen jokes: “Unless you like your tea iced and sweetened, like they do in the South, don’t assume that this old British tradition is still being kept up in the States. After all, we’ve been throwing crates of it into Boston Harbor!”
Don’t overdo it with sarcasm
“While the British are known for their wit and self-deprecating style of humor, it’s something that can get lost in translation with Americans, who may take some of those gestures personally or even take them at face value,” Esteban says.
He adds: “British and Americans may share a language, but that doesn’t mean humour always translates well across cultures. As a comedian, I understand better than most the pain of a joke falling flat, so I want to warn Brits to consider their audience.”
Don’t forget about sales tax
Esteban says: ‘You can go shopping with your eyes wide open at all the amazing deals you seem to be getting, until you get to the checkout and the total is way more than you expected. In stores, the price listed on the tag is not the final price because sales tax has not been added. It varies from state to state, but can be around 10 percent in some cities.’
