Hurdling the Language Barrier When Traveling

Most people recognize and appreciate any sincere attempt to connect with them, and sometimes your effort alone can spark one of those special moments when we recognize each other's shared humanity. Risk looking goofy. Even with no common language, rudimentary communication is easy. Butcher the language if you must, but communicate.

When all else fails, a notepad can work wonders. Words and numbers are much easier to understand when they're written rather than spoken (especially if you're mispronouncing them). Google Translate is also a great tool to translates speech, handwriting, and images containing text, such as signs.

And rest assured that any place trying to separate tourists from their money will always find a way to explain how to spend it.

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Rick Steves, America's most respected authority on European travel, writes European travel guidebooks, and hosts travel shows on public television and public radio.