The Gesture In Europe That Could Cost Tourists Extra Money, Rick Steves Warns

Understanding the culture, customs, and language of a foreign place is essential when traveling around the world. You don't have to be an expert or even fluent, but having some familiarity with how you are communicating while abroad is important. For example, travel expert Rick Steves has documented his travels and knowledge of Europe for years now, giving fellow travelers a heads up for how to act and behave while visiting. Just like there are mistakes to avoid when tipping in Europe, movements and expressions need to be taken into account so you do not end up losing money or getting yourself stuck with an expensive bill. For example, Steves cautions European visitors against counting out their order with their fingers — specifically, by starting with your index finger you could be mistaken for ordering two of something.

Like other subtle gestures that can mean you are getting scammed in Europe, Steves wants travelers to be aware of losing money or paying extra simply by not understanding body language or gestures. In Rick Steves' Europe, Steves explains that — unlike in America where finger counting tends to start with the index finger – in many European countries, counting on your fingers tends to begin with the thumb denoting "one" and the index finger denoting "two" — and on from there. Unknowing Americans might end up with double orders if they use their index finger at a bar, café, or restaurant.

Other gestures that tourists -– particularly Americans –- need to be aware of include the "fingertips kiss" which indicates delightful praise in places like Spain, Greece, and Germany. On the other hand, the flick of your chin in France and Italy is often an aggressive move that can either mean "no" or, depending on where you are, "get away from me." There are also European gestures of superstition, as well as places like the Balkans, where a "yes" can actually mean "no" in some cases. That's why Steves advises those visiting Europe to brush up on what certain gestures mean before arriving in order to stay respectful.

It's not just body language and hand gestures that can put you in jeopardy while traveling in Europe, but also a lack of research. Not researching where you are visiting in Europe could lead to you getting caught up in unnerving hotel scams, or even using certain ATMs that should be avoided. You can get real-time safety updates about the location you are traveling to by enrolling in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program ahead of your trip, as well as by utilizing the State Department's A Safe Trip Abroad checklist.