The answer is clear : Yes. But with a few asterisks…
These days, it might seem like most travelers on social media are fluent in English. Watching people blabbering foreign languages on travel vlogs, in airport announcements, or in restaurants might make you think, "My English isn't good enough." Especially if you don't know any English at all, your first trip abroad can be overwhelming.
But here's the truth : Knowing English makes things easier when traveling abroad, yes... but not knowing it is never an obstacle.
When I first got my passport, I was only able to get by with "hello" and "thank you." Seriously. There was Google Translate back then, but it wasn't as advanced as it is today. What I realized on that trip was that communicating with people isn't just about words. Smiling, pointing, pointing at food... These things work just as well.
So, the bottom line is this : You can go abroad even if you don't know the language. All you need to do is plan ahead, download a few apps, and muster up some courage. In this article, I'll show you how, step by step.
If you are ready, let's get started!
Tips for Communicating Abroad
The Power of Gesture and Facial Expression
The most effective communication method for travelers who do not speak the language is body language.Ordering by pointing to a plate, nodding your head in thanks, shrugging your shoulders and saying "I don't know"—these are all universal languages. Those working in tourist areas are especially familiar with these behaviors. Sometimes, even if they don't speak your language, they'll immediately understand what you mean.
Besides, people love to help, so just be open and friendly.
The Importance of Learning Simple English Sentences
OK, you might not know English, but it's not hard to learn a few basic phrases.Simple phrases like "Where is the bus station?", "I need help," "I don't understand," and "Do you speak Turkish?" are lifesavers. Write these kinds of sentences in a notebook or save them on your phone. Reading them a few times will make them stick. Don't forget to learn the words "hello" and "thank you" for every country you visit.
Don't Be Afraid to Ask for Help
Put aside the fear of “What if I embarrass myself?”Remember, you're a tourist. And when people understand you're a tourist, they're more patient and willing to help. You don't need perfect language skills to ask for directions on the street, give directions at the grocery store, or make a request at a hotel. People generally guess what you mean and do their best.
Life-Saving Apps While Traveling
Thanks to technology, it is now much easier to travel without knowing the language.Translation Applications
- Google Translate : Indispensable with its features such as voice reading and menu translation with the camera.
- DeepL : Provides more natural translations, especially good in written communications such as emails.
- SayHi : Perfect for speech translations.
Transportation and Navigation
- Maps.me : Finding your way is a breeze with offline maps.
- Rome2Rio : Shows all options for intercity transportation.
- Moovit : Great for public transport schedules and stops.
Accommodation and Tickets
- Bilet.com : Ideal for searching for flight tickets, bus tickets, ferry tickets and hotels.
- Booking.com : Easy to use for hotel booking, reviews and ratings are also very helpful.
Things to Consider When Choosing a Ticket
One of the most important steps when planning a trip abroad is arranging transportation. And if you don't speak the language, taking care of this process in advance will give you a great deal of freedom.
Conveniences for Those Who Don't Speak a Language When Buying a Plane Ticket
Buying flight tickets online is now incredibly easy, especially if you use Turkish platforms like Bilet. You can visit the site and choose the most suitable flight using filters like date, location, and time range. You can also read details like "ticket type," "baggage included?", and "transit time" in your own language, eliminating the risk of making mistakes.You can also reduce the need to talk at the airport counter by checking in online. Don't forget to keep your flight documents digitally on your phone!
What to Consider When Buying Bus and Ferry Tickets
Using buses or ferries for intercity travel is quite common in Europe. However, even with these types of tickets, it's important to carefully examine details such as departure point, arrival time, and baggage allowance.If you don't speak the language, questions like "Is there a prepayment requirement?" and "Is the destination the bus station or out of town?" can be confusing. Therefore, using Turkish-language sites like Bilet.com when purchasing tickets is a great advantage. Furthermore, printing or saving a screenshot of your digital ticket will help prevent potential communication problems.
Advantages of Online Reservations
Buying tickets online not only eliminates the language barrier but also saves time. Instead of having to deal with ticket offices in your destination country, you can take care of everything while you're in Turkey. You'll find the best prices and your ticket is guaranteed.For travelers who don't speak the language, this step can be one of the safest cornerstones of travel.
What Should Those Who Don't Speak a Language Do When Making a Hotel Reservation?
Accommodation is perhaps the biggest concern for someone who doesn't speak the language. But don't worry, this can be resolved.The Filtering Power of Hotel Booking Sites
You can find the place that best suits your expectations by filtering the services offered by the hotel on booking sites.For example:
- “24-hour reception”
- “Turkish speaking staff”
- Check for options like “Easy check-in.”
Pay Attention to Whether the Hotel Offers Language Support
Check out the hotel's website or Bilet.com's hotel page. If it says "Languages spoken: English, Turkish," great! If not, don't panic. You can easily reach out via email or text messages using Google Translate.For example:
- "Hello, I booked a room. Do you have Turkish-speaking staff?"
Communicating with Email Templates and Automatic Translation
If you have a request for the hotel in advance (early check-in, a baby cot, a transfer, etc.), there are ready-made email templates available online. Copy them, add your name and date information, and send.You can translate it with Google Translate and add the English translation. The other party will try to understand you.
Ordering at Restaurants Isn't as Difficult as You Think
Travelers who don't speak the language often panic when it comes to food. But with a few simple tips, this can be easily overcome.Choosing Menus with Photos
Many restaurant menus feature photos of dishes. Some even feature "sample plates" displayed in glass cases. Visually choosing what to order can be much more effective than not knowing the language. Alternatively, simply pointing to a dish on the menu at the server always works.Memorizing Favorite Words
Learning some basic words for each country is a lifesaver when ordering.For example:
- Beef: Beef
- Vegetarian: Vegetarian
- No cheese: No cheese
- Spicy: Spicy
Menu Translation with Google Lens
Google Lens instantly translates into Turkish when you point your camera at the menu. So, even if you're looking at a menu in Italian, French, or Japanese, you can know what you're ordering in seconds. This feature saves you time and unnecessary stress.Overcoming the Language Problem in Transportation and Urban Mobility
One of the biggest concerns when going abroad is:- "What if you get off at the wrong subway stop?"
- "What if you get on the wrong bus?"
- “What if you get lost at the airport?”
Tips for Following Buses or Train Stops
- Although there are different public transportation systems in each country, the logic is always the same: departure – stops – arrival.
- Applications such as Moovit, Google Maps and Rome2Rio show you in detail which vehicle will take you to reach your destination and in how many minutes.
- When you board the bus or subway, you can open the app and track the stops live. Even if the voice announcements aren't in English, you can still tell which stop you're at from the map and prepare to get off just a stop or two before you need to get off.
- If you don't want to use an app, write the name of your stop on a piece of paper and show it to the bus driver or the person next to you. They'll usually nod "okay." :)
Airport Wayfinding – Following Visual Signs
Airports are actually one of the places where not knowing a language is the least problematic, because everything is represented by icons: planes, luggage, exits, passport control...You can easily find your way by following signs such as "????", "????", "➡️".
Visual guidance at airports is so advanced that many people who do not speak English can easily reach the exit gate.
Also, before getting off the plane, tell the cabin crew
- “I don't speak English, can you help me for passport?”
Download Navigation and Map Apps in Advance
- You might not have internet or signal strength. So, before you travel, be sure to download apps that allow you to use maps in offline mode.
- Maps.me is the star here. Download your destination city, plot your walking route even without internet, and find a restaurant or hotel.
- Navigation is like a guidebook for someone who doesn't speak the language. It shows you the way, so you don't have to ask anyone.
Pros of Traveling Without Speaking the Language
It may sound like a paradox, but…There are some hidden beauties to travelling without knowing the language.
You Discover Different Ways to Connect with People
Communicating with a waiter without using words with a smile, greeting a child, or making eye contact with someone in the grocery store…All these small moments create a connection that transcends language. In those moments, you feel like a true traveler. You're no longer a tourist; you're living a truly human experience.
You Travel More Carefully and Consciously
When you don't know the language, you observe everything more carefully. You listen more closely to announcements, try to read signs, and analyze the atmosphere when you enter a cafe.This awareness makes you a more conscious traveler. You don't just travel; you experience and learn.
You Get Real Contact with Culture
- You learn a city by living it, not just by speaking its language.
- By tasting their food, getting lost in their streets, taking the wrong bus to a completely different district…
- When you don't know the language, this contact becomes more natural because you make an effort to communicate, and this makes you a more open person.
Extra Tips and Precautions
Some small preparations before setting off provide great comfort.Writing Important Sentences on Paper
Your phone might not always work, so write down basic phrases like "hotel address," "I need help," or "where is the airport?" on a small piece of paper and take it with you. Just showing it to someone when you're in trouble is enough.Get the Hotel's Business Card
After checking into your hotel, be sure to ask reception for a business card. It should have the hotel's name, address, and phone number on it. If you get lost, you can simply show it to a taxi and get back to your hotel. It's both practical and safe.Learning to Say “Hello” and “Thank You” in the Local Language
Even knowing just these two words in a country's language makes you respectful of that culture. People appreciate that.Simple but effective:
- In France : Bonjour, Merci
- In Italy : Ciao, Grazie
- In Greece : Yassas, Efharisto
- In Japan : Konnichiwa, Arigato