You know the adage “when in Rome,” right? Well it definitely applies if you’re visiting Thailand, as well.Just as you would expect a visitor to your city to show respect for local customs you, too, should show respect for where you are visiting.Following are a few travel tips to keep you under the radar as a tourist and help you assimilate so you can enjoy the full Thai experience:

• Never raise your voice whether it be from anger or from joviality a normal tone (volume) should be practiced at all times
• Try to avoid saying anything negative or commenting on what should be done “differently”
• Never show any form of disrespect for or to a Buddha image you can take pictures, but never lay hands on them
• Speaking of touching, never touch anyone (including children) on the head since customs believe that the highest part of the body deserves the utmost respect
• Never point fingers if you need to gesture to identify something or someone, do so with the nod or pointing of your head
• Never show any form of affection in public and this includes holding hands while holding hands in larger cities is becoming more commonly accepted, it is still something that might make you stand out as disrespectful
• Do not touch anyone of the opposite sex, regardless of how innocent it may seem as Americans we tend to communicate through casual touch, but this is not something tolerated in Thailand
• Wai (the gesture of putting your hands together in front of you in a prayer-like position) should always be done in an appropriate fashion since it is a sign of respect toward people who are older or in superior positions in general, after the younger or subordinate wais, the superior returns the wai.

The bottom line is really quite simple watch what is occurring around you and mimic that behavior whenever possible, keeping in mind that although you may see something being done once (like kissing in public) it doesn’t automatically mean it’s appropriate for you to do so. Follow the rule of the masses and you’ll be fine.