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Essential Spain Travel Advice: Avoid This Common Dining Error to Respect Locals
Travellers planning a Spanish getaway should be aware of common cultural nuances to ensure a pleasant experience and avoid inadvertently offending locals. A prominent travel vlogger has issued guidance highlighting a frequently made food-related error that tourists should avoid when visiting Spain. This advice, shared by Mark Wolters of the YouTube channel Wolters World, focuses on dining etiquette and respectful interactions with Spaniards. His insights aim to help visitors navigate Spanish customs with greater ease and cultural sensitivity.
The Dining Faux Pas to Avoid in Spain
In a recent video filmed in Cordoba, Spain, titled ‘7 Things Tourists Do in Spain That Drive Locals Crazy,’ Wolters detailed several actions by tourists that could unintentionally irritate Spanish people. Among these points, he emphasized a specific dining etiquette mistake that can be easily avoided.
He elucidated that in Spain, hospitality often involves generous offers of food. While accepting such offers is usually appreciated, declining additional servings requires careful phrasing to avoid causing offense.
“When visiting a Spanish home,” Wolters described, “hosts are likely to offer plentiful food, and even while you’re eating, they’ll be discussing what dishes they plan to serve you during your next visit.”
Why Saying “No Quiero” Can Offend
Wolters cautioned against using the direct Spanish phrase “no quiero,” meaning “I don’t want,” when declining more food. Although intended to be polite, this expression can be misinterpreted negatively.
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He elaborated, “Saying ‘no quiero’ to offered food can be perceived as an insult. It can sound as though you’re implying the food is undesirable or not good enough. Hosts might take it as a rejection of their hospitality, thinking, ‘They don’t want it because it’s not good enough.’ This could prompt them to insist further, trying to prove the food’s quality. Therefore, attempting to be courteous can inadvertently lead to an awkward situation.”
Wolters suggested adopting a less direct approach, conveying more of a “I don’t feel like it right now” sentiment when refusing additional food to ensure smoother interactions and avoid potential misunderstandings.
UK Foreign Office Issues Updated Spain Travel Safety Guidance
Beyond dining etiquette, the UK Foreign Office has released updated travel advice for British citizens travelling to Spain, focusing on safety and security.
Street Crime Awareness and the ALERT COPS App
The Foreign Office has specifically cautioned travellers about street crime in Spain, advising vigilance and recommending the use of the ALERT COPS mobile application.
This app provides a straightforward method for contacting law enforcement, enabling users to send alerts, images, and videos to the police.
According to the Foreign Office, “The Spanish Police and Civil Guard offer the ALERT COPS app, which provides various services, including discreet communication with police if you witness or experience a crime. Further details are available on the ALERT COPS webpage.”
The app is free to use across Spain, excluding Catalonia and the Basque Country. Separately, reports in the Majorca Daily Bulletin have also highlighted concerns regarding vehicle-related crimes, including incidents involving “Highway pirates” targeting rental vehicles and cars with foreign license plates.