From the Costa del Sol to the beaches of Thailand, Brits abroad are like red buses in New York: wonderfully out of place yet an essential part of the landscape. Here’s how you can spot a fellow Brit, blending in with all the subtlety of a brass band in a library.
1. The Optimistic Sunburn
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That hopeful application of SPF 15 on the first day, followed by a week spent resembling a lobster? Classic British optimism.
2. Tea Desperation
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Watching a Brit ask for tea abroad is like witnessing a fish trying to ride a bicycle. “You do have PG Tips, right?”
3. Sorry Reflex
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Bumping into sun loungers and apologising to them as if they’ve caused great offence? That’s the Brit abroad, politeness ingrained.
4. Queueing Solo
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That one person trying to form an orderly queue at the hotel buffet? Yep, British through and through, even in the face of continental chaos.
5. Full English Quest
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Their eternal search for a full English in the midst of foreign cuisine. “But does it come with black pudding?”
6. Weather Obsession
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Two Brits meet and within seconds are comparing the weather here to back home. “Bit hotter than Skegness, innit?”
7. Pub Gravitation
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They have an unerring ability to sniff out the nearest establishment claiming to be a ‘British pub’, regardless of global coordinates.
8. Football Allegiance
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The wearing of a football shirt not just on match day but as a holiday uniform. “You never know when you might meet a fellow Red.”
9. Socks and Sandals
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Only a Brit would consider socks and sandals appropriate attire for exploring ancient ruins or local markets.
10. Sunscreen Application
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Armed with factor 50 yet somehow always missing that one spot. “Thought I’d caught all the bits.”
11. Tea Bag Hoard
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Their suitcase has a secret compartment for tea bags, because you never know when you’ll face a tea emergency.
12. Bargaining with Courtesy
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Attempting to haggle but ending up paying more out of sheer embarrassment. “Oh, that’s still too much? No bother, I’ll take it.”
13. Pub Quiz Commitment
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A holiday isn’t complete without finding a pub quiz, and then arguing about the answers. “I’m telling you, Henry VIII had six wives.”
14. Gratitude Overload
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Thanking machines, waiters, and even the sea for its refreshing qualities. Manners maketh the Brit abroad.
15. The Chip Comparison
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On a mission to find chips that rival those from back home, a quest often ending in disappointment. “Just not the same, are they?”
16. Cheers for Everything
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“Cheers” becomes a Swiss Army knife of expressions, fitting every social interaction imaginable.
17. Complaining as Sport
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Moaning about the heat, the food, and the local driving, but all in the spirit of good-natured banter. “It’s all part of the experience!”
18. Milk in Crisis
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The shock and horror when faced with the prospect of black tea. “Do you not have semi-skimmed?”
19. Curry Night Abroad
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Evaluating every destination by its ability to serve a decent curry. “It’s just not spicy enough, is it?”
20. Souvenir Fashion Faux Pas
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That hat was definitely a mistake, purchased in a moment of sunstroke-induced madness. “It looked good at the time.”
21. Sarcasm Abroad
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Their humour becomes even more cryptic overseas, leaving locals puzzled. “Just having a laugh, aren’t we?”
22. Passport Panic
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The periodic pat-down dance to check their passport’s presence, a ritual performed with religious fervour. “Better safe than sorry.”
Only in Britain
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Spotting a Brit abroad is like finding a needle in a haystack that’s actually waving at you. Despite the sunburn and the tea cravings, it’s these quirks that make travelling all the more memorable. Here’s to the Brits, making the world a more interesting place, one polite apology at a time.
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The post 22 Telltale Signs You’ve Spotted a Brit Abroad: A Fun Guide for American Travelers was republished on Passing Thru with permission from The Green Voyage.
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For transparency, this content was partly developed with AI assistance and carefully curated by an experienced editor to be informative and ensure accuracy.
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