Mind your do’s and don’ts

Intrepid travelers, repeat after me: Whilst abroad, I resolve never to eat at an American fast-food chain restaurant, and to support the little trattoria or tapas bar or noodle stand far from the zone where waiters lure tourists with English-language prix fixe menus. I promise to avoid booking any package tour touting the ‘‘Irish [French, etc.] Experience,’’ and to never try ‘‘doing’’ a museum in one hour or a city in 24 hours. I pledge to abstain from hiking boots and khaki vests with mesh pockets in an urban setting; likewise, on day hikes, abstention from any brand-new outdoorsy designer garment that costs more than $250. Whenever visiting a historic district, I agree never to congregate in groups larger than 10. I will make an effort to learn ‘‘hello,’’ ‘‘goodbye,’’ and ‘‘thank you’’ in the local language. And I will never begin a conversation with a shop clerk by saying, ‘‘Hey, do you speak English?’’