How to travel to a country where you don't speak the language
Quick answer
You can travel almost anywhere without speaking the language if you prepare a few things: a voice translator for conversations, an offline text/camera translator as backup, 10 key phrases, your hotel address written in the local script, and an eSIM or local SIM so your apps stay online.
Key takeaways
- Get mobile data on arrival (eSIM or local SIM)
- Install a voice translator and an offline backup
- Learn 10 polite phrases
- Save your hotel address in the local script
- Use gestures, numbers and screenshots
Before you go
1. Sort out mobile data
Most translation apps work best online. Buy an eSIM before you fly or a local SIM at the airport so your translator, maps and ride-hailing apps work from day one.
2. Install two kinds of translator
- A voice translator for real conversations — Speaklu lets you speak naturally and plays the translation aloud.
- An offline text/camera translator such as Google Translate or Apple Translate with the language downloaded, for menus, signs and dead zones.
3. Learn 10 phrases
Hello, please, thank you, excuse me, sorry, yes, no, how much, where is…, and "I don't speak [language]". Locals are noticeably warmer when you try. Our language pages include pronunciation tables for Spanish, French, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese and more.
4. Save key info in the local script
Screenshot your hotel name and address in the local language. A taxi driver in Tokyo, Seoul or Cairo will read it faster than any pronunciation.
On the trip
Taxis and ride-hailing
Use ride-hailing apps where available — the destination is typed, not spoken. For regular taxis, show the saved address and use a voice translator for questions like "How long will it take?"
Restaurants
Camera translation handles menus. For allergies, speak through a voice translator and show the written translation: "I am allergic to peanuts" is too important to mishear.
Hotels
Front desks often speak some English, but for anything detailed — late check-out, a broken shower, luggage storage — a two-way conversation translator avoids confusion.
Shopping and markets
Numbers are universal: type prices on a calculator app and show them. Use the translator for questions about sizes or materials.
Emergencies
Save the local emergency number, your embassy contact and your travel insurance number before you go. For medical or legal situations, ask for a professional interpreter whenever possible; an app is a fallback.
Etiquette tips
- Start with a greeting in the local language before using your phone.
- Hold the phone where both of you can hear it, not in someone's face.
- Speak slowly in short sentences and smile — tone translates even when words don't.
Try Speaklu free
Real-time voice translation and live video subtitles in 100+ languages.
Frequently asked questions
Can you travel without knowing the local language?
Yes. With mobile data, a voice translator app, an offline backup, a few key phrases and your address saved in the local script, most travel situations are manageable.
What is the best translator app for travel?
Many travelers use two: a voice translator like Speaklu for conversations and Google Translate or Apple Translate offline for menus and signs.
Do translator apps work without internet?
Some text translators offer offline languages. Real-time voice translators such as Speaklu need an internet connection.
What phrases should I learn before traveling?
Hello, please, thank you, excuse me, sorry, yes, no, how much, where is…, and 'I don't speak [language]'.