In every language you come across:

Learn to count. At least to one. That way you can at least say “one” and point at a sandwich or a coke or a battery powered puppy.

Just kidding.

Don’t support the crappy souvenir trade.

Meaning some souvenirs are cool, and some, like “My Brother went to Prague and all he got me was this crappy t-shirt” t-shirts are crappy. If there is no demand, what’s the point in supplying? Just say no.

Learn to say “please”. It is only courteous.

And “thank you”. For the same reason.

While you’re at it, learn to say “hello”.

This will bring you up to the level of the standard backpacker. Vincent, who runs the Laundromat/Internet café in Rome, remarked, “That’s all the Americans know how to say, Ciao! and Grazie!” But this is better than speaking in English really slowly and very loud which is what the standard tourists will do. There is a slight distinction, even though as backpackers, we are tourists.

Read the signs.

You’ll see a sign saying “panini” over a pile of sandwiches in Italy. What do you say? “uno panini, per favore”

Don’t be afraid of pointing to really get your point across, because normal people gesture, the Italians especially.

“Biglietteria” over a place where people seem to be buying train tickets? The prices of “bigliettos” listed on the boards next to the “biglieterria”? Remember these words and the next time you need a bus ticket, you can ask the bus driver,

“where is ticket?”

He’ll get the message and point you towards the nearest tabbachi, a newsstand/tobacco store. He won’t scowl at you for being a dumb tourist speaking pidgin Italian, because at least you’re trying.

“Where is…?” Another good phrase.

"How much is...?" This is important to ask before you purchase things without price tags on them.

But at this point, unless you want to study your phrase books (you won’t do it, you’ll just pull it out when you get in trouble, which will be rare), you’ve exhausted your repertoire of simple “phrases”.

So the last resort, if your phrase book doesn’t cover the situation (like when you’re picking up chicks…) is to ask “Do you speak English?” And most likely if they are young, they will. If you’re in Germany, their English is probably better than yours. Because they is teach grammar over there.

If you’ve established that your new friend (and everyone you meet when traveling is your friend) does speak English and he or she has got some time, quiz them.

Ask them “How do you say pesto in Italian?”

“Come si dice pesto in Italiano?”

This specific phrase won't work really in Austria. Most likely it will get you weird looks in Italy too.

You get the point. Learn “How do you say… in whatever language?” Then use it and learn more. Soon your arms won’t be quite as tired from playing charades with everyone you meet.

It’s also important to learn the names of the cities, as used in Europe. Like Praha for Prague and Wien for Vienna (“it’s looks kinda the same… damn, I hope I’m not headed to Croatia…”) and Firenze for Florence.

In Budapest, the unit of currency is called the Forint. So this is what happened when I asked about train schedules at Keleti Station in Budapest.

I say, “Munich?”

No problems… “Next train 9:40.”

“Florence?”

“Forints?”

“No. Florence.”

“Forints. 19,645 to Munich.”

Hmm… I gesture and enunciate, “FiRENze! ITALia!”

She gets it. “Oh Florence…”

The clever ones among you would have noticed that I should’ve used Munchen instead of Munich. You guys are too prepared. C’mon, it’s an adventure. Learn that when you get there.

If you know German, then you are totally covered. Because, besides Germany and Austria and parts of Switzerland, many people in the Czech Republic and Hungary speak German. It seems to be the second place second language of choice behind English. I hear it’s big in France too, but they don’t like to speak it much since they got beat up in World War II. At least, that’s what some Canadian told me.