ShareThisQ: I'm a New Yorker, and I'm constantly stuck behind tourists who stop in their tracks to point at something or consult a map. Can you give some sidewalk etiquette tips?
A: Sure. Walking in New York (or any big city) is like driving on the highway --no matter what interesting thing you spot, or how lost you get, you're not allowed to come to a dead stop in the middle of moving traffic. Step off to the side to take a picture, check your map, etc. And you should also note that in the U.S., people generally walk on the right side of the sidewalk (again, just like driving) -- don't go against the flow.
Q: If someone lets you stay at their apartment while they're out of town, what's OK to use? I imagine it's fine to watch TV, but if they have a computer, can you go online? Can you read their books? Eat their food? Use their bath products?
A: If someone lets you stay in their home, they must trust you. As a guest, you need to live up to this -- which means staying away from anything that might contain private items or information.
So although you're dying to check in on MafiaFarm or whatever your current Facebook obsession is, don't use your host's computer unless they've told you in advance that it's OK. Bathroom cabinets, closets and drawers are also off-limits. Don't scavenge in the kitchen, either -- nobody wants to come home to find their pantry empty. And even if your friend's bathroom is stocked like Sephora, don't sample anything. Hand soap is fine, but BYO shampoo, etc. The good news: Yes, you can watch TV -- just don't order anything on-demand or mess with their DVR if it tries to override something you're watching. It's also fine to read books that are openly on display (and not labeled "My Diary").
Q: If I'm in the middle seat on a flight, how many times can I ask the person in the aisle seat to get up and move so I can use the restroom?
A: As long as you're not going to the restroom to, say, try on different shades of lip gloss, you can ask as many times as you need to. I'm sure your seatmate would much prefer having to stand up a few times to sitting next to you after you've had an accident! However, if you think you'll need to get up more than once an hour, you should try to get an aisle seat yourself. Talk to one of the gate agents and see if they can accommodate you.
(E-mail travel-etiquette questions to Lesley Carlin at deartripadvisor(at)tripadvisor.com.)
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.scrippsnews.com)
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And you call yourself a New Yorker...
If you're constantly getting stuck behind tourists, you must not be a very good New Yorker! I've learned to get around them the fastest way possible, or just to simply barrel through.