Deciding "not to help" because somebody doesn't say "Hello" speaks volumes about "the locals" for sure. Who'd even WANT to know them?

Exactly.
If you cannot say hello, stay home.
Travel is also about interactions.
I'm always surprised that people say I am the one impolite when I don't answer - in a foreign language on top of it - somebody who is too lazy to learn my language or at least one or two words and too impolite to say hello.
Especially from US citizens who are usually polite and who usually say hello or hi.
So when traveling these people who greet each other in their home country would not say hello ?
And I'm the one who is the problem ?
Besides I'm not impolite, I just play dumb.Something I excel in doing.

Is it really that much of a problem to be kind and helpful.

When one wants to ask for casual help in a foreign language, hello is the least that could be expected.

Having said that, not everybody know that they must say hello as a politesse. Where I come from, people don't usually greet strangers on the street. When asking for something, they would say "Dear brother/sister/comrade..." something like that. So when I first traveled abroad, I start my phrase with strangers by "Excuses-me..." and not hello.
My bad.

My wife spends a lot time trying to learn some of the language of the country we are about to visit. 99% of the people are flattered that she does so. The exceptions have been Parisians and the Guatemalan military.

I also try to read the more classical literature of that country and at least some bare bones history and something about the haute culture. People are often impressed, stunned, and amazed, that an American would have such knowledge.

The machines in self-service "laveries" are well-maintained and all the machines smell "neutral", because they are emptied and cleaned regularly.

This is not always the case with apartment washers, which are designed to hold the "brown" rinse water from the latest wash in the tub.

A little water is added to dispense the soap, but only about 1 liter of water is used to wash a 6 kg load. About half of that remains sitting around in the tub.

For this reason, you should never add bleach (Javel) to any load of laundry when using an apartment machine, because you'll ruin someone else's laundry.

Apartment machines can be really smelly and downright disgusting, especially in apartments which are rented all year 'round.

Many guide books take up to 1.5 to 2 years to get into print, including revisions, etc. Granted, this isn't a long time, but I would recommend checking on-line resources before you travel.

The same thing can be said for blogs and tourist websites, which are notoriously not dated.

was interesting and useful to read. Thanks for sharing

Yes, guide books are obsolete as soon as they are edited. But one can safely assume that if anything drastic happens to Big Ben, The Eiffel Tower, or the Vatican you will hear about it.

As far as hotels, restaurants, and hours of operation are concerned, there could have been closures, sales, and renovations since the time the books have been written.

Lots of good stuff here.

As I grow older, I have changed some aspects of my travels. I used to be cheap about laundry, but I've decided that if I'm going to spend $5000 on a month-long trip, I will use the laundry service of my hotel, unless it's more expensive than usual. Then I just wait until the next hotel and see if it is cheaper.

I wash socks and underwear in the sink if I am staying in a hotel for three days, which is my usual stay.

I go on tours and use guides more than in the past, especially if my interest in the city is historical, as in Warsaw. I was disappointed in my trip to St. Petersburg because I wasn't able to enter buildings because of huge waiting lines. I think I'd have been able to visit interiors if I'd had a guide or tour of some kind.

I have had major disappointments when I have not consulted an up-to-date guidebook. In Warsaw I wanted to see the Museum of the History of Polish Jews but forgot that many museums are closed on Monday, and I was leaving the next day. In Madrid, I'd read a couple of books about Spanish history and was looking forward to seeing the museum of archeology. I was bitterly disappointed when I got there and saw that it was closed for long-term renovations.

One little oddball bit of advice. If there's a site, museum, etc. that is especially important to do, don't schedule if for your last day. Something will go wrong!

I often take old shoes during trips and some old clothes. I discard them before coming back, it makes room for the stuff my wife has bought.

I think this all is fairly good advice but I do not think you need to pack as light as 16-18 lbs.I have never gotten my wife below a 24 inch suitcase and she manages just fine. Thats about 61X25X40 for the Europeans. My daughters have gone from a 22 to a 24 and they all probably start out with about 33 lbs (15KG) and end up with 50 by the time we are returning home. Also tend to bring some old clothes and slippers to discard before returning home. Always buy a few new guide books before traveling. Its pennies compared to the cost of the trip. Do a little work on languages before departing. One piece of additional advice is to make it to your departure city for home by the night before or earlier.

mjs- the metrics are not just for Europe - the rest of the world uses them.

The 'taking old clothes and discard them' thing would never occur to me. Why would you wear something on holiday that is not fit to be worn at home? If my husband did that I would leave him at home.

Just goes to show that other people's travel tips are not necessarily yours.

The amount of luggage you take depends entirely on the type of trip.
Several stops traveling by air/train = hand luggage only
3 weeks in the Cote d'Azur by car = large suitcase + additional bag for more shoes.

* I used to be cheap about laundry, but I've decided that if I'm going to spend $5000 on a month-long trip, I will use the laundry service *

Peg, I like your philosophy. I'm going to try that on hubby...hope it works.