How important is it for people to know other languages when they travel?

I'd say knowing some local language makes travel much smoother-not just for practical things, but for real connections. Like when my friend Lisa helped those French tourists in Shanghai, they instantly relaxed because she spoke their language. You can get by with apps and gestures, but sharing even basic phrases shows respect and often leads to warmer interactions. That said, in big cities like Shanghai or Hangzhou, English signs and translation apps do cover most needs-so it's not essential, just meaningful.