"When you are NOT in Kansas anymore..."

Have you read One Thousand and One Places Before You Die? I have. It is a great book for deciding you next travel destination. I surely enjoy this book. But after I put it down, I keep thinking... There are many places in the book I am not familiar with the cultures and languages. So when you travel to these places, you might not even be able to ask for direction or order a meal. It is more stressful than enjoyable of the trips. SO when you feel you are NOT in Kansas anymore. What can you do?