(CNN) -- American businesspeople have it pretty easy, at least in terms of communicating when doing business abroad.
"Pretty much any English-speaker can do business in English anywhere in the world these days," said Don George, global travel editor for Lonely Planet. Still, he added, "The more prepared you can be, the more efficient and effective you'll be as a businessperson."
CNN.com asked several travel experts to share their tips on preparing for a business trip that might involve a foreign language.
Learn key phrases
Don't worry about skipping the blitz language course before you go. You're not likely to walk out of the class knowing enough to have a fluent conversation, said Tim Jarrell, publisher of Fodor's Travel.
Know key phrases like "please," "thank you," "excuse me," "do you speak English" and "how do I get to someplace," Jarrell said. Books like the Living Language "Business Companion" series are tailor-made for today's business traveler and include workplace-specific instructions like how to ask about dialing out on the telephone and how to set up a meeting.
Jarrell also suggested knowing the phrase for "what is the word for" because you can pantomime your message or point to what you're looking for.
Simplify your message
Use simple English, recommended Rick Steves, host of "Rick Steves' Europe" on PBS and author of 30 guidebooks about Europe. Steves spends 100 days of each year traveling on the continent and speaks only English.
"Choose easy words, no slang, no contractions, internationally understood words," he said.
For instance, Steves said, "If your car is broken down in Portugal, point to your vehicle and say 'Auto caput.' "
Don't over-communicate, he advised.
"If you're trying to make a reservation for a hotel and you're on the telephone and you don't have the help of visual aids, you clarify who you are and what you need and the price. And then when you're all done with that, you don't start asking what's for breakfast."
Jarrell advised to always be polite, deferential and patient.
"Don't ever make the fatal mistake that because someone is not understanding what you're trying to say that they're stupid."
Plan ahead
George recommended carrying a map and business card from your hotel. That way, if you get lost, you have something to show locals that will make it easier for them to help you.
If you're in a country with a non-Roman alphabet, carry a travel guide or phrase book with translations in the local characters so you can get around, Jarrell suggested.
Don't be afraid to ask
When you're looking to locals for help, keep an eye out for young, well-educated people, Steves said.
"If you see three people in the corner and you want to ask a question, the person who looks like the young, well-educated person is more likely to speak English than the little old babushka," he said.
You're more likely to get the help you need if you're willing to put your pride on the line.
"You can communicate pretty much whatever you need to communicate as long as you don't worry about making a fool of yourself ... People really open up to you when they see you're trying to communicate whole-heartedly," George said. "They'll respond in kind, I think."