My tips for communicating abroad:
1) Speaking English puts one at a substantial advantage. English is either the primary language, or a reasonably common secondary language, across many places you might want to visit, particularly big cities, business destinations, and tourist spots.
2) Learn a bit of the language of the place you're going. Type into your favorite search engine, "Common phrases in [language]". Within a few hours you can learn greetings, please/thank you, a few numbers, and a few common requests for help. These certainly won't enable you to hold a conversation but they will endear you to the locals. Once you demonstrate respect for their language and culture they'll take much greater interest in helping you-- whether that's something they can do themselves, with their own foreign language skills, or by getting you to someone who can help.
3) Always be absorbing information about other cultures. Maintain a soft-focus awareness of how people behave. Copy mannerisms (within reason), ask polite questions about what you observe, look things up on your own. Keep abreast of the issues of the day in the country you're visiting. Pay particular attention to issues affecting both that country and yours. When locals do engage you in talk about issues-- which people in certain cultures are hesitant to do-- you'll earn respect by displaying a nuanced understanding.