And the "worst" tourists in the world are:

[aprilgail2]

Just a little reminder.
You could earn points for name calling or judging people from other countries.

 

[pogo791]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Papa Deuce

"It's mainly the fact that they speak little or no English when they're abroad, and they don't speak much of the local language," Expedia Marketing Director Timothee de Roux told radio station France Info.

Because Americans are so much more likely to speak the local language? Please.
I've been to France numerous times, and never had a problem.

Briarmom, the explanation is simple: the poll was taken among hotelliers around the world, and in general (even in France!) the staff of hotels that tend to get visitors from abroad are able to speak at least some English. As a result, Americans and Brits have fewer difficulties in communicating.

Once you get out of the francophone world, however, it is fairly rare to find a hotel staff member who can speak French. And as a result, many French-speaking guests have problems in complaining about the air conditioning, or in asking for an extra pillow.

 

[NHdisneylover]

How come we always here about the "rude Americans"?

The article points out that the French tend not to travel abroard much. Add to that that the population of France is about 60 million and of the USA about 300 million and it is clear eople have much less contact with French tourists than American tourists. Also, just based on my own experience looking at tourists here--I think when you run across a rude Frenchman, he is likely quietly rude so only those he is dealing with know about it. The Americans tend to be LOUD (really, even our normal talking voices are loud compared to those in other countries) and so everyone in the vicinity hears it when an American is rude.

We are good friends with a French couple (funny they live in Atlanta now and we--Americans--live in Germany, go figure). The husband of that couple is always telling us that the problem with France is "Too many French people" I figure HE can say that

We visit a little border town often and have been to Paris and DLP and driven through France a few times. Most people we meet are very nice. Most do not speak much (if any) English (or German, or Spanish. . .) and I do NOT think they are pretending not too. Most are very nice about trying to communicate anyway. We find the service standards to be less than outstanding (Disneyland Paris is odd-Disney without the classic Dsiney service) but we see French customers treated the exact same way--it is just what "service" is in France.

 

[Disneyadore]

.

Totally of topic but sending you greetings from Heilbronn and passing through Heidelberg on Monday.

 

[Lionqueen2]

I do speak French, but converse with my family in English when in France so I think I am recognized as an American. I have never had a problem there.
Two years ago, my daughter was injured while in Paris. She was impressed with how kind everyone was who tried to help her.
I think that there are many kinds of people everywhere and remember that, not too long ago, the great city of NY had a campaign to make it a more friendly city because it had a reputation of being rude.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Totally of topic but sending you greetings from Heilbronn and passing through Heidelberg on Monday.

Hello and Thank You If I were going to be here on Monday I would suggest we meet up for coffee--but I will be visiting Budapest next week! I hope you enjoy your trip--where are you heading to?

 

[Disneyadore]

Hello and Thank You If I were going to be here on Monday I would suggest we meet up for coffee--but I will be visiting Budapest next week! I hope you enjoy your trip--where are you heading to?

Pm send.

 

[clarabelle]

I can understand how hard it would be to start tipping if you have never tipped in your life.
Especially if you were already spending a ton on the vacation in the first place.

I went to Paris years ago and most people were nice.

I don't think you can paint everyone with the same brush

 

[NHdisneylover]

I guess I'd be considered a bad tourist since I can't speak anything except English. Languages have never been my strong point.

I guess that depends on how you go about it. I travel plenty of places where I do not speak the language (I can't learn that many that fast! I love to travel!). I always make sure to learn at least a few key phrases--"please" "thank you" "excuse me" "do you speak English?"--anyone can pull of learnign those four in the time it takes to fly to a foriegn country. I also do not expect others to speak any language I speak (okay--I admit I DID expect to find Enligh speakers at Disneyland Paris--only because it is Disney). I get a pocket dictionary and know I may have to look up every word on a menu until I find something I want. I come prepared to point and gesture to make myself understtod. The issue comes when someone (from any country traveling anywehre else where their langague is not understood) expects their hosts to speak their (the tourist's) langauge.

 

[GeorgeG]

I've never understood why the French don't like Americans. Maybe they are upset we kept them from becoming German!

 

[NHdisneylover]

I've never understood why the French don't like Americans. Maybe they are upset we kept them from becoming German!

DH and my aforementioned French friend say we (USA and France) tend to not like each other (it goes both ways) becuase we are to much alike I do think the cultures in the two countries are strikingly similar in many areas.

 

[Briarmom]

I'm Canadian and in Paris people were rude to everyone. My friend spoke french but they just laughed at her when she spoke because she did struggle a little bit. My second time in Paris we met a very nice french guy who helped us travel the underground and he explained that Paris is his favourite place in the world but the people are rude and that's just the way they are. So even they know they're rude.


Fortunately most places know English as a second language so it's easier for us to travel. However in Paris they do pretend they don't speak English until they want a tip.

I've never had this happen to me. I guess I've been lucky? I speak broken French all the time and no one has ever been anything but pleasant to me.

Once you get out of the francophone world, however, it is fairly rare to find a hotel staff member who can speak French. And as a result, many French-speaking guests have problems in complaining about the air conditioning, or in asking for an extra pillow.

Good point.

The article points out that the French tend not to travel abroard much. Add to that that the population of France is about 60 million and of the USA about 300 million and it is clear eople have much less contact with French tourists than American tourists. Also, just based on my own experience looking at tourists here--I think when you run across a rude Frenchman, he is likely quietly rude so only those he is dealing with know about it. The Americans tend to be LOUD (really, even our normal talking voices are loud compared to those in other countries) and so everyone in the vicinity hears it when an American is rude.



We visit a little border town often and have been to Paris and DLP and driven through France a few times. Most people we meet are very nice. Most do not speak much (if any) English (or German, or Spanish. . .) and I do NOT think they are pretending not too. Most are very nice about trying to communicate anyway. We find the service standards to be less than outstanding (Disneyland Paris is odd-Disney without the classic Dsiney service) but we see French customers treated the exact same way--it is just what "service" is in France.

I agree with you.
Service in France (and, in fact, in most of Europe) is not the same as service in America. I'll never understand people who come here and expect to be treated the same way. If you want to be treated that way, stay home!

I've never understood why the French don't like Americans. Maybe they are upset we kept them from becoming German!

Again, I've never had a problem. You must have visited other parts of France than I have. I've lived on the boarder of France for 2 years. No problems.

DH and my aforementioned French friend say we tend to not like each other (it goes both ways) becuase we are to much alike I do think the cultures in the two countries are strikingly similar in many areas.

Interesting thought. I suppose it's possible. The French think their poop is minty fresh, and so do Americans...hmm.

 

[LukenDC]

I have been to France five times and always had a wonderful time. The French people whom I met and interacted with always treated me kindly and respectfully.

In my trips to Paris, I have had multiple negative experiences with fellow Americans and Italian tourists.

 

[Mrs.Toad]

I can't recall being treated any differently in France than in any other country I've traveled to. Some people are rude, some are nice. When I was 12, the French waiter called me mademoiselle and I thought I was hot stuff!

 

[JR6ooo4]

and that kid from Hancock! another one!
Hehehehehehee

 

[XTinabell]

I've never had this happen to me. I guess I've been lucky? I speak broken French all the time and no one has ever been anything but pleasant to me.

Maybe by laughing at her they thought they were flirting. I don't know, but it happened.
We also had the french cab driver pretend he didn't speak english until he refused to let us out of the car until we gave him an extra 5 euros on top of the 2 euro tip we already gave him. He was fluent in English.

The nice french gentleman that I met on a later trip did confirm that they do pretend not to speak English in Paris. While in Nice I found them wonderful though. They're not all mean but I did find them more unfriendly in Paris than any other places I've travelled.

 

[JR6ooo4]

I can't recall being treated any differently in France than in any other country I've traveled to. Some people are rude, some are nice. When I was 12, the French waiter called me mademoiselle and I thought I was hot stuff!

He was not being cordial, possibly courting!

Mikeeee

 

[Chicago526]

My DH spent a few months in France working (this was before I met him, or I would have insisted on going with him! ) and said the same. In Paris they tended to be rude, but once he got to the mid-sized town his work site was at, they were all very nice....until they found out he was there to work, not sight-see. Then they gave him the cold shoulder because he was "taking jobs away from the French". He told them that if they had anyone in the whole country that could do what he could, then he wouldn't be there in the first place, now would he?

 

[Laura]

I've never understood why the French don't like Americans. Maybe they are upset we kept them from becoming German!

Maybe they think we're ungrateful. They did help us become an independent country, after all. Without them, we'd likely still be a British colony. We didn't jump right into WWII after the fall of France; it took us a year and a half.


I think the theory that Americans and French are too much alike may be part of it. There's a lot of rampant nationalism in both countries. The French think anything French is best; Americans feel the same way about America. All I know is I had a great time in Paris and the rudest person I encountered was a fellow tourist at the Eiffel Tower. She was Italian.

 

[Bay Hill]

I told my bride to be that I can't take you to Paris because of the cost, so we went to Fake Paris, Montreal.

Having been to Montreal over 20 times, if you speak just a little, you could get outstanding service. On a few occasions, we had some sloppy service.

Just look at the Montreal Canadians, the local French media just ran out the captain of the team to the Ducks. And he was Finnish, no French.