The French are now the most obnoxious tourists? Say it isn't so!

[Relic]

http://www.time.com/time/world/artic...0.html?cnn=yes

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Most obnoxious tourists I have ever met are Americans, met plenty nice ones, but also plenty who seemed to think they had a better understanding of Scottish history than me, because they had seen the film Braveheart, in all its historical accuracy

They also complained a lot about the weather . . . Scotland is hardly the place you go if you want to sun bathe now is it?

[TheDarkReaver]

Originally Posted by i_got_a_mohawk

Most obnoxious tourists I have ever met are Americans, met plenty nice ones, but also plenty who seemed to think they had a better understanding of Scottish history than me, because they had seen the film Braveheart, in all its historical accuracy

They also complained a lot about the weather . . . Scotland is hardly the place you go if you want to sun bathe now is it?

the american tourists you get in scotland are just so obnoxious (but yes i'm sure there are nice ones as well).

my mum told me a story (i think this occurred in london though) about how these americans were having a loud pissing contest about how much more scottish they were than each other. you know the sorta thing like "well my great-great-great grandad was scottish so that makes me 1/232 scottish. pass me ma kilt and look how scottish i am" (i exaggerate but you get the jist). so my mum was like "well my mum's scottish" to try and cut short their bragfest. i don't think it worked though.

however, i did meet a nice guy from new york once. we were both having a tab outside and he was telling me about how he couldn't even smoke inside his own apartment because of some restriction back in new york.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Originally Posted by TheDarkReaver

the american tourists you get in scotland are just so obnoxious (but yes i'm sure there are nice ones as well).

my mum told me a story (i think this occurred in london though) about how these americans were having a loud pissing contest about how much more scottish they were than each other. you know the sorta thing like "well my great-great-great grandad was scottish so that makes me 1/232 scottish. pass me ma kilt and look how scottish i am" (i exaggerate but you get the jist). so my mum was like "well my mum's scottish" to try and cut short their bragfest. i don't think it worked though.

That reminds me of when I was talking to one of my friends boyfriend over the net. He was going on about it being a pleasure to talk to another Scot and bla bla bla. I asked "I didnt realise you were Scottish, where were you born?" . . . the answer "Boston" , then he went in the huff when I told him he wasnt Scottish that he was American.

And aye, Americans + kilts is always a funny one, they almost always get the wrong size (they dont seem to understand how to get the right length of kilt, and well, its funny )

[bassist 4 life]

Most obnoxious tourists are Arabs, I'm an Arab myself, and the way I see other arab tourists act in airplanes/hotels/ and other countries is just obnoxious and disrespectful. they basically act like they have permission to do/know everything

[Tsal]

The most obnoxious tourists I've met in Europe have been working-class Brits - although I must say this has mostly been at tourist resorts. How they managed to end up on the "most liked" list beats me!

I understand that Finnish tourists tend to get pretty pissed, too, in general, but mostly stick to their own company.

[Matt_W]

Originally Posted by Tsal

The most obnoxious tourists I've met in Europe have been working-class Brits - although I must say this has mostly been at tourist resorts. How they managed to end up on the "most liked" list beats me!

Tell me about it; I have to live alongside them. That said, it is unfair to tar all of the working class with the same brush - I know many who know how to behave to an exemplary standard.

[Gard]

I have (well, HAD) a very good perspective on tourists from all parts of the world, as I lived quite near Walt Disney World for over 20 years, and did work on their property (but was NOT a Disney employee, just contractor) for most of those 20 years.

The French were indeed more likely than any others to be rude and inconsiderate, but only marginally more than the overwhelming preponderance of American tourists. Following that, Brazilians were very snotty and obnoxious, then the "generic" Arabic tourists.

The flip side, nicest folks: Aussies, Irish, Scots, Belgians, Germans, kinda in that order.

[kydnav]

Americans, just for the fact that they're a little too oblivious most of the time..

One time when I was walking around town they're was an American couple, clearly totally lost. And I was just sitting there, as I usually do, eating and right in front of me they were bickering about whether to ask me for directions. The women was all like 'they don't even speak American here' and the man was contemplating whether or not he could somehow explain to me what they were looking for me by 'signing'.

When he finally walked up to me to ask directions (acting like a monkey), I showed them, in my worst English, the wrong directions

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by bassist 4 life

Most obnoxious tourists are Arabs, I'm an Arab myself, and the way I see other arab tourists act in airplanes/hotels/ and other countries is just obnoxious and disrespectful. they basically act like they have permission to do/know everything

I don't think that Arabs are necessarily obnoxious as much as out of control. Those coming from Arab countries are just not used to being able to see naked chicks and drink booze, and they're not used to living without constant oppression from the government, so they go nuts when they get to a free country. And those who are used to it do something that I like to call "over-assimilating."

I think we have to just accept that all tourists suck no matter where they're from. But after this discussion, I know one country I don't think I ever want to vacation in...Scotland. Geez, you people hate us!

[peterbright]

Americans

[Robert B]

Originally Posted by kydnav

Americans, just for the fact that they're a little too oblivious most of the time..

One time when I was walking around town they're was an American couple, clearly totally lost. And I was just sitting there, as I usually do, eating and right in front of me they were bickering about whether to ask me for directions. The women was all like 'they don't even speak American here' and the man was contemplating whether or not he could somehow explain to me what they were looking for me by 'signing'.

When he finally walked up to me to ask directions (acting like a monkey), I showed them, in my worst English, the wrong directions

While you may be an exception, I think the folks I met in the Netherlands back in the 80s were among the nicest I've ever met anywhere. We asked directions of a gentleman in Utrecht and he decided the directions were too complicated. So he jumped in his car and led us across town to where we needed to go. All around just really nice folks.

[kydnav]

Originally Posted by Robert B

While you may be an exception, I think the folks I met in the Netherlands back in the 80s were among the nicest I've ever met anywhere. We asked directions of a gentleman in Utrecht and he decided the directions were too complicated. So he jumped in his car and led us across town to where we needed to go. All around just really nice folks.

There's nothing wrong with my hospitality I have guided a lot of people through our cities, no problem.
But don't act like were all a bunch of dumbasses right in front of me. I think about 80-90% of us speak English well enough to give some directions (at least). Some schools here start with English in around the age of 10 (and plan on starting earlier). Every high school in our country teaches English, they have to. Some of 'em also do advanced English courses. So you can be quite positive that everybody between the ages of 12 and 80 can answer your questions with ease.

[blizzard]

The majority of tourists here come from the UK or Asia. Of the two Asian tourists are probably the "worst" but more because they keep to themselves and are quite arrogant a lot of the time.

I've only met a few American tourists. This was at the uni bar they came over and we drank with them for a few hours it was great.

[Scarlet Fire]

Americans are annoying even in our own country. I can't imagine how bad it is in other countries.

[bmc]

Two weeks ago we were in Northern Italy in the lake district standing in line to get on a ferry to cross a lake. This elderly American couple that traveling with a group from the states were getting frustrated with the way the line was forming.

The wife turned to her husband and said, "God, these foreigners are rude."

We all burst out laughing. What a great line.

[Marcury]

To the OP: According to a recent international survey, the French are now considered the most obnoxious tourists from European nations.

Last time I checked, there were a whole lot of nations outside of Europe, America included.

[Pacman]

Americans are by far the most obnoxious tourists. Not all of us are like that though...

[cheezewiz]

Originally Posted by TheDarkReaver

the american tourists you get in scotland are just so obnoxious (but yes i'm sure there are nice ones as well).

my mum told me a story (i think this occurred in london though) about how these americans were having a loud pissing contest about how much more scottish they were than each other. you know the sorta thing like "well my great-great-great grandad was scottish so that makes me 1/232 scottish. pass me ma kilt and look how scottish i am" (i exaggerate but you get the jist). so my mum was like "well my mum's scottish" to try and cut short their bragfest. i don't think it worked though.

however, i did meet a nice guy from new york once. we were both having a tab outside and he was telling me about how he couldn't even smoke inside his own apartment because of some restriction back in new york.

My mother was born and raised in England, and my father was born in Italy. Am I allowed to claim Italian/English descent?

[TheDarkReaver]

Originally Posted by cheezewiz

My mother was born and raised in England, and my father was born in Italy. Am I allowed to claim Italian/English descent?

well yes, if it's that direct. it's the pissing contest, about how a far distant relative was so-and-so therefore i am the equivalent of a native and can brag about it while on holiday in said country, that gets to me...and makes for an obnoxious tourist.

presumably you are entitled to joint passport status as well?