I am American but living in England and people think we are loud and arrogant.

Report this comment

I’m Welsh, and I think people generally get on with the Welsh people, especially outside of the UK and Ireland. The English do have a bad reputation though, but I don’t think people should make up their opinion on a nationality based on a group of individuals.

Report this comment

It never ceases to amaze me, the Towel on The Sunbed Culture, and who do we blame, Yes The Germans, and who are the real Culprits, Yes US BRITS.

Report this comment

Sorry to clarify above I meant to say It US Brits who are the Perpertraitors.
Way Before Dawn and Breakfast, it’s the Brits that have to leave their Towel on that all important Sunbed.!!

Report this comment

Darren

The only problem with your Brits is that you are used to a beer that is so light you get knocked over after two beers when you are abroad.

We Dutch are very direct and usually regarded rude by our directness, but we have better beers:-)

Report this comment

I blogged about Scots behaving badly abroad a couple of months ago:
http://www.europealacarte.co.uk/blog/2007/03/21/scots-behaving-badly-abroad/

Report this comment

Ask restaurant and nightclub owners on the Algarve, where many English fans stayed during the Euro 2004 football tournament in Portugal.

Not good…

Report this comment

Can you call them Fans, I would have called them Hooligans.

I have been to Paris and I found the locals extremely rude.

Report this comment

I can’t understand why the French have a reputation as being rude. I’ve visited France several times, different regions ahd I’ve always found them to be very helpful,, friendly and polite but I do always attempt to speak in French (they often reply in English). and I say that I am Scottish. I’ve come across 2 parties of French tourists in Scotland this month and again they couldn’t have been more charming.

Report this comment

let’s be realistic here: it is actually very silly to generalise about people from ANY country, based simply on anecdotes.

Report this comment

Debbie, did you make any effort to speak the language or to be helpful to them?
Try to remember how you would feel if a large number of tourists cam up to you and proudly spoke nothing but their own language and expectedyou to be obliging and charming at every turn. That is hypocritical, no? You are in THEIR turf, remember…a guest in THEIR home. And unless you spent the time to get to know any of the French people I think it is unwise and naive of you to judge them anymore than you would judge Americans based on several less-then-perfect experiences.

In general, I agree with Kevin — you cannot makes sweeping statements about the very core of a people based on limited travel time.

Report this comment

Alex,

Yes, my husband speaks fluent French.

I understand that they must deal with alot of tourists, but so does every capital city in the World. Being ignorant and rude is not a good way to treat anyone nevermind tourists visiting the city for the first time.

We recently went to Brittany, and found the locals to be polite and happy to help us

We will never go back to Paris.

Report this comment

I thought (us) Americans have the bad rap for being the lossy thoughtless tourist ! But I guess in every crowd or at any moment there’s that one slip or opportunity to make fools of our selves.

Report this comment

I have to say, that I could not agree with you in 100% regarding e for Travellers, but it’s just my opinion, which could be wrong

Report this comment