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Are Americans the only stupid travelers? Travel agent stories
"A client called in inquiring about a package to Hawaii. After going over all the cost info, she asked, "Would it be cheaper to fly to California and then take the train to Hawaii?"
This is only one of the stupid things an American has said to a travel agent. At Strangeplaces.net, there is a slew of side-splitting funny stories that travel agents have recounted. Some of them are so stupid, they are hard to believe, but still, very very funny. Although, with the story about Kelly Pickler that we recounted here, and Miss South Carolina, here, perhaps, the stories are just as they seem. If nothing else, they point out that some people need to get a refresher course in how to tell distance on a map.
Here's another distance related example:
"A man called, furious about a Florida package we did. I asked what was wrong with the vacation in Orlando. He said he was expecting an ocean-view room. I tried to explain that is not possible, since Orlando is in the middle of the state. He replied, "Don't lie to me. I looked on the map and Florida is a very thin state."
Read more and weep--with laughter, that is.
Filed under: Stories, United States
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Blu-Sam Jun 30th 2009 10:25AM
lol, I remember the old idiot tale that there is woman tell them that they need passport to go to New Mexico.
Unexpected Traveller Jul 9th 2009 5:46AM
Lol - train or plane, the world is populated with odd and silly people; they're not just restricted to the USA and I'm documenting the stories I have on my blog.
Here's another one from America for you: http://unexpectedtraveller.wordpress.com/2009/06/22/sleepless-in-seattle/
And for good measure, one from Belgium:
http://unexpectedtraveller.wordpress.com/2009/05/21/feline-admirers/
U T
:-)
Edward Martinez Sep 9th 2009 5:57PM
My friends are incredulous when I say that we americans are VERY stupid,but it's borne out over and over again when comments such as these see the light of day.Here's a recent example From a Speech Therapy teacher here in NY when questioned as to her expertise: I'm a English teacher at-----High School !!! If you want to hear more of the like, watch Judge Judy..
greenchile Nov 29th 2009 7:51PM
I live in New Mexico and it's appaling how many people don't realize that it's been a state since 1912!! One man tried to pay for his dinner in an Albquerque diner with pesos. The waitress informed him that they only took dollars he was alarmed and didn't know what he was going to do because he had all his vacation money converted to pesos!!! DUH!!! When we moved here I had people ask me if I was going to give up my citizenship, or did I need to get shots. Even USA Today put a map on the front page of their newspaper that didn't even have New Mexico on it!!! Scary for sure!!!
Jamie Rhein Nov 29th 2009 7:54PM
Greenchile,
I also lived in New Mexico for nine years and remember similar stories!
Alohajon Nov 29th 2009 9:12PM
""Do you take American money" is one of the more stupid things you can ask someone in Alaska. For more of them, read this article.
Image from Flickr user Wonderlane 19/07/09 " WHEN I WORKED IN HAWAII, AMERICAN TOURIST WOULD ASK THE SAME THING THERE. WHEN HELPING A NEW CLASS OF RESERVATION AGENTS IN ATLANTA, I OVER HEARD ONE NEW AGENT SAY SHE WOULD HAVE TO TRANSFER A CALL FOR NEW MEXICO TO AN INTERNATIONAL AGENT (BECAUSE NEW MEXICO WAS FOREIGN AND PART OF MEXICO), AND THIS WAS ABOUT THE SAME TIME THAT AN ARTICLE IN THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION SAID SOMEONE FROM THE OYLMPIC COMMITTEE IN ATLANTA TOLD A PERSON ON THE PHONE IN NEW MEXICO THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO CHECK WITH HER COUNTRY'S COMMITTEE TO GET TICKETS (BECAUSE NEW MEXICO IS A FOREIGN COUNTRY). SO MANY AMERICAN GRADUATE FROM SCHOOL WITH LITTLE KNOWLEDGE. I STILL DO NOT KNOW HOW YOU CAN SEE RUSSIA FROM JUNEAU, THE CAPITAL OF ALASKA??????
Angela Jan 9th 2010 3:48AM
In New Mexico, there is a magazine (New Mexico magazine, I think) that always has a column on the back page entitled, "One of Our Fifty is Missing." It regales us New Mexicans with tales of silly twits from all over the country who don't know we really are part of the good ol' U.S. of A. When travelling, I've been told how well I speak English more than once, and regularly have to spar with order takers whenever I try to buy something over the phone when they insist they "do not ship internationally."
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