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French tourists voted worst in the world
OUCH - If you are French, I recommend that you stop reading now, as this is bound to hurt.The French have been voted worst tourists in the world, in a survey of 40,000 tourists. The results paint a pretty bleak picture of the French, calling them "penny-pinching, rude, pushy and terrible at foreign languages".
I'll leave my own opinion of the French out of this, as the survey seems to reach the same opinion I've often come to.
The survey was carried out by research firm TNS Infratest on behalf of Expedia, and asked hotels to rank their guests in 9 different criteria.
Joining the French at the bottom of the list are Spanish and Greek tourists. The best tourists come from Japan, followed by the Candians. US tourists got high marks for their generosity when it comes to tipping, most likely the result of the insane tipping etiquette in their own country.
The results are very much in line with the same research done last year, which obviously means the French don't care too much about their bad reputation.
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Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)
patsy Jul 12th 2009 10:27AM
As a tour guide I see many groups and nationalities. Whoever voted the Japanese the best tourists has never been shoved aside in a line for anything from a public bathroom to a restaurant. All tourists boil down to individuals. the French are not worse than anyone else. Who in the world did this survey...
ziggy Jul 12th 2009 12:51AM
Our country has become so damned politically correct it makes me sick.If you go to another countery,dont expect them to behave as we and our children have been brainwashed into thinking!Respectthe way they live,and think about how the american way is going down the tubes! Not politically correct and dont plan becomeing so!!!!
VLC Jul 12th 2009 2:14AM
TO: JENNIFER JUL 12TH @1:05AM
Jennifer, YES, first impressions mean ALOT! And comfortable shoes come in hundreds of different styles other than BIG WHITE SNEAKERS! And no, being rude has nothing to do with your size - It was an observation "I" made about Americans abroad. Americans ARE loud and have trouble adjusting to other cultures' customs and behaviors. We don't seem to understand: "When in Rome..."
teresa Jul 12th 2009 2:12AM
i have to say, when i went in december 2003 i could not waite to get out of paris. you could tell they do not like us. it was 50/50 on nice to rude, but i will not foreget the rudeness. the youth are nice, it was the 30 and up i found bitter. i could not believe all the dog shit landmines on the streets. i am not loud and i dress very nice, i just dont think they are happy people as they age. i would never treat them the way they treated me. so enjoy the good and dont go back!
Squiggles Jul 12th 2009 3:45AM
I can't say anything about the French, because I've never been there. But I can recommend Italy as a place to travel, and I've been there 5 times. The people are very friendly, shopkeepers will engage you in friendly conversation (even if you only know 3 words in Italian), and people in general are very child-friendly, so it's a great place to travel with children.
NICHOLAS Jul 12th 2009 4:07AM
YOU MAY THINK THAT THE FRENCH FROM FRANCE ARE BAD AND THEY ARE CERTAINLY WORST, EXCEPT THEY ARE RUNNING NECK AND NECK WITH THE FRENCH CANADIAN. FIRST, MY BROTHER WAS IN THE FIRST INFANTRY IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR, GOING THRU HELL IN NORTH AFRICA, THEN TO INVASION OF SICILY AND FROM THERE TO THE BEACHES AT NORMANDY. WELL, MAKING A LONG STORY SHORT, HE MET AND MARRIED A FRENCH WAR BRIDE FROM MARSELLIES. BROUGHT HER HOME, AND LET ME TELL YOU, THAT RUDE AND DISRESPECT TO ALL MY FAMILY INCLUDING MY MOTHER WHO GAVE HER A TEMPORY HOMR TO PARK HERSELF TILL SHE GOT A PLACE OF HER OWN. SHE THOUGHT THAT STREETS WERE PAVED WITH GOLD. AN INGRATE FIRST CLASS. THERE IS MUCH MORE, SPACE AND TIME CAN'T ALLOW MUCH OF THIS GREAT EXPERIENCE I HAD AS I WAS ONLY 15 AT THE TIME. THERE MANY, MANY PROBLEMS. ALSO, I WENT TO THE 1976 OLYMPICS IN MONTREAL AND LET ME TEL YOU THESE PEOPLE HAVE A LOT TO LEARN ABOUT BEING COURTESY. HERE I WAS SPENDING MY "AMERICAN" MONEY IN THEIR, HELPING THE ECONOMY, AND THEY WON'T RESPOND, TALK OR SERVICE ME UNLESS I SPOKE TO THEM IN FRENCH. AND, FEELING THIS ATTITUDE THROUGH OUT MY TRIP, I COULD EASILY THREW-UP AT THEIR BEHAVIOR AND ATTITUDE SEVERAL TIMES OVER. BUT, THE GOOD NEWS WAS THAT I HAD TICKETS TO THE BOXING AND GYMNASTICS FINALS. I WAS THERE WHEN NADIA CONANICH HIT THE FIRST EVER PERFECT 10, WAS THERE WHEN SUGAR RAY AND THE SPINKS BROTHERS ALL WON THE GOLD IN THEIR FIGHTS. I REALLY DID MY BEST TO DISMISS THE CRAP THESE CRAPS THESE PEOPLE WERE HANDING-OUT. THE CITY WAS VERY CLEAN, AS WAS THEIR SUBWAYS AND OTHER PLACES. THERE IS SOOOOO MUCH THAT CAN BE SAID ON BOTH COUNTS THAT I CAN WRITE A BOOK. ITS NO WONDER THAT SO MANY FRENCH JOINED THE SIDE OF THE NAZIS, ESPECIALLY IN NORTH AFRICA (VICHEY). OVERALL THEY SUCK IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE. VIVA AMERICA, WHO SAVED THEIR ASSES NOT ONCE BUT TWICE.
Al Jul 12th 2009 5:00AM
I concurr with votes, French believe they can make feel bad not only Americans but other tourist from several countries. I have been in Paris, the West at Bretagne, Central France and I only have found the most unpolite people I have found. I travel arounf the world to so many countries, Americas, Asia, Europe (East and West) but the french put the period on the I. uneducated, loud, come to restaurants with their dogs, Agggggg.
No respect for tourist what so ever. Oh and when they are the tourist, They believe they deserve everything.