Pushy French are world's worst tourists: study

[Sonia59]

I don't know if I was treated that way because I was American or because I didn't speak French. Everywhere else in Europe people would try to communicate even if I didn't speak their language. In France they would ignore you if you were not trying to speak French even if they spoke English.

I agree with you. And it has nothing to do with you being American, I think it's because you didn't speak French. I don't understand why they act like this, but for this reason I feel really ashamed to be French. I love to speak English (or trying to ) and help people who are lost in the street, or at the shop, post office, etc.

[sasha the cat]

Qu'est-ce? Les Français sont les pires touristes du monde entier? J'aime la France et les Français. Et quand les Français visiter ma ville - Montréal, Québec, Canada - ils sont polis. Je parle français et anglais (langue maternelle). Cependant, quand je suis le touriste, en visite en France, je parle anglais juste pour tester la théorie selon laquelle les Français sont impolis. Chaque fois, les gens essaient de comprendre ce que je dis, s'ils ne parlent pas anglais, et ceux qui parlent anglais immédiatement commencer à parler anglais avec moi.

in English:
What? The French are the World's worst tourists? I love France and the French. And when French people visit my city -- Montreal, Quebec, Canada -- they are polite. I speak French and English (mother tongue). However, when I am the tourist, visiting France, I speak English just to test the theory that the French are impolite. Every time, people try to understand what I'm saying if they do not speak English, and those who speak English immediately begin speaking English with me.

I have no idea how tourist guide books/articles rate the countries visited regarding politeness and helpfulness. Wonder how we Canadians are viewed as tourists in other countries?

Generally in life my experience is that if one is polite and respectful when interacting with another person, the other person responds in kind.

[wombat2u2004]

I agree with you. And it has nothing to do with you being American, I think it's because you didn't speak French. I don't understand why they act like this, but for this reason I feel really ashamed to be French. I love to speak English (or trying to ) and help people who are lost in the street, or at the shop, post office, etc.

Same with us Aussies when we visit New Caledonia....forget lunch... if you can't say frogs legs or snails in French, then you go hungry.
It's a different story tho, when one of them gets sick and has to be admitted to an Aussie hospital (they don't have decent hospitals there on their island).
I have a French lady friend here who actually organises hospital trips to Aussie from New Caledonia....she is disgusted with their attitude.

[RICHARD]

Wait a minute,

If they are pushy as visitors and rude as hosts......

hmmmm

[wombat2u2004]

Wait a minute,

If they are pushy as visitors and rude as hosts......

hmmmm

And you think they'll share their snail flavoured crisps with ya ???
No way !!!!

[RICHARD]

And you think they'll share their snail flavoured crisps with ya ???
No way !!!!

I draw the line at tacos de tripa, Intestine Tacos!

Really!

[Bonny]

I call them the Poopie French. On vacation out West years ago there were French & German tourists everywhere. Maybe the money exchange was in their favor. A Frenchman was trying to put leaded gas into an unleaded gas car rental gas tank because it was cheaper. The nozzles on the hoses are different & he was getting gas all over the place. :eek Then if you met them on the sidewalk or trails they would not move out of the way or single file it. I got to the point when I met them I would stop & not move & they would have to go around me. Then two French families got into it over a motel room. They kept trying to get the cheapest discount for a room. Finally the clerk told them she didn't have any rooms for either of them. Then I was in a convenient store & had my stuff at the register & a Poopie French lady barged in right in front of me. The clerk told her I was first in line she would have to wait her turn. They had zero manners & sucked big time.

[wombat2u2004]

I call them the Poopie French. On vacation out West years ago there were French & German tourists everywhere. Maybe the money exchange was in their favor. A Frenchman was trying to put leaded gas into an unleaded gas car rental gas tank because it was cheaper. The nozzles on the hoses are different & he was getting gas all over the place. :eek Then if you met them on the sidewalk or trails they would not move out of the way or single file it. I got to the point when I met them I would stop & not move & they would have to go around me. Then two French families got into it over a motel room. They kept trying to get the cheapest discount for a room. Finally the clerk told them she didn't have any rooms for either of them. Then I was in a convenient store & had my stuff at the register & a Poopie French lady barged in right in front of me. The clerk told her I was first in line she would have to wait her turn. They had zero manners & sucked big time.

You know why french people have big noses ???
Cos the air is free !!! HAAAAAH !!!!!

[wombat2u2004]

I draw the line at tacos de tripa, Intestine Tacos!

Really!

Ahhhhh...they taste like crap

[Scorpio]

The Germans take the prize for me. Pushing in front of you in queues and acting generally crass. In the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, there are signs asking you to not plant your heathen ass on the benches reserved for moslems. One German lady was sitting right next to the sign. Meanwhile, on the floor of the mosque, a German was pretending to pray moslem-style, while he got his son to video him.

[Sonia59]

K9karen:
In France the tip is optional. People leave a tip only when they are very happy and they think the waiter deserves it. If food was not good or if you were served quickly and had no attention, you don't leave a tip. This is usually what people do, now some always leave a tip, and some never do.

Glad you had nice experience



Bonny, good news for you with the euro not as high as it used to be, you will have less of the stingy poopy visitors


Standing in a queue is definitely not a French, and more generally, European thing Except in great Britain

[Sirrahsim]

This afternoon I took the boys to the park and there was a lady there with her son who was speaking a language I couldn't identify. After a little gesturing and broken German we figured out that we each spoke a (VERY!) little bit of German and French. Between the two languages we were able to exchange names and ages of all the kiddos and she told me that she was visiting her daughter and something about a baby.... Oh and I asked her what time it was
It was great fun! Though not really the topic of the thread it seems relevant