# European Dopers: How do you spot American tourists? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 10, 2003, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/european-dopers-how-do-you-spot-american-tourists/160316 "2003-03-10T15:32:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![sweat209](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@sweat209](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweat209)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/european-dopers-how-do-you-spot-american-tourists/160316/121 "2014-05-23T22:32:04Z")
> [@mooka](#): > > I’d agree with all of the above - American tourists do tend to be more noticeable and blend into the background less than european tourists. The loud voice and accent is the obvious giveaway of course, but Americans do tend to be bigger, wear louder clothes etc… > > Mind you, the only way of definately telling whether a tourist is American is the loud voice and accent, so maybe we’re just noticing the stereotypical american tourists, while missing the (more numerous) more quiet americans! So know one in the UK have a American accent? Not all people in US are fat or over very big. > [@jjimm](#): > > Another thing that’s just occurred to me: a lot more American clothing is based around sweatshirt material than European clothing. > > Also, many American tourists who are middle-aged ladies (incuding my mother - she’s been living in the US for 15 years) seem to go for dangly earrings, a lot of make-up, esp. blusher, accompanied by flouncy twee detailing on shirts and T-shirts alike. I have noticed more people wear sweatshirt,sweatpants or trackpants in the UK and Canada than the US.Very much so on young people. And plus you Chav look too. > [@auRa](#): > > Well, in summer, most American tourists seem to wear white tennis socks and sneakers, usually worn in combination with shorts. And a… what is that thing? That sort of pouch on a belt… a fanny pack? Is that what they’re called in English? > > Unless you’re in Finland, in which case the person matching the description could just as easily be a Finn dressed casually for the holidays. In that case, the only way to tell is to wait until they open their mouth. The Mexicans ,gangstas and older people are into big techy big long white socks with shorts and flip flops or sandals. Look if you wear flip flops or sandals with shorts please no socks it looks so techy. [quote=“SmackFu, post:23, topic:160316”] I felt like I stood out in France as an American tourist (in November) because: [ul][li]I wasn’t wearing dark pants.[/li][li]I wasn’t wearing a dark leather jacket.[/li][li]I wasn’t wearing dark shoes.[/ul]The subway cars were like a black hole of people. The only people dressed “American-style” had whole basketball warm-up outfits on, like in an urban style.[/li][/QUOTE] Last was long time ago France was into black clothing all clothing must be black. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/european-dopers-how-do-you-spot-american-tourists/160316.md?page=6)