Say you went to France for vacation, and after coming back, a coworker asks “So, how was Italy?” (makes an honest mistake, not deliberate)
What’s the most polite answer? See poll.
It is a perfectly honest and understandable mistake.
At least the coworker picked another European country.
I picked 'France was great" and I would also have added “thank you” at the end with a smile.
I can’t imagine that would offend anyone.
Imagine if you had not subtly corrected the coworker and she found out later from others that you went to France and not Italy. She may well be offended then because she would have been exposed to multiple people’s hilarity.
“It was strangely French”.
I would swap the language. Your enthusiastic response should come first, then a gentle correction:
"The trip was great, had a fabulous time, thanks for asking! But it was France, actually. I’ve got pics if you’d like to see them. "
NinetyWt: Very good! Very diplomatic. It puts the spoonful of sugar ahead of the medicine (so to speak.) Also, putting another good thing after it sort of encapsulates it. Positive, negative, then positive again. Sort of like putting it in parentheses…
There’s a phrase for this verbal technology: a compliment sandwich! It’s overused in the business world (especially since the compliments are often insincere). But if you can deliver it naturally and really mean the compliments, it’s a nice way to correct somebody.
“It was horrible; every place was overrun by French people. And they even brought the Eiffel Tower with them. I have pictures to prove it!”
I don’t think I could phrase this better. I’d probably throw a joke in, too, but people who know me would expect that. 
“France, it was great! I did this, I saw that. Loved it”.
In other words, I’d throw the correction in immediately and then continue to answer the question as I would have if he’d said France in the first place.
“How the hell would I know?”
Back in the 80’s, having made my first journey to SE Asia, I returned and went to visit my Mom and Gran, living in a very small town. Mom, not really knowing where Singapore, for instance, was, I was surprised to have an entire town asking me how I enjoyed ‘China’.:smack:
It was a whole town of most old Aunties, what was I to do? I set my Mom straight, and left it at that. What the hell, I don’t live there, let them think I went to China!
“Today’s Tuesday. It was Belgium.”
“No fucking clue.”
[Dwight Schrute]“It was France, idiot.” [/Dwight Schrute]
Then look directly at the camera and slowly shake your head.
i accidentally made an early left turn and ended up in France. it was great.
“Could not find the leaning tower of Pisa.”