# Well I'll be damned! Americans are 2nd best tourists! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 19, 2002, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-ill-be-damned-americans-are-2nd-best-tourists/119787 "2002-07-19T12:29:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2002, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-ill-be-damned-americans-are-2nd-best-tourists/119787/1 "2002-07-19T12:29:33Z")
[Expedia.co.uk](http://Expedia.co.uk) did some research. Here it is. [Warning this is a doc file](http://www.expedia.co.uk/daily/press/releases/Best%20Tourist.doc) > [@](#): > > ‘Have a nice day’ Americans are the most polite Really? Wow. You know what it must be? Those Ugly Americans are probably a small set, right now you’re probably surrounded by a whole bunch of Americans trying desperately to completely blend in so as not to be found out as an American. Your know how you can spot them? They claim to be Canadian but their accents don’t quite match up. > [@](#): > > Germans rank highest for attempting to speak the local language, followed by the French and rather surprisingly, Americans. Now I know in my family every effort is made to do so but for all of us 3rd out of 24? My goodness. But I’ll give you one guess as to where we scored a lot of points. Yeah, you knew it! So did I. But the biggest surprise of the entire survey? The Candians scored 4. Americans scored 32 and Candians scored 4. What happened there? I’d love to get ahold of their data sets. If any one sees them, post them here please. ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2002, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-ill-be-damned-americans-are-2nd-best-tourists/119787/2 "2002-07-19T12:42:28Z")
Slight problem with the data in so much as 85-%ish of Americans don’t have Passports - one assumes those who travel more inclined to be middle-class families and/or business people on a break. I say that because the UK does so badly and there has to some explanation 😉 FWIW, I do suspect the millions of (say) under 25 year olds hitting the Mediterranean Islands distort the data significantly. But then I would. ---
**Author:** ![Aro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b3f665/32.png) [@Aro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aro)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2002, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-ill-be-damned-americans-are-2nd-best-tourists/119787/3 "2002-07-19T12:49:04Z")
Tipping does not a good tourist make. > [@](#): > > Research was conducted with tourist offices in the following places: Bangkok; Cote d’Azur; Cyprus; Dublin; Edinburgh; Ibiza; London; Majorca; Marbella; Orlando; New York; Paris; Prague; Rome; San Francisco; Sydney; and Tenerife. Maybe its my fault the brits (or Irish) have a bad rap 😃 I have been to ALL those places listed, bar Orlando! (In fact, I was in Marbella, Dublin & Edinburgh all in the last two weeks) ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2002, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-ill-be-damned-americans-are-2nd-best-tourists/119787/4 "2002-07-19T13:18:20Z")
Ah yes good tourist for who? Good for the people who live there but don’t work in the tourism industry? God for the people in the tourism industry? Good for other tourists also visiting? I imagine they tried to balance that out. Wow Danes rank as having one of the worst behaviors. Perhaps this comes from all the women going topless in places like Malaysia and Indonesia. I do hoe somebody knows where we can take a better look at their data. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2002, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-ill-be-damned-americans-are-2nd-best-tourists/119787/5 "2002-07-19T14:39:19Z")
Well its hardly a suprise when you look at some of the places - pikey in the extreme eg: Bangkok; known in England for its sex trade, nothing else so imagine the men who go there on holiday Cyprus: British military base. Dublin and Prague: Stag weekend venues Ibiza: If I have to explain this one…you’re in the wrong thread Majorca, Marbella: Council estates on sea. No-neck pikies with pasty complexions drinking lager out of paper cups. Skegness with sun. Orlando: Self employed pikies from essex, roofers and builders mainly. White stilleto heals for the wives. Kids called dwayne etc Tenerife; Where pikies go to die. The rest are nice though. ---
**Author:** ![EggNogg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/eb8c5e/32.png) [@EggNogg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EggNogg)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2002, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-ill-be-damned-americans-are-2nd-best-tourists/119787/6 "2002-07-19T16:13:52Z")
We do like to go to countries where we can queue in the sunshine. egg ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2002, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-ill-be-damned-americans-are-2nd-best-tourists/119787/7 "2002-07-19T18:43:37Z")
> [@](#): > > Dublin and Prague: Stag weekend venues Not for Americans, and I think that’s the central problem with this survey. People who are traveling _just_ to party usually stay close to home; people who go halfway around the world are probably looking for a more substantial cultural experience. If you threw in a few North American parallels to Ibiza – maybe New Orleans and Cancun – the results might look quite different. ---
**Author:** ![sirtonyh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@sirtonyh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sirtonyh)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2002, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-ill-be-damned-americans-are-2nd-best-tourists/119787/8 "2002-07-19T19:29:07Z")
Some of the findings surprise me a little; I’d have expected New Zealand (and Oz by association) to score much more highly. I’d have also expected Canada/US scores to be much closer than they are (+32/+4) I’m also surprised the English only got -44 points. Having recently been unfortunate enough to be in the Med for a few months I’m sure there are a couple of zeros missing from that score. I have so much sympathy for the Spanish & Greek people who have to put up with the millions of yobs destroying their country ☹ I’d also have expected the Scandanavians to score higher as they all seem to be really friendly people. Would be interested to see them do a similar poll on nations as hosts. For that one I’d expect US/Canada to come out on top, closely followed by Holland, Hong Kong and Australia/NZ. ---
**Author:** ![sirtonyh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@sirtonyh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sirtonyh)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2002, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-ill-be-damned-americans-are-2nd-best-tourists/119787/9 "2002-07-19T19:36:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fretful Porpentine \* > \*\* > Not for Americans, and I think that’s the central problem with this survey. People who are traveling _just_ to party usually stay close to home; people who go halfway around the world are probably looking for a more substantial cultural experience. If you threw in a few North American parallels to Ibiza – maybe New Orleans and Cancun – the results might look quite different. \*\* The results would look worse but still not as bad as the Brits. I’ve been to Mardi Gras & Cancun as well as the Med and the general behavious is a lot better in New Orleans and Cancun (even during Mardi Gras/Spring Break) ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2002, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-ill-be-damned-americans-are-2nd-best-tourists/119787/10 "2002-07-19T22:14:50Z")
The _Germans_ make the best effort to speak the local language? That’s it, this test has no credibility. I mean, certainly the Scandinavians and the Dutch FAR outrank the Germans when it comes to knowledge of foreign languages. Hell, English doesn’t even _count_. No offense to any Germans reading this, of course. But we get our fair share of “Ugly Germans” at the coast, and I’m sure many a Dane will back me up here: they do NOT attempt to speak the local language. And frankly, Dutch isn’t _that_ hard for a German. Of course, I realise that the _type_ of German tourist we get (1986 Mercedes 300 Diesel station wagon with “Bitte ein Bitt” sticker on the trunk and “No Fear” sticker on the rear window, surf boards on the roof, 200 km/h in the left lane all the way to the beach, wearing German national football shirts) is a minority. Germans are indeed very well behaved, at least in general. I’m more ashamed of my fellow countrymen abroad: often they show little respect for local customs and values (“We don’t make a fuss about that in Holland, so why should I wear long sleaves in this stupid mosque?”, delivered in a strong Amsterdam accent, overheard at the Blue Mosque in Istanbul. Stay home, dumb bitch!), are loud and obknoxious, BUT: they **do** speak their languages. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2002, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-ill-be-damned-americans-are-2nd-best-tourists/119787/11 "2002-07-19T23:26:27Z")
> [@](#): > > Wow Danes rank as having one of the worst behaviors. Perhaps this comes from all the women going topless in places like Malaysia and Indonesia. I do hope somebody knows where we can take a better look at their data. Whose data, Expedia or the topless Danes? ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2002, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-ill-be-damned-americans-are-2nd-best-tourists/119787/12 "2002-07-19T23:47:40Z")
Wow, I’m really seeing a knee-jerk reaction to this. “What?? AMERICANS as anything other than fat rednecks who wear sandals with darks socks and scream, ‘_How much is this in American dollars, dammit_?’ Impossible!” C’mon, folks, can’t you give us a break? Just once? _Pleeeease_? ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2002, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-ill-be-damned-americans-are-2nd-best-tourists/119787/13 "2002-07-20T01:32:59Z")
Huh? Who’s knee-jerking here? All I see is a lot of people taking issue with various parts of this publication, but I don’t see anyone claiming that they’re surprised at the high rating of American tourists. ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2002, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-ill-be-damned-americans-are-2nd-best-tourists/119787/14 "2002-07-20T02:06:06Z")
Hmm. On re-reading, I guess you’re right; looks like the knee-jerk was my own defensiveness! ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2002, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-ill-be-damned-americans-are-2nd-best-tourists/119787/15 "2002-07-20T02:10:09Z")
Exactly. Typical Yank reaction, if you ask me. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2002, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-ill-be-damned-americans-are-2nd-best-tourists/119787/16 "2002-07-20T02:28:37Z")
Oh man, I walked right into that one. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2002, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-ill-be-damned-americans-are-2nd-best-tourists/119787/17 "2002-07-20T03:18:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fretful Porpentine \* > \*\*maybe New Orleans \*\* Yeah, Americans act horrible there, no respect for the natives. ---
**Author:** ![Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ebca7d/32.png) [@Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Violet)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2002, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-ill-be-damned-americans-are-2nd-best-tourists/119787/18 "2002-07-20T04:53:04Z")
How about the Japanese? They seem to be good, polite tourists. ---
**Author:** ![Squish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Squish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squish)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2002, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-ill-be-damned-americans-are-2nd-best-tourists/119787/19 "2002-07-20T05:28:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Violet \* > \*\*How about the Japanese? They seem to be good, polite tourists. \*\* Ha! No respect _at all_ for personal space, pointy elbows jabbing you in the kidneys when you’re in line, taking your picture without asking, never tipping, disobeying signs in national parks (ye gods, the number of Japanese I’ve seen climb over the safety railings at the Grand Canyon to get a better picture :rolleyes: ), and as for their vaunted politeness–well, apparently that doesn’t apply when addressing Americans in the US, because I’ve found them to be abrupt and demanding. Since I travel around my state a lot, I’ve run into plenty of Japanese tourists; my mother and I both worked in the hospitality industry here, too. Germans, French and Brits I’ve found to be very polite; Aussies and Kiwis a little less so, but not impolite. ---
**Author:** ![Jonmarzie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/50afbb/32.png) [@Jonmarzie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonmarzie)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2002, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-ill-be-damned-americans-are-2nd-best-tourists/119787/20 "2002-07-20T06:25:06Z")
**Coldfire** , I hate to burst your bubble, but I just had some German tourists visit my job, and they did make an effort to speak the local language, although only one of them did it with any real luck. So there! Oh, you said English didn’t count. :smack: I retract my point. They weren’t ugly, though. 🆒 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-ill-be-damned-americans-are-2nd-best-tourists/119787.md?page=2)