Survey: French Are World’s Worst Tourists
By Wyatt Earp | July 10, 2009
Sacre bleu! I am shocked. Truly shocked and appalled. Heh.
PARIS – French tourists are the worst in the world, coming across as bad at foreign languages, tight-fisted and arrogant, according to a survey of 4,500 hotel owners across the world.
They finish in last place in the survey carried out for internet travel agency Expedia by polling company TNS Infratest, which said French holidaymakers don’t speak local languages and are seen as impolite.
The Japanese ranked top of the Best Tourist survey, with the British and the Germans judged the best of the Europeans. (H/T – Reuters)
While I have never been to France, I have been to DisneyWorld many times. There are a croissant-load of French folks there, and judging by my experiences, this survey is spot-on. And don’t even get me started on the men and their “marble-smuggling” Speedos!
You would think they would be pretty damned polite and grateful to the rest of the world after their derrieres were saved during two world wars. I’m just sayin’.
Topics: Evil = Funny | 12 Comments »
July 10th, 2009 at 4:55 pm
The French just don’t get it. They think that accent excuses everything bad or rude. They need a little history lesson because if it weren’t for the good ole USA, they would be speaking German and eating brats. Something tells me that would offend their delicate sensibilities.
July 10th, 2009 at 5:41 pm
The French don’t have delicate sensibilities. At least not judging by the smell of the French tourists we ran into at Bryce Canyon, Zion and the Grand Canyon last year. Rude, pushy, and BO that would gag a maggot.
July 10th, 2009 at 6:20 pm
Insert French joke here…
http://www.dysan.net/Weird/show/517.html
Uncle Jimbo at Blackfive loved this one.
July 11th, 2009 at 2:31 am
I spent the better part of 30 hours awake breaking down aircraft, loading them on a C5, unloading them in France, re-assembling, and testing for flight ready status. When I arrived at the hotel in Orly in the same flight suit that I had worn the entire trip, the french person at the desk insisted that I use the greeting bonjour.
I refused to speak the language of surrender and requested my room key noting that we didn’t save them from German dominance by succumbing to the whims of the French.
Next guy in line quipped “what he said”.
July 11th, 2009 at 4:46 am
Over the years I’ve met many folks from many countries and walks of life. I have yet to meet a Frenchman I like or respect. They’ve all been arrogant, snobby, self-centered little twits. No wonder their rifles are in such good condition (never used, only dropped once).
July 11th, 2009 at 10:35 am
First experience was at a Guest Haus in Germany. A Bus load of them literally pushed my wife out of the way at the Continental Breakfast. I pushed back and the lady from the Guest Haus apologised for them they couldn’t be bothered.
My second experience was in Morocco last month. There were 6 of us in our little small group moving through FEZ. A Frence Group came out of one area and literally split our group in half. They filled he alley and stopped to listen to their guide. I had to push my way through to catch up to the other part. I finally shouted for them “To get the hell out of my way” Even then I had to push some of them. By far the worst tourists I have met. MUD
July 11th, 2009 at 11:23 am
I must have run in to the same frogs in DisneyWorld as you did. With all the lines in that park, the only folks trying to cut to the front were speaking French.
But, then again, you don’t have to head to Florida to find rude French speakers. Just head to certain parts of the New Jersey coast in July and August and you’ll find it loaded with Fernch Canadians with equally rude manners.
July 11th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
MeToo – Then again, these folks eat snails, so . . .
Jim – Hard to believe. /snark
Sully – Typical French behavior.
Jason – Hell, we don’t even demand our illegals to speak English!
Dano – I’m sure there are some that are decent types, but the majority I have seen/met were unbelievably rude.
MUD – But, but, they are just better than us, dontcha know?
Joated – I know that firsthand. Saw many of them on the beaches of Sea Isle last year.
July 11th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
Wyatt : I’m sure there must be, I always give someone new a chance to prove me wrong… which so far only lasts a minute or two.
July 12th, 2009 at 5:41 am
Curious.
there was a similar poll announced a day or so ago saying the British were the worst tourists. (Wonder if the French organised that one …)
July 13th, 2009 at 12:12 am
Dano – Wow, good point.
Alan B – Most likely. I haven’t had any trouble with your countrymen (and women).
July 13th, 2009 at 4:19 pm
I can think of a couple of reasons:
The 18-30 yo idiots who just go abroad to get sun, sea, sangria and STDs can’t think any further than Spain or, at the worst, Florida.
On the occasions I have been to America I have generally been treated with the utmost respect. But I always tried to do the same. You get what you hand out in life …
Once I found myself in what I realised very quickly was a dangerous situation. I found myself in an area where a white man definitely was NOT welcome. I apologised for invading their privacy and backed out. Maybe it was the accent – perhaps it was an example of “A soft answer turns away wrath.”