I
icebaer69
Guest
"...
The world's most hated travellers
Frankly, I thought it would be ze Germans. Or possibly the English,
considering the two nations spend so much time sniping at each other's travellers.
But, according to a survey recently released by Expedia,
the world's least liked travellers are the French, Chinese and Indians.
Not only that, but the Brits and Germans tied for second place as the world's most popular (something that will probably still gall them, considering there's no clear winner to add to the "two world wars and one world cup").
So while you might have thought the Germans' penchant for leaving their towels on sunbeds, and the Poms' love of roaming around in drunken, football-shirted groups, was kind of annoying, it's apparently overshadowed by their lovely manners, smart dress sense, and willingness to learn the local language.
Er... what?
Of course, you have to take surveys like these with a grain of salt. (Australians were the sixth most liked, if you were wondering - let down by our bad dress sense and poor linguistic skills.)
Another recent poll found Russians were the least liked tourists, to the point where some other travellers have been known to request "Russian-free tours" - although I've never had any problems with them. Actually, I can barely remember bumping into any.
And this is all based on stereotypes, which are sometimes there for a good reason, but there are always exceptions to the rule.
Germans, I've found, are traditionally the nationality people cringe at when they find themselves sharing a dorm. Maybe it's a hangover from the wars, or the fact the Poms still can't stand them and their sunbed-stealing ways (although if you're staying anywhere with sunbeds, you deserve what you get).
I've always found Germans, particularly the younger ones, to be pretty friendly
and easy to get along with. And not a sock-and-sandal combo to be seen.
Same goes with English, really.
Although they're supposed to be the drunken Ibiza-loving yobs the Germans
are so keen to avoid, most that I've met have been brilliant travel companions.
But then again, I've never been to Ibiza. Or Tenerife. Or Mallorca. Or...
Israelis always seem to get a bad rap too. Maybe it's because they tend to stick together, although Australians are hardly any different in that respect. But the hatred of Israeli travellers can be surprisingly vicious - I met an English guy in La Paz who ran a bar and refused point-blank to even let Israelis in. (I didn't bother going back either.)
South Africans seem to be similarly maligned. But I've met two kinds of South African traveller: one is sweet, kind, super-generous, and a blast to hang out with. The other is arrogant, loud, and, yeah, a bit racist.
I wish they could all be the first kind. But they're not.
And of course, you can't leave out the Americans, who everyone loves to hate.
Like I've said in this blog before, at home, the Seppos are fantastic people,
friendly as you like.
But in my experience, the stereotype of the travelling Yank has some basis in fact. Hear a loud voice in your hostel, particularly one whinging about things not being like they are at home, and there's a better than even chance it belongs to one of our northern cousins.
Some of them are great.
But there are a lot of dopes with American passports out there.
So who are the most liked travellers?
Well, the Expedia survey came up with the Japanese - possibly because the survery respondants were hotel managers, and I can't see Japanese tourists causing much trouble for them.
I've got nothing against the Japanese, but if I was to select the people I'd like to be sharing my dorm with, they probably wouldn't be on it.
The Dutch would be, for sure. And throw in a Scot or two for good measure. Canadians are always good fun, and most South Americans are a blast to hang out with. Hell, I'll even take a couple of Kiwis.
The Germans and Brits, on the other hand, can share a dorm of their own.
Just for entertainment value, mind.
..."
(smh.com.au)
The world's most hated travellers
Frankly, I thought it would be ze Germans. Or possibly the English,
considering the two nations spend so much time sniping at each other's travellers.
But, according to a survey recently released by Expedia,
the world's least liked travellers are the French, Chinese and Indians.
Not only that, but the Brits and Germans tied for second place as the world's most popular (something that will probably still gall them, considering there's no clear winner to add to the "two world wars and one world cup").
So while you might have thought the Germans' penchant for leaving their towels on sunbeds, and the Poms' love of roaming around in drunken, football-shirted groups, was kind of annoying, it's apparently overshadowed by their lovely manners, smart dress sense, and willingness to learn the local language.
Er... what?
Of course, you have to take surveys like these with a grain of salt. (Australians were the sixth most liked, if you were wondering - let down by our bad dress sense and poor linguistic skills.)
Another recent poll found Russians were the least liked tourists, to the point where some other travellers have been known to request "Russian-free tours" - although I've never had any problems with them. Actually, I can barely remember bumping into any.
And this is all based on stereotypes, which are sometimes there for a good reason, but there are always exceptions to the rule.
Germans, I've found, are traditionally the nationality people cringe at when they find themselves sharing a dorm. Maybe it's a hangover from the wars, or the fact the Poms still can't stand them and their sunbed-stealing ways (although if you're staying anywhere with sunbeds, you deserve what you get).
I've always found Germans, particularly the younger ones, to be pretty friendly
and easy to get along with. And not a sock-and-sandal combo to be seen.
Same goes with English, really.
Although they're supposed to be the drunken Ibiza-loving yobs the Germans
are so keen to avoid, most that I've met have been brilliant travel companions.
But then again, I've never been to Ibiza. Or Tenerife. Or Mallorca. Or...
Israelis always seem to get a bad rap too. Maybe it's because they tend to stick together, although Australians are hardly any different in that respect. But the hatred of Israeli travellers can be surprisingly vicious - I met an English guy in La Paz who ran a bar and refused point-blank to even let Israelis in. (I didn't bother going back either.)
South Africans seem to be similarly maligned. But I've met two kinds of South African traveller: one is sweet, kind, super-generous, and a blast to hang out with. The other is arrogant, loud, and, yeah, a bit racist.
I wish they could all be the first kind. But they're not.
And of course, you can't leave out the Americans, who everyone loves to hate.
Like I've said in this blog before, at home, the Seppos are fantastic people,
friendly as you like.
But in my experience, the stereotype of the travelling Yank has some basis in fact. Hear a loud voice in your hostel, particularly one whinging about things not being like they are at home, and there's a better than even chance it belongs to one of our northern cousins.
Some of them are great.
But there are a lot of dopes with American passports out there.
So who are the most liked travellers?
Well, the Expedia survey came up with the Japanese - possibly because the survery respondants were hotel managers, and I can't see Japanese tourists causing much trouble for them.
I've got nothing against the Japanese, but if I was to select the people I'd like to be sharing my dorm with, they probably wouldn't be on it.
The Dutch would be, for sure. And throw in a Scot or two for good measure. Canadians are always good fun, and most South Americans are a blast to hang out with. Hell, I'll even take a couple of Kiwis.
The Germans and Brits, on the other hand, can share a dorm of their own.
Just for entertainment value, mind.
..."
(smh.com.au)
