It used to be the "ugly Americans" and I'm sure they
probably deserved it...(I am an American), however I must
say the Italian groups I have run into in my travels
throughout the middle east have been the loudest most
inconsiderate, self centered, egotistal group of people I
have ever encountered.
I realize one is on thin ice when making generalizations,
but I having observed a lot of groups during my travels
I have yet seen any group of people so consistant in their
poor behavior.
I have also found the German groups not terribly popular.
Now that I have ripped the Italians and Germans I'll be
nice.
My nominees.
Best travelers...easy winners..Australians..their cool
without even trying.
Dutch..Very nice friendly people.
Swiss and French...haven't run into groups but individually
very nice.
Japanese...never mind. love those umbrellas.
I'm sure I'll get a lot of disagreement on this subject but
hey that's what makes the world go round.
I didn't comment on Americans because quite frankly I have
seen very few if any American tour groups...basically
Americans tend to be pretty cowardly when it comes to
travel in the middle east. A friggen camel is shot and
they cancel their trip.
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Well, I guess
I have to apologize for the italians. Being loathed is a new
feeling, as usually being italian is just... well, trendy.
In reality I agree with you: most of the italians abroad are
a nuisance. They tend to travel in packs, don't speak the
language nor understand the culture, and try to shout as
loud as possible to
a) show that they are italian so they are not shot by being
mistaken for americans
b) show that they are italian so that girls (or so they
think) are going to be impressed by the melodious sound of
their language.
Anyway, I hope that you know that mine, and yours, are just
generalizations. There are also a lot of nice italian
travellers: mostly small group of girls that you meet in
Belize or en route to Kashgar (I am a man, btw).
Y.
All tour groups are a pain, they spoil your shots, talk too
loud and can take over any historical site or
restaurant within ten seconds of getting off the bus. Unles
you are too old to travel independently I just don't get it.
Being an Australian living in the Middle East thanks for the
compliment, but I've run into groups of Aussies that
embarass me so much I pretend I don't speak English.
BTW you may not run into too many American tour groups here,
but you do run into a few Canadian groups with New York and
Southern accents...go figure (as they say).
My vote goes to the French. Here we were a bunch of
Americans, Canadians, Brits and Aussies out in Wadi Rum
enjoying the sunset when a bunch of very loud, older French
folks spoiled it by talking on and on forever. I guess all
of us were too polite and their guide a total moron to tell
them that a little peace and quiet would go a long way to
everyone enjoying it.
No - the bloody Germans are the rudest, loudest, most
aggressive, ugliest, badly dressed territorial people in the
world.
In my opinion, all groups are a pain - there is no such thing as one with better nationalities, etc. I have met nice Italian travellers, nice French travellers, nice English travellers, nice anything travellers - individually. Its just when any travellers are in a group, they collectively turn into the most obnoxious, unpleasant, rudest, inconsiderate and selfish travellers available.
My vote for the most self centered travellers (tourists):
the French. I actually wonder why the travel (play tourist).
They look down on any culture that was 'founded' by them,
the only speak one language (guess which) and are surprised
that other people do not understand their incredibly refined
and superior language. (this goes for francophones outside
France too). Nagging, nagging, nagging, how boring they are.
It is always fun to tell French folk to 'speak a world
language like English or Cantonese'. This is best reserved
for the older ones. As to groups, Aussies in Bali, Brits in
Goa, Israelies everywhere - they are never a pleasant
sight.
OHHH Don't make me remember agroup of f*&*%# italians that
were sticking their nails into the stone carvings at Angkor
Wat in Cambodia...I insulted them in Spanish and I hope they
understood a well told "HIJO DE PUTA"
Surely the whole point of travelling is to broaden your mind
from your own limited culture, unfortunately way to many
people go on holiday to confirm to themselves that their own
culture is the best on offer. I am English and think that
meeting English people abroad is one of the most unpleasant
experiences of travelling. (There are always exceptions, of
course and individual people from all countries that makes
travelling a delight and the best way to live.)