French Poll: The Best and Worst Tourists in Europe

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Here's an interesting poll that questions 15,000 European hotel managers on their opinions of international tourists, based on 10 different categories.

The final results are (from best to worst):

Japan +33 points
America +11 points
Switzerland + 9 points
Sweden +6 points
Germany +5 points
Britain -7 points
Russia -8 points
China -9 points
India -9 Points
France -14 points

Here are the top picks from each of the 10 categories:

Best Behavior: Japanese
Worst Behavior: British

Most Polite: Japanese
Least Polite: Russians

The Best Speakers of the Local Language of a Country: Americans
Least Willing to Speak the Local Language of a Country: French

Most Willing to Try the Cuisine of the Country Visited: Americans
Least Interested in the Cuisine of the Country Visited: Chinese

Spends a Lot of Money: Americans
Doesn't Spend Much Money: Germans

Quietest: Japanese
Noisiest: Italians

Most Generous: Americans
Stingiest: Germans

Cleanest / Neatest: Germans
Dirtiest / Disorderly: British

Most Prepared: Italians
Least Prepared: Americans

Complains Less: Japanese
Complains More: Americans

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Originally Posted by Zenimus

The Best Speakers of the Local Language of a Country: Americans

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:spock: :spock: :spock:

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Originally Posted by Zenimus

Least Willing to Speak the Local Language of a Country: French

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This is pretty accurate though.

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Originally Posted by smuf

:spock: :spock: :spock:



This is pretty accurate though.

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Thank god not every country speaks French - it's one of the hardest languages to speak in if you're raised speaking English.

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Originally Posted by Zenimus

The Best Speakers of the Local Language of a Country: Americans

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Hmmmmm, I'm having a hard time believing this one. a REAL hard time. I've been told "you speak French/German very well.....for an American". LOL. They say that shit to me cuz even though I might have fucked up the grammar and accent, its good enough for an American cuz Americans NEVER speak the local language.

I'd have to give the "best speakers" award to the Dutch or Luxembourgish people. Just about every Dutch person I ran into speaks is at least bilingual and every Luxembourgish person I've met is at least trilingual(most i know speak 4 or 5).

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Originally Posted by Zenimus

Complains More: Americans

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That is spot on, for damn sure! Thats why I either travel with my closest American friends or my European friends.

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Originally Posted by SPINMASTER X

Hmmmmm, I'm having a hard time believing this one. a REAL hard time. I've been told "you speak French/German very well.....for an American". LOL. They say that shit to me cuz even though I might have fucked up the grammar and accent, its good enough for an American cuz Americans NEVER speak the local language.

I'd have to give the "best speakers" award to the Dutch or Luxembourgish people. Just about every Dutch person I ran into speaks is at least bilingual and every Luxembourgish person I've met is at least trilingual(most i know speak 4 or 5).


That is spot on, for damn sure! Thats why I either travel with my closest American friends or my European friends.

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In my experiance, Africans are the most multilingual... Especialy ones from former french colonies.

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Originally Posted by norton9478

In my experiance, Africans are the most multilingual... Especialy ones from former french colonies.

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Yup you are right. I guess I was just looking at it from a European standpoint. Most Africans that I've run into could speak my language and the language of whoever else I was with. I ran into 1 or 2 Africans in Paris that couldn't speak english, but thats it.

People from Senegal, Nigeria and Ghana are everywhere, and they fuckin speak EVERYTHING.

p.s. but i guess they aren't really dropping by hotels in France. They're are probably right outside the hotel Hustling for some dollars.

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Originally Posted by SPINMASTER X

Yup you are right. I guess I was just looking at it from a European standpoint. Most Africans that I've run into could speak my language and the language of whoever else I was with. I ran into 1 or 2 Africans in Paris that couldn't speak english, but thats it.

People from Senegal, Nigeria and Ghana are everywhere, and they fuckin speak EVERYTHING.

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Haha, My brother once dated a girl from SA.....

She spoke the queens english, but when she got pissed off at him, it was all afrikahhns or some tribal shit.

The british are a lost cause.

The mighty have certainly fallen.

*Plays the massive clip that kernow posted.*

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Originally Posted by SPINMASTER X

I'd have to give the "best speakers" award to the Dutch or Luxembourgish people. Just about every Dutch person I ran into speaks is at least bilingual and every Luxembourgish person I've met is at least trilingual(most i know speak 4 or 5).

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The whole Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg) is pretty good at speaking multiple languages except for the French speaking part of Belgium. For some reason native French speakers are horrible at learning other languages, or they just don't want to.

Americans spend lots of money and complain.

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Originally Posted by smuf

The whole Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg) is pretty good at speaking multiple languages except for the French speaking part of Belgium. For some reason native French speakers are horrible at learning other languages, or they just don't want to.

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Yeah I'd agree with you on both accounts. Even you "Vlaamse" speakers. I met my first Flemish people back in March or so at a martial arts event in Aachen, Germany and all 4 of them spoke english, GOOD english(they knew slang and everything) 2 knew French and 1 knew some German as well.

A while back this Belgian guy told me a European joke. it goes: What do you call a person who speaks 3 languages: Trilingual, what do you call a person who speaks 2 languages: Bilingual, what do you call a person who speaks one language: French, LOL. I love french speaking countries and the french language to death but most french speakers(except Luxembourgish people) speak just french.

Least Willing to Speak the Local Language of a Country: French

I'd have to say thats wrong. It should be mexicans.

yay. americans arent total assholes.....


i think this survery was rigged!

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Originally Posted by SPINMASTER X

A while back this Belgian guy told me a European joke. it goes: What do you call a person who speaks 3 languages: Trilingual, what do you call a person who speaks 2 languages: Bilingual, what do you call a person who speaks one language: French

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I've heard the same joke several times but replace French with Americans.

Still works :360:

I've heard a similar survey, maybe it was results from this survey, were the top spenders were Americans and Russians.

Honestly, for what I know and hear in that expat community, the only reason Russians aren't #1 is that the wealth is spread out way less evenly in that group. A rich Russian is a sight to behold, no American --short of some obnoxious tart like Paris Hilton-- could ever (or would ever want to) reach those levels!

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Originally Posted by xmods

Least Willing to Speak the Local Language of a Country: French

I'd have to say thats wrong. It should be mexicans.

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nah man. most mexicans i've met are more than willing to learn english because they know to make money you need to know how to speak and read it or they'll end up being a cook somewhere all their lives. i speak spanish and english and when talking to them it's always the same story. "i found a class where i can learn english, but the lessons are X amount of money. too bad i have to pay rent, feed my kids, and pay my bills. if i had the cash i'd do it." then take into account that a lot of them don't believe in banks, so any money they might save up is in a cubbyhole in the wall of their apartment, just waiting to get stolen. and when it gets stolen they don't call the police, they just keep putting more money in that same spot to save for those english lessons, or that car they need, or to send back to mexico. it's a viscious cycle they get in. and most of them are right in it. i'll attempt to teach them some basic conversational english but even then it only goes so far. especially when for whatever reason they suddenly dissapear back to mexico. if you've never worked with em, or never really been around em, don't make assumptions about shit you don't know.

and +1 for americans not being total dicks. and we all know the british are terrible tourists. they go somewhere complain about everything there is to complain about. make fun of everything they can, and then go home and say it was a terrible time. if you go someplace already upset, you wont have a good time.

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Originally Posted by EvilMike

I've heard the same joke several times but replace French with Americans.

Still works :360:

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Or Japanese. :D

Americans can be easily forgiven for generally only being fluent in one language. On this side of the pond, we're a huge country with only one de facto language. On top of that, English is the most common language in international business.

In Europe, it's a huge cluster of small countries with distinct cultures and languages. Being multilingual would seem like a fairly common trait in people over there.

I've heard that Canadiens are pretty well liked as tourists...

Although In florida they get a rep for being quite cheap.

Everyone knows the germans are the worst, pushing there way to the front of the Queues etc

This thread is racist.

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Originally Posted by NeoDragoN

Everyone knows the germans are the worst, pushing there way to the front of the Queues etc

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I'm surprised the Brits get such bad marks on this survey. We get a fair amount of tourists in my area because of the close proximity to Disneyland and such, and all the British tourists I've met have almost always been good-humored and friendly.

:crying:

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Originally Posted by LoneSage

This thread is racist.

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not is it, it's true

the bad reputation comes of the festive tourist (drunken) of the
the mediterranean coast. very different of the cultural tourists.

the United kingdom has made laws together with the Spanish government to control their tourists when visit la costa brava!

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Originally Posted by Zenimus

I'm surprised the Brits get such bad marks on this survey. We get a fair amount of tourists in my area because of the close proximity to Disneyland and such, and all the British tourists I've met have almost always been good-humored and friendly.

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You live in OC, they're all rich conservatives. ;)

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Originally Posted by Zenimus

Least Willing to Speak the Local Language of a Country: French

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Most of the poll seemed like what you'd expect, but this kind of surprised me. When I was in Paris, it seemed like the majority of people spoke basic English. I spoke basic French as well, but a lot of the time when I would speak to someone, they would answer in English (sometimes quite rudely). Seems to me like they wouldn't have much of a problem learning other languages.

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Originally Posted by Neon_Sonic

Most of the poll seemed like what you'd expect, but this kind of surprised me. When I was in Paris, it seemed like the majority of people spoke basic English. I spoke basic French as well, but a lot of the time when I would speak to someone, they would answer in English (sometimes quite rudely). Seems to me like they wouldn't have much of a problem learning other languages.

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The French, in very much particular the Parisian French, don't like hearing others speak French --even other Frenchmen.

They'd rather work with your language than listen to your butcher theirs. Again, the Parisians are notorious among their own people for being assholes about it. The province Paris is located in is called, translated the "Island of France", and they seem to believe it wholeheartedly.

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Originally Posted by Abasuto

Americans spend lots of money and complain.

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But dont those two things go hand in hand? You spend a big wad of money then you get to bitch if things are not how you want them.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Zenimus

I'm surprised the Brits get such bad marks on this survey. We get a fair amount of tourists in my area because of the close proximity to Disneyland and such, and all the British tourists I've met have almost always been good-humored and friendly.

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You should visit the South Eastern part of Spain, and you'd know why the British have such a bad rep.

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Originally Posted by Vlad

You should visit the South Eastern part of Spain, and you'd know why the British have such a bad rep.

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I saw Sexy Beast, does that count?

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Originally Posted by Vlad

You should visit the South Eastern part of Spain, and you'd know why the British have such a bad rep.

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i subscribe

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Originally Posted by Shred

But dont those two things go hand in hand? You spend a big wad of money then you get to bitch if things are not how you want them.

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it more along the lines of the rest of the world not offering the same amenities as we are accustomed to in the US, such as big beds that aren't dank, air conditioning, drinkable tap water.

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Originally Posted by Bobak

I saw Sexy Beast, does that count?

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Haven't seen it, but you cam make yourself an idea by taking a regular Spring Break in Panama City 1,000 times its size in matters of debauchery, drunkness and brawling throughout the whole summer.

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Originally Posted by Vlad

You should visit the South Eastern part of Spain, and you'd know why the British have such a bad rep.

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Yeah, you could be right. It doesn't seem like a lot of the tourists around here are wild party types. Mostly, we get a lot of laid-back Australians and Japanese.

Usually the party-goers flock to Lake Havasu on the California-Arizona border, or further south into Mexico at Tijuana and Cancún.

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Originally Posted by Zenimus

Yeah, you could be right. It doesn't seem like a lot of the tourists around here are wild party types. Mostly, we get a lot of laid-back Australians and Japanese.

Usually the party-goers flock to Lake Havasu on the California-Arizona border, or further south into Mexico at Tijuana and Cancún.

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Is Tijuana that trendy nowadays? I've read it's a shithole full of drug dealers, dirty streets and horny American students fucking STD-ridden whores

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Originally Posted by Vlad

Is Tijuana that trendy nowadays? I've read it's a shithole full of drug dealers, dirty streets and horny American students fucking STD-ridden whores

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Ha ha, it still is all of those things. :D

But, a lot of Americans still flock there for parties and such. Californians in particular like to go down there to buy cheap fireworks that are illegal in California. :)

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Originally Posted by Zenimus

The Best Speakers of the Local Language of a Country: Americans

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Is that a joke? :spock:

I think they confused "Best Speakers of" with "Funniest Butchery of".

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Originally Posted by DARK ANDY

I think they confused "Best Speakers of" with "Funniest Butchery of".

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Nah, I don't think so. Most of Americans don't make any effort to speak even a few words of courtesy in the language of the country they're visiting.

Well, the results aren't that far-fetched. We have a lot of American tourists in Nuremberg and most of them at least try to speak a few words of German while other (non-European) visitors mostly refer to English.

I also agree about my fellow countrymen and their tight pockets... thing is, we're not used to tipping off waiters or other service personell beyond rounding up the bill because they do not depend on tips over here (in relation to their income). In many parts of the world, service people have a relatively low income and thus depend on a bit of extra money from their customers.

About the British tourists, like Vlad mentioned, it all depends on the location. If you visit the cheap holiday resorts on the Spanish Costa Brava (Calella, Blanes, Lloret de Mar, etc.) during July or August and happen to only find a hotel bed in the bay area, chances are that you won't find sleep for the rest of your stay due to partying sloshed British, German and Austrian all-inclusive tourists... which most other holiday makers find extremly annoying and thus avoid these regions since quite a while now, much to the dismay of the tourist offices and hotel owners down there who are not happy about the bad rep they get.

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Originally Posted by Valentini

Is that a joke? :spock:

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People from the US already know English, so the local language is their second, not their third.

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Originally Posted by Takumaji

Well, the results aren't that far-fetched. We have a lot of American tourists in Nuremberg and most of them at least try to speak a few words of German while other (non-European) visitors mostly refer to English.

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Yep, Maybe you're Right after all, i have somes anecdotes in Paris, where it arrived me at two or three recovery to make me accost by American tourists, those made the efforts to says few words in French.

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Originally Posted by SpamYouToDeath

People from the US already know English, so the local language is their second, not their third.

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So, when i'm going to a country where i don't know the local language, for myself i used English, it's a language recognize everywhere in the world

Even if i do syntax error :tickled:

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Originally Posted by Bobak

The French, in very much particular the Parisian French, don't like hearing others speak French --even other Frenchmen.

They'd rather work with your language than listen to your butcher theirs. Again, the Parisians are notorious among their own people for being assholes about it. The province Paris is located in is called, translated the "Island of France", and they seem to believe it wholeheartedly.

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Dunno.

Atleast my dad told that on convention, etc.. trips whenever he spoke french he got much better service in restauraunts, etc...

Also, non-parisian bur still, my aunt has a summer house in Provence and I remember my mom & aunt, etc.. shopping for croceries with their pretty arbitrary french and the patrons being totally positive about it.

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Originally Posted by Vlad

Haven't seen it, but you cam make yourself an idea by taking a regular Spring Break in Panama City 1,000 times its size in matters of debauchery, drunkness and brawling throughout the whole summer.

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I admit, I am proudly unfamiliar with the Redneck Riviera.

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Originally Posted by Takumaji

Well, the results aren't that far-fetched. We have a lot of American tourists in Nuremberg and most of them at least try to speak a few words of German while other (non-European) visitors mostly refer to English.

I also agree about my fellow countrymen and their tight pockets... thing is, we're not used to tipping off waiters or other service personell beyond rounding up the bill because they do not depend on tips over here (in relation to their income). In many parts of the world, service people have a relatively low income and thus depend on a bit of extra money from their customers.

About the British tourists, like Vlad mentioned, it all depends on the location. If you visit the cheap holiday resorts on the Spanish Costa Brava (Calella, Blanes, Lloret de Mar, etc.) during July or August and happen to only find a hotel bed in the bay area, chances are that you won't find sleep for the rest of your stay due to partying sloshed British, German and Austrian all-inclusive tourists... which most other holiday makers find extremly annoying and thus avoid these regions since quite a while now, much to the dismay of the tourist offices and hotel owners down there who are not happy about the bad rep they get.

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Hey Tak, sort of off topic, but have you been to Karlovy Vary (Carlsbad) in Czech Rep?

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Originally Posted by Late

Dunno.

Atleast my dad told that on convention, etc.. trips whenever he spoke french he got much better service in restauraunts, etc...

Also, non-parisian bur still, my aunt has a summer house in Provence and I remember my mom & aunt, etc.. shopping for croceries with their pretty arbitrary french and the patrons being totally positive about it.

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A good way to get really bad service in a Chinese resturaunt is to show up with a chinese girl... Especialy if you are black.

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Originally Posted by norton9478

A good way to get really bad service in a Chinese resturaunt is to show up with a chinese girl... Especialy if you are black.

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Will put this to good use as an experiment in the future.

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Originally Posted by Bobak

I admit, I am proudly unfamiliar with the Redneck Riviera.

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Don't bother, I hear it's like Alabama doing their best impersonation of South Beach w/o the Cuban influence.

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Originally Posted by Bobak

Hey Tak, sort of off topic, but have you been to Karlovy Vary (Carlsbad) in Czech Rep?

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Yeah and I also tried the "healthy water" they have there... well, it definitely is frightfully healthy because it tastes like crap.

Other than that, it's a nice little town, I've been there in the late 80s and early 90s shortly before and after the iron curtain fell when Czech Republic was still called Czechoslovakia.

Nothing beats Prague tho, it's my 2nd-fave city in the world after Amsterdam.

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Originally Posted by Hidden Character

Will put this to good use as an experiment in the future.

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I expect a full report on your experience on my desk by next week. :D

I spent quite a bit of time in the hotel/hospitality industry, so I dealt with people from literally everywhere in the world. Japanese tourists are indeed really friendly, but so were most of my international guests. In fact, I don't remember any particular group that was ruder than another.

The rudest were usually the out-of-state tourists.

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Originally Posted by Takumaji

Yeah and I also tried the "healthy water" they have there... well, it definitely is frightfully healthy because it tastes like crap.

Other than that, it's a nice little town, I've been there in the late 80s and early 90s shortly before and after the iron curtain fell when Czech Republic was still called Czechoslovakia.

Nothing beats Prague tho, it's my 2nd-fave city in the world after Amsterdam.

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Oh christ, I'm spending 2 1/2 weeks there drinking that water (which I had read similar things about). I've heard they've done a lot of improvements in the last decade to make it fancy enough for all the Russians who go there now. At least I'll have a weekend in Prague and maybe driving into Germany... wait... you're in Nuremburg, right?

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Originally Posted by Bobak

Oh christ, I'm spending 2 1/2 weeks there drinking that water (which I had read similar things about). I've heard they've done a lot of improvements in the last decade to make it fancy enough for all the Russians who go there now. At least I'll have a weekend in Prague and maybe driving into Germany... wait... you're in Nuremburg, right?

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Nuremberg, yep, that's my home town. Hey, give me a call when you're around, I could show you the hidden gems of the city and then drag you to one of our infamous barbecues in our back garden... ...to boldly digest what no liver has digested before... :D ;)

Yeah, they improved a lot of things in Karlsbad but they also took a piece of that special 19th century atmosphere away from it... when I was there for the first time in the 80s, a lot of the old 18th and 19th century bath houses and halls were still there, now most of them are luxury hotels or had been replaced by the usual glass-and-steel architecture. Still, it's a very cool little town with excellent shops and restaurants and lots of nice people, and some of the rich Russian tourists are really funny to watch, specially when drunk.