To feel a bit like everyone hates me when I'm a British tourist in Europe now

No I haven’t experienced this anywhere. I was in Spain in October and Italy in November. No hostility at all, despite my shit language skills and very Celtic appearance.

There's a considerable Latin influence on Welsh, that's the strong link to Romance languages.

But, hey, even if you don't speak or understand Welsh, don't let that hold you back from dismissing those that do reap the benefits of bilingualism.

And then wonder why the English have a reputation for arrogance at home and abroad.

If you're white British and they're white Europeans, it's not racism surely?

As I previously mentioned - I go away fairly regularly and often we end up , passing pleasantries, etc with locals. However I've never once been asked about uk politics or similar. Similarly I don't ask about the politics in their country, would seem an odd conversation starter with a stranger to me.

I suspect it's very obvious that I'm British.
But still never had anyone seem very interested in such things, especially in Europe.

Scottish is British.

I haven't experienced this at all.

We go to Switzerland fairly regularly at the moment and always feel welcome.

We travel to Europe and further afield in holidays a few times each year and again - never had any hostility at all. Always felt welcome.

I know this isn't what Romance means in linguistics, but now I've got the 'Fancy Restaurant' episode of Bluey in my head. "It's very romance".

I live in Spain, not stuck here. Some people like me, some people don’t. This is life ! Have a good attitude and if you find hostility or rudeness then don’t return 🤔

I went to Europe several times last year and never experienced any hostility. Completely the opposite. I'm English.

Ditto to this. In Cyprus with friends once (he is a dual Brit/Greek Cypriot) I wondered why he was speaking to a waiter in English, rather than Greek.
Waiter was Bulgarian! (But v likely did speak pretty good Greek anyway.)

Funnily enough, when in Provincetown (US Cape Cod) we also once had a Bulgarian waiter, who told us he came every summer season (which is pretty short in CC) to help fund his studies.

If a shop, restaurant or tourist resort are treating you with contempt, just don’t go there. Don’t give them your money. Vote with your feet. There’s no way I’d spend my hard earned cash there.

There are lots of places that will welcome your money. If the Spanish don’t want us there, don’t go. Why on earth would you go on holiday, for a rest, to people shouting obscenities at you, with placards, and squirting water pistols at you?

Of course many Brits are horrible abroad, but let them all crack on with each other and you go somewhere you are welcome. I’m never planning on going to Spain again. I’ve been there loads of times and I won’t cry into my pillow if I don’t go again. I’m respectful and polite when I’m there so I’m not going to entertain any crap as a tourist. I’ll go to other places and not have to worry about my safety or being verbally abused.

You must be confusing me with another poster. I don't receive hostility.

I'm starting to see why you experience hostility from strangers.

Reasons being?
That for me ?

If I list of the reasons why here, you'll only get annoyed and try to deny them 🤣..or tell me those Greeks are frightfully rude people .

I thought the same thing but decided to leave it.

This thread is hilariously stupid

That's largely down to being bilingual Welsh and English originally which makes it easier to learn other Romance languages.

But neither Welsh nor English is a romance language.

Reasons being?

It's literally just because the Irish (and Welsh and Scottish) are seen as underdogs. And everyone loves an underdog.

Well no, they give lots of reasons why. For you it may just coz were underdogs but they have a lot of reasons why..

We're Welsh and it's the same for us.

We also have a decent grasp of several European languages between us. That's largely down to being bilingual Welsh and English originally which makes it easier to learn other Romance languages.

This is where our history of being so important in the world still very much remains in our culture that so many think that others care/give much thought to Britain and being British

we simply are not

cultural differences and comments about them are a part of interacting with other people in different countries it’s is normal, if you are respectful and polite you will more often than not be treated with respect and politeness

It's literally just because the Irish (and Welsh and Scottish) are seen as underdogs. And everyone loves an underdog.

I have explained what I think above. I don't know for sure but nobody ever, ever gets it wrong

What's hilarious about mumsnet is, if your experiences upset or offend anyone,they'll just gaslight you and deny that your reality exists! 🤣🤦‍♀️
We have greek friends who work in hospitality, its a normal thing for them on slow working days to play "Spot the English" The Greeks also get eye rolly when Italians come in as they often buy one drink between two, or nothing at all and want to split the bill 16 ways.
Stereotypes are everywhere, even if you don't like it, they exist for a reason, people see it.

We were on holidays in Lanzorate for christmas, found staff a bit reserved and not that friendly, they asked where we were from and we said ireland, all smiles, said we thought you were English, we don't like English, drink too much and always trouble so possibly OP is experiencing this although totally not fair as obviously they are totally generalising, sad to say its not the first time this has been said to us over the years, just don't think English have a good reputation abroad which I agree is totally unfair

DP is French and speaks many languages so often people cant place where he is from but we speak in English together. On holidays they'll always give me an English menu then proceed to ask which part of England I am from. When I tell them I'm Irish, they completely change their attitudes, they usually say something moany and eyerolly about English people. I'm not making this up. I know it annoys people to read it, but it's true. Happens a LOT.

If you expect people to be hostile you will perceive any normal irritation or impatience, that you might experience anywhere, as confirming your expectation.

Also, your belief that Europeans will be hostile towards you might be making you defensive and affecting how you engage with them. If you approach people with the expectation they will be pleasant and helpful, your experience will probably change.

I am a frequent visitor to a number of countries in Europe and I occasionally meet grumpy, impatient people, just as I do in the UK. I have never experienced the kind of hostility you describe though.