Page 8 | To feel a bit like everyone hates me when I'm a British tourist in Europe now

KarminaBurana · 18/01/2025 10:13

Everythingisnumbersnow · 18/01/2025 10:11

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

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No, "above" tells me that you're Scottish.
Anyway. Experiences vary, clearly.

JandamiHash · 18/01/2025 10:12

I’ve always felt hostility in Europe. But TBH I don’t let it bother me, I’m there to have a good time and nobody ever minds taking money off Brits.

Original poster

Everythingisnumbersnow · 18/01/2025 10:11

KarminaBurana · 18/01/2025 10:09

Just to clarify my question, which didn't work properly - how do you look so British that there's no mistaking your origin?

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

OP posts:

BRL2 · 18/01/2025 10:10

Nobody could ever hate the so-called ‘Benidorm Brits’ more than the English middle-class. The classism you all demonstrate is pretty vile. If you don’t like those types of people leave them alone to enjoy their holidays and their lifestyles. I can guarantee they won’t care one iota what you think about them.

KarminaBurana · 18/01/2025 10:09

Everythingisnumbersnow · 18/01/2025 09:57

I am Scottish! Most people I meet don't know the difference. One guy asked if Scotland was the bit on the separate island 🤣

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Just to clarify my question, which didn't work properly - how do you look so British that there's no mistaking your origin?

Original poster

Everythingisnumbersnow · 18/01/2025 09:57

MoveToParis · 18/01/2025 09:53

I agree, say you’re Scottish or even better Irish!

It’s like the Americans who pretend to be Canadian- just makes life that bit easier.

Also smiling, saying hello, and trying to use your language skills, however humble they are.

I am Scottish! Most people I meet don't know the difference. One guy asked if Scotland was the bit on the separate island 🤣

OP posts:

MoveToParis · 18/01/2025 09:53

I agree, say you’re Scottish or even better Irish!

It’s like the Americans who pretend to be Canadian- just makes life that bit easier.

Also smiling, saying hello, and trying to use your language skills, however humble they are.

timetodecide2345 · 18/01/2025 09:52

Surely Europe isn't one homogenous lump. Which country are you referring to? We are part of the European continent too ffs!

I did get some hostility in Mallorca last year and decided I'm done with Mallorca. They don't want tourists and I don't want much the island has to offer.

KarminaBurana · 18/01/2025 09:48

Everythingisnumbersnow · 17/01/2025 22:30

I promise you they can. I might as well have a union flag tattooed on my forehead.

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How do?

Greyish2025 · 17/01/2025 22:34

SnoopysHoose · 17/01/2025 22:20

We are Scottish and travel a lot, I have found when people ask 'are you English?' we reply no Scottish and the attitude changes and we're made very welcome.
I think English tourists often have a poor image abroad.

Agree, it’s a question I have been asked aswell and when I reply that I’m not, they immediately become more pleasant

Original poster

Everythingisnumbersnow · 17/01/2025 22:30

SoeurFayre · 17/01/2025 21:34

But here's a thought worth considering :

Most non English speakers cannot tell if you are British, Irish, American, Australian or Austrian/German/italian/Spanish/Korean speaking English.

So they are friendly or not friendly but all they know about you (unless you are wearing a union jack t-shirt) is that you are communicating in English. But they really cannot tell (nor do they mostly care) if you are German or English.

I promise you they can. I might as well have a union flag tattooed on my forehead.

OP posts:

Itsnowjanuarythethousandth · 17/01/2025 22:25

SoeurFayre · 17/01/2025 21:34

But here's a thought worth considering :

Most non English speakers cannot tell if you are British, Irish, American, Australian or Austrian/German/italian/Spanish/Korean speaking English.

So they are friendly or not friendly but all they know about you (unless you are wearing a union jack t-shirt) is that you are communicating in English. But they really cannot tell (nor do they mostly care) if you are German or English.

They can tell and I can tell other nationalities 80% of the time correctly i’d say

SnoopysHoose · 17/01/2025 22:20

We are Scottish and travel a lot, I have found when people ask 'are you English?' we reply no Scottish and the attitude changes and we're made very welcome.
I think English tourists often have a poor image abroad.

qwertasdfg · 17/01/2025 21:52

You sound unpleasant and hostile.

TheAirfryerQueen · 17/01/2025 21:46

I went to Athens and Malaga last year.

The Athenians were lovely. I'm always keen to be responsible and respectful like OP. I had a lovely time.

In Malaga, apart from in the City Centre during the fiesta, I met ex-pat Brits 🤦🏻‍♀️!! But the Spanish were lovely too. No issues.

I can see why some people are rebelling against overtourism though. It has a detrimental effect on local people's access to housing, for example. It can affect wages. It can damage historical sites. It can raise some local costs of things. It has environmental damage. People want to keep their homes safe, and I understand that.

usernother · 17/01/2025 21:42

I went to Spain twice last year and Portugal once. At no time did I ever feel unwelcome or come across any hostility whatsoever.

DollydaydreamTheThird · 17/01/2025 21:38

Everythingisnumbersnow · 17/01/2025 16:23

I try with the language, I try not to get in people's way, I tip and I don't complain.

But everything still feels much more hostile than it used to.

I agree with you OP. The other tourists hate us as well. 😂I'm just overly nice to everyone now and kill them with kindness. I think that pisses them off more. 😈

Solaire18381 · 17/01/2025 21:37

I don't find that at all but I guess it depends where you go. If it's resort in a holiday area, I find a lot of the staff are from elsewhere anyway, not necessarily the EU.

Fink · 17/01/2025 21:34

florizel13 · 17/01/2025 18:33

Nooooo!!! And there's me going to French classes to brush up on my French ...should I not bother? Last time I was in Paris I had a bit of a mixed reaction...some people were lovely and helped me with my rubbish French..others rolled their eyes and sighed and said "Anglaise?" when I tried to speak French to them 😂

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Don't despair! In Paris you'll get a lot of staff who are too rushed to bother to try to understand mediocre French (not to be rude to you, just in general). They're under pressure to get their job done and it would be quicker for all concerned to just switch to English. If you feel confident enough that you can manage in French, just answer them in French and eventually they might give in! Outside of big tourist areas you're much more likely to get staff who are more relaxed and will let you have a go. And also many staff who just don't speak fluent English and would prefer to let you make the effort.

I am bilingual in French and English. If I'm in France speaking English with my family, I will sometimes get staff who address us in English, and on occasion (always in Paris!) have been quite insistent with this even when they can hear that my French is a lot better than their English. It's rare though; most people will cave in and answer in the language the customer chooses.

SoeurFayre · 17/01/2025 21:34

But here's a thought worth considering :

Most non English speakers cannot tell if you are British, Irish, American, Australian or Austrian/German/italian/Spanish/Korean speaking English.

So they are friendly or not friendly but all they know about you (unless you are wearing a union jack t-shirt) is that you are communicating in English. But they really cannot tell (nor do they mostly care) if you are German or English.

LifedestroyerifYOUletthem · 17/01/2025 21:28

Interesting.
I think unless you were on a beach in Spain where activists targeted, you simply came across a stressed unhappy shopkeeper.

AlpacaMittens · 17/01/2025 21:27

AlpacaMittens · 17/01/2025 21:19

YABU.

I genuinely am baffled at this British obsession that everyone hates you. Is it complete lack of self confidence? Or is it megalomania? I do not understand.

For clarity: we do not hate you.

Seincerely,
The foreigners

And of course I had to make a typo 🤬

AlpacaMittens · 17/01/2025 21:26

@RobinHood19

Oh the "what?" instead of "sorry?", such nostalgia! It must feel quite intimidating to be honest but that's not intentional 🤣😬🙈
(I'm Greek 😬)

AlpacaMittens · 17/01/2025 21:19

YABU.

I genuinely am baffled at this British obsession that everyone hates you. Is it complete lack of self confidence? Or is it megalomania? I do not understand.

For clarity: we do not hate you.

Seincerely,
The foreigners

Fink · 17/01/2025 21:17

thomasinacat · 17/01/2025 21:13

Always flummoxed by these comments. It's absolutely the norm in the UK too to greet staff on entering premises / when you approach them. I would never walk up to a member of staff and bark out an order without a greeting first, whether at a counter, on a shop floor or restaurant and always thank staff when leaving too.

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In France you are expected to call out hello when you first enter a (small) shop or department, before your turn at the counter. In the UK, you're expected to wait until your official interaction begins before greeting staff.