To think they way some British people are abroad gives us a bad name

[LittleAnnie1971]

Just returned from holiday, we stayed in a hotel in a popular resort area. We usually go for something else but I didn't have dh with me this year as he couldn't take the time off so I had to go somewhere simple which didn't need driving.

1. 95% of restaurants were British Food
   
2. Everyone was British
   
3. Felt like a British town with hot weather
   

I can't understand why on earth you would bother going somewhere so similar to home. I know weather in uk is poor but who really likes going on holiday somewhere so similar to home.

Not only was this place a British enclave, but it was full of brits complaining about signs being in Spanish (in Spain). The British were the most drunk. The most overweight and greedy when it came to buffet.

I can see the reason why people with children prefer something with familiar food because they can be fussy.

Aibu to think this is a bad trait we have

[Piggywaspushed]

OMG the Irish in Portugal. Never known anything like it for loud!! You couldn't say they weren't enjoying themselves!

[Puggsville]

With my Titian curls and creamy skin, Americans, Spaniards, Italians - you name it - always assume I'm Irish. When I assure them I'm English, they always say "thank fuck for that".

[Mossend]

Amystiara, the op was criticising British people abroad. Are you aware that Scottish holidaymakers are British?

[MagentaRocks]

There's no need to be snobby about it.

I love AI holidays. I don't eat at the hotel every night but I like being able to have breakfast and drinks etc. I don't drink much alcohol. I like the buffet style for some meals. It's easy, don't need to think about it, dress up etc. I prefer to go somewhere where I can visit local history.

Some of the other brits are loud and brash and drink and eat constantly. Some are not.

Some Russians are rude and obnoxious, some are not

The same with every other nationality. You cannot generalise a whole race/nation. Maybe go to a villa if you don't want to be around other people.

[AmysTiara]

Mossend yes I'm quite aware of that

[rubybleu]

Seriously big groups of a single nationality anywhere are a pain in the arse.

Chinese in Canadian Rockies
Elderly Australians in the Canadian Rockies
Russians in the French Alps
French in the French Alps
Spaniards in Cental London
Italians in Central London
Middle Eastern/Arab family groups in the West End
Young Australians in Croatia
Brits on Bondi
Germans in the Italian lakes

Most nationalities are a bit crap in concentrated doses. I'm one of the nationalities above :)

[Fernanie]

@PollyCazaletWannabe
Found this one (although I think there may have been another)
//www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mumsnet_classics/1174221-Thickos-on-TripAdvisor
Enjoy!

I can't thank you enough for this link - I wasn't on MN back in 2011 and I'm crying reading these 😂

[yolofish]

we (English) were in a restaurant in Paris. I speak French. Waiter was very nice to us. Then a tour party of Russians arrived - who were like hell on earth. Their behaviour culminated in one of the adults in the party standing up and vomiting all over the small child next to them.... I know this adds nothing, and does in fact reinforce national stereotypes, but I thought people might enjoy the story!!

[LassWiTheDelicateAir]

Jesus, OP, the snobbery is amazing

Indeed. The grammar isn't too hot though. I know it is thought to be bad form to comment on grammar but is an exception allowed when a poster is being a crashing snob?

[LassWiTheDelicateAir]

I usually go to Italy and it wasn't money it was because I can't drive so need a resort

Have you heard of Venice or Barcelona or Nice or Cannes? All have beaches. I managed to get to them without a car (although you would probably hate them- full of Brits)

[Toadinthehole]

Yolofish,

"And now sair, the waffeur-thin mint"

[PickingOakum]

I think every nationality had its share of out of control tourists.

My sil worked in Ibiza for decades and said that the nationality that most alarmed the locals were the Italians. While the Brits got trollied and would streak naked down the streets, the Italians had a tendency to cane class A drugs to the point some of the clubs popular with Italians resembled the set of Trainspotting. The Ibiza police regularly raided the places and eventually managed eventually to get them shut down.

[makeourfuture]

Hemingway said of Paris, "...wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a movable feast."

[Toadinthehole]

I live in NZ, which recently hosted the Lions tour. Lots of rugger buggers etc.

No problem at all; they made themselves very popular. No problems that I recall happened during the 2011 World Cup, or during the cricket, or other occasions that attract heavy-drinking British men. British tourists here have a good reputation, although I think all that proves is that if you fancy a quick break in the sun, and some heavy drinking and misbehaviour, you don't come all the way here.

[LadyOfTheCanyon]

I all inclusive a lot in Spain and Greece. My job involves standing on my feet for 50 hours a week so you can bet your sweet cheeks that I just want to lay by a pool for a week in relative comfort with wine on tap. I also do weekends away with DP (when I have the energy) which are more active.
In both situations I have found that once out of the 18-30s Shagaluf type resorts ( and if you were at one of those OP then you deserve everything you got) the Brits are no better or worse than anyone else. Where I go mostly is Russians, Germans, Dutch, French and British and anecdotally the Russians have been noticeably vile in their treatment of staff.
From working in retail in central London in the summer, there is no group of people on earth who make the noise that a party of Italian teenagers can make.

[itstoolateforthisbollox]

- always assume I'm Irish. When I assure them I'm English, they always say "thank fuck for that

They really don't.

[leccybill]

Why is it that Russians on holiday are so rude, push in queues, pile up their plates of buffet food but then leave it? It's quite strange.
2 slightly older Russian women pushed in front of my 6yo DD last year as she was waiting patiently for an ice cream. Im very mild mannered but I did have words.

[hollyisalovelyname]

Pugslike
Really????
We had the opposite reaction in the Bahamas. The Bahamians knew we weren't American (the Bahamians liked the Americans at the time as they were big tippers), they assumed we were British and when we said we were Irish they were nicer to us.
Probably the colonial thing again.

[Agustarella]

I agree about the behaviour of some Brits abroad, but I think you can easily avoid them if you don't go to resorts, or anywhere that the England football team is currently playing! Where I live in France, the only British tourists are pilgrims, or road trippers heading for Italy or the Alps. They usually aren't that friendly compared to the locals, but they aren't the sort of people to cause any trouble either, and nobody has a problem with them. As far as I know, the English are well liked here.

Re Americans: I once dated someone from NYC and if his food wasn't on the table five minutes after ordering, he'd stride into the kitchen demanding to know where it was! Luckily we never went on holiday together.

I don't have a car either, but I don't think it means resorts are your only option. I think much of Europe is accessible by a combination of Eurolines coaches (gruelling but cheap!) and local buses. You pays your money and takes your choice!

[nina2b]

We also travel independently pretty much to cities in Europe. Then there is no problem. Have never gone on a package holiday and never likely to.

[nina2b]

We always travel...

[Gromance02]

Other Brits are the reason I only stay in private villas when I go on holiday. Seen too many idiots drunk by lunchtime, reserving sunbeds and seeing red burned flesh in my time to ever consider going to a hotel abroad again.

[nina2b]

Today 13:34 hollyisalovelyname

Pugslike
Really????

We had the opposite reaction in the Bahamas. The Bahamians knew we weren't American (the Bahamians liked the Americans at the time as they were big tippers), they assumed we were British and when we said we were Irish they were nicer to us.
Probably the colonial thing again.

I think when - if asked - where you come from and you say Scottish or Irish, for instance, you get a pretty positive reaction. We have always found this. Thankfully, Europeans do differentiate between the English and the more popular parts of the UK. Lol

[LoniceraJaponica]

There is no need for such snobbery about package holiday nina.

I am currently on a Thomsons package holiday in Sicily. The apartments are upmarket, the few British visitors here are well behaved families or older couples, there is nowhere that caters just for British palates as it is a small non touristy resort aimed mainly at Italians.

I couldn't get this holiday independently, and just being able to sort out the flights, transfers and accommodation with one company was the best option. I can honestly say that we don't feel like we are on a package holiday, because these days the tour operators know that their customers are more discerning and have access to Trip Advisor, google earth etc.

I would also suggest that the holiday we are on wouldn't appeal to anyone wanting Benidorm/Magaluf/Malia anyway.

[StillStayingClassySanDiego]

I love a package holiday , can't stand sifting through flight times , hotel availability and transfers, sooner have it all in one place.

Holiday snobs, who'd want to be like that .