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

Am another one who can't understand why you're moaning OP about Brits who have chosen that kind of holiday when you're a Brit who has, um, chosen that kind of holiday.

The planet is vast. If you want to go somewhere different, 20 mins well spent on Google will find you a destination. We are on holiday at the moment less than a 2-hour flight from London. We haven't hired a car, have done the whole journey by public transport. Great weather, great food. Have been here a fortnight and have only heard English spoken once by a passing couple. Lots of loud locals though & Germans & Italians. Most of the time when British people complain about loud, rude, complaining Brits abroad it's because it's only the English-speaking Brits that they can understand. The complaints made in other languages will pass them by not understood.

YY re package holiday snobbery. It's just a way of booking everything in one place and you can book exactly the same holiday as doing it independently. And it's not always the case that independently costs less either. This is what we did as our last package holiday and it was much less than booking the flights, hotel and transfer separately:

www.jet2holidays.com/malta/malta-and-gozo/marsalforn-gozo/murella-living

Naice boutique B&B in a small resort on a tiny island, that I don't think you can get AI on at all.

It's simply not the case that package holiday = giant AI hotel full of pissed people.

Exactly SanDiego. I spent weeks online looking at flights and accommodation and couldn't find anything we liked then gave up and looked at the Thomsons site and found exactly what we wanted, and am loving it.

That sounds like my kind of holiday Barbara

I don't mind people just soaking up the sun - not everything has to be cultural! I think it is really noticeable when you are abroad though just what a fucked up relationship the Brits have with alcohol! Only in British airports have I seen (British) holidaymakers drinking so much so early in the morning. It seems that for a lot of people holiday = getting pissed.

It's too, I really don't think you can tell pugs what she has or hasn't experienced you know. Contrary to popular belief there are actually some people, even Americans who don't like the Irish. I'm not saying that's right but I am bloody fed up of this myth that everyone hates the English but loves all the celts. I'm sure there are some but not in my experience although no doubt you'll call me a liar. I'm finding this thread quite xenophobic and upsetting actually. It seems to be perfectly acceptable to laugh at xenophobia towards the English. Personally I judge people on themselves and not their nationality. It's a shame others, including some sanctimonious people on this thread, can't do the same.

It's too, I really don't think you can tell pugs what she has or hasn't experienced you know.

I agree

OP...you could have complained about brits abroad and the thread would stand, but complaining about britsih people going en masse to a resort you yourself are staying at? Bit errrm dumb

Today 10:52 itstoolateforthisbollox

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

They really don't.

Corrected version...

I think when - if asked - you say 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

Some people just aren't that interested in food, language or culture

If you really think you are getting authentic culture on your holiday you're naive in the extreme.

I live in Edinburgh and I'm sure as shit no one comes for the weather. What do they experience of Scottish culture? They eat overpeiced haggis, neeps and tattties (on the menu solely for tourists) trudge around the same three or four visitor attractions, buy expensive and mediocre whiskey and tartan tat and Chuck money into the cup of the pisspoor bagpipe player in Highland dress.

They probably go away thinking they've experienced something of Scottish culture, but they been sold an erstaz version designed to extract money from tourists which says nothing about modern Scotland.

We locals far from being charmed by their presence and interest in our culture we consider them with mild annoyance that they're clogging up the walk to work, suckers for buying into this nonsense and/or a source of revenue. I'm sure residents of holiday venues abroad feel the same.

I personally don't really fancy a holiday drinking Worthington's bitter in a British theme pub with a two day old copy of the Su, but equally I don't see why people think it is somehow morally superior to spend your holidays acting like a nineteenth century anthropologist examining the local's culture.

You sound bitter Boys. I'm pretty sure that the Italian food we are eating here in Sicily in a resort mainly full of Italians is genuine enough.

If you really think you are getting authentic culture on your holiday you're naive in the extreme

Today 17:42 LoniceraJaponica

You sound bitter Boys. I'm pretty sure that the Italian food we are eating here in Sicily in a resort mainly full of Italians is genuine enough.

I completely agree. The Edinburgh she describes is some construction of her imagination! I do not need to list the city's many merits here, either. The vast majority see it for the truly spellbinding capital it is, throughout the year.

As for the cultural experience, most tourists or visitors choose their own experiences these days and wander off the beaten track a lot. They do not blindly accept what is offered. It is the 21st Century, after all!!

I prefer the drive from Fort Augustus to Fort William boys and all the lochs along the way, hoping to catch sight of a stag out of the window,but Edinburgh has a great buzz as do many British cities.

drags up a six week memory of eating homemade stew in a shack in Bosnia

To be honest, I don't think most Bosnians would consider this a very authentic cultural experience. The Bosnians I know eat in restaurants or in each other's homes. Not 'shacks'. And not many would be eating stew in this kind of heat in Bosnia at the moment.

"The vast majority see it for the truly spellbinding capital it is, throughout the year."

As I did when I visited it a few weeks ago. Yes, there is a lot of tourist tat, but it isn't difficult to see past it. Edinburgh has loads of history.

All capital cities have tourist stalls.

I have just returned from holiday in Majorca, 5 star hotel and one of the grimmest things I saw was a man cutting his child's toenails poolside.
Yes they were British. I am in no way a snob but this disgusted me

Bimbo, it was grim, but maybe the child was playing up and having problems with his toes? I know i may have taken the child inside to my room to do this, but not everyone thinks and does what is easier at the time? At least it was only a toenail , there is a thread about people plucking their pubes poolside - that is gross!
Holidays can bring out the worst sometimes.

the80s, it was a full feet trimming and it didn't look as though the child was playing up. He was an older boy maybe 9-10

Back to the OPs comments. Why do people want somewhere with British food, English spoken etc? I think it is a combination of some people not being adventurous, some not knowing another language, and perhaps a smaller number who are just UKIP Daily Mail reading little Englanders. I can understand the attraction of all inclusive holidays if someone wants a holiday from having to think about where to find their next meal or even handling money, but for me not in some way accommodating local language and culture is not for me.

Thankfully my French (and the DPs) is good enough for me to be able to holiday without the traits the OP discusses.

To be honest, I don't think most Bosnians would consider this a very authentic cultural experience. The Bosnians I know eat in restaurants or in each other's homes. Not 'shacks'. And not many would be eating stew in this kind of heat in Bosnia at the moment

QED !

I went to Corsica recently.

1. Food was French
2. Everybody was French
3. Basically felt like France

Considering that I also live in France, the trip was therefore a total waste of time?

I live in Wales and we have a Polish supermarket next door to a Turkish kebab place in our local row of shops. The other shop up the road is run by Indians.

Noisy shouty tipsy people happens in resorts.

It is not the noise that bothers me but the behaviour. Bad selfish arrogant boorish behaviour is just awful. Can be from any nationality, usually when they re hunting in packs.

I love package hols, but I will admit that I choose venue very carefully. sorry....

I never drive when on a weeks R and R so the transfers to and from airport are great. And yes I know I actually have to share a coach with others, and wait for the stragglers, but it's great fun people watching!

Hope you all have great .summer hols