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

[Everythingisnumbersnow]

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.

She's not being ridiculous.

I have also felt unwelcome in Spain. As have other people that I know

It's all in English tho

Yes, you are the common denominator here OP.

You just keep telling yourself the rest of us are lying or blinkered. 😂

You don't see any Defense de Tourister! grafitti

What's all in English?

Oh you mean the graffiti.

Well not just England speaks English.

Quite a few countries use English as their first language, why presume it’s aimed at the British

It's in English because a lot of people speak English as a second language so it reaches the most tourists. Likewise, it will get a bigger audience on social media than if, say, Dutch was used.

The anti tourist rhetoric

There aren't many Americans in Spain.

Spain is a large, diverse country. The anti tourist protests are in a few specific areas. 99.9% of the country is totally unaffected.

Ha! It's because you say it in English. In France you say "s'il vous plaît" and "merci" non stop.

Maybe you should try Scandinavia (in the summer). They love English tourists because they love speaking English (they practically all do).

Look, if an German is in Spain, they could be using English as it’s a common language and a lot of countries second language of choice

No shit 🙄

Hmmm, not sure.

Have just got back from Paris and was astonished at how lovely, hospitable and friendly everyone was. It could be because I at least attempted to speak French in my interactions but I had expected service staff in hotels, restaurants and shops to be a little bit rude or dismissive.

Not the case at all. Despite the fact my French is highly questionable and shaky.

Bit disappointed at how friendly everyone was TBH 😆
Not so much as an eyeroll or disinterested shrug...

I honestly have not noticed this at all.

I spend quite a bit of time in France. I do speak French (badly!) but, other than a bit of friendly Brexit banter, nothing has changed. I took my MIL last year and she was convinced people were giving her dirty looks and I had to explain that's just the French version of Resting Bitch Face and not personal!

I also work closely with people in Finland, Netherlands, Greece, Ireland, Switzerland and Denmark and have had work trips to all those countries in the last 18 months. Again, I have spotted no difference whatsoever.

Yes, because it’s the second universal language. Are they really going to bother translating into Swedish, Norwegian, Polish, etc.

Do you really not think the problem might be you? I have travelled very extensively around southern Europe and have never experienced this (blonde, fair skin, very British looking). The majority of the posters on here haven’t experienced this. Maybe it’s better all round if you stay at home!!

What majority of posters?

I've experienced it aswell

Most of the people responding haven’t experienced anything, some have experienced a little bit, a handful think the world is against them.

No 😳

I just spent two days in Paris this week. Everyone was lovely towards me.

Or perhaps it's you.

If you are oversensitive or looking for offence, you will certainly find it. Or maybe you have a monumental chip on your shoulder that makes people dislike you.

I find the people I meet in European countries as friendly and welcoming as anywhere else. Perhaps that is because I like people, I don't have an inferiority complex about where I come from and I approach others in the expectation that they are decent people.

Try it. It works for me, I'm sure it would work for you too if you give it a chance.

If you’re on holiday atm
and you’re holidaying with others ( 🤔)
Then why don’t you put your phone down before they start hating fact you’re on your phone the entire time arguing about how millions of people hate you!

It's in English as most countries speak English so they will be able to read it. Its really small minded of you to think only Brits and Americans can speak English. I know a few people that went to Seville and Barcelona last year and they had a great time. Both stayed in Hotels and ate at local restutants, no hostility whats so ever.

In paris?

Because that's meaningless gobbledygook. What language did you intend it to be?

The reason anti-tourist messages are written in English is because English is commonly used as a lingua franca between people who don't speak each other's first language. You think being a British tourist in Europe is hard? Try being one of the nationalities who are expected to learn English as a foreign language in order to communicate anywhere outside of their own country (or, obviously, there's also the option open to British people as well to learn the language local to where they're traveling).