xxxx

I wish the Europeans would stay off this board or at least indicate that they are in fact European. No offense, but they have different standards than Americans. What they find wonderful is usually not that great to us, for example, food and accommodations. This could lead to a disappointing trip and perhaps a big waste of money.

yyyy

I beg your pardon.....

Uncle Sam

I'm an American, and even I'm offended by your post. Who do you think you are?

fiona

I don't think we have different standards- we just like to experience something different.We don't want to go to somewhere that is a carbon copy of where we have left.Those Americans who truely like to travel are very similar to Europeans. However, a lot are obviously not so adventurous, going by the percentage of Americans who do not have a passport.Mind you, they probably have enough contrasting places to see without even having to leave their own country!!<BR>to xxxx(funny name or are you just a troll?)<BR> if you don't want other peoples opinions why bother reading this forum. It sounds like you wouldn't be missed anyway!!!!

Karen

No offense? Actually the resorts and islands that cater to Europeans and have a diverse guest list are my preference and I am an American. Wish I knew which islands or resorts you are referring to.

leilani

I'm an American and I rather be where the foreigners are vacationing at (i.e. Europeans). Karen: FYI -- I was told that Puerto Plata, DR is popular with Canadians and Europeans) and that's why it's not so nice (not my opinion). Despite that, I am still going in January 2002.

Leni

To: xxxx <BR>You're an idiot !<BR><BR>To: everyone else<BR>I apologize for being forced to use<BR>the above remark.

Karen

Thanks! Actually I have visited the DR only once and happened to stop by Puerto Plata but that was years ago before it was even a twinkle as a tourist destination! Have friends who love the DR - whether that's good or bad, I don't know but both have very discriminating tastes. One enjoys the all inclusive option and finds that price is good for a very enjoyable time and the other owns a villa on the island. I am sure you will enjoy and will meet lots of different folks from all over who you will enjoy (and some, even the Americanos, you might not!). Let us know how it was!

Sally

Gee xxxx - thanks a lot!! I am European and have been giving some advice on this board, only about places I have actually been to. I wish yu could let us all know in what way "our" standards are different from "yours"....

mary

While this person could have worded his or her post a bit better, I have to agree somewhat, and this isn’t meant to be a cut in any way. The resort we stayed at in Mexico clearly was aimed toward Brittish and German tourists and it showed in the food. While we (about 10 of us) didn’t care for the food much at all, all the Europeans we met thought it was excellent. Just different palettes and tastes, that’s all – and they are different all over the world. They would probably feel the same at a resort that catered to Americans. <BR><BR>My mom and dad, who has visited London a few times, said their rooms have always been much smaller than what they would get here in the States (comparably speaking).<BR><BR>For our first trip to St. Lucia, we were originally going to Club St. Lucia. However, I switched to another resort when I read reviews on wheretostay.com. (They need to list their name and where they're from). Almost all the Americans said they hated it while almost all the Europeans absolutely loved it. <BR><BR>Wow, I guess I agree with him / her more than I thought, but I certainly don’t think they should be banned from this board, nor do I think we are any better than anyone else. Everyone can contribute helpful information and I think we have a great thing going here.<BR><BR>

joyce

I feel Americans are much more Picky than Europeans. Hate to say it, but many of us are spoiled brats and it shows. Americans tend to want perfection(which is impossible to achieve), I know there are several hotels I have stayed at that I did not like, but the European Clients loved them.<BR>

msbee

as someone who lives in the caribbean on an island that is part of a European nation, I would like to tell xxx that sometimes we wish that Americans would stay home, especially if they have the attitude that xxx has. there is a reason that the phrase "ugly american" was coined

Sophie

More picky? Or just expect top star accomodations at medicore prices and then complain when they don't get the 5 star treatment staying at a 3 stay place! Or maybe Europeans have a better appreciation of the holiday and enjoy it as something anticipated not something deserved, earned and owed! Sure have met more Ugly Americans than I have met unhappy travelers from other countries!

D&K

What is a troll? <BR>Europeans do have different standards than Americans. My hypothesis is that Europeans take so much more vacation time than Americans do, therefore they are out to experience something totally different than a typical American. I won't speculate on what that difference is, but part of it is a very different set of values when it comes to taking a "holiday".

tivertonhouse

Some of the best information always comes out when some 'agent provocateur' poses a gratuitous opinion compleat with an inflammatory attitude. In hosting adventuresome guests from all over the world in Jamaica, we've observed --as a vast generalization --that Euros are more laid-back and able to go with the flow, less chained to a timetable,less resort-oriented and less armored with a set of expectations that everything will be exactly like home. We also find that Americans and Canadians who fall in love with Jamaica (it's a love-hate country,after all) move quickly on from resorts to discover the real country that so mesmerized them in the first place. It's not at all a question of different standards ;it's far more a matter of a different attitude towards life.

xxx

I agree with the last poster. I am Canadian and while we have met wonderful Americans on vacation, we have also met some who always seem to want or expect things to be like home. There is a schedule, and no one in the group can stray from it! We actuall met a group of 14 last year travelling together that would not leave each others' sides! "It's Tuesday, we much go on the boat trip today!" And (I swear this is true!) I once heard a gentleman complaining to his wife in a charming little Mexican restaurant "I think they got my order wrong ... this is nothing like Taco Bell". I think Europeans are much more laid back than Americans and Canadians fall somewhere in between the two. At least that's been our experience.

Erin

Not another American bashing post...lol.<BR><BR>One thing I’d like to point out…people are constantly referring to American willingness (or unwillingness) to travel based on the percentage of Americans without passports (I believe ONLY 25% of Americans are reported to have passports). To put things in perspective...there are roughly 250 million people living in the US. Out of that, I'm estimating that probably 200 million are US citizens. 25% of 200 million is roughly 62 million people! HELLO that's roughly the size of a small country! What's the percentage of people in other countries with passports??? You wanna bet it ain't 62 million??? <BR><BR>

D&K

There are plenty of Americans who don't fit the "picky/ugly American" category. Just like not every European doesn't take a shower for a week at a time. Or come over to visit American friends or relatives and just mooch because the Americans are rich.<BR>Just take it case by case, otherwise you may be missing out.

Erin

One more thing…. most Americans are definitely different from Europeans when it comes to travel. We have two expressions in the US that sums up not only our approach to travel, but for everything else…1) “getting your dollars worth” and 2) “paying hard earned cash for ____ (fill in the blank)”. While I’m sure other countries have their equivalent expressions…a lot of Americans (myself included) LIVE by these. When we plunk down our money for a service, we want and demand the best, sometimes to the point of being obnoxious. It’s part of out culture…we have this “sense of entitlement” that is difficult to break even while on vacation. I’ve found that the more I pay for an item, the worst it gets. Don’t know if I’m explaining this right…it’s late and I’m on my 2nd cup of Coke…

xxx

Explanation....<BR><BR>Of course Europeans are more laid back then Americans. They hardly work. <BR><BR>If you ask a French labor force to put in 30 hours a week with six weeks vacation you will bring the whole country to a halt with a general strike.<BR><BR>You can take over Italy or Spain at 2:00 PM on a workday. All of the workforce is sleeping, eating or getting drunk.<BR><BR>Forget about the former communist countries. These people are pining for the good old days when they didn't have to produce a product, make a budget, or save for their own retirement. In the good old days these workers would get smashed daily on cheap liquor.<BR><BR>Also Europeans have strikingly low standards of living. I am a middle class American. I have a 14 room house with a swimming pool and a three car garage. I own a Ford Expedition, Ford Mustang GT Convertible, and a AWD Chrysler Town & Country. <BR><BR>Look at working class Europeans. They drive miserable little cars and live in miserable little apartments. When they rent a cheap car (like a Pontiac Grand AM) they are impressed. In the US a 6-cylinder car is considered economy. In Europe that is a performance car. A v8 is unheard of in Europe.<BR><BR>The major cities in Europe are old, dark, and dirty. When they see wide streets, plants, flowers, or land that hasn't been built up or paved over they are impressed.<BR><BR>The truth is that for Americans vacations are a temporary lowering of their standards of living. For Europeans they are a temporary raising of their standards of living.