AWFUL TRAVEL COMPANIONS
Have you ever met someone who goes to places merely to say that they've been there? And they spend the whole time comparing things to other places? My sister, her friend "X" and I took a trip to Madrid. Of all of us, "X" was the most seasoned traveler to Europe, having already been to Rome and London (twice). I should have known it was not going to be a good trip when her rationale for not learning some basic Spanish phrases was because "I didn't learn any Italian before my trip to Rome and we didn't have any problems. Every one spoke English there. Besides, Spanish is an ugly language not pretty like French". <BR> <BR>Once in Madrid, "X" declared that the architecture was ugly "not beautiful and classic like in Rome". Every time we saw meat hanging in a butcher shop, she would declare "that's prosciutto. They have that in Rome". After the hundredth time hearing this, my sister finally said "This is Spain. They probably call it something else here!" Of course "X" didn't get it…. <BR> <BR>At the Presidential Palace, the x-ray machine zapped "X's" camcorder battery. Of course she didn't try out the camcorder while at home. Of course she didn't bring a converter so she could plug in the adaptor and recharge the battery. And of course she was annoyed because the hotel didn't have an American converter; only European ones. And (you guessed it) of course the hotel she stayed in Rome did have American converters! <BR> <BR>After a "discussion" at Plaza Mayor about what we were going to do that night, we ended up getting separated. My sister and I, concerned about "X's" lack of Spanish, combed the street around the Plaza looking for her. We found her hours later; she claimed she looked for us but when she couldn't find us decided to go partying at a Brazilian club a block away from the hotel. <BR> <BR>On our last day, we had a $20 hotel phone bill and we were trying to get rid of our pesetas. "X" told us that she would pay the bill in pesetas but wanted us to reimburse her in dollars! When we refused, saying we would each contribute to the bill in pesetas, she stomped off in a huff. That was the last straw. She ended up paying the entire bill and we were no longer speaking by the time we left the hotel for the airport. What is scary is this woman has continued to travel the globe; to Iceland, London, Paris, and Beijing!!! <BR>
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How strange...I think I have met this same person. Speaks with a New York accent? Always whining? Complains about everything? Tries to chisel everybody in sight? With "friends" like that, who needs enemies?
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I don't know if I am laughing or crying.. There is *always* one of these on any ship, on any tour bus and in any hotel lobby. <BR> <BR>My "fave" is the American lecturing the desk clerk in the hotel in Budapest about how irrational their subway system was. All that validating! And those inspectors!! He remained polite under very trying circumstances. He and I had commiserated after she left. [I had learned some Hungarian and he would "make" me use it to get my key! No Hungarian. No key!] In my opinion the Budapest subway is a model of efficiency, if not always charm. And the inspectors seem to be pretty fair in who they stop. My Hungarian companion got stopped as much as I did. <BR> <BR>I hope others will share their experiences, but that we can keep this from degenerating into the "ugly tourist" thread. <BR>
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In June, my husband played in a soccer tournament in Spain. It was in a small town up the coast from Barcelona called Calella. I decided to go with him, even though I was hesitant about travelling with his team and their spouses. But, it was an inexpensive trip. Well, I learned that there are some people who should never leave the US. There was one woman who wore two watches the entire time (one for US time, one for Spain). The entire trip we heard how the food is better in the U.S., the U.S. has better muffins, the people are friendlier, etc. She refused to attempt Spanish (as did many of the people in our group) and didn't understand why there were no English speaking waiters. She refused to try any local food, always seeking out the closest thing to American food. I went on a bus trip to Montserrat one day while the team was practicing and invited her. She didn't want to go, because she didn't want to leave the town (so she stayed behind and slept until 1:30pm) and go "so far away in a strange place." However, she doesn't like beaches, and refused to go to the beautiful nearby beach. Another woman on the tour consistently ordered paella, pronouncing it each time pie-ella. Several people in the group refused to understand the money, calling pesetas pesos, pesottas - everything but the correct name. It was definitely a group of ugly Americans. I have since decided to re-evaluate travelling with my husband's soccer team. <BR>
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i am erin's sister (the original author) and what i actually said after the 100th prosciutto comment was, "it is only prosciutto once it has been prepared, cured whatever. you can't just look at a pig's foot or leg in a window and call it prosciutto", which is what she was doing. it drove me batty! <BR>
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The person described in the original post sounds like many tourists. Ugh. My sympathies, 100%. There is/was a faculty member in my college who liked to impress people by naming all of the cities he had visited. He knew nothing of the culture, the language, or the history, but he could roll off a long list of big museum names, sans contents. Most of the time he got the right museum linked to the right city. (The Prado was not in Paris, etc.) <BR>What a boor, bore, and boar. <BR> <BR>But to show how good it can be with the right person, this past September I went to Switzerland with my girl friend and travelling companion. She marvelled at the scenery; shopped the markets and stores; enjoyed the different foods; found new friends all along the way; was cheerful, adaptable, prepared, agreeable, positive in attitude, efficient; coped well with the unexpected; and was a darn good driver over those Swiss mountains. Great trip; great experience; great fun. And, oh yes, she has been my wife for 40 years. <BR>
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AAAAAARRRRRGGGGHHHHH! The WORST travel companion ever on the face of the earth since time immemorial was...REBECCA. <BR> <BR>Four women (3 of us have travelled to Europe together; guess the one who DIDN'T)flew to San Francisco for the weekend. Our rule is: bring what you can carry. WELL, ReBECca decided to bring huge bags, and then beg us to help her. When we got stuck in the airport because the flight was delayed, she proceeded to get sloshed on alcohol... which did NOT improve her temperment. <BR> <BR>We arrive in San Francisco and are met by our friend (with whom we were staying). He generously gave up his VERY neat living room to us. ReBECca proceeded to spill Coke, drop crumbs, and leave her debris EVERYWHERE. One bathroom...it took her an hour to get ready (mind you, FIVE of us were sharing the bathroom). No matter WHAT time we were scheduled to leave, SHE was late. Then, lo and behold, she invites some INTERNET PENPAL ON OUR TRIP TO NAPA VALLEY. So instead of FIVE people in a Suburu 4x4, we now have SIX and we barely fit. She proceeds to get blotto while sampling all the wines, flirts with every man she sees, and abuses every waitperson, salesclerk and service person she can find. THEN, on the way back, on those twisting, winding roads, SHE'S PUNCHING AND PINCHING AND WAVING HER HANDS IN FRONT OF THE FACE OF OUR FRIEND, THE DRIVER!! (who deliberately had NOT had a thing to drink all day to ensure a safe ride home). I had my hands around her throat when the other women pulled me off. <BR> <BR>I still shudder when someone says her name.... <BR>
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Traveled with a mostly friendly group to Turkey. Could not believe some people had no interest in the country, people, etc and would suggest to waiters how to prepare their meals. Further, many women wore shorts, sleeveless shirts, etc and were appalled when they got stares. However, my favorite story belongs to my friend who went with a group to China. A couple complained that all there was to eat waas Chinese food. <BR> <BR>Sounds like BABBIT (sp?) to me.
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I am afraid that after 10 days of traveling with me, my boyfriend will be joining the "horrible travel companion support group"! I am an avid planner and he is a fly by the seat of his pants kind of guy. <BR> <BR>I will be scouring this forum for his sob stories in December!! <BR>
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Don't you LOVE this string! Our most recent "experience" was in the Middle East. A woman with a voice like Donald Duck on steroids was always shouting at her husband; "Arthur! Arthur!" Sort of like one of those old Paris taxicab horns only louder. We made a brief "pit stop" one day at what I can only describe as a primitive potty. She was in great form when she shouted, "Arthur, Arthur! Make sure you use the toilet...and be sure to wash your hands." Have you ever seen 20 adults cringe? We did!
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You have all been on the same trips as me!!! It is a small world. I can't tell all my stories because I have told everyone I know how great this site is so some of them might read it and recognize themselves. But one I can tell because the irritant is not a friend of mine and hopefully I will never see her again. Several years ago I went on an bike trip with an organized group. I went by myself because all the females I usually travel with didn't want to go (afraid they would mess up their hair I think). Anyway, it was a group thing so I knew I would not be alone. First day there about 8 people in the group. I am the only female by myself. We were all in a van together headed for our first ride of the trip when one lady realized that I did not have a companion. She starts, "you came by yourself? Oh that is so great!, etc., etc." This goes on and on and I'm thinking what's the big deal? The whole 4 days, whenever the group encountered someone new she told them---"She came on this trip alone!" When the group broke up at the end she had to exclaim one more time "I can't believe you came alone!" <BR>AAAAAUGH!!!!! <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>
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To Bob Brown (poster, above) Cheers to you and your intrepid traveling companion! Your delightful post made my evening.
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I travel with one of my best friends who, unfortunately, really grates on my nerves after about 4 weeks together. She doesn't look where she's going and either bumps into me or kicks the back of my shoe, jarring my back; she puts her wet towel on the end of my bed when her bed has nothing on it; she puts her drying underwear on door handles then makes a face when I have to move it to get into a room, open wardrobe doors, etc; she says she doesn't need new glasses but must stand two inches in front of a painting to read the artist's name; she continually says she feels unwell but is never actually sick and is irritated if I don't ask how she is every 1/2 hour; she gets irritated with me if we get lost although she hasn't been any assistance with the maps whatsoever - I could go on. She is a good friend but EXTREMELY IRRITATING to go away with. I am not without my own irritating habits either, I'm sure, but I do try not to be. She seems to count on my patience, which runs very thin after such close quarters for a few weeks. I haven't lost my cool but get very stressed holding it in!
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Well, the guy I'm about to describe wasn't exactly a travelling companion by choice. On a tour to Hamburg with a bunch of military spouses/soldiers, we spent quite a few hours on a bus with some really bad travellers. One in particular was a young man who had absolutely no clue. At one point we were stopped next to an Imbiss (snack stand) Outside of it were some tables and chairs, meant for customers of course. Well, this guy had bought a burger from McDonald's and decided to sit down outside of this Imbiss. The German lady (she must have been at least 60 yrs old) came out and asked him to move ( in German). He started saying "What?" really loud and made comments that she should learn to speak English. At that point a security guard stepped in and told him, in English, that he needed to move. He then puffed up like a rooster and challenged the guard asking him what he was going to do about it. After he settled down, the guard left. But he couldn't let well enough alone. A few minutes later, he stepped in front of the Imbiss and stared into the shop at the lady. They both just stared each other down until she picked up a giant butcher's knife and made a motion of slitting her (his) throat. Needless to say, he was shocked. He went ahead and boarded the bus, but we had to listen to his stupidity for the rest of the trip. <BR>
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I happily admit I was lucky when I selected a travelling companion because I got a champion. That does not make me immune to bad travelling ompanions. We have seen our share. <BR> <BR>But here is something for contributors to this thread to dwell on: are bad travelers like alcoholics? <BR>Both are willfully compulsive in their behavior, and they are constantly enabled and tolerated by the people around them. Hence they are successful in their irritating behavior. Nothing stops the behavior for a long time, and the drunk or bad traveler is able to assert a measure of control over the environment. <BR> <BR>No one likes to confront a drunk and address the subject his/her destructive behavior. Most of us suffer in silence and let the drunk ruin our lives; and we do the same with these bozo travelers because we avoid confrontation until pushed to the absolute limit. In the meantime, they ruin or lives. Then there is usually an explosion and lost friendships. <BR> <BR>I am not a psychologist. So if there is one out there who reads these postings, a few contributions here might help us cope with the situation. I do not know if any research studies have been done on the subject. <BR>
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On a recent Baltic cruise my wife and I were joined by another couple at breakfast. The woman immediately, for no apparent reason, started complaining about their travels in Italy. She was particularly down on Venice, describing a multitude of petty and imagined problems. After about five minutes of this my wife, a native of Venice, proceeded to point out her exaggerations and even lies. When she looked at her husband for sympathy, he said "Well, you really stuck your foot in it this time." <BR>We watched her during the rest of the cruise and it was the same story everywhere we went - she complained about everything. She wasn't our travel companion, thank God, but I felt sorry for her husband. <BR>
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Call Dr. Laura at once!!! <BR> <BR>
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On our cross-over ferry ride from Algeciras to Morocco, the ferry was late one hour due to bad weather. During the whole ride all you could hear was this whinny american lady with a heavy southern accent complaining on how her shopping time was been cut and that she wanted a refund (?!). It was embarrasing!
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This is a related "awful travel companion" story - about myself and my mother. She and I went out East (PEI, Canada) a few years ago and stayed in a very nice B&B. In the evening we were sitting in the living room wiht the owners and one another VERY quite couple. My mother, myself and the owners got talking about traveling and how terrible it is too see Americans abroad, hwo we get mistaken for Americans, how loud Americans are, etc. I finaly turned to the other VERY quite couple, trying to draw them into some conversation, by asking them where they were from. They relied that they were from New England! That was one of my biggest "foot in mouth" situations!
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I have been exerting great selfcontrol since returning from France last month! I have really been tempted to start a thread about my travel companion from HELL. Now you guys have started it and I can't resist! Our group was 4, 3 ladies and 1 man. One was (and is still) my best friend, her neighbor, the only guy, and another girl I had only met once before. My friend warned us that this girl was not a morning person and probably would not be along for whatever we did in the am. She arrived in the Paris hotel complaining about her cramping stomach other physical symptoms. Proceded to announce that she needed to "freshen up" before walking the city. "Freshening up" took 1 1/2 hours, while we waited patiently, without washing her hair (which we talked her out of thank goodness)! Once outside, it was pouring rain and very windy, and she announced that she was absolutely NOT getting in a cab or Metro train because of her cramping stomach. She would only walk. So we walked and she complained that she was too "chilled". During our time in Paris this girl spent 3 days shopping for shoes and chocolate (I am not exaggerating). We went to St. Chappell, Isle St. Louis, Giverny, and many other wonderful sights, but she missed them all! She could not get out of bed before 10 am and we didn't wait! This girl could not be bothered to learn even the most basic words of courtesy in French. In 10 days she never learned the coins and would just hand the whole contents of her coin purse to who ever to pick out their own pay. (I found this very insulting to the recipient). She would ask for everything in English, assuming that she would be understood. When she wasn't, she just used the same words over and over, getting louder each time. I could go on and on, but the worst was the last night of the trip. She opened the door to the hotel room she was sharing with our guy friend, saw that the bed was made up to a double, and proceded to yell while standing in the hallway. She threw her luggage down the hall and yelled at the top of her lungs, "What's wrong with these people?! and on and on. The witch from hell. We were terribly embarrased. I don't care if she reads this. Hopefully I'll never see her again. <BR>
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