MY HUSBAND HAS ALWAYS WOREN KHAKI OR JEANS WHILE IN ITALY AND PARIS AND WE ARE ALWAYS MISTAKEN FOR SPANISH OR GERMAN TOURIST. BUT TOURIST THE SAME.

Jeez. Wear whatever is comfortable and appropriate.

Brookwood says "my favorite trousers are khaki", yet he leaves them at home for fear total strangers will think less of him for wearing them?! That's a lot of insecurity, in my book.

I skimmed this post, and no where did I see the dreaded fanny pack....My dad wears one with his white tourist tennies and baseball hat, much to my mother's disgust. It does scream "American tourist!!" but he IS an American tourist! As someone else pointed out, Europeans don't appear to care if they look like Europeans. Sadly, another giveaway~Americans, as a society, are pretty fat.......

To the above poster...as for fat...there are plenty of tourists, from other parts of the world, that are fat,too. I travel a lot and see them, but I never hear folks dumping on other cultures about this. So, I get really tired of hearing Americans getting dumped on for that and so what anyway. Happy Travels!

Obesity is a problem in America....sorry, I wasn't "dumping" and didn't mean to offend. A friend from Argentina who recently traveled across the US made the same observation.

While Americans are generally fatter than most (not all) other nationalities, obesity is becoming a much more widespread problem. Even Japan has a big anti-fat campaign going--they will fine companies whose employees don't meet weight-loss/waist-size goals.

Best way to blend in is to carry your tourist bits & pieces - maps, travel guides, camera etc - in a large plastic bag adorned with the logo of a local store.

You will never "blend" just like the movie "My Cousin Vinnie"..just go and enjoy...Don't be condescending, etc. etc. You are from another country, acknowledge it! Ever see the tourists from o'seas in the U.S. ????

longboatkey asked: "Ever see the tourists from o'seas in the U.S. ????"

The ones you see are the ones who fail to blend in.

TRue and the ones who think Tipping is a city in China, or the burned to a crisp red lobster Brits, or the sandal/sock wearing crew, or those who boycott showers and deodorant....yes, I have seen a few....lol

hehehe ... he said obesity is a widespread problem

Wear whatever you like,nobody really cares.But please please leave those Crocs at home,the only europeans wearing them are in working in the Circus.

That's not true about the crocs....nurses in childrens hospitals wear them and people wear them gardening and five year olds love them.

Funny, we saw Crocs on display in a shop window in Nimes, France, just a couple of weeks ago. Go figure.

First time i saw them was in February at Heathrow Airport en route to New York and there was a family (couple and 3 children) all wearing crocs and boy did they look stupid.Boy did i feel sorry for those people,they really did look like clowns.

Crocs, jellies, flip-flops accepted by many as everyday footwear. Just one more sign that the apocalypse is nigh.

Flipflops are not a problem,just leave the Crocs in the BIGTOP.

Indeed they are on sale everywhere in Europe...I just haven't seen that many people actually wearing them. Perhaps they are worn secretly at home.

Hi Lawchick,

You hit the nail on the head.

My husband has 2 pairs he wears at home. In fact, I know a lot of Swiss who have them but wear them as a "house shoe."

I LOVE my ugly Crocs.....their comfort makes up for their lack of fashion!