I think that it's because American women find the accent so exotic, kind of weak in the knees so they European men, esp the Brits can use it to their advantage!

Savannah you are the easy American that Christina just described. it is better than someone i knew a year back who got married at 18, never had more than one partner & used to constantly justify how happy her life was when she found every other guy off the street "fascinating"! too bad she never got it out of her system by finding someone too early in her life.

Um, I wouldn't say that I am easy. Trust me, many men have tried to conquer but have failed.

The only place I have been chatted up by cute French guys in the past 35 years was in England. Once in Brighton and once in London, both as I was sitting on a park bench. They were both students in England for the summer working on their English. They both picked me to talk to presumably because I reminded them of their mothers.

good savannah. at least you aren't like that person i desribed whose life was one justification and guilt trip after other! sometimes finding a soulmate too early hurts!

"most women are easy given the right circumstances. so are all men."

Schua, this statement is unbelieveably offensive and not true. Maybe you should surround yourself with better people.

Yes Schuba, I was a bit insulted by the insinuation. My original post was just about me attempting to broaden my social prospects with the locals while I am abroad. I'm not hung up on finding a soul mate there or anywhere for that matter. Another stereotype is that "finding a soulmate is the most important thing to all women and that her entire life is based upon making this happen" More like wishful thinking on men's part.

sorry! no need to take personally. i apologize to you both and others.

There is nothing wrong with meeting people on vacation, men included. Use the same discretion that you would use at home. It is interesting to talk to people of different countries, no big deal.

This is an interesting and light hearted thread! OP you have to post a trip report on this social experiment. I plan to follow your path in early march 2008 :)

A recommendation:
If you want to meet quality people with interests like yours, follow your interests and not the party music (unless your interest is in partying ;) )

Good places to meet a potential romantic interest while traveling are likely to be the kind of places you'd meet someone to your liking at home: library, museum, university, gym, concert (classical, rock, jazz?), auto rally, sporting event, food market ... you begin a step ahead because you have something to talk about. (If your target can't keep up his/her end of the discussion, you know you may be dealing with a "fake enthusiast.")

How many times have you heard a woman bemoan the fact that the guy she met in a club turned out to be the kind of guy who likes picking up girls in clubs? Was he misrepresenting himself?! So, sit in at an art auction, seek out a musical event, whatever floats your boat. (Take a boat ride, too!) Yes, some events draw people on dates, but not all. And some are not pricey: concerts at universities tend to be inexpensive and to draw a lot of single people - even older singles.

Also, try spots where your expat countrymen hang out: meet a nice couple from home who live there in Paris, Rome, etc, they will always have some single friend they want you to meet. Or sign up for a class of some kind while abroad: you never know.

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I'm reminded of the touch-and-go flirting and eventual results between Kate Hepburn and Rosanno Brazzi in "Summertime." If you haven't seen it, get it NOW (the DVD is gorgeous, from the original negative, a fantastic sense of the romance and beauty of Venice) and includes this:

Jane: "I don't know what your experience of American women is ..."

Renato: "My experience is that they are more experienced than I."

Useful tomassocroccante. I have been propositioned by guys on the street, in the subway, cab drivers, you name it! You have to be picky anywhere but it is good to be wanted. Foreign accent and interaction are different!

Geez...and here I was thinking I only had to be careful of Italian Men!

Careful? Because the knees get weaker?!

Geez! I am out of this thread.

Schuba- don't worry. I've forgiven you for your incredibily sexist comment.

I love travel, and I debated on posting the thread on a serious legitimate travel website such as this...but I am glad everyone is having fun with it!

Your posts on this topic are fun! Are you able to elaborate on your social experiment with the british guys in your last trip? How did it go?

When I traveled to London last, I was with a couple of my girlfriends. And I am usually the most outgoing in any group of people so I made sure we looked approachable. We met most of the guys at bars and lounges as I'm not really a nightclub kind of girl. Most of the men that I met were more or less good conversation for the evening and good for a few free drinks. With our weak $$, every bit helps!

This will be my first Paris trip, and I suppose I may have been influenced by the American stereotypes of French people. Just hoping there are a few friendly ones over there. I need to have a few good stories to pass off to my married friends!

Savannah, you sound like a fun person and an experienced traveler, so I don't think you'll have to worry about rudeness in France. My experience and a lot of others on this board is that the reports of French rudeness are greatly exaggerated. Of course, there IS rudeness, but the times it was directed at me I also noticed it was directed against everyone, not me personally.

Have a fantastic trip! And yes, we will want to hear about your male-female adventures.

I'd certainly advise my daughter from accepting free drinks from strangers of any ethnicity, whether at home or overseas. Too many risks, in my opinion.

I notice you said "French" men, and I don't know if you mean "French" ethnicity, or if you are referring generally to men who are located in Paris. It's extremely likely that you will get attention from men of Turkish or North African descent, in my experience (and my daughter's), and not just in Paris.

Nona1, that must have been one mortifying experience!