....their lack of any effort to speak the local language.

...the way their actions reflect on me.

Travelers that can't spell.

There are probably a million things that one could say about our fellow travelers, but I try to remember that it's not easy being out of one's element. I know I probably do dumb things when I'm traveling, especially as I get older. It's difficult just keeping it together at home sometimes. But at least they are out there seeing the world and maybe gaining a little experience and self awareness.

The way some of them feel compelled to dwell upon their perceived superiority to other travellers.

<<Message: Travelers that can't spell.
>>....huh??

ie. as in 'traveler vs traveller'
http://www.merriamwebster.com/cgi-bi...p;va=traveller

Main Entry: trav?el?er
Variant(s): or trav?el?ler

....their lack of ability to contribute anything meaningful to a valid debate

This is a valid debate ?

PLURAL

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=travelers

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=travellers

My vote goes to dictionary.com

i might just agree with bettyk. i have seen some pretty embarrassing things done by fellow americans on holiday (so much so that my friends and i would only speak in french around those on vacation from the US), but there is something to be said for those who actually go out and experience europe, or any "foreign" land for that matter. i know how much of a difference it made in my parents (their first trip to europe was when i was studying in france). the egocentric view of many americans is never broadened, and so maybe the best thing for us to do when we are confronted with behaviour we would never imagine inflicting on a host country is to tell ourselves, "well, at least they got out of their state and their 'everything in america is better' mindset and enjoyed so many of the wonderful things other countries have to offer."

Debating the price of mayonaise is more valid than debating this innane topic.

....their gang mentality on message boards

Whatever the transgression, I figure that I didn't raise 'em and I didn't mail 'em to Europe.

Just enjoy the opportunity to prove that not all tourists are loud, rude and/or uninformed and set the record straight.

bx3: I admire your optimism, but I suspect that the Americans whose behavior you find inappropriate are often those who do NOT get out of the "everything-is-better-in-America" mindset and therefore do not even enjoy the wonderful things other countries have to offer.

1. Not trying to learn a few words or phrases of the foreign language, even as little as ?hello? ?good morning? or ?thank you.?

2. Expecting to find ?America? in a foreign country, such as the quality of pensions or other types of small hotels, the food, or the language (see #1).

Monica

I think the most annoying thing is when they expect the other countries to be "Americanized" or similar to their lifestyle. When I was in Japan I heard a lady freak out over the food menu because there was nothing "good". Hey, if you want to dwell in your own lifestyle, then why even leave the country?!

Talk about embarrassing, Americans talking in french in order to disguise themselves in France.

Now THAT is annoying.

Okay folks, how come when I put words in quotes they don?t come out properly? Or the apostrophe?