Without naming specific names from this board (kidding only), they’re the Chinese, Indians and French.

The Japanese are the most polite, quiet and tidy.

These are according to a recent Time Online article.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/2008070...riststhefrench

>The most obnoxious tourists?<

A. The ones from your own country.

B. The ones who speak your language.

C. Everyone else.

D. Especially in large groups, and even more especially if they're a large group of unaccompanied teenagers.

I agree with Ira's comment about "the ones who speak your language." I've been mortified by what I've heard come out of other American's mouths in Europe. However, the tourists whose languages I don't speak could be saying things that are just as rud eor insensitive-I just can't understand them.

What they say is true about the Japanese, however, Japanese tourists tend to tour in large 'herds' which too me, is quite obnoxious. I couldn't tell you how many times my quiet, idyllic village has become anything but, as a multitude of tour buses stop in the town square & spew out 5000 Japanese tourists complete w/a red umbrella holding leader & the accompanying 5000 cameras w/their shutters clicking away...

Here's how the article compared the nature of the American loudmouths and their French conterpart:

"...over 85% of French vacation in-country - and wind up spoiled by it when they leave. "When they go abroad, French travellers demand the same quality they'd get at home," de Roux says. "Americans, by contrast, demand the same exceptional service they are used to at home, which is why they rank as the loudest, most inclined to complain, and among the least polite."

No country has cornered the market on manners.

That is certain.

"Americans, by contrast, demand the same exceptional service they are used to at home, which is why they rank as the loudest, most inclined to complain, and among the least polite."

Well let me shoot the first hole in that statement. Exceptional service? Tell me exactly where that is found.

If you asked the Swiss who are the most obnoxious tourists, they'd answer with a loud reply: The Germans!

There's a joke among the Swiss:

Where's the best European place to visit in the summer? Germany. All the Germans are gone on holiday.

No offence, German Fodorites.

I'd have to concur that it's the Germans, but that's just my own experience. There are obnoxious tourists of every nationality.

And yeah, I'd love to know where we Americans get "exceptional service." NOT my experience!

I have to agree that it makes a big difference whether one can understand what other tourists are saying or not! When I hear, say, British, American or French tourists speaking loudly I usually can't help listening to what they are saying and, of course, cringing if they are behaving obnoxiously or whinging. If they were speaking another language that I couldn't understand I would probably tune them out.
(My own personal prize for obnoxious behaviour would go to a group of French tourists encountered on safari in South Africa, who actively ruined what could have been a spectacular game sighting.)

I have not encountered obnoxious Americans yet, not during my three European trips. Quite the opposite, I noted that Americans were over-the-top polite, generous (in leaving substantial tip), and self-conscious as not to offend the hosts.

I did encounter German tourists, who were loud and obnoxious and downright pushy. I also encountered Italians IN ITALY, who completely disregarded us standing in line in a rental car agency and pushed to the front.

These were my experiences and I appreciate that someone else's experiences may have been different.

Anna Roz

The ranking:

The World's Best Tourists, Ranking From Best to Worst, 2008

1. Japanese
2. German/British (tie) (The Germans were considered the tidiest of all nationalities.)
3. Canadian (The most popular tourists in their own country were the Canadians as well.)
4. Swiss
5. Dutch
6. Australian/Swedish (tie)
7. Belgian
8. Norwegian
9. Austrian/Danish/Finnish (tie)
10. New Zealanders (Kiwi)
11. U.S. American/Thai (tie)
12. Irish/Czech/South African/Portugese (tie)
13. Brazilian
14. Italian/Greek/Polish (tie)
15. Turkish
16. Spanish
17. Mexican
18. Russian
19. French ...The French didn't do too well, coming in, as you can see at 19th. They were seen as the most “fiscally conservative,” presumably when it comes to such matters as tipping.
20. Indian
21. Chinese

I wonder if local merchants ever complain about the spending that goes on by those "large herds" or tourists?

While my experiences are somewhat limited, I have been to Hawaii on numerous occasions and to Rothenburg ob der Tauber on numerous occasions, both of which are overrun with Japanese tourists.

I have not found them to be "most polite". They are pushy and totally inconsiderate of those around them. But at least they do smile alot!

I understand that the Germans are very demanding. They are also quite loud, especially after a few too many beers or glasses of wine.

Most of the Americans I have come into contact with in the last 10 yrs seem to be "quieter" than when I first started traveling over 30 yrs ago. Maybe we've just become more experienced tourists.

When I was in Paris last year, I asked a few residents about their feelings on American tourists, and they said Americans were fine... they were much more concerned with Chinese and Italian tourists. They felt that the Chinese didn't know what to do with their new money and they hadn't been schooled in travel etiquette, and that the Italians were just loud and pushy.

Their words... not mine.

Has anyone ever encountered a Japanese honeymoon tour? This is an observation, not a criticism. The young couples were all very polite, attractive and quiet even when talking to each other. We were on the TGV from Geneva to Paris--their luggage was all the same, they were wearing alot of similar designer clothes and gear, they were all reading the same guide book to Paris in Japanese (maybe Fodor's, too long ago to be Rick Steves), and were given boxed lunches of which we were very envious as the food service in 2nd class was dismal!

I've had lots of trouble with Asians agressively cutting in line--the last time it happened to me the German hotel clerk gave the person a real dressing down and sent him to the back of the line. I haven't been to Asia but I think this is partly due to local custom.

That said, the worst for cutting in line were my fellow Americans when Southwest Airlines had a free-for-all to get on its planes. This has improved with the A,B,C boarding queues.

1. Don't expect to find much food left at a buffet breakfast after the Germans and Italians have descended. They fill shopping bags of breakfast food items so they don't have to buy lunch.

2. Don't be surprised at the "tough guy" attitude of Israeli young people traveling in groups.

3. Don't be in a hurry when Brits ask questions. They go on and on and on. They seem so lonely.

4. Don't be surprised when you see your water bill after the Japanese have been taking showers.

From what I've read and seen, jerks come in all nationalities. Similarly, the tourist herds and hoards are often the most obnoxious, no matter what nationality.

I think those of us who speak English are more quickly mortified by other English speaking tourists simply because we can understand their comments (and/or perhaps to make ourselves feel less embarrassed by our own traveling foibles).

Husband travels frequently in China. Standing in line is just not in their culture in many circustances. For instance, if they are at a buffet, they don't wait to go past all the offerings, they just walk up to whatever they want. At least this is what husband found on his business travels. Rudest tourists I ever encountered were a group of British school children running around the Tower of London and a family of Southeast Asians pushing to the front of a bus queue in Chicago.
www.hereinfranklin.wordpress.com

I have noted that different countries have different effects on various tourist nationalities. Some nationalities are completely obnoxious in Asia and well-behaved in Europe, for example.

Nevertheless, I would agree that the Japanese are the "best" tourists, but it is not necessarily to their credit. Just about all of them that I have seen will put up with any indignity or terrible service, because they are too polite to say anything. It would be better if they learned how to complain sometimes.

On the other hand, Americans and French often complain ahead of time, when they would do better to shut up and just wait to see what happens.