I can see at least a few posters making fun of Americans who insist on change in USD. But at a hotel in Copenhagen, I witnessed a Frenchman who paid his bill in Euros and got back change in Danish kroner (Denmark does not use the Euro). He was incensed and took it out on the clerk - the clerk was equally responsive although she remained polite.

Hi shr90602

If you do a lot of traveling you will come across some outrageous behavior. People tend to remember the bad better than the good. Thus, lots of stories about rude behavior.

Thash aw rite Sue_xx_yy, them folksh in Italy will unnershtan why (hic). b(

>Make sure that when you plug in your hair dryer in those "old Europe" wall plugs that you can blow every fuse in the hotel.<

Oh lawsey,

Travelled with friends many years ago. Woman plugged in hair dryer while AC was on and blew fuse.

Called for help. Man came up and replaced fuse. AC went back on. Woman turned on hair dryer and blew fuse.

Repeat above.

Man brought up a handful of fuses and told us to replace them ourselves.

My tips to Europeans who are receiving americans in their own countries:

1 - If you see someone who is speaking to you in some language that looks like English but can't speak a word in another language, they are Americans!

2 - If you see some people dressed with nylon clothes, tennis shoes and bsketball caps, they are Americans and don't forget they don't speak other languages!

3 - If you see people so eager and in such a fuss wanting to see all churches, monuments and historical places in just two or three days don't be astonished: they are Americans, don't have any history, need to go to your country to see what it is.

4 - If you see McDonalds full for breakfast , those people are Americans, they are used to junk food and won't have their continental breakfasts in the budget hotels where they stay.

I could go on and on with my tips but I'm preparing my trip to Paris again. Wonder why America doesn't appeal much to me:)

Remember kids, if you need to check your map, the best thing to do is a dead stop in the middle of the sidewalk. It's even better if your whole family joins in the map consulting, thus blocking more, or possibly all of, the sidewalk.....

Sue__xx__yy, actually, I think you've hit on the secret of happy European travel. :)

We've all had lots of fun laughing at typical american mistakes, but just remember, Europe gets a big frown when crazy American goofballs stop coming around.

Oh, we Americans will keep going abroad, don't worry about that Degas! $$$ still makes us superior, right? My favorite ugly American sightings: 1) 20-year old boys in my study-abroad group ('92) going to take pictures of women on the nude beaches in Spain, 2)the senior citizens on my trip to Costa Rica 'tipping' with the biggest coins (worth .10 cents) in their pockets for awesome service, and 3) a woman down the hall in a Paris hotel who complained that her BM wouldn't flush down the funny toilet!

Uncle Sam,

Your reaction to this thread is just as hilarious as the original post. Some of these jokes must be hitting too close to home!

Are the Unwashed Masses doing a lot of traveling these days?

US, in his oh so patriotic way makes a point. These topics are silly and fun. I get a great kick out of them myself. But let's admit it, it does make one feel a bit better about oneself to know that you are not the one committing any of these faux pas.

Travelers are just people. They exhibit the same character abroad that they do back home. It's all about how you've been raised. If you live a narrow minded, self centered existence, then that's what you portray when you travel. Someone who is rude in Paris, France is equally as rude in Paris, Texas. Equally true, someone who puts down anyone who doesn't follow the decorum, does so in their everday, non-traveling life.

I am lucky enough to have The Mall of America in my city. We get oodles of foreign visitors flying in here to shop. Believe me, Americans have not cornered the market on rude behavior. I've spoken with many taxi drivers throughout the U.S. and they always tell me that Asians, especially Koreans do not tip black cab drivers. What's that about? I asked a Korean friend of mine about it and she said it's true and then gave an extremely racist and offensive reason for the behavior (we stopped socializing shortly after the aforementioned conversation).

Frankly, I don't think it's that big of deal. It's simply humor, albiet at the expense of others.

Plus, I've actually learned from these threads, as I would not have known not to touch merchandise in Italian shops. I would have been one of those obnoxious Americans starring in one of Degas' trip reports :-)

According to one of our European guides, Americans are no longer considered #1 in the demanding and obnoxious department...another nationality seems to have won that dubious achievement.

Germans?

That's my boy!

Uncle Sam...ditto..

That reminds me of the quintessential Ugly German I overheard who, on seeing the baths of Caracalla, exclaimed: "Look at all those ruins. Must be remainders from the war". :-))

All nations have their share of idiot tourists...

It is kind of funny. I told my 9 year old that when we are out and about in London to keep her voice down. I told her not to speak so loudly especially on the tube. She has now adopted a very soft voice and I am constantly shouting," Pardon me! What! What! What!"

If I remember the report correctly, it was actually the British who won the dubious honor of most obnoxious travelers. Not my personal experience, but...

"Uncle Sam,

Your reaction to this thread is just as hilarious as the original post. Some of these jokes must be hitting too close to home! "

Sorry, not in the least. I just cannot figure out why Americans like to diss their fellow citizens.

I suspect its so they'll look more sophisticated to the Euros they so desparately want to impress and whose approval they so desparately need!

US

Uncle_sam, you are a true ray of sunshine. All your warm, positive posts remind me of frisky puppies and bright fields of colorful wildflowers.

Personally, I don't like "diss"ing any nation.There's good and bad everywhere; and, for sure, the good are not all Scots and and thebad are not all non-Scots.

What's sauce for the goose, Sam....

I did fine the first post very funny, Flyboy