For the last f time - it's NOT UNCOMPENSATED!!!!!!!!!

The employee is receiving value in the form of a free ride to someplace s/he would like to visit - OR THERE'S NO DEAL.

If one isn't interested in where I want to go, then that would be a deal-breaker.

Why are you having such a hard time comprehending this?

And besides - I'm a tourist. Why wouldn't I want anyone to know?

Robespierre-'Kate - thanks for the exhaustive commentary. But how about consulting PDAs? I see Londoners, Parisites, and Colognees all referring to them constantly.'

I wouldn't think that was a torusity thing to do at all, quite the reverse.

Anyway there's nothing wrong with looking at a map - I often do, as London streets are notoriously confusing. It's the freebie fold out maps that are the give away.

Being extremely shy and quiet while in public places.

My husband is so concerned about being an "ugly American" that we barely speak above a whisper whilest in Europe. I can't take it anymore. My god, Europeans are human too. I recall seeing a few of them laugh out loud. Shocking, I know. (Note: I am a quiet person who is continually being told to "speak louder," so being identified as a loud American is highly unlikely.)

Here in the U.S., I can usually spot tourists by their shoes, their level of conversation (either too loud or abnormally quiet ala my husband and I), and by stuffing coins in parking meters on a Sunday (when it's free). :-)

What screams tourist? Taking photos of each other standing in front of some object/building/scenery - you know, those horrible "say cheese" photos.

Flashing at works of art or inside churches (disturbs everyone and does harm to the colours, so please don't consider yourselves art lovers).

Inappropriate dress, like girls in bikini tops or guys with bare chests walking round a city centre (where every local is neatly dressed for work or shopping) or entering a place of worship

Loud talking in churches, museums etc.

Loud discussions/complaints about "these Italians", "these Germans" or whatever locals

Standing in everyone's way to take photos

Walking in a large group of people following another person who is waving a brightly colored pennant or umbrella.

Staying overnight within the walls of Rothenburg o.d. Tauber's Altstadt.

I think if you're at a "tourist attraction", you look like a tourist, but why is there anything wrong with that? Every day on my way home from work, I drive past Dealy Plaza/the Grassy Knoll...no matter what the time, there are people there. I assume they are tourists. Even if they had on a business suit and had no camera, I would assume they were tourists, checking out the Kennedy sites. But I certainly don't look down on them in any way. Sure, I appreciate it whe they obey the "walk/don't walk" signs, but I certainly don't care what kind of shoes they're wearing or if they have a fanny pack.

One thing that I do think is funny is how the churches/cathedrals can tell if you're a tourist vs. someone coming to actually pray or attend mass.

Wearing a Madras sports jacket.

The ultimate tourist accesory is the fanny pack.

€

NThea, certainly, that would make you look like a tourist here in Spain :) We are "loud" people !!
But anyway, if you are talking loud in English..chances are you are not a spaniard :))

Robespierre, what is the point of your question? What is your problem with looking like a tourist? What are you going to do with the information others post? Looking for attention?

Robespierre, what is the point of your question? Idle curiosity.

What is your problem with looking like a tourist? See my 12:32.

What are you going to do with the information others post? None of your business.

Looking for attention? Are you?

Me? No. Toodle loo.

Goodness, who cares?

I live in San francisco and we get many, many tourists. I was on the bus on my way to work this morning. Some French people who had their daypacks and their guidebooks and their maps "screamed tourist." So I and a few other people asked them if they needed help finding their stop, etc.

I'm not bothered by tourists reading maps, guidebooks, talking too loudly (they're certainly not the only ones) or too quietly, wearing shorts. Why on earth would I care at all? It's hardly a bother and their visits are providing employment for people in my city who work in hotels, for the taxi companies and many other businesses.

So if you scream "tourist," I scream "I hope you enjoy your visit."

How about those fat American college girls who walk around large cities with "Penn State" or "Abercrombie" written across the behind of their sweatpants?

Talk about advertising on the side of a barn.

Calling historic sites "attractions". Disney World is an attraction.....the Forum is an historical site.

Considering the places they visit a fancy theme park instead of a place where real people live their real daily lives, and the corresponding behaviour.

The speaking loudly and slowly in English gets me.

I was in a bar in Brussels at a table on my own waiting for a friend. A big group came in and a few started taking the chairs around my table "MIND _ IF _ I _ TAKE THIS_???? Eventually I went up to them and said in my native english - "here - take the table so you can all sit together - I'll move over there. Enjoy your drink!" The response was THANK_YOU and then one said to another "Look I told you, some of them speak OK English here"

WOW... what a collection of thoughts here.

I'm just glad I CAN be a tourist once in a while.

If someone would send me, I'll wear white sneakers, baseball cap, slogan'd sweats, (lessee..um...um...) fanny pack, socks with sandals, mary-jane comfortable shoes...

sheesh...does anyone live and let live anymore?

Well, to be fair, Ann1: TfL calls the historic sites/sights "attractions" - as in their tourist bus map: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/pdfdocs/cen_bus.pdf

I think the TfL just don't know a common name for everything on the map :)) Some are attractions and some are historic sites ... at least, they don't call it "theme park" :P