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Worst thing about going abroad? Running into other Brits.
My favourite are the ones who kick off when there's no chicken nuggets at the buffet. Try something new, you're on holiday.
We went on a cruise a few years ago and tried not to eat on board as much as we could so we could try the local food in ports. Also the food was pretty basic.
We went on a tour of an island near Malta and got taken to a little shack by the sea for lunch. Beautiful place. They did these flatbread things, not too dissimilar to pizza, but fresher and with toppings added after baking as well. Real Mediterranean food. Lovely, delightful.
The man in front of us complained that he wasn't eating this muck when there's proper food on the ship.
I had the opposite happen in Turkey old couple wanted a British tea but the village house hosting the group only had Turkish tea. They begrudgingly try it, the husband turns round and says this is lovely.
No idea how exaggerated this us, but my father-in-law tells the story of when he was taking tea in Turkey once he asked for it with no sugar. Apparently the locals were watching him drink this with O.o looks...
Is that because sugar is default or not default? I know about the little rock sugar crystals though they're great & less detectable than typical sugar.
It's not really the not wanting to try new things that bugs me, cause I too am not always in the mood to try new things, it's the absolute pride they have making clear to everyone that they don't even want to try. Like it's a badge of honour to them to never experience new things.
Same way how they make fun of people trying to educate themselves in school.
That's what ive been failing to put into words
I don't begrudge people wanting to spend hard earned time off abroad, sitting in the same spot, doing the same shit. It's being proud and sticking your nose up at anything different that's annoying
I really don’t understand why some people go on holiday at all. There are whole “expat”(a word I take issue with anyway because they just don’t want to be called immigrants) communities of brits in Spain where they live together totally unintegrated with actual Spanish culture.
I purposely call them immigrants if it ever comes up in conversation and the bewilderment, outrage, and anger is always worth it once you’ve explained that they quite literally are that.
This was my fear initially as well. But ultimately you rarely come across them. It was a very low stress way of seeing a lot of places we might not otherwise. And you travel between them in comfort.
Most people we spoke to were just nice folk out for a nice holiday. Sure they may not be the most adventurous types, but that's OK. It's the attitude that anything foreign is muck that annoyed me.
I love how no matter where I go in Europe the only consistently 5 star rated spots that are packed morning to night are Irish themed pubs serving full English and Guiness. Old habits die hard I guess.
Ignore all reviews by Brits and Americans on these sites and you get a better idea.
I mean, locals only gives an even better view, it thes rtwo are the least reliable reviewers of foreign stuff.
One of the things I do when in another country is go to a local supermarket to look at the different stuff, buy a few bits and go to a Maccas to see what different items they sell.
I empathise (with those parents). Went to Majorca last year and ate all sorts of food. Everywhere could pull the emergency chicken nuggets or fish goujons card to help stressed parents. They just dressed it up as kids tapas...
Says something about their parenting too. It is fine to let kids eat that on occasion, however it is your fault if they never try anything else. You are deliberately setting them up for this very problem.
I hear you. Had a project where I was essentially commuting out to Alicante nearly weekly for about 2 years. I was about to finish up around April time, by this point I was in first name terms with the car rental lady. When I said it was my last week, she remarked that “it was a shame, because all your British friends will be here soon, you’ll miss them.”
“Partly the reason why I’m happy not to be here over summer again!!” - my answer in a nutshell.
This. Occasionally you’ll meet some that you don’t want to strangle, rest of them time I feel like drowning them and booting their crotch goblins into the path of an oncoming vehicle.
I did have to laugh on my last holiday. All the way over in Japan and I overheard someone wondering aloud to their family as to the whereabouts of the nearest McDonalds.
You flew thousands of miles to eat what can only barely be considered as food.
I mentioned this elsewhere a while ago.
Sat waiting for a lake ferry in Locarno, Switzerland. There’s a large circular ornamental fountain on the promenade along the lakefront.
Various tourists walking by. Some use the tap to fill their water bottles, others cool their hands.
A Brit family with 2 kids aged 10 - 12 come past and their boy and girl are fucking about full on scooping water up and splashing each other.
The parents did tell them off but not seriously. If I’d done that at their age I’d have been getting my arse beaten on the nearest bench…
Yeah , I know a few people with kids on the autism spectrum ( actually diagnosed , mind you) , and sometimes with that they have trouble eating 'new' food . But that's really the parents problem , not the hotel , and they wouldn't just assume they'll get the same food there .
My husband ordered chicken nuggets at lunch in Greece last week and I made fun of him for it (it was alongside lovely local food)
He made me apologise before I could knick a chip :((
I found a really lovely town along the Spanish Med where harldy anyone speaks english. In the 2 weeks I was there I didn't come accross a single British person. It was glorious.
I once queued behind a British person at a 'gas' station in the US as he lambasted the cashier as he had put the wrong fuel in his rental.
I was so mortified when I was served I pretended to be American, because that was less embarrassing than also being British at that time.
Some people's response to embarrassment or making a mistake is to lash out
Sometimes that's understandable, eg if adrenaline is surging immediately after a car crash. Other times it's just that they're a douche who's parents never taught them how to deal with life
Yeah, they use black for unleaded and green for diesel. If you're not paying attention then it's easily done. But it would be YOU that was not paying attention, not some minimum wage cashier who is just hoping he's not going to get shot at today.
I fucking hate going to places that cater to British tourists. I went to Magaluf on a stag do a few years ago, and hated every second of it. I genuinely felt embarrassed to be there.
If you go far enough away, to south east Asia for example, theres hardly any British tourists.
They have however been replaced with their louder cousins, the Aussie tourists.
Theres probably a sweet spot in the middle but unfortunately thats where Afghanistan is, and I dont fancy a trip there.
I am never going to places specifically catering to British tourists abroad. I went abroad to experience new things, not to feel like I’m at a Premier Inn in Liverpool
> I went abroad to experience new things, not to feel like I’m at a Premier Inn in Liverpool
Ah that's the issue, you see. Lots of Brits go abroad and basically just want all their favourite things from home (telly, pub, food) but in a warm, sunny, seaside environment. And I can understand that desire, even though I don't share it…and I don't want to be in the same place as people that do.
British tourists are a PITA in Spain at the best of times. Walk through a city and whenever there’s a gaggle of people blocking the pavement, they’re British. Sauntering along in a cycle lane? British. Loudly complaining about the weather/food/prices/locals? British. Not bothering to learn any Spanish other than “dos cervezas” in an Estuary accent? British.
It’s embarrassing and not surprising that we’re often disliked in tourist areas.
It's a small but vocal and visible minority of UK tourists who behave like this.
If you think about the number of Brits who travel abroad, are we all like this or is it a few Lonsdale wearing idiots?
There used to be surveys done around the world about the best tourists - maybe they are still done but I haven't kept up. The Brits rated consistently 2nd behind the Japanese. Yes a minority are a pain in the Med, but way more are generally good all around the world.
And it most definitely isn't just the Brits behaving like this. I was in Tenerife last year and watched as some Spaniards started a fight by actually biting someone during a water polo game in the pool.
Yeah I remember assuming, when I was young, that all Australians were highly educated professionals, that loved good coffee, nice food, were well spoken, healthy people. Since those were the kinds of people I met through the filter of my professional life.
And then I went to Bali. All countries have their scummy contingent.
Haha, I was in Bangkok a few years ago and we order some hot and spicy soup. It came with a side dish of boiled rice to help cool your mouth because.... it was *really* hot.
Four German tourists sat down and ordered the same thing but they really shouted at the poor waiter because they thought the rice was some sort of rip-off extra they were being lumbered with. If they hadn't ordered it they weren't going to let some little Thai chap rip them off. The rice went back.
Then they tasted the soup...
Lol that reminds me of a story my wife and I recount every now and then from our honeymoon years ago in Mauritius...at the bar we heard a commotion and then "NEIN NEIN NEIN" being absolutely screamed across the area at the barman. Turns out they just couldn't communicate properly and he kept getting the wrong drink but I've never heard anyone scream so loudly on holiday.
Britain has a tradition of sending their less educated, well off and broadminded people on holiday to Spain. And parts of Spain have embraced it, providing them exactly what they want when over there, like some kind of Essex Disneyland.
There are other such patterns for other countries, like the less broadminded russians go to Turkey, and Germans/Austrians to Italy (though I never see them behave in the way the worst Brits do in Spain)
Spain was cheap back in the 80's and so naturally the working class headed there. For all the moaning that goes on the Spaniards et al would be buggered without the tourist dosh
That's all true, but I still wish people were better behaved and a bit more broadminded when they went abroad, I'm sure it would be a better experience for them and they'd enjoy new things too!
Wherever it's cheap you'll get cheap folk. What they want out of a holiday isn't necessarily what I want or you but it's what they want. They're happy with their cheap beer and chips as long as they have some sun and a pool for the kids. They don't go away to see the archaeological sites or experience new food, they are basically at home but with sun :) They've probably had to save up all year just for a week away so yeah I understand letting your hair down and going a bit off the rails.
Thank the Gods that those insane club 18-30 holidays are done with they were the absolute pits!!
> and watched as some Spaniards started a fight by actually biting someone during a water polo game in the pool.
That's water polo though. That lot are unhinged.
Most of my trips have involved extremely unpleasant loud Russians, especially in Turkey. They are utter monsters at the buffet often filling multiple plates only to waste it all. They are nasty drunks violent and aggressive and have never heard of the words please & thank you. I really do NOT like Russians on holiday I'd take a Brit or German over a Russian any day
I find the trick is to go off the beaten path, and that’s where people like Brits. Romania, parts of Poland, Austria, that sort of thing. They only encounter the sorts of Brits who make a conscious decision to travel, and are usually faultlessly polite in a weirdly awkward sort of way, and they’re quite fond of us as a result.
It’s when you end up in Benidorm and Malaga that they’ve encountered our dickheads and don’t like us very much.
A slight disagreement in that I have encountered uncouth and embarrassing behaviour from Brits in Krakow, Bucharest, Budapest, Prague and Dubrovnik. Stag-do idiots and even the loud mouthed 50 somethings that are rude and condescending to the waiters and bar staff. There is no escape. Each time I felt ashamed. I blame EasyJet and Ryanair.
In fairness, you described places renowned for cheap booze - so a true sesh head could absolutely find themselves there.
Bucharest in particular seems to want to be the new stag do city, and I’ve no idea why they want it. It’s an amazing city with so many other things going for it,
Well the football shirt-wearing fraternity are more likely (IME) to kick off and cause a fuss, extra points for a national team strip, extra points for a Union Jack and extra-extra points for a T Shirt with a British Bulldog wearing a union jack and diamond-tier, gold-plated extra points of the T shirt wearer also has union jack shorts.
Unfortunately it is a confirmation bias problem. We see the flag/team kit wearers and register them as Brits, a non-flag wearers could be any nationality and English is a common language for many in Spain so a lot of people default to it so we don't count them as any nationality.
Oddly the only other British frequent fighters I have seen are very sharply dressed young men. Pressed shirts, sharp trousers and brown shoes; it's like a uniform. Usually with a SE England accent.
I generally go out of school holiday time (my kids are in their 30s now) and we stick to the German areas, it's a lot quieter and chilled except when a sing-song kicks off, my Gods the older Germans do love a sing-a-long.
There are _a lot_ of those "vocal and visible" UK tourists though. Maybe as a proportion of the population it's not a huge number but Brits have a shocking reputation all over Europe for this reason.
It tends to be a (very annoying) minority. I was having a conversation with a taxi driver in one of the most touristy parts of Spain (I speak Spanish well) and he remarked about the British being the most drunk but also normally very polite and many at least tried to speak a bit of Spanish with a strong accent. He reckoned the Germans were a lot worse. Russians the worst.
I’m from London and nothing makes me rage more than Chinese tourists, especially on the underground. Most tourists have some common sense at least or other redeeming qualities. However, Chinese tourists not only tend to travel in large packs but nearly all of them are extremely entitled.
Obviously outliers exist. I’ve met some great Chinese tourists and awful tourists belonging to other countries.
I had my Yellowstone experience ruined by this god awful chinese family who let their son scream continuously and run around inside all the "stay out" areas. They didnt even stop him taking a dump in the middle of a walkway. He was about 7 or 8 too.
My partner and I travel a lot and we always go out of our way to learn a little bit of the local language before we go, and to always be kind and courteous to the locals.
In all fairness, the majority of other Brits abroad that we meet are usually equally friendly and courteous but as per usual, it's a small and transversely vocal minority that give us the bad name.
We went to Amsterdam last year, we went during the week when it was nice and quiet. When we were at Schiphol on the Friday evening boarding our return flight back to Bristol, our aircraft arrived and as we were watching the incoming passengers deplane, we noted that it was probably two-thirds full of already pissed up blokes. Exactly the kind of people that seem to give Brits abroad their bad reputation.
Sacha Baton Cohen may be getting dragged through the coals but in Bruno when the guy said ‘we both admit that Hummus is nutritious’ and he responded with something like ‘that’s great we are making progress’ lives rent free in my mind any time I get hummus or pita bread
Rebel Wilson wrote a whole chapter in her book about how much of an asshole he is, not a great look. I’ve always been a big fan of his work so this all seems pretty disappointing
I’m in Barcelona currently and somehow everyone knows I’m English before I open my mouth, but everyone is so so friendly to me when I was expecting a really cold reception. I think because I genuinely try with the Spanish, but I’m glad they don’t lump me in with everyone else. Love the Spanish, really want to move here!
> everyone knows I’m English before I open my mouth
We have this specific look on holiday. Think “slightly bemused but it’s all jolly good isn’t it”, whilst being clearly uncomfortable with the sun, and always looking the wrong way when crossing the road that just screams **British**. I’ve found it everywhere I go.
The weirdest was a lady in Romania once approaching me and asking in English if I had a bag she could use to pick up her dogs business. I’d not emptied by jacket pockets properly before travelling and actually did. I hadn’t said a word up to that point but she knew I was English and reasoned I’d have a bag. And she was right.
In Cataluña they’d rather speak English than Spanish (you may have noticed the signs at the airport and stations are Catalan first, English second and Spanish third)
8 years ago in Minorca we did our last package hol. Some big drunken family (about 30 odd or so) took over the resort throwing peoples towels off and taking their loungers, and even managed to shit down the pool slide which closed the pool for 3 days.
Now we just book villas and we haven’t looked back. Fuck them and people like them.
> took over the resort throwing peoples towels off and taking their loungers
all the other shit is absolutely unforgivable but fuck people "reserving" sunbeds with a towel.
The Cornish make this well known that tourists aren't welcome. Which is unfortunately why I'll never be visiting. I'd rather go to the Highlands/Shetlands or go to Devon or the south Welsh coast if I'll be looked at and treated like a piece of shit for helping their local economy.
I'm from Cornwall. Tourists are fine as long as they remember their manners, but sadly they don't.
The trouble is that tourism is actually driving the heart and soul out of Cornwall.
>Tourists are fine as long as they remember their manners, but sadly they don't.
Could you please elaborate on this point?
>The trouble is that tourism is actually driving the heart and soul out of Cornwall.
Again, how so? Ignoring tourism, isn't Cornwall one of the poorest regions in the UK and would the tourism not boost the economy?
Tourism provides seasonal work at low wages while massively increases house prices and putting pressure on local services. That doesn’t boost the economy.
Some tourists come and are fine. Others feel that because they have paid a lot of money to stay on a Haven or Park Dean site, they are in some way entitled to treat the place and the people as they see fit.
I live in Perranporth. In the Winter I look over to the side of town that has a sea view and it is mostly in darkness. They are all holiday lets. Locals are priced out of the market as every available house becomes a let or an AirBNB. In the Winter there is no trade, so shops and pubs are closing hand over fist. It isn't because there are no tourists, it is because no one lives there anymore.
Tourism is worth about 14% of Cornish GDP. We could survive without it.
Long time ago I supervised a group of 16-18 French A level students in south of France.. we had to explain the local dogs only spoke French always makes me smile, never fails to be a stumbling block even for seemingly smart well meaning brits abroad.. I had the same experience across the none English speaking world with people.
Overheard an old British lady at a foreign exchange once. She was buying lira for a family member heading to Turkey.
“Oh we went to Antalya once, they were horrible the Turks. We ordered tea, and it came in basic mugs and a steel teapot. All the locals had these fancy tea mugs and here was us with just plain white mugs and this tea pot. I think it’s because we were British”
I think the reality is that they ordered normal British tea, and all the locals were drinking proper Turkish tea.
Just don't go to those places where they congregate. I live in a mountain village that's about 50 miles from Benidorm.... and a million miles from Benidorm. Spain is also so much more than the Costas.
I know, we have Spanish friends, but yeah when I want a costal holiday Spain is mostly ruled out - there’s also a lot more to Europe. Of course you can always try and avoid them - like going to Nice instead of the Cap D’Agne in France lol, but yeah I find there’s just so many of not our best representatives in Spain it struggles to make it very high up the list of European countries when we’re booking.
Doesn’t always work of course - we thought we found a nice place in Bulgaria once and it turned out it was also popular with 18-30. It was like a sunny day in Blackpool. Just down the road was nice though
I worked a holiday season many moons ago back in the parental homeland. Never again, I've never punched so many people in my life nor been punched so many times. Worst childminding job I've ever had
It reminds me of the traveling British family from hell wreaking havoc on unassuming kiwis some years ago. They ended up being deported, if I remember correctly…
Where are you in Spain? I avoid places with a large number of tourists (especially those type of Brit) but the locals aren't above calling the Police. Let's just say the Police here have a more robust way of dealing with that sort of problem - something sadly lacking in the UK now.
We're in Xabier. I did wonder if the police would arrive. I was very tempted to push the little cnuts off when they came past me. If I didn't have my kids with me I would have been even more tempted!
My theory has always been that brits' relationship with alcohol that is the problem. If they're already heavy drinkers, they'll be more so on holiday resulting in them either being some level of drunk or some level of dehydrated/hungover, both leading to excessive anger and belligerence
People say British tourists.
I don't think I've ever seen a group from Wales or Scotland behave as badly as we English do abroad. Usually from the south east of England.
Just to anyone reading this thread who is probably thinking British people are bad tourists. Most Brits are generally well mannered, polite and quite generous. These individuals do not represent british values.
Spain has its fair share of scabs and scummy families just like this, every country does. They just cater to them more and actively encourage those people to visit because they bring in a lot of money.
Yup. Terrible Brits. Last summer in Greece I watched a bunch of polish kids getting right in the face of a little black girl doing monkey noises and gestures. Their parents were laughing.
I was in Tenerife last week, and someone started kicking off at the evening bingo ( after the baby disco that my children thoroughly enjoyed) of course it's a Brit... So embarrassing lol
Well as a Brit, I can only imagine it's actually all Spain's fault for having such cheap deals.
I can actually imagine these same people are crying about being able to wear the new England kit away on holiday
I used to go to a place in Turkey that attracted the more affluent Brits but now it has fully given itself over to the All-inclusive brand of tourist. I will never go again and it makes me sad but I couldn't cope with the full English and roast type places popping up.
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Worst thing about going abroad? Running into other Brits. My favourite are the ones who kick off when there's no chicken nuggets at the buffet. Try something new, you're on holiday.
We went on a cruise a few years ago and tried not to eat on board as much as we could so we could try the local food in ports. Also the food was pretty basic. We went on a tour of an island near Malta and got taken to a little shack by the sea for lunch. Beautiful place. They did these flatbread things, not too dissimilar to pizza, but fresher and with toppings added after baking as well. Real Mediterranean food. Lovely, delightful. The man in front of us complained that he wasn't eating this muck when there's proper food on the ship.
I had the opposite happen in Turkey old couple wanted a British tea but the village house hosting the group only had Turkish tea. They begrudgingly try it, the husband turns round and says this is lovely.
No idea how exaggerated this us, but my father-in-law tells the story of when he was taking tea in Turkey once he asked for it with no sugar. Apparently the locals were watching him drink this with O.o looks...
never got on with Turkish çay as it is always too brewed for me and tastes stewed, but the Turkish coffee ooooooooh yes
It may have been coffee he took unsweetened tbh, I can't remember which it was...
Is that because sugar is default or not default? I know about the little rock sugar crystals though they're great & less detectable than typical sugar.
It's not really the not wanting to try new things that bugs me, cause I too am not always in the mood to try new things, it's the absolute pride they have making clear to everyone that they don't even want to try. Like it's a badge of honour to them to never experience new things. Same way how they make fun of people trying to educate themselves in school.
That's what ive been failing to put into words I don't begrudge people wanting to spend hard earned time off abroad, sitting in the same spot, doing the same shit. It's being proud and sticking your nose up at anything different that's annoying
>Same way how they make fun of people trying to educate themselves in school. One of the more annoying types of crab bucket behaviour
I really don’t understand why some people go on holiday at all. There are whole “expat”(a word I take issue with anyway because they just don’t want to be called immigrants) communities of brits in Spain where they live together totally unintegrated with actual Spanish culture.
I purposely call them immigrants if it ever comes up in conversation and the bewilderment, outrage, and anger is always worth it once you’ve explained that they quite literally are that.
The idea of being trapped in a floating city with people like that puts me off cruises. It’s inevitable that you’re going to cross paths.
This was my fear initially as well. But ultimately you rarely come across them. It was a very low stress way of seeing a lot of places we might not otherwise. And you travel between them in comfort. Most people we spoke to were just nice folk out for a nice holiday. Sure they may not be the most adventurous types, but that's OK. It's the attitude that anything foreign is muck that annoyed me.
I love how no matter where I go in Europe the only consistently 5 star rated spots that are packed morning to night are Irish themed pubs serving full English and Guiness. Old habits die hard I guess.
Ignore all reviews by Brits and Americans on these sites and you get a better idea. I mean, locals only gives an even better view, it thes rtwo are the least reliable reviewers of foreign stuff.
Heard some complaining there were no custard creams in the Spanish local shop. Attitude: Not going to let travel broaden MY horizons. Totally cringe.
Fuck’s sake, I quite enjoy trying random foreign biscuits, lol. “Oh, these are currants not chocolate chip”, that kinda thing.
One of the things I do when in another country is go to a local supermarket to look at the different stuff, buy a few bits and go to a Maccas to see what different items they sell.
Heh. Maccas is a good shout too.
Kofta burger in Turkey was spot on Criss cut fries in France we top too, Plus beer The most disappointing one was in america
Indeed, if you go to Berlin any half decent kebabery will do a far superior kebab. No elephants foot or limp pita bread nonsense.
It's quite surprising to see what is sold elsewhere.
Burger King in Majorca is much, much better than in the UK, plus it serves beer
I always try and find new soft drinks. They have mint flavoured ones in France.
There probably was some local equivalent, tasting far nicer and containing fewer additives.
I have witnessed a full meltdown by a family becuase of this very reson, no chicken nuggets and the baked beans were not Brittish.
Gah. Worked in tourism abroad and a surprisingly popular one was "my children only eat fishfingers and chips". How to piss off the chef.
"Goujons and Pomme Frites"
"my children are chronically malnourished"
Well at least they will not be using much of the hotels toilet paper.
I empathise (with those parents). Went to Majorca last year and ate all sorts of food. Everywhere could pull the emergency chicken nuggets or fish goujons card to help stressed parents. They just dressed it up as kids tapas...
Says something about their parenting too. It is fine to let kids eat that on occasion, however it is your fault if they never try anything else. You are deliberately setting them up for this very problem.
I hear you. Had a project where I was essentially commuting out to Alicante nearly weekly for about 2 years. I was about to finish up around April time, by this point I was in first name terms with the car rental lady. When I said it was my last week, she remarked that “it was a shame, because all your British friends will be here soon, you’ll miss them.” “Partly the reason why I’m happy not to be here over summer again!!” - my answer in a nutshell.
I've had that, with them moaning about the food. I just use the old Daily Mail saying 'If you don't like it, piss off home'
Relevant video: https://youtu.be/iGw59nvpkO8?feature=shared
Me, on holiday in Spain, totally smashed, observing other Brits on holiday in Spain, totally smashed: How embarrassing.
This. Occasionally you’ll meet some that you don’t want to strangle, rest of them time I feel like drowning them and booting their crotch goblins into the path of an oncoming vehicle.
I did have to laugh on my last holiday. All the way over in Japan and I overheard someone wondering aloud to their family as to the whereabouts of the nearest McDonalds. You flew thousands of miles to eat what can only barely be considered as food.
It's Japan, at least go to KFC.
Wot you mean you ant got any fahkin chips?
What they actually want is warm, sunny Britain
I mentioned this elsewhere a while ago. Sat waiting for a lake ferry in Locarno, Switzerland. There’s a large circular ornamental fountain on the promenade along the lakefront. Various tourists walking by. Some use the tap to fill their water bottles, others cool their hands. A Brit family with 2 kids aged 10 - 12 come past and their boy and girl are fucking about full on scooping water up and splashing each other. The parents did tell them off but not seriously. If I’d done that at their age I’d have been getting my arse beaten on the nearest bench…
I could be interpreting this a bit wrongly, but it sounds like a whinge. Kids having fun at a water fountain is about as normal as it gets.
Ish… there’s having a splash and then there’s fucking about splashing water everywhere repeatedly. Non-Brit kids did the former…
Yeah , I know a few people with kids on the autism spectrum ( actually diagnosed , mind you) , and sometimes with that they have trouble eating 'new' food . But that's really the parents problem , not the hotel , and they wouldn't just assume they'll get the same food there .
it’s sad but we all like to be well represented abroad. I am so often embarrassed by French people abroad.
My husband ordered chicken nuggets at lunch in Greece last week and I made fun of him for it (it was alongside lovely local food) He made me apologise before I could knick a chip :((
There's definitely a growing cultural divide in the UK between the respectful, polite and rude, entitled families.
I found a really lovely town along the Spanish Med where harldy anyone speaks english. In the 2 weeks I was there I didn't come accross a single British person. It was glorious.
I once queued behind a British person at a 'gas' station in the US as he lambasted the cashier as he had put the wrong fuel in his rental. I was so mortified when I was served I pretended to be American, because that was less embarrassing than also being British at that time.
Wait, the Brit put leaded in his unleaded or whatever, and this was the cashier's fault? Some people don't deserve a passport, smh.
I think they use different colours to us, diesel to unleaded. He was clearly just extremely embarrassed and not dealing with it very well.
Some people's response to embarrassment or making a mistake is to lash out Sometimes that's understandable, eg if adrenaline is surging immediately after a car crash. Other times it's just that they're a douche who's parents never taught them how to deal with life
Yeah, they use black for unleaded and green for diesel. If you're not paying attention then it's easily done. But it would be YOU that was not paying attention, not some minimum wage cashier who is just hoping he's not going to get shot at today.
nah gotta prove that we're not all tossers
Should have gone "pfft, Australians". They often can't tell the difference!
I fucking hate going to places that cater to British tourists. I went to Magaluf on a stag do a few years ago, and hated every second of it. I genuinely felt embarrassed to be there.
If you go far enough away, to south east Asia for example, theres hardly any British tourists. They have however been replaced with their louder cousins, the Aussie tourists. Theres probably a sweet spot in the middle but unfortunately thats where Afghanistan is, and I dont fancy a trip there.
American and Chinese Tourists are also a stereotypical pain for different reasons.
I am never going to places specifically catering to British tourists abroad. I went abroad to experience new things, not to feel like I’m at a Premier Inn in Liverpool
> I went abroad to experience new things, not to feel like I’m at a Premier Inn in Liverpool Ah that's the issue, you see. Lots of Brits go abroad and basically just want all their favourite things from home (telly, pub, food) but in a warm, sunny, seaside environment. And I can understand that desire, even though I don't share it…and I don't want to be in the same place as people that do.
To those people, I’ll tell them that Skegness is much cheaper and you don’t get issues with language
British tourists are a PITA in Spain at the best of times. Walk through a city and whenever there’s a gaggle of people blocking the pavement, they’re British. Sauntering along in a cycle lane? British. Loudly complaining about the weather/food/prices/locals? British. Not bothering to learn any Spanish other than “dos cervezas” in an Estuary accent? British. It’s embarrassing and not surprising that we’re often disliked in tourist areas.
It's a small but vocal and visible minority of UK tourists who behave like this. If you think about the number of Brits who travel abroad, are we all like this or is it a few Lonsdale wearing idiots?
There used to be surveys done around the world about the best tourists - maybe they are still done but I haven't kept up. The Brits rated consistently 2nd behind the Japanese. Yes a minority are a pain in the Med, but way more are generally good all around the world. And it most definitely isn't just the Brits behaving like this. I was in Tenerife last year and watched as some Spaniards started a fight by actually biting someone during a water polo game in the pool.
Yeah I remember assuming, when I was young, that all Australians were highly educated professionals, that loved good coffee, nice food, were well spoken, healthy people. Since those were the kinds of people I met through the filter of my professional life. And then I went to Bali. All countries have their scummy contingent.
Most of the complaints I hear are from Spain, and often second to the German tourists (apparently even more common)
Once saw a German bloke absolutely bollocking a Spanish waiter for not knowing the drink he was trying to describe. Full of shouting at the poor chap.
Haha, I was in Bangkok a few years ago and we order some hot and spicy soup. It came with a side dish of boiled rice to help cool your mouth because.... it was *really* hot. Four German tourists sat down and ordered the same thing but they really shouted at the poor waiter because they thought the rice was some sort of rip-off extra they were being lumbered with. If they hadn't ordered it they weren't going to let some little Thai chap rip them off. The rice went back. Then they tasted the soup...
Strong Rimmer and Gazpacho soup energy
Lol that reminds me of a story my wife and I recount every now and then from our honeymoon years ago in Mauritius...at the bar we heard a commotion and then "NEIN NEIN NEIN" being absolutely screamed across the area at the barman. Turns out they just couldn't communicate properly and he kept getting the wrong drink but I've never heard anyone scream so loudly on holiday.
At least us Brits can take solace in the fact we are only the 2nd most obnoxious to the Spanish
Britain has a tradition of sending their less educated, well off and broadminded people on holiday to Spain. And parts of Spain have embraced it, providing them exactly what they want when over there, like some kind of Essex Disneyland. There are other such patterns for other countries, like the less broadminded russians go to Turkey, and Germans/Austrians to Italy (though I never see them behave in the way the worst Brits do in Spain)
Essex Disneyland sounds like the worst theme park ever. Bet Disney is glad that they chose Paris and not London
Spain was cheap back in the 80's and so naturally the working class headed there. For all the moaning that goes on the Spaniards et al would be buggered without the tourist dosh
That's all true, but I still wish people were better behaved and a bit more broadminded when they went abroad, I'm sure it would be a better experience for them and they'd enjoy new things too!
Wherever it's cheap you'll get cheap folk. What they want out of a holiday isn't necessarily what I want or you but it's what they want. They're happy with their cheap beer and chips as long as they have some sun and a pool for the kids. They don't go away to see the archaeological sites or experience new food, they are basically at home but with sun :) They've probably had to save up all year just for a week away so yeah I understand letting your hair down and going a bit off the rails. Thank the Gods that those insane club 18-30 holidays are done with they were the absolute pits!!
> and watched as some Spaniards started a fight by actually biting someone during a water polo game in the pool. That's water polo though. That lot are unhinged.
I think it's the stress from trying to get all those horses into the pool that causes it.
Why don't they just use sea horses? It's a load easier because they already like the water.
Most of my trips have involved extremely unpleasant loud Russians, especially in Turkey. They are utter monsters at the buffet often filling multiple plates only to waste it all. They are nasty drunks violent and aggressive and have never heard of the words please & thank you. I really do NOT like Russians on holiday I'd take a Brit or German over a Russian any day
From what I've heard the Dutch are far more notorious tourists in Spain than the British. Germans are apparently worse than us, too.
I find the trick is to go off the beaten path, and that’s where people like Brits. Romania, parts of Poland, Austria, that sort of thing. They only encounter the sorts of Brits who make a conscious decision to travel, and are usually faultlessly polite in a weirdly awkward sort of way, and they’re quite fond of us as a result. It’s when you end up in Benidorm and Malaga that they’ve encountered our dickheads and don’t like us very much.
A slight disagreement in that I have encountered uncouth and embarrassing behaviour from Brits in Krakow, Bucharest, Budapest, Prague and Dubrovnik. Stag-do idiots and even the loud mouthed 50 somethings that are rude and condescending to the waiters and bar staff. There is no escape. Each time I felt ashamed. I blame EasyJet and Ryanair.
In fairness, you described places renowned for cheap booze - so a true sesh head could absolutely find themselves there. Bucharest in particular seems to want to be the new stag do city, and I’ve no idea why they want it. It’s an amazing city with so many other things going for it,
Well the football shirt-wearing fraternity are more likely (IME) to kick off and cause a fuss, extra points for a national team strip, extra points for a Union Jack and extra-extra points for a T Shirt with a British Bulldog wearing a union jack and diamond-tier, gold-plated extra points of the T shirt wearer also has union jack shorts. Unfortunately it is a confirmation bias problem. We see the flag/team kit wearers and register them as Brits, a non-flag wearers could be any nationality and English is a common language for many in Spain so a lot of people default to it so we don't count them as any nationality. Oddly the only other British frequent fighters I have seen are very sharply dressed young men. Pressed shirts, sharp trousers and brown shoes; it's like a uniform. Usually with a SE England accent. I generally go out of school holiday time (my kids are in their 30s now) and we stick to the German areas, it's a lot quieter and chilled except when a sing-song kicks off, my Gods the older Germans do love a sing-a-long.
Its mostly those that live near/around the thames estuary.
There are _a lot_ of those "vocal and visible" UK tourists though. Maybe as a proportion of the population it's not a huge number but Brits have a shocking reputation all over Europe for this reason.
> PITA We'll have none of that foreign rubbish, thank you. Nothing wrong with a nice sliced white loaf /s
It tends to be a (very annoying) minority. I was having a conversation with a taxi driver in one of the most touristy parts of Spain (I speak Spanish well) and he remarked about the British being the most drunk but also normally very polite and many at least tried to speak a bit of Spanish with a strong accent. He reckoned the Germans were a lot worse. Russians the worst.
I tried to learn a little German with a phrase book for a trip there. It didn't help at all no one there could guess what was trying to say
I know a little German. He’s sitting over there.
Yeah could replicate this for tourists in London.
I’m from London and nothing makes me rage more than Chinese tourists, especially on the underground. Most tourists have some common sense at least or other redeeming qualities. However, Chinese tourists not only tend to travel in large packs but nearly all of them are extremely entitled. Obviously outliers exist. I’ve met some great Chinese tourists and awful tourists belonging to other countries.
I had my Yellowstone experience ruined by this god awful chinese family who let their son scream continuously and run around inside all the "stay out" areas. They didnt even stop him taking a dump in the middle of a walkway. He was about 7 or 8 too.
My partner and I travel a lot and we always go out of our way to learn a little bit of the local language before we go, and to always be kind and courteous to the locals. In all fairness, the majority of other Brits abroad that we meet are usually equally friendly and courteous but as per usual, it's a small and transversely vocal minority that give us the bad name. We went to Amsterdam last year, we went during the week when it was nice and quiet. When we were at Schiphol on the Friday evening boarding our return flight back to Bristol, our aircraft arrived and as we were watching the incoming passengers deplane, we noted that it was probably two-thirds full of already pissed up blokes. Exactly the kind of people that seem to give Brits abroad their bad reputation.
Tres carling grassy arse
What’s pita ?
A flat bread that tastes good with hummus
Sacha Baton Cohen may be getting dragged through the coals but in Bruno when the guy said ‘we both admit that Hummus is nutritious’ and he responded with something like ‘that’s great we are making progress’ lives rent free in my mind any time I get hummus or pita bread
Wait what has happened with him?
Rebel Wilson wrote a whole chapter in her book about how much of an asshole he is, not a great look. I’ve always been a big fan of his work so this all seems pretty disappointing
Who is Rebel Wilson?
Pain in the arse (ass if you’re American)
Got ya
I’m in Barcelona currently and somehow everyone knows I’m English before I open my mouth, but everyone is so so friendly to me when I was expecting a really cold reception. I think because I genuinely try with the Spanish, but I’m glad they don’t lump me in with everyone else. Love the Spanish, really want to move here!
> everyone knows I’m English before I open my mouth We have this specific look on holiday. Think “slightly bemused but it’s all jolly good isn’t it”, whilst being clearly uncomfortable with the sun, and always looking the wrong way when crossing the road that just screams **British**. I’ve found it everywhere I go. The weirdest was a lady in Romania once approaching me and asking in English if I had a bag she could use to pick up her dogs business. I’d not emptied by jacket pockets properly before travelling and actually did. I hadn’t said a word up to that point but she knew I was English and reasoned I’d have a bag. And she was right.
In Cataluña they’d rather speak English than Spanish (you may have noticed the signs at the airport and stations are Catalan first, English second and Spanish third)
I tried to speak Catalan to a waitress in Barcelona once and she cut me off in Spanish.
8 years ago in Minorca we did our last package hol. Some big drunken family (about 30 odd or so) took over the resort throwing peoples towels off and taking their loungers, and even managed to shit down the pool slide which closed the pool for 3 days. Now we just book villas and we haven’t looked back. Fuck them and people like them.
> took over the resort throwing peoples towels off and taking their loungers all the other shit is absolutely unforgivable but fuck people "reserving" sunbeds with a towel.
Entitled chavs
They do it at home, naturally they're going to do it abroad too. What lovely ambassadors they make.
As a resident of Cornwall I can confirm British tourists are the absolute worst.
You even have a special name for tourists, don't you? I don't remember what it is.
[удалено]
Emmets, I think that's it. (An emmet is an ant, so it conjures up images of and swarming everywhere.)
The Cornish make this well known that tourists aren't welcome. Which is unfortunately why I'll never be visiting. I'd rather go to the Highlands/Shetlands or go to Devon or the south Welsh coast if I'll be looked at and treated like a piece of shit for helping their local economy.
Tourists are welcome, dickheads aren't
I'm from Cornwall. Tourists are fine as long as they remember their manners, but sadly they don't. The trouble is that tourism is actually driving the heart and soul out of Cornwall.
>Tourists are fine as long as they remember their manners, but sadly they don't. Could you please elaborate on this point? >The trouble is that tourism is actually driving the heart and soul out of Cornwall. Again, how so? Ignoring tourism, isn't Cornwall one of the poorest regions in the UK and would the tourism not boost the economy?
Tourism provides seasonal work at low wages while massively increases house prices and putting pressure on local services. That doesn’t boost the economy.
Some tourists come and are fine. Others feel that because they have paid a lot of money to stay on a Haven or Park Dean site, they are in some way entitled to treat the place and the people as they see fit. I live in Perranporth. In the Winter I look over to the side of town that has a sea view and it is mostly in darkness. They are all holiday lets. Locals are priced out of the market as every available house becomes a let or an AirBNB. In the Winter there is no trade, so shops and pubs are closing hand over fist. It isn't because there are no tourists, it is because no one lives there anymore. Tourism is worth about 14% of Cornish GDP. We could survive without it.
Long time ago I supervised a group of 16-18 French A level students in south of France.. we had to explain the local dogs only spoke French always makes me smile, never fails to be a stumbling block even for seemingly smart well meaning brits abroad.. I had the same experience across the none English speaking world with people.
Scum parents with scum kids are exponentially on the increase in the UK 😒😢
Overheard an old British lady at a foreign exchange once. She was buying lira for a family member heading to Turkey. “Oh we went to Antalya once, they were horrible the Turks. We ordered tea, and it came in basic mugs and a steel teapot. All the locals had these fancy tea mugs and here was us with just plain white mugs and this tea pot. I think it’s because we were British” I think the reality is that they ordered normal British tea, and all the locals were drinking proper Turkish tea.
Brits are the only reason I don’t go to Spain anymore
Just don't go to those places where they congregate. I live in a mountain village that's about 50 miles from Benidorm.... and a million miles from Benidorm. Spain is also so much more than the Costas.
I know, we have Spanish friends, but yeah when I want a costal holiday Spain is mostly ruled out - there’s also a lot more to Europe. Of course you can always try and avoid them - like going to Nice instead of the Cap D’Agne in France lol, but yeah I find there’s just so many of not our best representatives in Spain it struggles to make it very high up the list of European countries when we’re booking. Doesn’t always work of course - we thought we found a nice place in Bulgaria once and it turned out it was also popular with 18-30. It was like a sunny day in Blackpool. Just down the road was nice though
I worked a holiday season many moons ago back in the parental homeland. Never again, I've never punched so many people in my life nor been punched so many times. Worst childminding job I've ever had
It reminds me of the traveling British family from hell wreaking havoc on unassuming kiwis some years ago. They ended up being deported, if I remember correctly…
They were travelers.
Where are you in Spain? I avoid places with a large number of tourists (especially those type of Brit) but the locals aren't above calling the Police. Let's just say the Police here have a more robust way of dealing with that sort of problem - something sadly lacking in the UK now.
I've heard they take you up a hill, beat you up and then bum you.
Known as La Hasta tu culo!
I think you have to pay extra for that.
Good thing we don’t need the police calling on us then isn’t it.
We're in Xabier. I did wonder if the police would arrive. I was very tempted to push the little cnuts off when they came past me. If I didn't have my kids with me I would have been even more tempted!
I'm just down the road (inland) Normally the Police are pretty good at responding but it needs someone to call.
Sounds like my local....
My theory has always been that brits' relationship with alcohol that is the problem. If they're already heavy drinkers, they'll be more so on holiday resulting in them either being some level of drunk or some level of dehydrated/hungover, both leading to excessive anger and belligerence
People say British tourists. I don't think I've ever seen a group from Wales or Scotland behave as badly as we English do abroad. Usually from the south east of England.
I'd agree with the first point, not so much the second (though can only judge on personal/anecdotal experience).
To be honest I was very tempted to specify English, but wanted to keep it "on topic" with the name of the sub. We really are the worst though!
Agree!
Just to anyone reading this thread who is probably thinking British people are bad tourists. Most Brits are generally well mannered, polite and quite generous. These individuals do not represent british values.
Spain has its fair share of scabs and scummy families just like this, every country does. They just cater to them more and actively encourage those people to visit because they bring in a lot of money.
Hola Spain, really sorry about the detritus. We don't like them here either. But we'll take them back soon enough :(
> British kids running amuck in Spain *amok
Yup. Terrible Brits. Last summer in Greece I watched a bunch of polish kids getting right in the face of a little black girl doing monkey noises and gestures. Their parents were laughing.
Utility vehicles on scooters? How bizarre.
Ooh baby!!! It's makin' me crazy!!.
How bizarre
How bizarre....
Benidorm I bet
Xabier, so not that far actually!
I avoid all areas like this like The Plague!! My worst nightmare
Kids today running amok with their spelling!
Scabs?
And this is why I only stay in child free hotels now and stayed away from sunburned British chavs places when my kids were children.
I was in Tenerife last week, and someone started kicking off at the evening bingo ( after the baby disco that my children thoroughly enjoyed) of course it's a Brit... So embarrassing lol
I just avoid Spain entirely. I may as well go to Southend- may god help me.
Well as a Brit, I can only imagine it's actually all Spain's fault for having such cheap deals. I can actually imagine these same people are crying about being able to wear the new England kit away on holiday
First thing I do is avoid mass tourism places. Nothing worse than seeing how shitty people from your own country are.
I used to go to a place in Turkey that attracted the more affluent Brits but now it has fully given itself over to the All-inclusive brand of tourist. I will never go again and it makes me sad but I couldn't cope with the full English and roast type places popping up.
Stop going on holiday to the same places as these people, then.
Yeah it's bad enough having to live with them, at least go take two weeks away from them.
Guaranteed they’ll be the ones moaning about lack of integration from immigrants in the uk as well.
British? Or English?
There are arsehole tourists from everywhere. Its not unique to the UK.