Travel in France---French Attitude?

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RetireeRobert

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OK, the subject of a rumoroured French attitude "against" Americans has come around.

Many years, decades ago, some travel articles spoke of something like an "anti-American" attitude by the French toward American travellers.

What have recent french travellers experienced? Courtesy, friendliness, helpfulness? Or snobbery, unfriendliness, unhelpfulness, outright dislike toward Americans? Or mixed bag, no different than experienced in other countries from a large cross-section of interactions with different natives?
 
I have just limited experience, 2 days in Paris one trip, and a week in Nice on another. I had absolutely no problems. In Nice I had booked a small cheap hotel 3 blocks from the sea, not a touristy place, and when I got there I found out I booked for a day later. The clerk apologized that he had no rooms that night, but called and found a similar place 2 blocks away. I found that it helps not to be rude or demanding, especially when I found out that I was the one who messed up!

The only place in my limited world travel I found somewhat difficult was Spain. The cabby in Madrid was put off that I didn't speak Spanish, and everyone else seemed a bit stiff and reserved towards me. Not hostile, but not friendly and welcoming. But I spent even less time there so it's a bad sampling.
 
20 years ago Parisians were rude to Americans and anyone else who did not speak French very well. Outside Paris, though, the people were friendly to everyone.

We had the good fortune back then to spend a little time there with some people visiting from Quebec. When this subject came up they told us that French people were extremely rude to them, more so than to us, because though they spoke French natively, for them it is in an primitive or hillbilly-sounding dialect that the Parisians hated even worse than our "no French."

In the past few years, however, American tourists have become rare in France, and now even in Paris people are nice when you ask, "Parley voo Anglaize?" They say, "Of course, how can I help you?" It seems a generation of rude-mannered people have been replaced by nice ones eager to reverse the bad reputation of their elders and revive the interest of Americans in visiting their beautiful and interesting country.
 
I was in Paris in 1991. My sister was in Paris a few weeks ago. In both cases, we tried to speak the language and were nice to people, and they were uniformly nice and helpful in return.

2Cor521
 
SecondCor521 said:
In both cases, we tried to speak the language and were nice to people, and they were uniformly nice and helpful in return.
2Cor521
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Hit the nail on the head there. Regardless where you travel, try to speak the language no matter how badly you sound and just be nice. Goes a long way towards having a positive experience.
 
I spent almost a year there 5 years ago. I agree that a little French goes a long way. I also would recommend not acting like the stereotypical American tourist (e.g. avoid talking loud, wearing shorts at inappropriate places, blurting out directly in English w/o first asking if the person speaks it, etc.). We got on fine, all things considered.
 
The last time I was in France (Canne and Toulon) was about 30 years ago. The best of my recollection, at that young age, was that I met some friendly people. (I was in the military).

DW traveled there in the late 70's. She indicated that some people she encountered we somewhat unhelpful. For example: Need some help with directions... you can't speak French, they can't speak English. They would not endeavor to help you. Small situations like that.

DW's incidents could have been isolated cases. Not sure.


We will find out. We intend to travel around in Western Europe when we ER. I am hoping the Euro/USD rate improves for the greenback by then! :p


I think American's are envied in many countries because of the result of WWII. I think it is kind of natural. The US wound up being a power center because the Asian and European leading countries were pummeled to dust and nearly ruined. Yep good old green eyed jealousy.

In my opinion, the French Government is full of a bunch of sorry ungrateful Sch3isse K0phs (if you get my meaning). We spilled blood for those jerks twice because of their poor policy and diplomatic handling. And they have repaid us for years with little to no support. All because of their tarnished pride.

Let's face it France was a semi-world power for a short while. The Brits were the real power force.

Sorry for the rant.
 
I was in Paris in 2000 and 2003. People were very nice. I did have an aha experience about French rudeness, however. My nephew has lived in Paris for 25 years. His French is almost flawless and because of his dark Italian look and negligible accent Parisians take him for a South American, Spaniard, anything but American. We went to a restaurant where the hostess was a little flippant about the long wait for our reservation. I watched with interest as the two of them bickered, sneering and waving their hands in a classic Gallic fashion. That is when I realized that Parisian rudeness (to the extent it exists) is like New Yorkers' brusk style - it is aimed at everyone - not just Americans.
 
I've found the French to be quite pleasant. Try to speak a little French first, and although they will profess to having only a little English, lots of times they are quite conversant and happy to have the opportunity to speak to you in English. Probably the ugly Americans get the cold shoulder, as well they should.
 
The French are interesting, very assertive and don't back down in a confrontation. On the plane last summer a French couple who wanted to stand in the aisle so they could be among the first to de-plane refused to go back to their seats and the attendent eventually allowed them to stay in the aisle as long as they sat on the floor. I, a well behaved American, was really surprised by that.

Their assertiveness and willingness to protest is one reason that their government is so responsive to them. We here in the USA could learn something, I think.
 
Not sure where this thread was coming from, but it does reaffirm that stereotypes rarely hold up in face-to-face real-world matters.
 
Maurice said:
I also would recommend not acting like the stereotypical American tourist (e.g. avoid talking loud, wearing shorts at inappropriate places, blurting out directly in English w/o first asking if the person speaks it, etc.).
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I wonder if this so-called "stereotypical" Amercian tourist is another urban myth? I don't know that Americans disproportionately more than any other nationality "talk loud, wear shorts inappropriately, etc".

I kind of think that is a bunch of bunk. Based on my own observations.
 
Just my stereotypical observation, but the most obnoxious world travellers seem to be the Dutch, by far.
 
ronin said:
Just my stereotypical observation, but the most obnoxious world travellers seem to be the Dutch, by far.
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And they are eaier to see, with the young ones being about a head taller than anyhone else.

What do these people eat?

Ha
 
I was in France this spring, and found the French to be very nice and helpful. We did speak a little French which may have helped.

The Italians in Rome did not seem interested in helping us spend our money. Everywhere else in Italy was fine. We did not try to speak Italian...sadly I tried to speak French there. Maybe they didn't like that, because we were ignored in stores in Rome.
 
Robert, In my experience France is a magical country. Get out of Paris, slow down, enjoy life. You need at least 3 weeks to get into the true French existence. Go south through Burgundy, Rhone, Provance and on to the Med. Read first - if you are my age "A Year in Provance" or if you are my age "A Year in the Merde"! Then enjoy. Also learn to say Bonjour Madam and Mercie! You will find the French are lovely people (as are the Italians, Swedes, English, Dutch, etc.) if you take the time.
 
My experience with the French has always been a pleasurable one. In fact, about 2 years ago on a business trip in Montpellier, my colleague and I decided we would walk back to the hotel after a business banquet. Someone told us it was just 4 or 5 blocks away and gave us (I guess) vague instructions. Well we got lost. After a few 'parlee vou anglize's ' we got closer and closer. Finally we stopped by a Vietnamese restaurant and one of the workers (owners son?) gave us directions for the final leg of our journey ... and then offered to drive us. We respectfully declined. I wish I had gotten a card or menu or something, so I could go back next time and have a meal and thank them for their kindness. Yeah he wasn't French, but he was a France resident, and the others were French. Southern France is on my list of places to revisit.
 
Stereotypes can often be a caricature or exaggeration of reality. Generally used to denigrate or categorize a group with a simple negative statement.

However, there is often a fragment of truth to it... albeit exaggerated.


Here is one for you... how can you pick out an American in a foreign country? Look for the white sneakers.

Another funny one that causes Americans a bit of revulsion. We were in Mx (Yucatan) recently at the beach. There were throngs of Europeans there... probably because of the great exchange rate (it had to be dirt cheap). Anyway, You can pick out the American Males... we all wear long baggy swim trucks. The Euros and SA are all wearing their speedos. I will not elaborate further with graphical descriptions... but DW always gets a few chuckles out of it.
 
I don't think you can accurately judge "friendliness" by how easy it is to get directions from a stranger with whom you have no common language. Many of us live in touristy areas, but how often do we help out strangers on the street? Hey, they might be pickpockets or muggers; better to keep your head down and keep walking, n' est-ce-pas?

ha
 
haha said:
I don't think you can accurately judge "friendliness" by how easy it is to get directions from a stranger with whom you have no common language. Many of us live in touristy areas, but how often do we help out strangers on the street? Hey, they might be pickpockets or muggers; better to keep your head down and keep walking, n' est-ce-pas?

ha
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Sounding like a real American here. I've traveled extensively and the most dangerous place in the world bar none are large American cities. Don't worry, not too many Europeans are looking to mug you. Their quality of life ensures they don't need to. Outside of North America, people are extremely friendly and hospitable; they will give you the shirt off their backs so I can see how an American, not used to that, will be suspicious.
 
The only places you might encounter a bit of flack for being American is in the larger cities near universities,there are Canadian travel kits if you are worried about anti American sentiment,they usually consist of a few Canadian flag shoulder patches.
Usually the attitude you give is the one you get back.. Good trip eh!
 
We went to France in the fall 2005. We had no problem with the French, either in Paris or in Normandy. I can speak enough French to get me in trouble, but most could speak English. If they insulted me, I didn't notice it or couldn't understand it. Great place, and I'd go back.
 
I travel internationally on a regular basis and go to France at least once a year. I often go to Paris but have been to both the North / South and Central areas also. I truly enjoy the French culture which is diffrent than ours (which I enjoy too!). I had about 5-6 years of French in Middle School and High School so I can fumble through short conversations but as many before in this thread say most people in the cities will speak English to you. I honestly have not felt that the people were any more rude thatn I have experienced elsewhere (including here in the US) Just about everywhere I go a smile and humility goes a long way. Enjoy the diffrences and try to bring back some of the great things we can learn from others.
 
haha said:
I don't think you can accurately judge "friendliness" by how easy it is to get directions from a stranger with whom you have no common language. Many of us live in touristy areas, but how often do we help out strangers on the street? Hey, they might be pickpockets or muggers; better to keep your head down and keep walking, n' est-ce-pas?

ha
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Ha ha... are you a New Yorker? ... just asking.:D
 
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