Tourists suck

[Muse]

...but those damned tourists!

I've been kinda aware that the PNW is a really beautiful place, but haven't been since 14 when my dad drove us through them on way back to L.A. from our tour of around 1/2 dozen national parks in the western US. It was the one vacation our family took, guess we were lousy tourists.

We were maybe a day in Washington, a day in Oregon (I got sick as a dog in Klamath Falls after dinner), we were uber impressed with Crater Lake. Haven't set foot in PNW since. I'm not much of a tourist. I guess if I do decide to be, I should make great pains to try to avoid the crowds (while not missing decent weather)... a juggling act, I guess. Or maybe skip the touristee places, look for the overlooked gems. Annoying people can ruin what would otherwise be a great experience.

 

[brianmanahan]

after reading about how different places hate tourists, it made me feel kinda bad about traveling

now i haven't taken a vacation in almost 2 years

not sure how i'm going to use up all these chase points

 

[Luna1968]

In meager times, tourists bringing in a few bucks to increase your standard of living was welcome. Today, many residents in tourist areas enjoy a good quality of life. Having hordes driving up their cost of living and wait times may not offset the economic benefit. An oil well in the middle of town may bring in bucks and jobs but would probably not be welcome. Tourism is not dead, but the shine may be off the apple.

Thats not true at all. The mountain town in my state depend quite a bit on the summer tourism and the ski areas also depend on the winter season and the billions of dollars the tourist bring to the areas.

 

[BoomerD]

after reading about how different places hate tourists, it made me feel kinda bad about traveling

now i haven't taken a vacation in almost 2 years

not sure how i'm going to use up all these chase points

Travel to your heart's desire...just don't be "that guy."

Most people don't hate tourists...their businesses love your money...but your spending money doesn't make you special...or give you special privileges.

 

[zinfamous]

after reading about how different places hate tourists, it made me feel kinda bad about traveling

now i haven't taken a vacation in almost 2 years

not sure how i'm going to use up all these chase points

sew a Maple Leaf onto your day bag or your person, and you'll be fine wherever you go.

It's the common tactic of any seasoned traveler of US origin.

 

[BoomerD]

sew a Maple Leaf onto your day bag or your person, and you'll be fine wherever you go.

It's the common tactic of any seasoned traveler of US origin.

Are you trying to give Canucks a bad name?

 

[GodisanAtheist]

Yes, tourists do suck. Also weekenders. Fuck those guys too.

Show up for a few days, absolutely trash the place, leave and it's everyone else's problem to clean it up. Sometimes the traffic is so bad I'd rather just stay at home than head 5 miles down the highway to get some necessities.

 

[zinfamous]

Are you trying to give Canucks a bad name?

it's too late anyway. Canucks have already long-suffered from false association with American tourists because this is already quite common, lol.

 

[Exterous]

it's too late anyway. Canucks have already long-suffered from false association with American tourists because this is already quite common, lol.

Are you trying to give Canucks a bad name?

I honestly don't think it's as bad to be an American traveler now. We've either adjusted or we're no longer the worst tourist group. It seems like Indian and Chinese tourists draw far more ire these days

 

[zinfamous]

I honestly don't think it's as bad to be an American traveler now. We've either adjusted or we're no longer the worst tourist group. It seems like Indian and Chinese tourists draw far more ire these days

The British are also notoriously awful in all of non-Britland Europe.

 

[ponyo]

I honestly don't think it's as bad to be an American traveler now. We've either adjusted or we're no longer the worst tourist group. It seems like Indian and Chinese tourists draw far more ire these days

People generally like Americans. Chinese are like locust. They travel in swarms and destroy everything in their path.

 

[BoomerD]

People generally like Americans. Chinese are like locust. They travel in swarms and destroy everything in their path.

When we were in Yellowstone in 2016, a tour bus would pull up among the other 50 tour busses, 1500 asians (chinese?) would unload from each bus, all armed with selfie sticks, they'd swarm all over the place, including the roped/fenced off areas taking selfies for about half an hour...then load back into the bus and go to the next stop.

 

[K1052]

People generally like Americans. Chinese are like locust. They travel in swarms and destroy everything in their path.

Our stock seems to have gone up somewhat as places get a taste of mainland Chinese mass tourism.

 

[K1052]

The British are also notoriously awful in all of non-Britland Europe.

Accurate.

 

[ponyo]

Our stock seems to have gone up somewhat as places get a taste of mainland Chinese mass tourism.

Yep. And Americans generally tip very well. Chinese, not so much.

 

[purbeast0]

When we were in Yellowstone in 2016, a tour bus would pull up among the other 50 tour busses, 1500 asians (chinese?) would unload from each bus, all armed with selfie sticks, they'd swarm all over the place, including the roped/fenced off areas taking selfies for about half an hour...then load back into the bus and go to the next stop.

That same thing happens when I'm in Grand Cayman or Aruba at certain beaches/restaurants/places. Buses come and unload unruly people who are there for like 30 minutes just getting in the way then they caddle them back up onto the bus. I'm assuming it's cruise passengers and reinforces why I have no desire to really do a cruise. I try to avoid specific place when cruise ships are in port when at certain islands.

 

[dainthomas]

We went to Maui in October of last year... Still above what I like for how crowded it was heh.

Went to Kauai for Thanksgiving and it was amazing. Pro tip: Costco has really good Thanksgiving dinners that you just have to heat up.

 

[dainthomas]

Dopamine and shit yo.

Everyone is turning to this apparently.... All about likes, attention whoring, etc... Personally this is one of the reasons I love being introverted and I don't give two shits about social media attention.

(stares at Like counter in this forum)

Ian McKellen (or maybe Patrick Stewart) was on a Nerdist podcast a few years ago talking about something similar. People will come up to him and just ask for a selfie. He'll usually say no, but then try to have a little conversation. His feeling is that a selfie is a fake interaction with someone, having a conversation is more real and significant.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I honestly don't think it's as bad to be an American traveler now. We've either adjusted or we're no longer the worst tourist group. It seems like Indian and Chinese tourists draw far more ire these days

The worst I've seen are Chinese and Russians. Chinese are just completely and totally oblivious to their surroundings and will knock into you, push you from behind, etc. We were at the Christmas store in Rothenburg, Germany one year and this Chinese lady was all up in my wife's business. My wife finally gave her a not-so-subtle body that pushed her back several feet.

As far as Russians go - they're just downright rude jerks.

 

[zinfamous]

The worst I've seen are Chinese and Russians. Chinese are just completely and totally oblivious to their surroundings and will knock into you, push you from behind, etc. We were at the Christmas store in Rothenburg, Germany one year and this Chinese lady was all up in my wife's business. My wife finally gave her a not-so-subtle body that pushed her back several feet.

As far as Russians go - they're just downright rude jerks.

there is no queuing in China--so all interactions with some customer service is just a mob fighting to the front. Them the rules. Also, there are no rules for the road, no real signs, no regulations. Bear in mind, that this is a country where, 20 years ago, something like only 20% of the country owned cars and "could drive," and now it's like 70% in such a short time. ...well, still the same driving skills, lol. I'm not saying this as a judgement so much, as how public life is. Also, all of the FOBs from China that I have worked with over the years...man, it's rough eating with them, lol. Mouths wide open, food going everywhere, crazy loud smacking sounds. It's disgusting. ...you know with noodle broth soups, I kinda get it, because that's actually the "proper" way to taste it, but damn it's just disgusting.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

there is no queuing in China--so all interactions with some customer service is just a mob fighting to the front. Them the rules. Also, there are no rules for the road, no real signs, no regulations. Bear in mind, that this is a country where, 20 years ago, something like only 20% of the country owned cars and "could drive," and now it's like 70% in such a short time. ...well, still the same driving skills, lol. I'm not saying this as a judgement so much, as how public life is. Also, all of the FOBs from China that I have worked with over the years...man, it's rough eating with them, lol. Mouths wide open, food going everywhere, crazy loud smacking sounds. It's disgusting. ...you know with noodle broth soups, I kinda get it, because that's actually the "proper" way to taste it, but damn it's just disgusting.

Well, I think that’s actually my point - when you go to another country, you should do a little research on how things are done and try to blend in with the locals (or at least not make a scene). Americans used to have that reputation but that seems to have passed to the Chinese. Even the Chinese government started a campaign within the last few years on “training” their population on how to be better tourists.