European hospitality....Who wins the congeniality award?

I've always had excellent hospitality in Brugge (except one time nearly 15 years ago), the Cotswolds, Gent, Venice, Austria, Germany and Holland. I must say I've never had anybody wash, let alone offer to wash, my car.

I merely asked if there was a car wash in town. He said, "No." I was surprised when we returned from dinner, our car had been washed!

Totally agree although met may wonderful, helpful people all over, Ireland tops all for us.

In all our travels we have only met two rude people, a parking cop in Glasgow who said he didn't like Americans, and a young lady clerk in the train station in Tubingen. Everyone every where has been gracious, welcoming, and eager to talk or help. The people whom we were most impressed with were in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria. That country is not well off, but the people are trying mightily to make what democracy they have work against all odds left over from the socialist days. Hardly anyone spoke English, but my goodness, they tried to communicate with smiles, gestures and a few understandable words. We experienced huge feelings of people wanting to be known for whom they were and we were eager to get to know them. We will forever be indebted to some individuals there for their efforts to make us feel welcome.

This was a mature couple who owned the B&B. They would not take a tip. This was consistent throughout Ireland.

Wow.... "I don't think their attempt at hospitality is completely genuine. True hospitality is measured by the kindness of locals, not hotel clerks. She was talking about B&B owners, I have found that all the B&B owners we have stayed with, their hospitality was completely genuine.

I'd have to agree about Ireland no matter where we went, we found friendly people who went out of their way to ask where we were from and were we enjoying Ireland. I knew the Irish were friendly, but was pleasantly surprised. Would love to go back. As an aside, it was probably made easier because there was no language barrier. I've found friendly people in all my travels, but Ireland was over the top.

I don't think we should count b@b owners,simply because they are most obviously people who have made a choice open their homes to others, yes, its for money, but trust me, its not something most of us would choose to do as a "job".. it means really wanting to be around other people 24/7. They are special folks( most often) .
I can honestly say I have met nice and not so nice folks in every country I have been to ,, I have had sneaky rude encounters in Italy, and kind warm ones in Germany , so I do think we have to be careful when generalizing.. I will add that in smaller tourist centers I find I am treated more as a welcome guest then in very large metropolitian cities,, where I may be just another tourist in the way of a local going to work, clogging their traffic, taking twice as long in a ticket line cause I need help understanding the choices or language,etc, Point in hand, in Spain the locals /workers in small town of Tossa De Mar treated us like gold, in Barcelona,, nope , not so much.

I've met lots of great people in my travels. My overall vote: Ireland.

Amazing... but I find the happier I am on my trip, the happier the people in the country I am visitng:)) Friendliest/most helpful ever.... First time to France on my own and I have a hotel in Arles... circling the city for the 10th time I just stop into a hotel to see if they have a room as I am giving up on finding mine. I speak no French, they spoke little English. They finally understood my dilema and although they were not full, the innkeeper motioned for me to go to my car and follow him. He led me directly to my hotel, gave me a quick wave as I pulled into the hotel and he was off. That was my first encounter with the rude French. Either they are not rude or I looked pathetic.
Must agree however, the Irish are a really happy people...

I will join the bandwagon: Ireland

Ireland...and not because my mother was born there.

The UK and Ireland.

Once you join them for drinking, you have a friend for life in a Russian... but you will wake up the next morning with the worst hang-over of your life.

For me, it's France. But then, I've never been to Ireland. Italy is second. Germany was the least hospitable.

Interesting comments... I believe one gets what one gives! Generally people in the travel industry are fine... I give latitudes to someone who seems like they're dragging after a long day! I had a precious encounter at the reception desk of a hotel in Nice this past June... I asked the woman if she knew where I could rent a bicycle. She replied "this is a hotel not a bicycle rental". I said "yes I know this is a hotel, I'm your guest!" She was very helpful from there :).

We have luckily always encountered very friendly people on our trips to various countries. I will have to say though that 3 years ago when my husband was hospitalized in Honfleur France, the people there were unbelievably nice. Without their help (in taking me to the hospital when a taxi was not available, in cancelling and making new reservations for me), I'm not sure how this would have worked. I will never forget them!

Nancy, a question was asked regarding one's opinion. That's how I answered. Be honest... ever try to work something that was "different" with service industry folks in either of those two countries? Like working around a menu re: allergy issues, etc.? Or having to already formulate the "right" question, in order to get the needed info?? IMO, congeniality and high marks arise when routine difficulties/challenges get worked out effortlessly and with smiles all around. Most travelers I know, have a tale or two of being frustrated with obtuse industry people. In my case, this happens most in the two countries that I have mentioned, both where I have visited multiple times.

Based on my experience, I would have to agree with Diane about the French... France is the only place in Europe that I haven't felt very welcome. Havne't had that problem in Austria, though. The Scots are my favs... down home people!

Your words: Not to be a cynic, but sometimes hosts go the extra mile in helping you, in return for a hefty tip. Unless you're staying there for free, I don't think their attempt at hospitality is completely genuine. True hospitality is measured by the kindness of locals, not hotel clerks. I also find it odd, when people think that hotel clerks aren't local people. If you think all the people working in hospitality are nice, you need to read a few reviews on Trip Advisor. Or live in Germany for a while. Some employees really do go out of their way to be helpful, because they want to and enjoy behaving in this manner and not just because of a tip.

For me, it's Ireland, too. I've been there several times and the people there have always been friendly and helpful. At a B&B, we asked if there was a laundry in the town. The lady said "no" but offered to wash our clothes for us.
Every country has been friendly, especially outside the normal tourist areas.

Wow! It's amazing how consistently Ireland came up. (And all along, I thought I may have had to do with my Irish name!)
Erin go bragh!

Scotland! Nicest folks around. Customer service there, beats that in Germany, hands down.

I haven't been to Ireland yet, but so far I'd say the English are the friendliest. Londoners who see you puzzling over a map and stop to ask if they can help. Northumbrians you meet in a Durham pub who offer to take you for a drive in the Lake District the following weekend when they'll be there, then give you half of their Saturday. Garage staff who rescue your flat-tired car, install the spare, order a new one for next-day delivery, and let you drive away with no deposit or credit card hold (we came back). Locals in pubs (especially ex-servicemen who liked the Yanks in NATO) who cheerfully discuss anything and everything. So many kind, friendly people who weren't selling anything or looking for tips (well, the garage guys did charge for the tire!). Of course some of our perception is because we all spoke (more or less) the same language. But I chalk up the Brits' friendliness and helpfulness to Nigel's influence!

From my own personal experiences in Europe, I would say that Turkey, Poland, Sicily and Slovenia were places where I found that the people we encountered were generally the most hospitable, kind and engaging. Austria and France being the most challenging at times, more because of a mix of obtuseness & inflexibility, rather than actual rudeness. As for "insincere" hospitality, my vote goes to France and northern Italy. Everywhere else in Europe not mentioned above (UK, etc.), the people that we have encountered in the tourism industry were generally honest people, just doing their jobs well enough.

" ...Austria and France being the most challenging at times, more because of a mix of obtuseness & inflexibility..." Perhaps next time you visit, you won't be so obtuse or inflexible and will have an easier time.

Says the guy who thinks hotel clerks are only nice because they want a hefty tip.

In the last 10 years of yearly monthly summer visits to Europe, I have spent time in almost every country (haven't been to Greece yet). The friendliest folks I encountered were in Turkey where I would go back to in a minute.

I have no reason to be defensive - I am neither French nor Austrian. I was reacting to what I felt was Diane's inflammatory phrasing. "obtuse: lacking sharpness or quickness of sensibility or intellect : insensitive, stupid " "inflexible:
:rigidly firm in will or purpose : unyielding : incapable of change : unalterable" Communication issues can cause people to appear inflexible, but I have trouble believing that anyone is deliberately "insensitive or stupid", particularly a whole country full of people. Paul, she didn't call the French and Austrians "rude", she called them "stupid".

Eileen, there was no editing at all in my original post - it is exactly as I formulated it. The use of the word "obtuse" was deliberate and you provided a classic example of why I used it.

Well, from reading how this post (which was really fun) has gone downhill, I guess the Americans lose the Congeniality Award :)

I don't think there's anything wrong with generalizations as long as people realize there will be exceptions, or that sometimes ASSUMING that a stereotype is true (i.e. "the French are rude") will cause you to behave in a way that will ensure you are met with rudeness, or at least, you may perceive "neutral" encounters as "rude" because you are filtering everything through that cognition. That said, I do think it's hard to generalize to an entire country, especially in Europe, because everything is so "tribal" here. The Germans I know find U.S. stereotypes of Germans to be ridiculous, but then they will go on about "Those cheap Swabians" or "Those jerks from the north" and so forth! By US standards most Germans tend to seem somewhat standoffish or cold, or if they are being helpful, somewhat bossy in their helpfulness. But once you get to know them - and "to know" means "to drink with" they can be incredibly warm, friendly, generous, and curious about the US. The Viennese were funny - on the whole not super-helpful, but the service in restaurants was far better than anywhere I've been in Germany. Fast, helpful, with a smile...felt like I was back in the U.S. except with snazzier outfits! As far as France goes, France and Paris are not at all the same. I have found French people to be surprisingly warm and helpful outside of Paris. In Paris there is a little more of that stereotypical rudeness (all the French people I know find Parisians difficult as well!) but if you make an effort I have also had surprising moments of genuine kindness with Parsians as well.

My wife and I travel to Europe every summer (my wife being the confirmed Anglophile, you figure it out, she married an American). We have visited Italy, France, Malta, Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Scotland, Ireland, N. Ireland, England, Wales, Portugal, Spain, Hungary, Austria. The friendliest? Probably people in Wales and rural parts of France (we've been to France many times). We have met interesting people in many places, but of course language is a cross to bear in some cases. That and as some noted, being in cities does bring out the worst in some people.

There must have been some heavy editing; I don't see where Diane called anybody "stupid"...I do understand this quote from her: "...Or having to already formulate the "right" question, in order to get the needed info??" As in, you ask a desk clerk if you can leave luggage overnight for pickup at 8:00 tomorrow morning. She says "sure", but neglects to tell you that the luggage room won't be open until 11:00. When you arrive at 8:00 and the clerk from the day before is standing there explaining that you can't collect your luggage until 11:00 and you call her on it, she'll day "ah, but you didn't ask what time the luggage room is open"...(although technically you DID by stating you wanted to collect it at 8:00)...aaarrrghhhh!!! That's being deliberately obtuse. On purpose. The clerk knew when she took your luggage that you wouldn't be able to collect it, yet she took it from you anyway. This is a common way of (not) communicating in some cultures, and the French are famous for it - just ask any Frenchman! They'll tell you this themselves! They call it sport ;-) (cont.)

(cont.) I've certainly come across some inflexible cultures, too, and I'd include some Germans and Austrians in that group - but that's also what makes Germany and Austria so great - those trains are on time (not like Italy, for example...), and you don't sit at the Stammtisch tables if you don't belong there - you'll get booted! They need to know their table will be there, waiting for them. Things are black-and-white. Sometimes we wish there was room for a little gray...And then there's Italy. Very gray LOL! Their flexibility is inflexible. And my congeniality award goes to...the French (including Parisians)!!! Just ask the right questions (sigh)... And I agree with Terry kathryn about your attitude. And the benefits of looking pathetic...;-)

Diane's post made sense to me and I would agree with her that this certain kind of behavior - I wouldn't call it "stupidity" (and neither did she) but she was speaking to a sort of "deliberate obtuseness" and from Eileen's examples I have to say that I've experienced this too, in France, Germany, and Austria. For example, we day tripped from Marsielle to Cassis. On the whole I find people in that area to be wonderful. But we realized we missed the last bus to the train station, so we went to the taxi stand. After waiting 30 minutes, two taxis came by, but neither stopped for us despite being empty - one even made a "finger wagging" gesture at us as we tried to hail him. We darted into a couple of hotels nearby to ask in bad french/gestures/english if they could help us get a taxi to the train station. Two just said no, period. The last said "no taxi tonight". No idea what was going on, no explanation. We were running out of time to catch the last train to Marsielle (where we were booked at a hotel) so I ran to the place where we'd spent a decent amount on dinner. There the owner explained that today was a taxi strike. Ok, why could nobody tell us this? (Everyone we asked did end up speaking English!) That's the kind of obtuseness that I've experienced, and it can be very frustrating. But then awesome French hospitality kicked in and the owner spent 30 minutes on the phone trying to find a taxi to take us, finally he said "they will not take you to the train station (nearby) but all the way back to Marsielle." It would be a 50 euro bill, but what could we do? At least he helped us. Once in the cab we were able to explain our situation to the driver who spoke no English and he took us to the train station after all. So it worked out! But yeah, I understand the "willfully obtuse" thing!

"Americans lose the Congeniality Award", since this thread is about European hospitality technically we aren't supposed to be in the running and don't have anything to do with European hospitality other than our interactions and perception of Europeans and their hospitality. If you're implying how Americans on this thread are noting negative encounters, yes I see that, one is always going to get the negative with the positive. Another moment of bashing Americans. As with anything, with enough travel one is going to meet people who are not so hospitable and others who will go out of their way to help a visitor. Most if not all are going to have moments they met someone who was so helpful they'll never forget it, and obviously with enough interaction bad moments will arise, one never knows what kind of day the person you ask for assistance is having. I don't think one country can be anymore hospitable than another, just to many people too take into account. Not that it has anything to do with this particular thread but it never ceases to amaze me the over abundant use of the term "That said" on this message board, it pops up at least once in every thread. Why is that? After all, yes it was said, I just read it!

Barry, it's a typical figure of speech. Don't get pedantic now.

I find it tres amusing that some people can make judgements and statements when they have only been to a place once, and only for a few days, and that was years and years ago.. one poster in in particular always slams France, yet she loves the Uk,, but she has had so little experience with France that I wonder .... Some places I have only been once for a few days, I tend not to comment on them much ,, seems a tad unfair.. and probably my advice wouldn't be super helpful.. there are some exceptions,, like if you have just returned from a visit to a place and have specific experience with the question being asked.

Pat makes a good point about some folks' steadfast opinions regarding places in which they really haven't spent very much time, relatively speaking. I just realized something very valuable this last weekend. I was talking for hours with a dear family member who studies at a foreign university (home university is out of U.S.) and also travels to study abroad from there (Asia). As such, she has spent lots of time living in and traveling around various continents and countries. I learned that I now believe one must actually live in a country among the local people for an extended period of time in order to truly understand the country, the culture, the people, etc. I may think I know a place very well, because I've traveled there on vacation or personal business many times, but do I truly know the place like I might know my own hometown, state, country, whatever? Probably not. So, my opinions about Europe (in this case) end up being just my own opinions as a tourist – they may or may not be completely valid for anything other than making general recommendations to other tourists. I've been all over Europe many times, but I don't think I know enough when I spend just two or so weeks there every year. I think I may take a stab at being less opinionated from now on. BTW, I have always thought the Germans to be about the nicest people I've come across in Europe.

Ireland is like visiting family, so definitely ranks very high. Finnland during a Baltic trip, not that Scandinavians weren't nice but the Finns were nice enough to stand out. Russians stood out as least friendly. Spain also stands out in a postive way from most Western European countries. Northern Germans are pretty gruff compared to Bavarians. British are second to none in politeness (and plenty nice too).

What a great topic! I think it all really depends on the day, time of year (april vs august), and persons you encounter. I encountered some really friendly people in Spain, really rude people in Croatia and Slovenia, and some incredibly happy go lucky people from/in Denmark. Same here in America. Rude people in SoCal, cold but friendly people in Seattle, and incredibly happy friendly people in the South. For example, I went to a Fedex place yesterday on a beautiful Sunday during the Chargers game and the guy was incredibly friendly. Just got back from Fedex again today and the lady at the counter couldn't care less. Grocery stores are the worst in Europe. But then again, usually people working at Safeway aren't usually the most friendly folks, either. It's interesting!!

I have a very soft spot for Turks, as I broke my leg in Vienna and had to board a train to Munich because I couldn't get to the airport to go home. After getting off the train in Munich, a beautiful young German woman of Turkish descent who barely spoke English offered to help me carry my luggage to a taxi and then steadfastly refused any money I offered to pay her.
My best friend here in Chicago is also from Turkey. I will most likely make Turkey my next destination after a repeat visit to Munich!

"Love to Travel" - I think timing is incredibly important. My last visit to Paris was 2 days after the election, and was also some of the first real warm weather post-summer. It was by far the friendliest visit to Paris, ever. We couldn't get over how warm and helpful everyone was. I chalked it up to a good national mood after getting rid of Sarkozy (he didn't seem very popular in general, but particularly not in Paris) and the great weather. Michael - I also agree. Travel is such a stressor and is so much "living" compacted in a short period of time that impressions people get are not likely to be representative, because everything is magnified. I now think of Germans in general as polite, helpful, and friendly. I didn't feel that way when I first arrived, and I can see why some visitors wouldn't. I'm both more "used" to the national character which can seem cold at first, and just have a more "holistic" view I think based on living here. It's also harder to generalize when you live somewhere. (That said, deliberate obtuseness is still something I run into!)

I think it's true there are always some good and some bad. In Salzburg, the young women who run Institute San Sebastian (different people each time) have always gone out of their way to accomodate my needs. One evening, in Salzburg, I ducked into a tent that was part of a jazz festival. I sat at an empty table. In a little while, a group came in and asked if they could join me at the table, I was happy to have someone to talk to. An hour or so later they asked if I would leave so they could have all the chairs - which I considered pretty rude. It may have been that I was talking to four of their wives/girlfriends and it ticked them off. I still love Salzburg though.

Interesting discussion. I can't give an informed response since most of my time abroad has been in France. As a college student I was there for a semester.I stayed at a foyer for single young women. I had been invited by a friend to spend a weekend with her family in the countryside near Marne. Her parents were so gracious to me, that I remember their kindness over 30 years later!

In Europe my favourite countries were Scotland and France in terms of hospitality.
I think it helped I spoke French in France & I don't prejudge French people. I say that because quite a few French asked me many questions about Americans perceptions of the "rude French." I had no snooty or rude encounters in Paris or anywhere. I was also in Normandy and Cannes and everyone I visited it was perfectly plesaant. It was assumed I was French by the way I look according to some. I think I have more British & Scottish features but I just went with the flow. I'm a world traveler and don't look at the world through American eyes. I'm a real History buff and I like to go off the beaten path so I have met quite a few lovely people during my travels. In Scotland I was in Glasgow mainly but anywhere I went I was assumed to be Scottish lol. I have red hair & green eyes and I figured it would be assumed I was Irish. Ireland was superb as well, just lovely. I haven't ever encountered rude people and I'm pretty understanding of whatever a person goes through. Life can get even the most cheerful sort down sometimes. Yeah, Ireland & Scotland were the most hospitable sorts but I think that of anywhere I've ever been just about :)~

Hungarians !! by far. Who wins the "Miss Congeniality" award? Austrians. True story - I was at a brew pub in Salzburg and asked for a large beer and a small beer. The guy just tilted his head and stared. So, I tried a different tack - with my very limited German, I said, Eine grosses bier und .." That's when he cut me off and in perfect English said, "I heard you the first time." That pretty much summed up my entire week in Austria. I've had warmer receptions in 'Jersey (USA).