Americans aren't ugly as tourists anymore

NJO ^ | Sunday, July 6, 2003 | JILL SCHENSUL

[Ann Archy]

I find it very hard to believe that French tourism is down only 20%. If I live to be 100, I'll never understand them using WOODY ALLEN!! Tres idiotic.

[kellynla]

Lets be honest here. They don't want us. They want our money. If you ever want to take a vacation and not spend a lot of money and truly be appreciated in a country that is beautiful. Go to Ireland. The Irish have to be some of the most hospitable on the planet and it is very reasonable. I have never met anyone who did not love their vacation in Ireland. Full disclosure: my grandparents were Irish. :-)

[theDentist]

"...The Frenchman on the street will not turn his back on two centuries of friendship with the people of the United States."

Yeah, that was so apparent when they protested us before Gulf 2 began. {/sarcasm}

[freemama]

We were going to visit Germany for the first time for our 10th anniversary this spring.

We chose to go to the western US instead.

Not sure we are even interested in going to Europe anymore. (OK, maybe England someday.)

Never France!

[eyespysomething]

The country is offering deep discounts on everything from hotels to rail travel to car rentals. Deals are listed on the Web at www.visitbritain.com/2003. Among those available, through Aug. 1, is a six-night package, including accommodations, airfare on American Airlines, and breakfast, for $636 per person, based on double occupancy.

Ooooo - I'm going to the website NOW!!

[Night Hides Not]

Thanks for the info. My son's HS band is performing at the St. Patrick's Day parade in Dublin next year. We're all looking forward to going.

[livius]

I just saw an ad for Spanish products and tourism, the new slogan of which is: "Spain - your friend in Europe."

I love it! Because, of course, Spain was probably our strongest friend, next to Britain.

Forget France and go to Spain (or Ireland, which wasn't very vocal, but was pretty supportive, too).

[4integrity]

BINGO!!!!!! They never stop loving those American greenbacks! I would not spend one nickel in France. A trip to Ireland sounds wonderful.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

"This is the hotel's way of saying that Americans will always be welcome in Paris,"

And my not being there was my way of saying, "Stick it, froggy!!"

[A_perfect_lady]

Yeah, I liked Ireland a lot too. Very beautiful place. The people, however, are no better than any other Euros. Even back in 1990, talking to them was like getting a Chomsky lecture, and half of them seem convinced that AIDS was invented in a laboratory in Texas by Evil Republican Christians bent on destroying "undesirables." In other words, the country is lovely but the people are nuts.

[Between the Lines]

"...The Frenchman German bastards on the street will not turn his back on two centuries of friendship with the people of the United States."

[Kingasaurus]

"In Vietnam, the Vietnamese National Carrier is offering discounts of up to 75 percent off regular fares. Four- and five-star hotels in Ho Chi Minh City are offering one free night for every two booked."

Unfortunately, the Hanoi Hilton was free.....

[Chewbacca]

The best thing in Ireland that I found when visiting last November was the vegetable soup.

Their museums were ok, but they didn't have a lot of information displayed about what you were looking at and the possible history behind it. Mostly just a name tag.
They wanted people to buy the museum books which detailed everything, and you weren't allowed to take photographs. Sucked.

The country was pretty, but the endless miles of stone walled green fields and peat bogs got boring after awhile.

I still prefer the US where I can hop on the interstate and travel 900 miles a day and view the astonishing changes in landscape as I pass through multiple States and towns. More interesting to me.

[Wright is right!]

"I just saw an ad for Spanish products and tourism, the new slogan of which is: "Spain - your friend in Europe."

Spain is magnificent, the people are like the weather - warm and friendly - and prices are comparatively cheap. And English will get you by in all but the smallest of towns. Plus, there are large ex-pat communities of English and Germans, largely for the balmy weather. OK, 117 degrees in Sevilla isn't zackly balmy, but then Sevilla is the hottest city in Europe.

We'd recommend Spain to anyone and everyone.

Michael

[CathyRyan]

If I won a tax free trip to Fr*nce I still would not go.

[Luke Skyfreeper]

In other words: Yankees, come back, we need your money.

To which I reply:

Up yours.

[Labyrinthos]

Go to Ireland. The Irish have to be some of the most hospitable on the planet and it is very reasonable. I have never met anyone who did not love their vacation in Ireland. Full disclosure: my grandparents were Irish. :-)

I have heard the same about Spain. Full disclosure: My grandparents on both sides were off the boat from Ireland.

[Prodigal Son]

We'd recommend Spain to anyone and everyone.

As would I.

[Labyrinthos]

Go to Ireland. The Irish have to be some of the most hospitable on the planet and it is very reasonable. I have never met anyone who did not love their vacation in Ireland. Full disclosure: my grandparents were Irish. :-)

I have heard the same about Spain. Full disclosure: My grandparents on both sides were off the boat from Ireland.