[bombcar]

I've had similar experiences (not surfing) where people say "place X hates tourists" or "don't go to Y they don't like Americans" but have never run into any notable issues.

I suspect that for some people "neutral" is "hates my guts" or something, or some people are stereotypically tourists in such a way that it'd piss people off in their hometown.

[sdsd]

>don't go to Y they don't like Americans

As an American, this has been my experience with French people. Everyone tells me how rude they are, and how they dislike Americans. Meanwhile, I've met a ton of French people and they have all been absolutely wonderful, polite, and totally friendly.

Actually, I brought this up the first time I met two Frenchmen when I was 19 in NYC. They were tourists and I was surprised and mentioned that I was under the impression that French people disliked Americans, and they said "No, we love them! Just maybe in Paris, you will not like it, but the rest of France is much better!"

Idk what to take from that, but the point is, French people are great ime.

[danenania]

Part of it is that many Americans really are obnoxious as tourists and with a big population that can afford to travel we are sending a lot of those obnoxious people around the world.

If you make some effort to learn the basics of the language and blend in to the existing vibe rather than acting like you're on spring break in Daytona Beach, mostly people will realize you're not one of those Americans and you won't have any problem.

[chihuahua]

This is a good point. I bet it's much more that locals are tired of obnoxious tourists, and not tourists in general or tourists from any particular country.

[bombcar]

I've never had any issue with anyone, French or otherwise, in Paris as a tourist, so I'm not sure where it comes from. I can only assume it's people who treat Paris as if it were some funny form of a US Walmart.

[7thaccount]

I've heard many places still remember (at least generational memory) of America liberating France from the Nazis.

[mcculley]

I have similarly not had the problems others describe. I suspect that many people need a guide or lesson on how to be good tourist/guest. Too many act entitled as tourists.

I push back at home on what I perceive as poor service or behavior from civil servants. Abroad, I try to not expect that everything is done as in my home culture. Just having the right attitude makes others less unfriendly.