For my most recent trip to China, I used a travel agent called WildChina. WildChina is a high-end travel agent tailored for foreign tourists who prefers the unbeaten path, yet requires a lot of hand holding. They organizes private customized tours and supplies a 24/7 (almost!) tour guide and driver. I would recommend them if you’re looking for a hassle-free way to see China – if you’re young and adventurous though, this might be a little too much.
Anyhow, one of the benefits of such a tour is the chance to interact with a local tour guide. Ours is a 26 yr old college graduate with degree in Chinese History. As we got acquainted, he shared some stereotypes of foreign tourists from the guide’s perspective:
1) French tourists don’t tip, or tip very little -> the worst
2) Japanese tourists know the prices of everything (from their magical guidebooks). They will demand compensation from the travel agency if they bought something at the market for a premium -> quite bad as well
3) Israelie tourists like to get the most of their value. They will make sure the the guides work for their money -> tiring, but not too bad
4) US tourists talk nonstop, wanting to draw conclusion from everything they see on the way. Also, they look for poverty… or whatever that fits their stereotype -> annoying, but generous tippers
5) British tourists are the best.
6) Almost forgot about Chinese/Taiwanese tourists. They never follow instructions so you end up yelling and running around looking for them.
That’s it folks.
This is a hilarious post! I love the “talk nonstop” characterization and “drawing conclusions nonstop” as well…