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Paris Greeters Promise to Be Nice to You

Parisians have a reputation for rudeness that's not entirely deserved, but the idea is pervasive enough that one group of concerned citizens decided to do something about it. The Paris Greeters are a group of volunteer tour guides who conduct special tours designed to show visitors what a friendly, welcoming, and inspiring city Paris can be. As the AP points out, the greeters are happy to speak English (or nine other languages) and specialize in attractions that off the major tourist itineraries. For example, architectural tours generally skip the Eiffel Tower in favor of the 1930s-era buildings of the Trocadéro, while those looking for authentic French cuisine will likely end up in some delightful hole-in-the-wall restaurant that flies well under the Michelin radar. The tours are free and tour guides won't accept tips, though visitors are expected to pay their transit costs. We would reckon that a cup of coffee at a side-street cafe would be appreciated as well.

[Photo: AP]

Related Stories:
· Smiling Parisians Show You Their City for Free [AP via Yahoo! News]
· Paris Greeter [Official Site]
· Tour Guide Coverage [Jaunted]

Tags: Tourist Traps / Tour Guides / World's Worst Tourists / → All Tags

Chinese Tourists Are Finally Revolting!

Not that long ago we warned that some groups of Chinese tourists were still learning how to be tourists. But today we want to applaud them for catching on faster than most of us to the reality of organized tours.

This week in Macau, a group of 100 Chinese tourists loudly protested their guided tour when it didn't live up to their expectations. The tourists complained that they were being pressured into buying souvenirs; they wanted to see more historical sites instead. The conflict came to a head when their tour guides refused to allow them back on the coach to get their sweaters when they were taken to a windy beach (presumably to buy more stuff they didn't need).

Riot police had to be called in to calm the tourists down. Nobody knows what happened next, but we can only assume the guides got revenge by taking the group to the most boring historical site available.

Related Stories:
· Tourists Riot Over Shopping Trip [NYT]
· World's Worst Tourists: Chinese in Third Place [Jaunted]
· Macau Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Rache's Photos]

Tags: Tour Guides / → All Tags

Ye Old Final Exam: Philly Tour Guides Get Schooled

Philadelphia is working to lay down the law with, arguably, the most benevolent group out there -- tour guides.

"Bring it on," said Jill Lawrence, a Colonial re-enactor. She said she often corrects tourists' misinformation -- like whether Betsy Ross, the flag-maker who was a three-time widow, killed her husbands. Not true.

Tired of mixed-up dates and embellished biographies of historical figures, City Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown introduced a bill that would require all guides to take a test and pay additional licensing fees, The Times reports. Washington, D.C., New Orleans, and Charleston, S.C., implemented similar regulations years ago.

Forget about the city's public school budget cuts and its failing healthcare for underprivileged children, some retiree might be telling a group from Des Moines that Ben Franklin had 69 illegitimate children. Stop the madness!