Busting Travel Myths

Travel myths are like a virus, spreading around the globe, infecting would-be travelers with half truths and no truths. I’m sure we’ve all heard them – the rumors, the generalizations about particular places and situations. They’re spread mainly through the grapevine, the rumor mill and internet mumbo jumbo.

Well, I’m here to set the record straight. On my most recent excursion, I busted one of the most fundamental travel myths I’d been hearing for years.

Myth #1: The French don’t like Americans, and are rude to you if you don’t speak French.

Lo and behold, this couldn’t be more false. I recently spent 10 days in France, and I speak no more than a few words of the language (although I’d love to learn it). I was warned by several people about the aforementioned myth. However, upon arrival, everyone I came in contact with couldn’t have been nicer. Accommodating, helpful, gracious – willing to speak English to us or let us practice our attempts at French. I literally didn’t encounter one rude local on my entire trip – so much for this long lived myth. And in fact, many people actually offered to help me, without my ever asking. If I was standing at the street corner with a map, a local would approach to assist.

I hope my disclosure will encourage more Americans to visit France, and put aside silly rumors and generalizations. And this particular instance is just a drop in the bucket of the thousands of myths that exist. What travel myths have you heard over the years? Have you busted any myths on your travels? We’d love to hear your stories!

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