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Which is the Most Unfriendly Country in Europe!
I have spent entire summers traveling in Europe, England, Scotland, Denmark, North Africa, the Middle East, and lesser times in South East Asia, China, South America, Central America, the Caribbean and Eastern Europe. Friendliness depends on so many things, often it’s pot luck. It depends on the city, the people you encounter, the circumstances, the neighborhoods you are in even the political culture and or political climate and even the time of day etc.
If you need help most often everyone seems to be happy to assist you unless they are in a hurry or the weather is inclement. For example I found many in Paris, France to be class conscious which I knew before the trip since I prepared by reading several travel books like Frommer or Fielding or Fodor so in Paris don’t dress like a tourist.
I wore a Pierre Cardin double breasted dark blue blazer with gold buttons purchased earlier in the trip at Oxford Street in London, a white shirt, dark patterned tie, grey slacks with black shoes and I was overwhelmed with courtesy, respect and service. They thought I was somebody I suppose. I could have been anybody but how could they know. It really works. People react to uniforms, imagry and things you wear. If I was wearing a white jacket, a stethoscope around my neck, light weight pants and sneakers they might think I was in the medical field. We are all conditioned like that .
Many people upon first meeting may judge you by what you are wearing, how you maintain your grooming, the way you stand or perhaps the expression on your face so to be on the safe side I dress up to help offset any negative appearances and I believe it pays off.
When you check into a restaurant, hotel or airline you may increase your chances for a perk or two. I have been seated early in restaurants when we were told on the phone there is a long wait. We were several times upgraded on airlines to business and first class and desk clerks at hotels will if there is availability try and give you a better room to make your experience more pleasurable. It doesn’t happen too often but your chances are best if you dress up instead of dressing down.
Best not to prejudge countries, just go without any premonitions; dress up if you choose and you will get better responses. They love when you try and speak their language.
But if I had to narrow it down to which country is less friendly I would say that I got indifferent responses in the Eastern European countries post Communism for the most part. It is the ex-Communist countries where people were more on their guard, had oppressive governments, shortages of consumer goods and services, had to struggle to survive, had to be careful what they said to strangers and sometimes friends and family. That’s why it’s good to dress like a King and you will be treated like a King.