Originally Posted by
bwiadca
As for my experience; I went to Paris once, back in 1998 or 1999. I'm not planing on going back there. Its not stereotypes, I think that if you don't speak French in Paris you'll be ignored by most of the local population, which is considered as being rude.
I don't speak French and didn't have a problem. People would either direct their comments to my husband (who does speak some French) or start speaking in English. This was 2003.
British people are also polite. Never had bad experience with Britons.
I lived in England for two years and would definitely say this varies. When I first got there, I was amazed at how outright rude some people could be. I've still never been anywhere outside London where anyone's been so quick to pick an argument or just make a rude comment. I love England and would happily go back, but you definitely got lucky if you've never had a bad experience.