The Myth of the “Ugly American” In Paris

Nickelback Fans Need Not Apply!

Most of us have heard the old stereotype: the loud, badly dressed American yelling at a French waitress that he wants ketchup for his fries—oh, and by the way, don’t you people have air conditioning?

I have no doubt that person exists somewhere, but I haven’t seen them live and in person. When I occasionally peek into expat blogs or “life abroad” articles, the comments reek of smug:

• “Well, this is no surprise—what an ugly American for not enjoying line-drying their laundry.”

• “How dumb do you have to be not to understand what a Thermidorian Reaction is, LOL. Typical American. No history!”

• “You want ranch dressing? Head back to Kansas City. 😆”

But what Brenda, clutching her Pandora’s pearls, doesn’t understand is this: the myth of the “ugly American” exists almost exclusively in the minds of other Americans—usually those who feel insecure about their life in France or elsewhere in Europe.

Couldn’t Cut It As A Poor Man Stealing

Let’s look at a few basic facts. According to the Pew Research Center:

“Income is even more strongly related to travel than age. Two-thirds of upper-income Americans have traveled to at least five countries, compared with just 9% of Americans with lower incomes. Similarly, Americans with a postgraduate degree are far more likely to be globe-trotters than those with a high school education or less (59% vs. 10%).”

In other words, the Americans traveling overseas, especially to places like France, are likely to be upper-income and educated. To be clear, I don’t believe income or education guarantees good behavior or intelligence (one need only glance at the Columbia or Harvard campuses post-10/7 to see that). But we can reasonably infer that these travelers are not the knuckle-dragging Nickelback fans some commenters love to imagine. FYI, I listen to Nickelback when I exercise.

Statistically, the average income of Americans traveling to Europe is around $170,000 per household. The average American household income overall? $80,610, according to the U.S. Census.

Americans Win The Travel Contest (Not Sick Of Winning!)

And that tired, classist cliché that “Americans don’t travel”? Not true. In fact, we travel to Europe more than Europeans travel to the U.S. If transatlantic travel is your cultural yardstick (I hope it is not), Americans are winning. According to Bloomberg:

“More than 22 million Americans flew to Europe in 2024—double the total that visited in 2010. In contrast, just 15.8 million Europeans flew to the U.S. in 2024, which is fewer than in 2019.”

But numbers only get us so far.

From my personal experience, and through conversations with French family and friends, Americans in France are, frankly, delightful (albeit a little loud, okay). Most of the American tourists I see are Boomers romping around in Eddie Bauer jackets and Merrell shoes, taking pictures for their grandkids. Others are Millennials in Lululemon leggings or Marshall’s maxi dresses, trying their best to not offend anyone by the fact they exist (such is the Millennial way of life). Regardless, they’re polite, cheerful, and genuinely thrilled to be in France.

It Closes In 15 Minutes, And There Are 100,000 Works Of Art To See!

A few weeks ago, at the Louvre, I saw a dark-haired woman loudly ask a security guard, “Where is the Mona Lisa?” And honestly? I was thrilled for her. How exciting to see one of the world’s most iconic paintings in real life.

Did the snobby part of me cringe at the volume and the cliché? Yes. But, if that is the case, who’s the jerk in that scenario?

Most Americans I encounter are respectful, even desperate not to seem rude or ignorant. I practically have to convince them that being brusque in Paris is a cultural norm, not a faux pas. They are hyper-aware of how they’re perceived and try hard not to live up to the stereotype.

Don’t believe me? Ask Rick Steves. In a March 2025 blog post, he writes:

“For some of us, maybe it’s that we’re terribly conscientious to avoid being ‘Ugly Americans’—which puts us on a hair-trigger for disapproval. Others may travel with a chip on their shoulder, having been assured our whole lives that we hail from the greatest country on earth—so naturally, people abroad must be jealous or resentful.”

So yes, Americans often bend over backwards not to fulfill the stereotype. And I’ll admit, I do think America is the greatest experiment in the history of the world. But I also believe every human being is made in God’s image. In other words: America is great, but that doesn’t make me, or anyone else, inherently better or worse.

And guess what? The French will sometimes ask weird questions like, “Is it hot in America?” or “DC—is that near LA?” or “I went to North Carolina in 1979.” But they might also think it’s cool that you’re from the U.S. They watched 90210, Dallas, and Friends. They’re genuinely curious.

Sure, the French can be more reserved, less overtly friendly, and not as expressive. That’s fine.

Because the only people still obsessing over the “Ugly American” stereotype… are other Americans. The French, by and large, are not too concerned.

Wherever you go, people are just people. Some are rude, some are lovely. And if you spend your entire vacation white-knuckling your guidebook to “not look like a tourist” (usually written by people who don’t even live here), you’re going to miss one of the most magical, beautiful countries on Earth.

So tie your Asics, wear your St. Louis Cardinals cap, and put on those Costco jeans!

You’re an American in Paris.

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