There's been some talk around the blogosphere about the stereotype of the "Ugly American" tourist in Europe. Here in Spain most American tourists actually have a pretty good reputation. Reason: Spain is Europe's Florida. It gets more than 45 million tourists every year, and not too many of them are American, several hundred thousand at most. 15 million of them are British and 9 million are German.

Here in Spain there's more of an Ugly Tourist attitude, especially toward the working-class Europeans who are Spain's major tourist market. According to the Spanish stereotype, tourists are only interested in the Four S's--sex, sun, sea, and sangria. The British drink far too much and vomit everywhere, and are the most likely to get violent. The Germans refuse to hang around anyone but other Germans, and so there is a whole neighborhood in Palma de Mallorca full of bars owned by Germans catering exclusively to Germans. The Norwegians are the ones really into group singing. All foreign women are sexually available, especially blondes. No one knows how to speak Spanish, and they couldn't care less. They're not interested in Spanish culture at all. Tourists consider the working-class Spaniards who serve them to be second-class persons. And they all dress very badly.

There's not really a stereotype of American tourists, though, except for the standard stereotype of Americans, because so few Americans come here in comparison with Europeans. In fact, Americans are actually rather popular tourists and get comparatively good treatment for several reasons: 1) A lot of Americans know just a little Spanish, because they studied it in high school or college. A little Spanish goes a long way in making you popular. 2) Most of the American tourists aren't here for the beach and the booze--if they wanted that, they'd go to Florida or Cancun or Padre or whatever, closer to home and much cheaper. 3) The Americans who make it to Spain are generally middle-class rather than working-class, since Europe is a fairly expensive trip for Americans. That means they tend to be better-educated and better-mannered than the average tourist. 4) If they come here at all, they're here to see the castles and art museums and Gaudi buildings; they show some interest in the local culture. 5) They have a reputation as good spenders, as do the Japanese, who are also popular.

I found this bit from a website called the Independent Traveler; thought I'd reproduce it with a few comments.

Leave the "Ugly" at Home
So there's an upside to being an American abroad, no question. Here are my tips to help you remain American without earning the "ugly" adjective.

1. Dress understated, but be yourself. You may want to leave the I'm with Stupid and South of the Border tees at home, but you don't necessarily have to dress in black in Paris, or in mariachi costume in Mexico.

He has a point. It is a good idea to try to fit in wherever you are, and Spaniards tend to dress in darker, more muted colors than Americans do. However, a good few Spaniards also dress indistinguishably from Americans, with Polo shirts and khaki shorts. DO NOT wear sandals with socks in Spain. It is considered very uncool and you will be laughed at.

2. Don't overplay your hometown, but if asked, be forthcoming.
Everyone knows someone who won't relent when it comes to their hometown, breaking into song at the mere mention of where they live (it's always seemed to me that Alabamans and others from parts South were most likely to launch into song). When asked, volunteer some information, but understand that not the entire world thinks your US state is the center of the planet.

I had never heard that Americans "overplayed their hometowns," at least no more than anyone else does.

3. Use eyes and ears before engaging mouth.
Staying alert and attuned to everything going on around you is not only better style, but is much safer to boot. To paraphrase a very useful truism, better to be thought American than open your mouth and remove all doubt.

Well, yeah. of course, that's sort of a general rule of life, isn't it?…

4. Walk, or rent a bike.
Seems simple enough, but much of the world doesn't have the addiction to the automobile that Americans do. If you think the big shiny rental car marks you as an out-of-towner in the US, wait until you try it in Florence. Walking, or renting a bike for more range and mobility, puts you in the midst of the motion and rhythms of a place.

Again, I hadn't ever heard that Americans rent cars to get around foreign cities. And I certainly wouldn't rent a bicycle in Barcelona, except down at the Parque Ciudadela.

5. You don't need a picture of everything in sight.
We all want photos from our trips, but a camera is the surest way to label yourself "pure tourist." You're taking shots of this church and that statue, all the major monuments. You're in none of the photos. Then when you get home, you can't tell one church from another, you have a bunch of photos that look like cheap postcards, you spent all your energy taking pictures of everything instead of looking at it, and your 300 photos remind you of everything and nothing.

But if you take your camera and ask a waiter to take your picture with the owner of a small café where you had a great time, the memories will come flooding back.

Two comments: a) it's the Japanese who are stereotyped in Spain for taking too many pictures of everything b) Everybody in Spain has one of those mobile phones with cameras and uses it all the time anyway.

6. Realize that just because something is different, doesn't mean it's wrong. Eating habits, religious practices, even the word for "soccer" (I still don't call it football) will shift everywhere you go. On the other hand, you can play these for laughs or conversation given the chance, so no fear.

I think the kind of Americans who come to Spain understand this, and most of them come here specifically in order to experience something that isn't America.

7. It's getting there, but English is not yet spoken by all the planet. Learn a few words of the language wherever you are, and for god's sake, just because someone doesn't understand you doesn't mean they're deaf! If you're thinking "man, this guy doesn't even speak English!", remember, you're the illiterate in this case!

In my opinion this faux pas is not generally committed by the Americans who come to Spain.

8. Also on the language tip: you never know who knows a few words of your language. And you can bet the words they'll know best are the ones you don't want them to know.

This is an extremely good point. It is another universal rule of life, not just good advice for tourists.

I would add rule number nine: Avoid political discussions if at all possible. Just change the subject.