The most welcoming people? (page 1 of 8)

Hi there,

While reading some travel journals, I notice that we always reflect on the people of the countries we visit.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on which people charmed you the most during your travels?

I’m not looking for controversy, just reflections and personal feelings. Looking forward to reading your replies...

Hi there,

Without a doubt, the Turks and Syrians, with a special mention for the Japanese who always go out of their way to help lost tourists. 😎

Hi there, I can confirm, Turks (a lovely invitation to eat like that in a park in the cool air, loukoums galore...!), in Syria too—smiles, "welcome"—I often think of all those people I met, strangers, where are they now? But also in Yemen and Oman, hospitality is a core value. Before even knowing where you come from or where you're going, the person bends over backwards to make you comfortable, offering drinks and food, with smiling kids full of shy curiosity... what memories... *sigh*! Same in Africa... in short, in many places, a stranger is first and foremost a human being with whom you share what little you have. Having been welcomed with such simplicity and kindness for a few hours or a few days, I’m often ashamed of our European (French) attitudes. Happy travels! Pascale

The English. Friendly without being intrusive, and a sense of humor that clicks with me. 😛

After that, things go downhill with the food and the weather. 😄

Hi there

I’ve visited 15 countries, and without a doubt, the Iranian people are the kindest and most welcoming. A lot of posts on this forum can confirm that!

Tourists are so rare in Iran that they’re really spoiled.

On the Tehran metro, I struck up a conversation with a girl who invited me to her wedding after just 10 minutes of chatting 🙂 In shops, I was offered tea, on the street, I was given sweets, and above all, everyone shared their smiles with me 🙂

🙂 Yes, Iranians are especially welcoming and kind, closely followed by Uzbeks and Ukrainians—but the fact that I speak a little Russian might have something to do with it when it comes to Ukrainians and Uzbeks. 🙂 My attempts to communicate had them laughing out loud! 🙂

For me, it's the Armenians, without a doubt. They always take the time to help out a passing traveler, even if it means making a long detour on foot or by car. And there's always a meal ready. 🙂

Hi there, Algerians and Jordanians.

Hi, Generally, it's the people who see the fewest foreign travelers who are the most welcoming and hospitable. You could also say the opposite—those who see hordes of tourists flooding in become increasingly wary of foreigners, who have too quickly disrupted their way of life and customs. At the same time, there’s a growing tendency to try to profit (not always honestly) from tourism. That’s the case in Thailand, where I’ve noticed a gradual shift in mentality in heavily touristy areas, as well as in India. The Middle East (Syria, Lebanon, Palestinian territories, eastern Turkey, and Iran) holds—or rather, *held*—the prize for hospitality, in my opinion. These are the countries where I’ve had the most encounters and where I’ve been invited and hosted multiple times without any strings attached. It was also the case in Sri Lanka before the tourist rush, as well as in the Philippines (Luzon Island).

Can we talk about the least welcoming people too? 😎 I’d say Lebanon and Poland (my personal experience)

I think it was mentioned there’d be no controversies in this thread... 😏

But digressions are the usual course of a topic. 😉

Hi there,

I totally agree about the Turks—their kindness, especially toward our kids, was really touching. The Romanians gave us such a warm welcome too. Unforgettable memories of Tunisian hospitality—we weren’t expecting that! Lovely encounters with Americans and Irish folks... Okay, I’ll stop now 😄😄😄

Thanks for your feedback—no drama, let’s stay positive! 😛

For me, it was Morocco, where people are always happy to exchange a few words, as well as Guatemala, Venezuela, and especially Yemen...

I agree with Djalma about the less-visited countries, and also with AlyssaM about Iran. I’ve read some posts about how welcoming people are there, and this thread has definitely helped me decide on my next destination... 🙂

I’ve noticed that many dictatorships (or regimes that are hardly full democracies) aren’t exactly welcoming to their own citizens, yet they’re often praised for being so.

Does having little to no freedom actually make a place more welcoming? 😮

I note that many dictatorships (or regimes that can hardly be considered full democracies) that aren’t exactly welcoming to their own citizens are still highly praised.

Does having little to no freedom make a place more welcoming? 😮

Yeah, because in these countries with restrictive regimes, tourists are rare... and everything rare is precious 🙂

In Iran, when they heard me speaking French, their eyes would widen and their faces would light up. Totally, yeah!!

In Iran, when they heard me speaking French, their eyes would widen and their faces would light up

It’s also worth noting that France used to have a very positive image for a long time (the country of human rights and freedom), though that’s not entirely true these days. PS: What are your grievances with Lebanese people in general? There must have been a lot of changes after all those years of war?

I went to Lebanon in 2011, and I found the people there closed-off, very self-centered, women arrogant and superficial, men show-offs.... In short, I hated it.

Algerians and Jordanians.

I agree. Algeria has almost always been less open to tourism compared to its neighbors. The welcome there was always disinterested, and the contact was easy and warm... if it weren’t for those problems linked to radical Islamism now! As for Jordan, which I forgot to mention—of course! Just like the rest of the Middle East.

Hello, Actually, when I read the replies—which confirm my own experience—the friendliest/niceest/smiliest people are in places with the fewest tourists, and it’s not just about countries. For example, I think your experience in France will be slightly different if you wander around Paris and its suburbs versus another big city, or if you visit the heart of the Basque Country, the depths of Brittany, or elsewhere... When I see Morocco mentioned, for instance, I agree and disagree. Marrakech or Agadir? It’s just awful! But 70% of the 180 km drive between Marrakech and Essaouira is pure bliss. It’s like it’s not even the same country or the same people. Same goes for Thailand, for example. Between Patong (on Phuket), Pattaya, and other horrors, there’s a real difference compared to the countryside and the borders with Cambodia, Laos, or Myanmar! Can we say Thai people are welcoming or not? Both, I think :) And we could say the same for almost every country, right? The Tuscan or Puglian countryside versus Rome or Milan, etc... etc...

Oh, and I almost forgot—the nicest people I’ve met while traveling were the Croatians around Split and the islands (Bol, Hvar, etc.), where we hiked for two weeks a few years ago.

Personally, I’ve always been really well received in Greece. That said, I do speak a little Greek and I much prefer small villages over the most touristy spots.