Do any of you consider your co-nationals to be the kindest people on Earth? We’re talking strictly about your own experience here. Not many of you would answer with a resounding “Yes!” to that question. If you’re an ardent traveller, then you’ve probably had at least one unfortunate incident with the natives of a country. It’s not uncommon to find unfriendly people. Everybody has a bad day once in a while. Some more so than others. People abroad can also sometimes be distrusting of foreigners and tourists. It doesn’t necessarily mean it is your fault. Everything is based on how open a certain society is.

You might ask yourself: “Why does this matter?” Well, some travellers genuinely like to interact with the locals. Sure, architecture, natural landmarks, souvenirs and other tourist traps come first most of the time. But the best memories are created when you meet new and exciting people. Just think of it.

You could tell your friends back home that you hanged out with some co-nationals in India. On the other hand, you could say that you hanged out with people there and they showed you particular aspects of their culture that no tour guide could show you. The locals know the area better than anyone else, and that is a fact true for any country. Of course, not everyone knows who the most approachable natives are. That is why we created this list.

We wanted to establish who the kindest people on Earth are and where your biggest chances lie of creating wonderful experiences with them. We’ve also tried to pick some from all corners of the world. The following are just some of the groups with which you can create timeless stories.

#1 Thai

You’ve probably heard about Thailand being called “The Land of Smiles” before. If not, well, you’ve heard it here first! Now, the people in major cities such as Phuket or Bangkok may sometimes feel desensitised. When you live around such common tourist destinations, that tends to happen. Don’t let that fool you, though. As you may have read in one of our previous articles, Thai people have a life philosophy that allows them to remain calm and composed at every step.

We would say that those who have that kind of worldview deserve a spot in a list of the kindest people on Earth. Wouldn’t you agree?

#2 Scots

Now here we have a genuinely hearty people. Usually, you would see others stereotype Scotsmen grumpy or gloomy (