Why don't Americans travel overseas?[MERGED] (cost, tourism, country)

[MarisaAnna]

Originally Posted by kamban

Australia is beautiful but unfortunately 70% of the country is not habitable, compared to only 10% uninhabitable area of the continental USA. So even though Australia is the same size as USA minus Alaska, the places people can travel within Australia are just some big /medium cities on the Coast, a couple of visits to the Outback and Tasmania. After a few years you have pretty much seen most of the OZ. So you have no choice but to go to nearby countries like NZ, Fiji, Bali and other South East Asian countries and sometimes even to Europe or North America,

True to some extent but then most people from most countries have favourite places they revisit. I am currently at Hamilton Island in the Whitsundays, fly tomorrow to Brisbane and then to the Gold Coast for a few days..
Would most American travellers who prefer to stick with their own country get to all the states and major cities?

[Brave New World]

Originally Posted by oregonwoodsmoke

That's analogues to Americans traveling to Mexico. Europe is closer to Britain than Tijuana is to San Diego. "Overseas" to Europe isn't much more than crossing a wide river.

OK , I exaggerate a bit. 20 miles from San Diego to Tijuana and 31 miles from Britain to France.

I did actually mention the fact that the geography and distance was very different, and that places in Central Europe including the likes of Lille, Brussels, Paris etc are only a relatively short train journey away, whilst the rest of Europe is accessible by cheap short haul budget airline flights, as well as different ferry routes across Europe.

As fr the shortest distance in miles from England to France is approximately 21 miles (34 kilometers), and in terms of Great Britain to Ireland it's 12 miles (19 kilometres) at the shortest point.

[MG120]

Originally Posted by Brave New World

I agree, our travelling to neighbouring countries in Europe is not that different to Americans travelling across the US and North America.

Spain could be compared to Florida, and other parts of Southern Europe to California etc.

New England could be compared to other parts of Europe, and there are numerous other comparison, such as NYC being comparable to London and Paris etc etc.

I understand your point, but going from California to Wyoming is not the same as going from Briton to Greece. You have totally different cultures, food, language, etc.

America is very homogenized, though it too has it's uniqueness, and is stunningly beautiful in places.

As an American who has been fortunate to live and work all over the world, I think most American's just can't afford to travel outside the US.

[Tim Randal Walker]

Originally Posted by ainsley1999

Why don’t Americans travel overseas?

In my observations:

1: The U.S as a country only has two neighbors, Canada and Mexico. Technically it’s a fairly geographially isolated country. It’s also so vast one hardly ever visits all 50 states in one’s lifetime.

Unlike in, say, Europe, where you are forced to interact and travel to the next country because they are geographically next to one another. Impossible to self-isolate.

2: Americans generally don’t have a lot of vacation time, in some corporates taking a long(er) vacation time is even frowned upon. Some people would even rather let the vacation time rolled over so they either earn more or are securing their employment firmly. (I find this part rather sad. I prefer the European model.)

3: Traveling, especially international traveling, is costly. It takes effort, time, preparation and money to have an enjoyable vacation. Since the U.S is a capitalist country (both the best and the worst traits of capitalism) that the society doesn’t have the common “take 3 weeks of paid vacation” culture existing in a more socialist European country, a lot of people just don’t see spending thousands of $ on airfare, hotels and dining/sightseeing for only 1-2 weeks vacation time as something that’s feasible or sensible cost-wise.
.

For 1: I would add the Caribbean. Draw a circle around the USA that includes Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean, and label it as "Geographically Convenient."

Expanding outward from that circle, places that you might revisit. As a Seattle resident, I would consider revisiting Hawaii. Think of this as medium haul trip.

Bucket List. Places that are far away, and particularly interesting to the individual. The average American might make a once in a lifetime trip to, say, Europe. I made a trip to Australia a few decades ago, likely to be a once in a lifetime trip.

[Brave New World]

Originally Posted by MG120

I understand your point, but going from California to Wyoming is not the same as going from Briton to Greece. You have totally different cultures, food, language, etc.

America is very homogenized, though it too has it's uniqueness, and is stunningly beautiful in places.

As an American who has been fortunate to live and work all over the world, I think most American's just can't afford to travel outside the US.

I think you will find that a lot of Mediterranean resorts actually cater for the British and indeed other European nationalities, and I don't think many people are that interested in Greek culture in clubbing resorts such as Faliraki or Mykonos etc, and much of theses area are like US Spring Break but on steroids.

There are strips full of bars and clubs across the Mediterranean, including British bars and cafe/restaurants, and that's without the global fast food and other chains. In fact you could just survive on US style fast food in most global cities and resorts across many parts of the globe.

The idea that Brits just go to the Mediterranean and only consume local dishes is a bit of a fallacy, especially in terms of the young clubbing crowd or the cheap holiday crowd, eating their British Breakfasts in Benidorm.

As for Greek culture, there are Greek/Turkish areas in some British cities, indeed areas such as Green Lanes and Palmers Green in London are well known Greek enclaves, and there are lots of Greek restaurants in these areas, and even Greek national chain restaurants such as 'The Real Greek'.

The culture is therefore not that much of a shock, with the impact of globalisation and cheap budget travel having had a significant impact over the last forty or fifty years.

It does however depend on where you go in a country and I would suggest that travels who want to see the real Greece (or any other country) avoid the resorts and look towards more traditional areas.

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by Brave New World

I think you will find that a lot of Mediterranean resorts actually cater for the British and indeed other European nationalities, and I don't think many people are that interested in Greek culture in clubbing resorts ... I would suggest that travels who want to see the real Greece (or any other country) avoid the resorts and look more traditional areas. .

And go off season!

We spent 3 months with Greek nationals, and rarely saw a tourist (and departed June 1

Since we stay with locals wherever we travel (including UK), it's a much different experience than spring break, resorts, tour buses.... Sometimes we'll take tea at a resort. (If it's free, and not crowded). Recently did that at a USA National Park lodge. We'd had our morning hike, and dropped in for tea about 10am. All the families had just left the dining veranda, so the waiters offered us complimentary tea and to remain on the veranda while they prepped for lunch. It was great, peaceful, and an excellent view.

Our Royal Oak pass was very handy when we arrived and stayed in UK for several weeks. Always in small villages or farms, staying with locals.

Our 1 yr RTW required only 8 hotels (to catch early AM flights)

[Brave New World]

Originally Posted by StealthRabbit

And go off season!

We spent 3 months with Greek nationals, and rarely saw a tourist (and departed June 1

Since we stay with locals wherever we travel (including UK), it's a much different experience than spring break, resorts, tour buses.... Sometimes we'll take tea at a resort. (If it's free, and not crowded). Recently did that at a USA National Park lodge. We'd had our morning hike, and dropped in for tea about 10am. All the families had just left the dining veranda, so the waiters offered us complimentary tea and to remain on the veranda while they prepped for lunch. It was great, peaceful, and an excellent view.

Our Royal Oak pass was very handy when we arrived and stayed in UK for several weeks. Always in small villages or farms, staying with locals.

Our 1 yr RTW required only 8 hotels (to catch early AM flights)

I am not sure that you would want to be in the clubbing resort type areas of the Mediterranean even off season, as they are full of bars and clubs in relation to the main strips.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQnsogxk-Ig

Blur's 'Girl's and Boys' featured a lot of British tourists in the Mediterranean clubbing/party type resorts.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDswiT87oo8

[StealthRabbit]

I don't have a clue, haven't had a TV since 1968.
Have pay-per-byte random and seldom Internet access, no videos or YouTube.


We spent a lot of time on Skopelos and Skiathos which are significantly
impacted by tourists. But we were spared. Unlike USA, many European tourist centric destinations remain dead off season. The remote place I lived in Thailand was similar. Even the locals leave, or hibernate off season. The place is abandoned. Most bars and restaurants have the chairs on the tables, and dogs, chickens, pigs, and cats take over.

[Brave New World]

Originally Posted by StealthRabbit

I don't have a clue, haven't had a TV since 1968.
Have pay-per-byte random and seldom Internet access, no videos or YouTube.


We spent a lot of time on Skopelos and Skiathos which are significantly
impacted by tourists. But we were spared. Unlike USA, many European tourist centric destinations remain dead off season. The remote place I lived in Thailand was similar. Even the locals leave, or hibernate off season. The place is abandoned. Most bars and restaurants have the chairs on the tables, and dogs, chickens, pigs, and cats take over.

Sounds like you had a nice time in Greece, as is Thailand, as long as you avoid the tourist traps and areas inhabited by partying youngsters and which are full of bars and clubs etc, however that's the same anywhere and the same is true in parts of the US.

It also sounds like you enjoy a nice peaceful lifestyle.

[Tim Randal Walker]

I believe that there has been tourism to Costa Rica, in recent years. So Geographically Convenient may start to include at least one country in Central America.