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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.
4: The U.S is such a self-contained country, English is so commonly used around the world, that many (not all) Americans just simply don’t have the incentive/desire/motivation to learn a foreign language.-this reflects in traveling to countries where English isn’t the official language. Whether it’s the comfort level/insularity or the fear of the unknowns, many Americans don’t venture outside the First World countries.
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.
The irony is tha once you get to Europe/South America/Asia, and that’s what credit cards that earn frequent flyer miles are for, hotel rooms are often a lot cheaper than in the USA. The typical French or German worker has a 20-30% lower after tax income than the typical American worker. Hotel prices for places those folks want to spend their 3 weeks of annual vacation are priced according to those lower net incomes.
There’s like an Ibis hotel at every metro stop in Paris- nothing fancy but you can have something clean, comfortable, safe, and with AC for 125 euros a night there if you know what to look for and when to book. Try to find something like that in NYC.
The irony is tha once you get to Europe/South America/Asia, and that’s what credit cards that earn frequent flyer miles are for, hotel rooms are often a lot cheaper than in the USA. The typical French or German worker has a 20-30% lower after tax income than the typical American worker. Hotel prices for places those folks want to spend their 3 weeks of annual vacation are priced according to those lower net incomes.
There’s like an Ibis hotel at every metro stop in Paris- nothing fancy but you can have something clean, comfortable, safe, and with AC for 125 euros a night there if you know what to look for and when to book. Try to find something like that in NYC.
Not sure how to put this politely, but I have the impression that many Americans believe that their country is the best in the world. So they feel no need to go to places that they feel might be inferior.
We tend, on the other hand, to be told all the evils of our country and it takes a bit of travelling to realise that it is actually very fortunate compared with most of the world.
But I would imagine the biggest factor is the lack of paid leave. My daughter knocked back an opportunity to live in NYC as she was getting six weeks laid leave in London in the UK and would have had two weeks in the US. She was living overseas to travel.
That's pretty spot on.
1. Lack of interest in exploring the world, being told America is the best. Being told the world outside is scary and inferior. Not worth visiting. This mindset is indoctrinated and conditioned into all Americans.
2. Lack of paid lead. Most folks just don't get a lot of days off.
3. Money. America is isolated and it takes a considerable amount of money to travel to the biggest tourist destinations in Europe (Paris), Middle East (Dubai), or SE Asia (Thailand).
Common question we got asked during last few months overseas... "Where in the USA can I visit that does not have guns?"
For those wanting to come to USA, but unable...(insurance companies or Dr disallowing)
First it was HC expense risk, now guns. Each are legitimate concerns for foreigners desiring to come to USA. National Parks are still fairly safe, but you need to get there. And though firearms are restricted in NP, no one is screening those driving in. https://www.nps.gov/articles/firearm...onal-parks.htm
I had a dentist in Canada ask me if I had a gun, and a Senegalese cab driver in London told me he had family in Queens, NY, but would never come to the States to visit them because he is afraid of being shot.
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
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Quote:
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, ...true, I took a LOT of sabbaticals / time without pay. not possible with all employers, but I benefited from taking extensive time without pay. I would usually take 2-3 months off between projects, then work 12 - 16 hrs / day during projects (~18 months)
3: Traveling, especially international traveling, is costly. Mostly transportation costs higher, food and lodging seems similar once you arrive (unless you eat like a tourist ) restaurants... hit the local fresh markets and grocery / bakeries. Best to get a job that lets you travel (wth family if possible, there are few willing to take that risk, so opportunites abound for those willing to take their family. (internationally)
... 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. amazes me to see how Europeans spend while on vacaton in USA. $10,000/ month for a motorhome rental
4: The U.S is such a self-contained country, English is so commonly used around the world, that many (not all) Americans just simply don’t have the incentive/desire/motivation to learn a foreign language.-this reflects in traveling to countries where English isn’t the official language. Whether it’s the comfort level/insularity or the fear of the unknowns, many Americans don’t venture outside the First World countries.
Language... I think Americans like to feel they're in control, and being a minority and not speaking the native language is too risky for many Americans to deal with.
Actually a lot of Americans do travel. The feedback from Europe, and in particular, Italy, is that they are totally inundated with tourists and many are American.
Not all Europeans travel either. Our Italian uncle came over here three times but his wife would not come and has barely left her small town.
What happens with your unused paid leave? Companies here put limits on the amounts people may accumulate. They had little choice but to allow people to bank it up during Covid with all the restrictions here on travel. So now people are looking at so much leave (one daughter has months on store as she also has long service leave) and the other, in a twelve month period, will have been away seven times.
Obviously people may just stay home when they have to use leave, but here most prefer to go somewhere.
Language... I think Americans like to feel they're in control, and being a minority and not speaking the native language is too risky for many Americans to deal with.
Which is a shame as the only place we have had real communication problems was in Harbin in northern China, where the second language is Russian. These days everyone just pulls out their phone and uses a translation app.
1. Lack of interest in exploring the world, being told America is the best. Being told the world outside is scary and inferior. Not worth visiting. This mindset is indoctrinated and conditioned into all Americans.
2. Lack of paid lead. Most folks just don't get a lot of days off.
3. Money. America is isolated and it takes a considerable amount of money to travel to the biggest tourist destinations in Europe (Paris), Middle East (Dubai), or SE Asia (Thailand).
You cannot and do not speak for me and for many other Americans.
Not sure how to put this politely, but I have the impression that many Americans believe that their country is the best in the world. So they feel no need to go to places that they feel might be inferior.
We tend, on the other hand, to be told all the evils of our country and it takes a bit of travelling to realise that it is actually very fortunate compared with most of the world.
But I would imagine the biggest factor is the lack of paid leave. My daughter knocked back an opportunity to live in NYC as she was getting six weeks laid leave in London in the UK and would have had two weeks in the US. She was living overseas to travel.
I think the stereotype about (some) Americans believing their country is the best and thus not needing to go other places may have held some water a generation or two ago. Nowadays, living as I do, surrounded by Americans, I think that stereotype is quite outdated and exaggerated.
The comments in ainsley1999's post, in my view and in my experience, are much more accurate and even handed.
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) restaurants... hit the local fresh markets and grocery / bakeries. Best to get a job that lets you travel (wth family if possible, there are few willing to take that risk, so opportunites abound for those willing to take their family. (internationally)
