Comments on: Why Americans STILL Don’t Travel Overseas

By: TravelingJeanne

TravelingJeanne — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:46:14 +0000

It looks like this is one of those discussions that will never be settled! For my part, I am still torn between love of going to places I’ve only dreamed about, and the realization that I (and many others) cannot just hop a plane whenever the spirit moves. The seemingly low percentage of Americans with passports has been nagging at me too. Now, is this the number having passports at this moment, or does it include the part of the population having had passports (and used but not renewed them) as well as those who could reasonably be expected to own passports as soon as they reach that magical “gap year” age? Because if the stats are ignoring all these folks who travel at some point in their lives, wouldn’t it be like saying that Americans seldom read books anymore because we only count the ones reading today, not those who finished a book yesterday or just ordered one from BN to read next week? (Ohh, let’s not get into the “Johnny can’t read” thing; i was just looking for an example) Do past travelers get counted along with current travelers? There are so many Americans who have been all over the world for business, in the military or Peace Corps, ministry for various denominations, who may not add to those numbers because after years of traveling, they are now staying home to do other things and have hung up their backpacks for good.
Even if the total number of Americans who visit other countries is low (whatever we might consider too low), I ‘m convinced that those who do not wish to should not, those who cannot afford to should not, and those who are too weighed down with wage-earning, care-giving, or chronic health problems should not. It’s not all about ignorance and fear, it’s individual circumstances. More education about our own and other cultures would be nice. So would more compassion.

By: NomadicMatt

NomadicMatt — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 11:28:03 +0000

Sounds like you should have researched the visa rules of where you were going ahead of time.

By: Lily

Lily — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 20:20:38 +0000

I think a big reason why lots of Americans don’t travel is simply immigration. This is an issue to most young Americans, all they have to do is think that you should be allowed in and poof you’re on a plane back to America. It’s been happening more and more, and I say that because it happened to me as well. After being in a holding room for hours and repeatedly called a liar for no reason my holiday was cancelled and I was back at JFK. It’s not always an Americans fault.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 13:51:10 +0000

Culture of Fear: You don’t think other countries media play the same “violence in the streets” stories. Americans just see more because they are parked in front of the TV a lot more on average than other countries.

So what ties them together?

Capitalism. When restrained a good system when unrestrained Rockefeller takes over the world.

Education: We want more people to graduate, but we are losing quality. We emphasize science and math because they make money lots of money. History, English, Foreign Languages…not so much.

People are overworked: Business wants to squeeze as much work out of you for as little as possible. With unions virtually destroyed people are letting them. No wonder you’re burnt out and have no energy to travel. Disadvantage of living in such a large country you are easily replaced and at a lower costs. Business thinks short-term so they on’t invest as much as they should in human capital of their employees.

People don’t have money: The American economy is based on you spending as much of your money as possible. You buy new TV’s, computers, and cars. Luxury products instead of the often similar basic ones. Capitalism doesn’t want anyone to have extra money. Good example. Capitalism wants you to buy the house you can’t afford you help it grow to your own detriment.

Size: Capitalism…American Capitalism doesn’t want you helping other countries by spending money there unless it comes back to America. America touts it has every climate and everything you could want. It has a lot, but language definitely changes a culture as does history. America can’t provide that change no matter what. London is different than New York even though they are similar or substitutes.

Culture of Fear: Not exactly capitalism, but the same competition mindset. Dehumanizing other cultures makes it easy to fear or hate them. This makes it easier for a government to do what it wants militarily. Team America has support for their mission.

I’m not a communist that obviously doesn’t work because it gets corrupted and never could be used because of that. Capitalism can work, but it too has become corrupted. Americans as a whole are very good students of capitalism as Pink Floyd says, “All in all your just another brink in the wall” Capitalism is a big #$#% wall. The so-called 1% are laughing at how easy it is and Occupy is nowhere near close to toppling that wall. The Berlin Wall fell down much more easily than unrestrained Capitalism will. I just hope a way is figured out before the inevitable disastrous economic collapse happens, but I’m not holding my breath.

By: bamabrasileira

bamabrasileira — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 13:18:46 +0000

america is a dynamic and interesting country in and of itself. many people do not understand that america represents the world in a lot of ways due to it’s immigrants. but i think the thing that others can’t get through their brains is that americans just don’t care about other countries the way that people from other countries care. that is typical when you see yourself as a leader and the example that other people are trying to immitate and follow. taking vacation and spending lots of money to go to another country just is not a priority to many americans, when they can be spending that money on making themselves comfortable and self sufficient. i have never been able to understand why people from other countries are so insecure about the fact that americans don’t really give a f#### about them. they behave as if america would somehow be better if americans would simply become better at geography and teach their kids other languages. and while they try to talk smack about american healthcare and education, they always conveniently miss the fact that much, if not most, of the world’s useful innovation is american, and that when people who live in countries with universal healthcare cannot get the cutting edge care they need in their own countries, they come to america. why is it so hard for others to understand that american’s do not perceive themselves as needing to know what’s outside of america. america already offers it’s people the best of everything. sometimes the odd american has a personal curiosity about what’s happening outside of america. however, others need to understand that americans like working hard, being innovative, and generally making themselves comfortable. this leaves less time for spending lots of money to go look at old buildings in other countries and pretend to be fascinated by whatever it is they happen to be known for, if anything.

By: Amelia

Amelia — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 20:35:24 +0000

I’m so put off travel just going to visit the family a half-USA away seems like an exercise in patience.. I traveled extensively when my family had money as a teenager, even going to various spots in Europe with only one other person in tow.
To be honest, todays skies seem like a horrible way to go. I don’t want to be crammed into a plane for 6 hours (or more depending) having angry, overworked employees chucking my 10 dollar sandwich at me. Taking a train would be nicer, but 3 days to get there with little wiggleroom on the budget for food isn’t a good option. I’d rather take a government owned ride that wouldn’t grope me, would give me a PB&J for free, and wouldn’t encourage bagless travel. (If it existed)

By: Christine

Christine — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 14:02:53 +0000

Funny that you keep referencing Florida, I’m a Florida native (one of like 5 left in the world with all the people moving here from other places) and can’t wait to leave, for a change of scenery really. Not that Florida isn’t amazing, it is. Most people I know around here want to go to New York or California, thats really it, sad.

Most people I know share the typical American view on travel- oh but the world is scary and they hate us! I have no money (my favorite excuse from people who spend forty bucks a week on nail polish and clothes or usless details for their car.

I constantly have people telling me to be careful too, in fact when I announced my plans to go to Argentina, my mother immediatley tried to tell me that South America is an extremely and dangerous unsafe place where I would likely be kidnapped or robbed (or both) the moment I stepped off the plane.

Maybe one day people will change.

By: Mazzuchelli

Mazzuchelli — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 19:31:12 +0000

Such simplistic, anti-American pap demonstrates that you and your readers are those requiring the education. I’ve traveled all around Europe and Scandinavia. They know as little about the U. S. as we know about them. Just ask a few simple questions. We always do but not in a mean-spirited way. We like to travel with a minimum of reservations to maintain schedule flexibility. Sometimes we find ourselves in places of which we’ve heard little. Believe me, the locals know even less than we. So, drop the superior and condescending front. You’re not smart enough to carry it off.

By: Edward B.

Edward B. — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 13:35:53 +0000

Good point, but you do realize that most people are not YouTube partners and do not have a free place to stay waiting for them? When I went to Europe, I had neither of these things, and paid more than double what you did. Not saying traveling isn’t worth it, but it is more expensive than some people are making it appear. Although I agree somewhat, that it is a matter of priorities.

By: Mika

Mika — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 08:24:38 +0000

I’d love to travel. However I also really wanted a college education. And to pay my rent and utilities and have food to eat. I think the biggest reason I don’t travel, despite that I would love to, is that I don’t have the money. Maybe it’s not expensive for you, but to some people $600 is a month of rent and food when they are living off minimum wage. My priority is to provide for me and my unemployed mother. And traveling is not realistic for a large percentage of Americans for that very reason. I have a friend who gets to travel all the time because her parents have the money to pay for her college. She can save the money she makes. And I’m jealous, I wish I could save money to travel. But I can’t. I live pay check to pay check and I find it insulting when people say if I can do it so can you or If your not doing it then your not going to be a well rounded rounded individual (which is elitist, IMO). My friend only travels because it’s the “cool” thing to do, like so many other people I know, and it is about status for them. They are not better because of it. Btw, I’m majoring in history and sociology so I’m not culturally ignorant like you are assuming most of the Americans who don’t travel are.