Updated: 8/9/20 | August 9th, 2020
After I wrote an article about why, despite what you see in the news, Europe is safe to visit, Someone asked (with a degree of snark) if I would write a similar article about the U.S. too?
Well, it’s a valid question.
As an American writing for a mostly American audience, I tend to write mostly about what’s beyond our shores. But I have thought about this question before – especially since 45% of the people who read this website are outside the United States.
So let’s turn the tables on my post and ask:
“Is the United States safe to visit?”
When most people ask me this question, I feel they are really asking me two things: (1) Does gun violence happen so often I should worry about being shot? and (2) Will everyone hate me because I’m a foreigner (or, especially, a non-white foreigner)?
These are valid concerns. After all, just like how we in the United States have a perception that the rest of the world is unsafe and unwelcoming, so too the rest of the world has that perception of the United States.
In their news, they hear about our mass shootings and gun violence, as well as reports of police brutality toward minorities and murders (or beatings) of Indian students confused for Muslims and wonder if they are welcome. They see the election of President Trump, the huge rise in deportations, the (yet still illegal) Muslim travel ban, heightened security measures at airports, and people being detained and go, “Maybe the United States isn’t the safe and welcoming country we thought it was. How are much are those flights to Europe, honey?”
The media cuts both ways.
I won’t deny the statistics: The US has the highest rate of death by guns in the developed world (outside of war zones, of course), we have nearly the highest incarceration rate in the world, hate crimes have gone up since the election, and we average roughly one mass shooting five out of every six days (and 90% of the mass shootings in the world happen here).
And when these incidents and attitudes are projected around the world in conjunction with our recent political strife, it creates the perception of the United States as a dangerous and unwelcoming place.
But, just like Europe, on balance, the United States is safe to visit.
There’s no reason to avoid visiting here — even if the TSA makes it more of hassle and, well, our political landscape is less than ideal.
First, the United States is very big and very, very diverse. It’s larger than Europe (the sovereign states not the continent) and Australia. You can drive 15 hours here in still be in the same state. The country is huge!! A lot of visitors fail to understand that.
A friend in Chicago friend told me how two visitors from France wanted to go to Disney for the weekend. They thought it was a short drive because in Europe a multi-day drive gets you most of the way across the continent!
Most visitors just don’t understand how vast the US is until they arrive. Even I never got a sense of just how big the country is until I drove across it.
You can see it on a map but until you’ve spent a few days driving, that sense of size is hard to comprehend.
And due to this size, there is a lot of cultural (and political) variation. While Americans do share common bonds and beliefs, it often feels like the US is really a collection of micro-countries. The culture of Alabama is different than the culture of NYC, which is different than the culture of Chicago, Hawaii, Alaska, middle-of-nowhere Wyoming, or Florida.
Heck, southern Florida is a world away from the Florida Panhandle, and Austin is a blue (liberal) dot in the red (conservative) sea of Texas. Cuisine, slang, dress style, accents, attitude, how people walk – it’s all different from region to region and state to state.
Don’t view the country as monolithic. It’s simply too big. I know a lot of people want to boycott the country because of Trump but the majority of the country doesn’t like him and people aren’t their governments.
Second, despite what you hear, crime in America is near a 20-year low. It’s been declining for many years. Here’s a visual representation of the article:
For example, for many years I lived in NYC. Crime is down 50% over the last 15 years. I never worried about being robbed or mugged while in Manhattan. Sure, some of the other boroughs are still unsafe, it’s not all rainbows and unicorns throughout the city, but, overall, NYC is a lot safer than it used to be.
Twenty years ago, you would never go through Central Park at night. Now, people go there regardless of the time of day.
Also, you have less of a chance of dying in a terrorist attack in the United States than dying by a bathtub.
I’m not saying there is nothing to worry about. There is crime (but most gun violence in the US is gang-related, people killing friends, or suicides). Chicago, Philly, and Detroit have gang-related crime problems. Racism is a HUGE big problem. Police brutality is a problem. Mass shootings happen way too often.
The United States is not perfect.
But, just as in Europe, the likelihood that something is going to happen to you is very slim. The media sensationalizes attacks throughout the world! When attacks happen in Paris, do you say, “Honey! Paris was attacked! Let’s not go to Lisbon”? No, because you know that these places are far apart and that an attack in one place doesn’t mean you can’t go somewhere else.
The United States is 3.8 million square miles and filled with dozens of climates, hundreds of cultures, thousands of cities and towns, and 321 million people. Problems in one state or city don’t mean you can’t visit another part of the country.
Not coming here because “Americans don’t like foreigners” ignores the fact only 26% of Americans voted for Trump, and there’s currently a huge debate between the right and left about so-called “sanctuary cities” (those that limit their cooperation with the federal government over immigration law enforcement).
Not coming here because of what you read in the news is to say everyone is the same and not recognize the vast cultural differences in the country. It is like saying you won’t go to the Middle East because everyone there is a terrorist.
I know that, as a white guy, I can’t speak to what life is like here as a person of color. I’ve met many, many, many non-white travelers tell me how wonderful the found the United States and how welcoming everyone is, how people smile, say hello, and go out of the way to help. But I’ve met people who have said the opposite too.
I know there is systemic racism in the country, but just as people aren’t the government, so too we shouldn’t stereotype and say that all Americans are racist. Attitudes about immigrants, the LGBTQ community, Muslims, and everyone else vary a lot depending on where you are in the country.
(But, rather than being some white guy talking about race, here is a link to an article about traveling the U.S. when you aren’t white. It will give a better perceptive on the subject.)
What you see on TV is only a small, small, small sliver of the people who live in the country. Because, remember, if it bleeds, it leads and the stories that pain the United States as this violent place fits nicely into the existing narrative it has. (Just like the world being unsafe fits into the narrative we Americans have).
The United States is not all filled with gun carrying, immigrant hating, racist, ignorant, fearful yokels.
Can I say there won’t be any gun violence while you’re here? No.
Can I say you won’t experience racism? No. (My friend’s Asian girlfriend was recently told to go back to her home country. I mean we’ve seen all the videos online lately.)
Can I say something bad won’t happen to you? No.
But all countries have their problems and the media hypes up everything. Americans, like people everywhere, are generally good people who are just trying to get through the day. They are people with friends and families and are welcoming towards strangers. We aren’t foreign haters – and we don’t live in Westworld where everyone is shooting everyone all the time.
Be safe. Be aware. Use your common sense.
But don’t skip this place I call home. It’s an often-overlooked destination that’s cheap to travel around and incredibly diverse (both culturally and geographically).
So, just like with Europe, ignore the news, book your flight, and come visit the United States!
Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks
Book Your Flight
Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines, because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned.
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You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the largest inventory. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com, as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels. I use them all the time.
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Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it, as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:
- World Nomads (for everyone below 70)
- Insure My Trip (for those 70 and over)
- Medjet (for additional repatriation coverage)
Looking for the best companies to save money with?
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Graph: 1 – Delphi234
Brian
Hey Matt..
I’ve been to NYC, Boston, New Orleans, LA and San Fran.. and just got back 3 days ago from a drive from Seattle to Toronto through some northern/mid states. (After driving out there through Canada). I’ve also done a motorcycle trip in the past down the east coast, through West Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky and back up. Agreed .. the states are vast and varied. One thing in common I’ve also found is the people, one on one, are very friendly. I would never hesitate to visit and recommend it.. but of course, like anywhere, always travel smart and aware! Keep up the great work !
NomadicMatt
I’d love to know your experience.
Jorge
I’ve been to Mexico City, Guatemala, and Costa Rica, and despite what people say about Mexico being dangerous, I never had any problems in Mexico City. However, Mexico, like the US, is large. Costa Rica was as safe as can be, Guatemala’s crime is largely focused in the capital and even then like Baltimore (a city with a similar crime rate), the crime is focused in certain neighborhoods. Most of the city is fine to go through. Mexico City like New York has seen crime plummet to all time lows and was also just as large, most of it is quite safe. Contrast that with my mother’s country El Salvador. I would suggest people take big precautions there and only go to select regions as the country is small and is having serious political and violence issues right now. Much of it is risky to go to, so I wouldn’t recommend many foreigners go there as a first choice compared to the other countries, though it is a beautiful country.
They are misconceptions. Any large country has dangerous spots, but they are usually outweighed by safe areas. The US is my home for now (Las Vegas) and it is amazing in its landscapes and the diversity of cities. New York City, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Chicago, New Orleans, and many others are must visit cities for anyone in the world.
Dan Farrell
I think this is true, for the most part. I observe a huge difference in how most Americans feel about faceless populations, and how they actually treat people when they meet them face to face. Sadly, I must add the caveat that I am white, and my non-white spouse has not always had the same experience.
Pete Weston
The US is the best country in the world. Always has been and always will be.
NomadicMatt
Every person in every country thinks their country is the best!
Dusty Ayres
Thanks for the response to Pete, Matt. What he said is quite chauvinistic, and does nothing to allay what foreigners feel about the U.S.
Marcos Gonzalez
I’m a white Mexican and have had many racist experiences in the US because i say where i’m from, now I travel and invest in Canada where people are open, friendly and inclusive.
MEXICO is also a great country..
Dan Farrell
That’s a dangerous sentiment in a democracy. This country (I’m also an American) will be “the best” or “good” only if the citizens make it so. Sadly, few factual metrics back up the claim that we are “the best,” but were it true, we citizens would still have to work diligently to keep it so.
Dan
Being American, it is weird to think that some people wouldn’t want to come here because they think it’s unsafe. If you stay in the good parts of any city, you’ll probably be fine.
The best part about the USA is that there are so many different climates and landscapes to experience. I still haven’t visited some of the regions and I’ve lived here my whole life.
NomadicMatt
Agreed!
Diego Núñez
Hey! Same thing happens here in Argentina. There are so many different climates and landscapes to experience, with unique wildlife, and many are listed as World Wonders. Many Argentinians haven’t had the chance to visit the whole country. It’s a pity that tourists from abroad avoid destinations as Argentina because they are afraid of being robbed or something. Cheers!
John Rodríguez
I did an Ironman in Raleigh NC, people would not cheer for me because I had a Mexican flag ?… Will start spend my money anywhere but in the usa..
Alex
I’m a European and I’ve traveled extensively through the USA. This article is pretty spot on – I’ve never had any problems with crime or safety.
One thing I would like to mention though on your comments toward Trump voters:
I’ve had the pleasure of staying on the couches of many Trump voters when visiting the USA and they’ve been nothing but friendly and welcoming. Having talked to them about their voting choice I can tell you they would take issue with your suggestion that they would not be welcoming people. They see a world of difference between ILLEGAL immigration/assimilation/a temporary travel suspension and legal immigrants and tourists.
Assuming the “26% of the country” who voted Trump would be unwelcoming is no different that assuming all Americans would be.
I’d suggest to any fellow travelers thinking about couchsurfing at a Trump-fan’s house – don’t worry. You may be pleasantly surprised.
guineveruca
I am quite surprised that Trump supporters would participate in couchsurfing, and that couchsurfing hosts would vote for Trump, as even his less-hateful policies (economics) are less than compatible with the values of couchsurfing. I would be interested in why someone committed to cultural exchange without earning a dime off it would think that Trump is good for the country (both at the time of the election, and now that he’s been in office).
I don’t think I could stay with someone who is proud to have voted for him though – there is simply NO getting around the misogyny and racism inherent in his election campaign. It’s simply not possible to have voted for him without at least passively agreeing with the most egregious parts of his platform.
Kali
I’m sorry you feel that way. My cousins are active memebers on Couchsurfing and voted for him for economic reasons. They’re wonderful people. I’d hope you maybe have more of an open mind. Many people voted for trump – not because they liked him – but because they thought he was the lesser of two evils. Some people felt like they just had to in order to avoid the other option. I’m sure you don’t agree with their thinking, and I would never expect you too. But people of all races, religions, and backgrounds had their reasons for voting him. If you ever get a chance to talk to some, I’d hope you’d atleast give them a shot!
guineveruca
As I said, I would welcome discussion. But I could not allow myself, as a queer woman and an ally to people of color, to knowingly stay with someone who considers a man whose campaign was built on exploiting fear, empty platitudes about reviving an industry that simply isn’t coming back, and no actual plans for implementing his promises other than tearing down what’s in existence, as the “lesser of two evils”.
Of course, most people would not put their voting record on their profile, so it’s hard to say I wouldn’t end up staying with someone who voted for Trump. But I would be extremely uncomfortable if I learned it after the fact.
If it makes you feel better, I’d be furious if I stayed with someone who just didn’t vote, which I think is a more likely scenario.
Amelie
As a woman of color, I was also affected by the election results…but at the same time, you cannot paint everyone who voted for Trump with the same brush.
A lot of the people who did vote for him have been feeling overlooked by Washington for a long time. It’s not that they are bad people, they are just people who voted for him because they thought they finally had someone who was listening to them. Many of those people really have lost jobs and been largely affected by illegal immigration. Many of those people work in those dying industries you speak of, but have received little to no support from people on how to deal with that. Had these people been recognized and helped before, maybe they wouldn’t have felt the need to vote the way they did. Instead, many have chosen to ignore them and discriminate against them with words such as “rednecks” and “deplorables.” Many Clinton supporters say Trump supporters should have taken minorities into consideration when supporting a candidate, but how many of those people took Clinton’s attitude towards rural America into consideration?
The amount of hatred and lack of understanding on both sides has been awful, frankly, and has not been limited to anyone.
Alison
I live on Vancouver Island BC Canada and look across the Juan de Fuca Straight at the Olympic Mountains 30 km across the water. I’ve met many Americans while travelling in various parts of the world and a lot of them reinforce the notion of the Ugly American!
I’m boycotting going to the USA while Trump is President. His racist, misogynistic, hateful policies both at home and abroad brings out the worst in the USA. I have no intention of spending any travel money in your country. There’s too many other fabulous places on this planet to travel to. I’m a 50’s woman solo traveller and spent a few years travelling in SE Asia and never have felt unsafe. But to take a 2 hour ferry to Seattle and travel south, no thanks!
NomadicMatt
Are you saying people are their government?
To expand on what you said, would you travel to Cuba, Egypt, Turkey, Russia, China, Thailand, Zimbabwe, and a host of other countries?
Would you have come here if Clinton won?
James
been to your contry once for work .. it was ok, not experiecned any problems but there are far better places for holidays.
For me one visit is once too many.
Dottie Dew
My family and I traveled to Canada and a random stranger flipped us the bird presumably for having US license plates. We had our two young children in the car and they were so shocked. If you feel like you have been treated rudely by “Ugly Americans,” I can understand not wanting to travel here. I have had no desire to visit Canada again after that and shockingly rude treatment from the border guard.
Miguel
What exact “racist, misogynistic” policies has Trump implemented?
I’d be curious to know!
Is it “racist” to abide by immigration laws and deport illegal immigrants? Why should illegals (who have committed a crime by trespassing) be given a pass and have the same rights as people who were born in the country? Where’s the justice in that? And what is “racist” about implementing already-existing immigration laws?
And what laws did Trump implement that are misogynistic? I’d also be curious to know. As far as I’m concerned, laws against discrimination based on gender, race and sexual orientation are still in place. Americans continue to enjoy those protections against discrimination, whether it’s anti-discrimination laws for the workplace or anywhere else. So what has changed?
Oh, is it because Trump stopped public funding of abortions in *some* states, now that means he is against women? Women can still have abortions in most states, even if that were your only argument.
So ridiculous to see these people make general phony catastrophic statements, without any real facts to back them up, when in reality the United States continues to be a modern, tolerant, open-minded country with some of the best laws and civil liberties in place.
And on topic: of course America is safe. It is a very safe country overall. I lived there for 4 years, now live in the UK which is also very safe overall.
Christine
1. America is not even in the top HALF of the safest countries; over 100 other countries in the world are safer than America.
2. Hate crimes and violence against visible minorities has increased since Trump was elected.
3. Defunding Planned Parenthood and making abortions less accessible is a BLATANT attack on women’s rights. Moreover, Trump himself is an accused of numerous acts of sexual misconduct. Further, Trump is also seeing to it that women no longer have their birth control covered under the new health care act. Again, an obvious attack against women.
I’m not American, so I don’t have anything to gain by slandering the US. I like visiting there, but I also know that America is objectively less safe AND less tolerant under Trump. You can look all those stats up (links will be deleted here, I think).
mike
reported incidents and actual incidents are two different numbers
Patriot
Frankly I disagree with your last two points. And partially with your first. I can’t say I’m not biased with me being an American, but I still disagree with your comments. Cities like Chicago and Detroit make up the majority of gun violence in my country. Also some of the countries that are ahead (quite a few actually), are in economical turmoil and terrorist threats just to mention a few. In actually, hate crimes have not increased. The only thing that has increased is the media covering it to support their political gains. And police brutality is not a major problem. Yes there have been police brutality cases in the last few years. But the media has also covered it much more in the past few years than ever before.
I totally agree with defunding Planned Parenthood. I believe it’s murder. If unborn babies aren’t considered as living, then disabled persons and elderly aren’t considered as living. It’s not violating a woman’s rights. Killing the baby is violating it’s rights. He is ACCUSED not actually proven. Harvey Weinstein for example is accused and guilty of sexual ASSUALT. I don’t believe America is less tolerant because of Trump, I believe we’re less tolerant because of the division of people views and the inability to listen to the other sides responses. And yes certain areas are more dangerous than other areas.
Robin
I’m an American currently three months into a solo round-the-world trip and the number of people I’ve met who genuinely believe the USA is too dangerous to visit has been an eye opener. At first it felt unjustified because I have largely always felt safe in the 4 states I’ve lived and the 20+ states I’ve visited.
But the more I see of the world the more I realize that my country has some very serious issues that no other country has to deal with – and no wonder people would feel unsafe coming here. It’s been an opportunity for self-reflection for sure.
NomadicMatt
Where are you from? How would you know anything about our country if you never leave your family’s house? Do you only believe what you see on the news? Yes, America has race problems but so do many other countries. It’s not perfect but why are you painting 350 million people with the same brush?
Mia
The US is a bit of a dilemma for me. Ive been there 3 times and visited 14 states. Most people are very friendly, there are lot’s of beautiful places to see and good food to try.
But.
I’ve visited 54 countries and been to every continent and the place that I feel least safe when traveling solo is the US. In Memphis I was walking down the street and had a guy filmed me and loudly exclaiming ‘oh yeah’. In New Orleans, Memphis and New York I had guys cat call me and then follow me for a few blocks. I’ve accidentally walked into ghettos in DC, LA, Buffalo and New Orleans because one minute it’s a perfectly respectable area and then I cross a street and jist like that it isn’t. I’ve had people stare at me with open hostility on buses. And of course in the back of my mind I’m always worried that the people in these encounters have concealed guns.
I recently did a road trip through the states with my boyfriend and I had none of these problems. Interesting hey…
L
Mia, I’m an American female and you are spot on. I feel like you really have to be on guard as a female here when alone…if you turn a corner and find yourself alone, jogging alone….definitely always a little sketch to be out at night alone. Now some places might not be so bad. But in general, being alone at night as a female in America is ….kinda dangerous. Or alone in a parking garage….it’s kind of just a “given” that you’re rolling the dice going places alone, especially cities. Maybe I’m being overly dramatic but…yeah. I would say to people from other countries who want to visit, if you are a female by yourself, definitely be on guard and don’t go out at night alone! And I totally agree with you…if you have a boyfriend, that makes the world of difference. Men only seem to respect your space if you have another man near you… (Not all of the men, of course!!…but there seem to be a lot of the sketchy ones…)
L
And not even just cities. Out in a rural area alone, I might get scared thinking some weirdo will pick me up and throw me in a ditch. Out in the woods alone…perhaps I’ll never be seen again…all that. America is kind of “scary” in that way for a lone female. But obviously as an American lone female I am sadly used to it!
Rae
Totally agree with all of the comments here starting with Mia. As an American minority female, I feel weird being by myself in so many situations. I live in Austin, TX which is known for its’ progressiveness & what not, but seriously walking my dog at night alone scares me. I try to wear baggy clothes so that maybe I’ll look more masculine just in case someone tries to bother me, & I live in a “nice” part of town. It’s like this everywhere I’ve lived though: Houston, NYC, Chicago & of course so many places I’ve visited (New Orleans, Dallas, San Antonio, LA, Vegas, etc..). I feel 100x safer having my boyfriend around. It’s pretty crazy when you sit and think about it. We’re going to be starting our digital nomad life in the Fall. Hopefully the places we visit will be more welcoming for women.
Isabelle
I understand what you ladies are talking about, however I would beg to differ. As an American woman, I have lived in the US my entire life. I recognize that being alone in some cities here would not be an intelligible idea, but I would like to voice my opinion that not all parts of our Country are like this. Of course going into the “bad” parts of the US could be quite scary, but is that not true about every single place here on Earth? No matter where we go, there will always be a place that is not safe because the people there have no principals, morals, or ethics. We cannot change this, this is called life. I live in a place where I feel completely safe and have never had the problem of feeling at risk. I believe we are to do our diligence to find good places like this, and it is not hard. It is important to view the good in everything and instead of focusing on the negative places here. Think about the hundreds of other cities that are safe, we cannot paint a terrible picture of our glorious country by spotlighting the few bad places. In fact, we shouldn’t. As American Citizens it is our right and our duty to defend, protect, and support our country. This does not mean we are to overlook all the bad, but we are to recognize everything else that is wonderful and lovely. I am not trying to argue that you are wrong, but I am encouraging you to recognize that not ALL parts of the country are like this. Be smart about where and when you walk alone 🙂
Tim
On 3 of the 4 occasions I have arrived in America, I have been subject to rudeness, aggression, racism and search techniques that would be defined as “assault” in my own country of the UK. However, after leaving the airport, I have never had a problem with anyone. Americans have been kind, friendly and often gone out of their way to be helpful. It’s a wonderful country with wonderful people but I do worry about subjecting my family to a similar ordeal to those I’ve experienced at American airports (and on aeroplanes). By the way, my experiences all predate the Trump era.
NomadicMatt
The TSA is a horrible, fear mongering organization. Please don’t judge us by them.
Philippe
I got the same comment to make, I’ve only been two times to the US (road trip down the east coast and Las Vegas) and all the people I’ve met have been extremely polite and kind. Especially as a customer, you get treated VERY well in the US (hotel, restaurant etc.). But going through custom by car or by plane is a nightmare! So many questions and seriousness! It’s even a little bit scary
Pilot Mark
Wise words. We should embrace the beauty of travel, which precisely is diversity and new experiences. I loved the U.S. when I went, and have had the fortune to go to several different places, in each of which I had a different – but always positive – experience.
Mao
Couldn’t agree with you more Matt.
As someone who immigrated to the US from Taiwan, it is so true that people tend to underestimate how huge the United States is. At the same time, people tend to generalize things from what they saw on the news even though it can be quite misleading.
As I travel the world, I constantly came across people who are afraid to go to the US. I would always encourage them to go as the US is really not what they see in the news. Americans are nice, genuine and friendly people that will make you feel welcome. As an Asian immigrant of the US, I can honestly say that the US is the most welcoming, progressive, and respectful country that I know.
Kali
Thank you! We have our problems for sure buts it’s still a beautiful place to visit with wonderful people.
Renuka
Yes, media does blow things out of proportion. But sadly, most people believe what they hear and develop false notions about a country quite soon. I also believe that no country, city or region has foreign-haters. Everybody likes friendliness, politeness, a warm smile and hospitality. I just hope things get better everywhere, and we all are able to travel wherever we would like to.
Joan Shock
Hi Matt!
I recently hosted a couch surfers from Isreal and while everyone told him not to come, he did anyway! And he had a great time! I lived in Tennessee and even though it’s more conservative, people are extremely nice and not as racist as you think! Media loves to hype it up and play on our fears, don’t let that stop ya fr seeing the world and meeting all the nice geniune people that live in it!
Arthur Sato
Great post, Matt. I’m from Brazil, amother big country, and I feel the same way. It bothers me that I’ve met so many travelers saying “I would like to go there, but its dangerous”, when violence is usually geographicaly focused or, at most, directed to tourists that are carrying a semi professional camera around their neck in the slums. Any country in the world, the tourist trail is usually pretty safe. But media loves to cover tragedy, specially when it affects foreigners.
Cara
Love this article, Matt! The US is an amazing place to travel with so much diversity, both geographically and culturally. I do empathize with travelers’ safety concerns though. People in the US often think the rest of the world is a dangerous place, but, as an American woman currently living in China I can confidently say that I feel safer in China than I ever did in the US! So yeah, we’ve got some stuff to work on as a country, but, as you said, every country has their problems but that shouldn’t stop you from traveling there!
L
Totally agree about China. I was there for two weeks in 2015 and didn’t feel like I had to look over my shoulder to see if some sketchy guy was following me. No worries about guns…etc… China felt safe. Except for the fear of getting lost and not being able to read any signs and ever find my way back, haha. China did not feel dangerous at all. (I was in Xi’an, for what it’s worth.)
Jaye
Thank you for deleting my comment regarding the photo. I only asked why did you choose a photo that isn’t representative of America? When you click on the link, you are taken to the Flickr account of West Midlands Police, which is located in western central England. This photo is misleading and doesn’t reflect this country.
NomadicMatt
I’m not sure where your original comment went since I didn’t delete anything but you’re right. The photo grabbed by someone on my team who helps me put up blog posts. It was not the right photo to used as it’s not a US based photo and it was watermarked. I’ve changed the photo.
My apologies.
Jaye
Thank you for your response.
Amelie
So….you, (a blogger, aka someone part of the media) seem to hate the media as much as Trump does (even though they’re only doing their jobs as journalists…telling the news), yet you put up a misleading photo. If you’d like to have a civil discussion about what the role of journalists is, let me know.
Because they’re job is to tell the news. We need the media now more than ever, and you discrediting them is not helping. You write about travel-they write about news. Both types of writers have different jobs. Don’t blame media as a whole and discredit all journalists because they are writing about topics that are different than yours. They tell people what’s going on. If a terrorist attack happened, it happened and they are going to report on it. Not their job to tell people whether or not to go there-it’s they job to tell the facts. And if you are seeing things that are otherwise, then maybe you should stop watching opinion sections on CNN and Fox, etc. and pay attention to the news.
NomadicMatt
I’m not discrediting journalism. I agree with you we need them now more than ever. I’m telling people to be weary of the sensational, yellow journalism you often find on cable news and the Internet. Real, fact based reporting is needed now more than ever to counter the stuff on Fox and CNN and Alex Jones and Breitbart and even Occupy Democrats. I’m a proud subscriber of most national newspapers, my local paper, NPR, ProPublica, and the like!
Amelie
But Matt, when you write posts like this painting all “media” with the same brush, it does discredit them and can foster more distrust, regardless of whether or not you mean to.
Alex Cargill
Real journalism has died and been replaced with news commentaries. The days of a news anchor simply reporting the news and letting the viewer decide are long gone. Now you just have to decide which way you like your news spun…left or right. Journalism has become ratings driven just as TV and Hollywood is. It’s all about sensationalism nowadays.
Trees Rotteveel
Thanks for writing this! It is very good!
abhishek soni
Great post Matt!! Totally agree with you.My country India is such a huge country with so many cultures.Being a travel blogger I feel very sad when I hear from people that India is such an unsafe country to visit.I have been backpacking solo across India from last 4 years and trust me, there has never been a single incident in which I felt unsafe.A country with more than 1.2 billion population, there will be few cases .But are they enough to stop you visiting the country which has so much to see?
agan
I am an Indian living in the US . I travel a lot every year – within the US and outside – South America, Africa, Asia and Europe.
But this year things have changed for me – as a person who isn’t white I don’t feel safe going to certain parts of US . last year , while at Utah -Nevada Border, the hotel clerk repeatedly gave us the key to the wrong room. The guy who opened the door had a gun and I feel lucky, he decided to talk to us rather than shoot first at the sight of two brown people trying to open the door of his room. We get pulled out every time at security checks , of course always “randomly” and the TSA agents less said about them, the better. I simply don’t feel that safe any more. Earlier traveling to certain parts of US would invite stares from the locals but now I am not sure if it would just be stares any more. It isn’t just about the person at the seat of power, but the fact that his presence has emboldened a whole lot of people to cross lines of civility. So this year onwards, I am done with traveling within the USA. A lot of people I know feel the same way too.
Devesh Joshi
coming from a city so mad and chaotic and unrealistic (i am talking about New Delhi in India) I think it’s fairly easier for me to blend in and find a safe side of every other city in the world. I am sure I can handle US, I can handle a lot of countries in the world.
Lance
It’s a difficult thing to paint any place with a blanket brush – one way or the other. You’ve done a nice job on the issues involved. Europe is safe, but there are still pockets where I won’t go out of concern for safety. Ditto for the U.S. I live in Philadelphia. I would encourage any foreign visitor to avoid the city. The lines of what’s safe and what’s not here change frequently and are often block by block – something a visitor may not understand. However, the decline in tourism to the U.S. is an interesting trend to watch.
NomadicMatt
It keeps going down sadly. 🙁
NomadicMatt
But I see the trend changing, especially since summer seems to attract more of the gays with their parades.
Tanya Kipler
Wait, WHAT?!? What does that even mean, Matt? Please explain.
Rae
June is PRIDE month. There are a ton of Pride parades all over the US, mostly in large cities.
Brian Garcia
Media is what grips people’s everyday lives. You, Matt, are absolutely correct when you say, “What Bleeds, Leads…” This is taught in all the media schools. People gravitate towards trauma, and anything that is “not normal” to them (which is totally to one’s perspective). I like the contrast you put on the size of the country vs. what goes on in the country. It is such a small percentage, yet accounts for the majority of opinion.
Come Visit The US! – This is coming from a Half-Mexican-Half-Dutch 🙂
There’s great places, natural wonders, and the ecology throughout the country is extremely diverse!
Great post, Matt! I’m glad I just found your blog!
Sonal Kwatra Paladini
There is no place in the world that is ever going to be 100% safe. 🙂 Anything can happen anywhere.
Jaunting Jen
I live in Arizona, which I found is FAR safer than many of the places I’ve lived on the east coast. One reason for that I believe is that there are many people armed in Arizona (open and concealed).
I feel safer here than anywhere else I’ve lived.
On the other hand I feel less safe in the U.S. in general than I did in Mexico or when I’m traveling. I did stay far away from cartel violence in the Yucatan, so I guess all this boils down to perspective and which city someone is living in.
Kate
I have lived all over the east coast. The scariest place is Florida because of all the concealed guns and no gun control. The safest in Massachusetts due to strict gun laws and a tolerant culture. Has definitely gotten worse in Florida since the last election. I would never get into any argument in a parking lot etc as I assume they have a gun on their person or in their car.
Persons of color especially those from India are afraid to go out at night in nice parts of SW FL when they weren’t in the past.
Savvy
I just wanted to say that I enjoyed the article, but yes I do have to agree that all countries have their problems and the media hypes up everything. Just be safe and aware what you do and travel.
Mike
This article really interests me because of a psych survey that I participated in for my college. We have a good amount of international students, and they described their thoughts about America before they came here, and their thoughts after they stayed for a while. They explained that violence here is expected, but is still better controlled than their home country. Thanks for writing!
Joanna
I would like to say that if you were walking accross the street and did not see a car because you were not looking before you crossed the street that would not be safe because you do not know what could be coming or what could happen to you at the moment. So what I would do is look before you cross the street and make sure that there are no cars coming so that you do not get ran over by a car. because if you get ran over by a car the people in the car they could not be pople that do not care about running people over with their car and they would not stop their car just to see if you are ok and to make sure that you get to go to the hosptal so you can get all the help that you need so you can survive and not die. because there are people out there that care about you and they do not want you to die because they love you so much and that they will regret that they let them go out there be themselves.
Bobo
I’m sorry for breaking it to you, but the USA is not 9 million square miles. It’s closer to 3,8 million square miles 😉 (but it’s still HUGE, I know that)
Holly
No thank you. I’ve just returned from a wonderful trip to Greece from my native country of Canada. Until the USA recognizes the fact it needs gun control, which won t happen with the current political climate no matter how much gun violence and mass shootings there are, I have already wiped the US off my futute travel plans, for any reason — business or pleasure.
I did appreciate your article and the fact you at least recognize the fact the world is watching and concerned.
Warm regards,
Holly
Omar Kamal
I have travelled to the US once and to many European capitals in the last 3 years, I can definitely say that I felt more safe (pretty safe actually) in Stockholm, Prague, Amsterdam, Vienna than any of the major US cities. But that doesn’t mean that America is not safe. It is just different and you always have to plan before you move so as not to find yourself in a wrong place in the wrong time.
Just try to do a quick search on private rooms AirBnB listings in major American cities compared with European cities and you can get a glimpse on the fear culture in the USA.
But I definitely find the people more friendly in America.
Jiri
On our first morning in Honolulu, we were walking on a sidewalk when, without any prior warning, the sidewalk was blocked-off and there was a sign to use the other side of the street. We crossed the street. Police officer Rathjen was waiting on the other side of the street opposite to the sign, his car parked at a fire hydrant. He stopped us, told us that we were jaywalking, and immediately proceeded to issue a jaywalking citation to each of us. When we came back home and checked the electronic records, we noticed that he also cited each of us for disobedience. The fine for jaywalking was $130 and the fine for disobedience was another $130, giving our family a total fine of $780 for the three of us.
We contested the citation as our violation was unintentional. We are grateful that the court dismissed the citations.
If taxpayers’ money spent on this police officer’s pension, lifetime benefits, overtime pay, and salary were used helping-out the abundant homeless population, Honolulu would be a better place.
Dusty Ayres
Nailed it to the wall, Jiri. That’s an unfortunate event to happen, and it shows how police are trained in (North) America, which has to change (as does the way we deal with homelessness in both the USA and Canada.)
Glenn Oropeza
I was in Europe for 5weeks and there are a lot of trade-off! Starting with the Euro being 18% higher and the price of fuel was 2.5 times as much,and pay toilets are so hilarious! Rental cars are $50 per day for a weenie mobile with standard transmission! Everyone drives diesel cars! Even though most people aren’t armed they will warn you of the dangerous places to avoid! You can become a victim there just as quick here! Those islamic and African refugees are everywhere! Avoid areas where police presence is not present! I do suggest Americans to go! So much to see and learn!
Allison sullivan
While I think Trump is embarrassing, why does an article about travel to the US need to be an elitist political slight? The little jabs just make this article feel like a classless rant instead of the good travel article it could have been
Dominic McPherson
Hey, thanks for that. We’re off to Boston this April for the Marathon. We’re gay, we’re married and a bit nervous about how we might be treated in shops and stuff, but you have gone some way to reassure me.
Regards
Dominic
Joe
Hey Dominic,
I’m gay and married too, you’ll find Boston and the rest of the New England cities to be just fine. No one will even give you a second look there.
Enjoy your visit, don’t miss the aquarium!
ck
I am from The Netherlands and I currently have the opportunity to intern in The USA for 3 months but I am so scared and my family does not want me to go either. What scares us the most is that it seems like everyone walks around with guns which they can pull out of their pocket whenever they are pissed off. I really do not want to turn down this opportunity because the experience would be priceless but the media image of America really scares me.
KJ Hill
CK-Your fears are unfounded. Over half the gun violence in the USA is suicide, the remaining is usually gang and drug related and highly concentrated in an area where visitors or average citizens won’t be going, or some type of domestic violence. Shooting rampages, while they happen more here, are still rare, they just appear common because the media hypes them up.
John
This article is extremely biased against conservative voters in the US. It paints them as xenophobic and uncultured. Yet again, it is a major disappointment that people who are left leaning or liberal must insist on painting conservative and/or right wing voters as such. Furthermore your facts on gun violence are very misleading. The FBI states that a mass shooting is 4 or more people killed. Unfortunately this happens a lot from gang related violence, not from someone shooting up their local Starbucks. Meaning, it happens in expected and isolated areas within US cities.
I’ve couched surfed, traveled the world, have welcomed people into my home from Iran, Mexico etc. I am right leaning. So are my friends and family. I believe in small government and liberties–that does not make me hateful or xenophobic.
Nicole
Feel the need to add. I’m.a Trump supporter and I love foreigners and am thrilled when i see them enjoying our country. My fellow Trump supporting friends and family feel the same way! In case you didn’t know, there is a big difference between being here legally and illegaly. It is not the legal immigrants that cause concern. I love our diversity and always have but just like every other country it needs to be done legally. So people, despite this article and the fake news media shedding a bad light on conservatives, please know we love you and welcome you to our country with open arms!
Abdul
Hey Matt, Very well said. I am from India and planning to visit USA in near future for Conference and travel as well. How safe is Hitchhiking in USA right now?
Also How are South American States? is it safe?
How a foreigner should develop his attitude and be fearless, in short few travel safety tips from you matt as a solo Traveller.
Michael
Well done—forthcoming, frank, realistic and reasonable. Ironic, too. My partner and I have been slightly hesitant to travel because we are concerned that anti-American sentiment might (understandably) be high. We were quite decidedly NOT one of the 26% and are painfully aware that the “ugly American” cliché probably seems even more glaring…especially when there are still people who go on a travel blog and declare—without evidence—that we are “the best”.
Anyway, glad to have drifted onto your site and I’ve bookmarked it for the future!