Why dont Americans travel more?

Question

I know Ill get the usual "because we are the best country in the world" nonsense but Im intrigued as to whether there are other reasons.

Answer 1

What do you mean? Americans travel all over the United States. In a lifetime, you can travel all over the United States and not see every wonderful thing the country has to offer. Given that, there isn't any compelling reasons to travel outside of the country.

Have you looked at a map and seen just how huge the United States is?

Answer 2

1.) Although it may be true that only 18% of US citizens have passports, does that mean we do not travel internationally? No because we didn't need passports to travel to Canada, Mexico, most Caribean countries and much of central America.

2.) When you work 50 weeks of the year for two weeks vacation ... nuff said.

3.) There are plenty of foreign places to travel within the US. Louisiana and Hawaii always seemed like a foreign country to me.

4.) We have Hawaii. We have FLA. We have Nebraska!

5.) Europe is more expensive now and less interesting because most countries are on the €.

6.) Americans are actually much more willing than Europeans to travel much farther for work relocation.

7.) US Soldiers travel a great deal, but i suppose that is not what you had in mind.

8.) There are many illegal aliens. Going across the border is very risky for them.

9.) It seems that many of the first generation immigrants that i know have bitter memories of their mother land and the trip here was their last memory of travel. Severe malnutrition, refugee camps, genocide that sort of thing.

10.) Most of us are just trying to get by because we are so caught up in consuming 25% of the worlds resources. By the way, that stat is from the 1970's. i wonder what it is today?

11.) Hostels are not as well known here as they are in Europe. So Americans don't realize there is a much less expensive form of lodging in other countries.

12.) Many Americans are forced to travel for work, but without freetime to explore once there.

13.) Seems to me the champions of travel are the Aussies and the Kiwis. About 1/5th of either population is away travelling at any given time. Which other country comes even close?

14.) Fear, Obesity, and Walking. In my 37 years, the news media has stirred up irrational fear in parents about letting kids walk around the block by themselves, so letting them go to another country is inconceivable. A great number of parents nowadays drive their kids to school which of course promotes obesity and a fear of walking. Since walking is kinda necessary for serious travel....

Answer 3

Keep in mind that the U.S. is a very big country. A trip from Paris to Madrid would be the mileage equivalent of me travelling from me going from Seattle to San Francisco.
We do travel a lot....probably more mileage-wise than most Europeans, certainly more than South Americans or Africans.
I have been all over Europe, parts of Asia, and Oceania. Even been to Antarctica. People are people, wherever you go...some nice, some rude, but I've found if I have a good attitude, people usually respond in kind.

Answer 4

I think the real reason is what Clint C said. The USA is very large as compared to Europe. And all 50 states have different appeals to different people. I live in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (just North of Chicago) and my wife and I went on vacation to Virginia. By car, it took 14 hours to drive. Driving 14 hours in Europe will get you anywhere you want.

Also the cost of airfare, most families can't afford it. If they do travel its probable that it is for Christmas or Thanksgiving to get together with family

Answer 5

I travel alot - just not outside of the United States.
So if you want to know why Americans don't travel outside of the U.S. more, my own reasons are: I have limited vacation time available (most Americans only get 2 weeks vacation when they start a job), limited money to pay for a trip, airfare is very expensive and I really don't like airplanes to begin with.

Answer 6

there isn't something incorrect with return and forth, and maximum human beings desire to attain this. i'd desire to be trouble-free nevertheless, many human beings like myself lost the urge for food to return and forth whilst 9/11 hit. We found out then that maximum of human beings hate us that a lot of human beings now desire to stay homestead and detect our own u . s . a .. Why not? possibly i'll be certain Alaska and Hawaii some day. I easily have purely considered 40 of the 50 states, and there are a number of opportunities to be certain our own land. to not point out the common language and forex matters, and we don't would desire to have a passport.

Answer 7

Because most Americans are to afraid to leave the country.Not to mention, half of the world thinks we are idiots, and would like one shot at us all. I personally dont travel because I'm broke all the time ^_^

Answer 8

The biggest reason for the average person is that they can't afford it. Amercians are busy trying to earn a living decent enough to be able to pay for every day expenses.

Answer 9

gas prices

Answer 10

We don't want to be killed, beaten, mugged or kidnapped....we can get that here..