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Why Americans Don't Travel Internationally
- Thread starter GoodWitch58
- Start date
30ashopper
SoWal Insider
One way to make this happen if you can't afford the full family vacation would be to save up for a two month Europe trek for your kids to take after their second year of college. Both my sister and I did this during school. The trip was cheap compared to what a family vacation would cost. We both stayed in cheap hostels and bought a europass six months in advance. The most expensive part of my trip was the flight over and back, which ran around $1000.00. Beyond that I probably only spent another thousand dollars or so. Quite the experience for a kid that age too. Just hope you raised them right so they don't come home an expecting mother or father. 
Minnie
Beach Fanatic
Since we have determined we are discussing those that have the means to travel and don't, which honestly I was not sure we were discussing that at first.
I think possibly travel to foreign places is relaxing and fun for some and very stressful for others. For one many do not like to fly. I used to love to fly, until I was in a very serious auto accident where I was trapped in the car.
I now have issues with a bad hip that aches, when I sit too long and issues with enclosed places. I can do a plane ride for about 3 hours and after that honestly I would need sedation.
I just think life is short and one should do what one enjoys when you have time off. For some that is travel to exotic places and for others it is fishing on the lake in your back yard.
Mango explained it very well.
The rest of the US and Canada are on my travel list and I figure that will pretty much fill up my travel plans.
I think possibly travel to foreign places is relaxing and fun for some and very stressful for others. For one many do not like to fly. I used to love to fly, until I was in a very serious auto accident where I was trapped in the car.
I now have issues with a bad hip that aches, when I sit too long and issues with enclosed places. I can do a plane ride for about 3 hours and after that honestly I would need sedation.
I just think life is short and one should do what one enjoys when you have time off. For some that is travel to exotic places and for others it is fishing on the lake in your back yard.
Mango explained it very well.
The rest of the US and Canada are on my travel list and I figure that will pretty much fill up my travel plans.
scooterbug44
SoWal Expert
I don't know that we were ever discussing those don't have the means to travel, not traveling. That tangent was really confusing me.
The whole point of the article (which I don't think most people read) was that for our income levels we travel less and a significantly smaller part of our population has a passport.
For example, 60% of Canadians have passports. Many of the same geographic and financial limitations (international airfare etc.) and vast opportunities for intra-country travel cited for Americans also apply to them.
I think ANY* travel is good - whether it's to the next block, the next town, the next state, or the next country, but many Americans do not and are very hesitant to go outside their bubble or comfort zone.
I have been appalled by other guests at destination weddings who basically see the airport, hotel, church and reception site - even when they are still in the US and have time to kill.
More than 35% of Americans don't even use all their vacation days.
It's not about who can afford what, it's about what people choose to do and what they value.
*Yes, anywhere - even the bad places like Wal-mart
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30A Skunkape
Skunky
Sounds like you might have the Destin Wal-Mart on your destination list. :funn:
scooterbug44
SoWal Expert
No, I visited there years ago and now have no need to EVER return.
See, travel is broadening.
30A Skunkape
Skunky
No, I visited there years ago and now have no need to EVER return.
See, travel is broadening.
Not so fast, I was there yesterday buying some American made charcoal and noted the place was in the midst of a multimillion dollar renovation. I'm sure you should check it out. It will be like going to the former East Germany.
Mango
SoWal Insider
One way to make this happen if you can't afford the full family vacation would be to save up for a two month Europe trek for your kids to take after their second year of college. Both my sister and I did this during school. The trip was cheap compared to what a family vacation would cost. We both stayed in cheap hostels and bought a europass six months in advance. The most expensive part of my trip was the flight over and back, which ran around $1000.00. Beyond that I probably only spent another thousand dollars or so. Quite the experience for a kid that age too. Just hope you raised them right so they don't come home an expecting mother or father.
Traveling like that is soo much easier when you're young. In Amsterdam, at the train station, that's all you see are lots of college students with backpacks headed across Europe. At our age, the last thing you want to do is stay in hostels or a place that isn't nearly as comfortable as your house.
Also, with the exception of Mermy and Merman
, I find that with limited time for vacation, traveling hours on a plane, the running around to museums and sites, it can be exhausting for even the healthiest of people. When we have limited time off, we want to plant our butts on a beach. There are a few places my husband and I would like to go to internationally as a couple, but we figure we would need at least two weeks to do what we want to do and see.
GoodWitch58
Beach Fanatic
I think you must be right--people didn't read the article before they posted. I wondered why there seemed to be at least two different conversations going on...
