Who's never traveled outside of the United States?

[Vil_Riker]

The last time I went abroad was a couple of years ago. Planning to travel again this summer. The ticket prices were a ripoff, even considering for inflation. Checked to see what the components are; almost $500 are various border control and airport fees.

What a racket.

 

[CKN]

I got spoiled by a friend who is/was United Pilot(787s). She knew we were taking a flight to Europe and asked for favor. We had lounge access and then upgraded to First Class.

Agree-the issue being these days is that the lounges are usually crazy crowded.

 

[2strokeNorthstar]

I never traveled out of the USA until my 20's, and that was only into Tijuana. Since my early 30's, we've traveled around the globe, including all 50 States. Lived in European and South American countries for months at time. Visited many more countries, and never had an experience that I would call bad. But some places made us very grateful to live in the USA.

I can honestly say that if we had never traveled and experienced the world, our lives and perspective would be severely diminished.

There's a great big world out there, and as others have mentioned, most places you can buy crap fast food if you really have to have it.

Starting to wonder how much the internet, youtube, etc has watered down "exotic places". Except for a few places like parts of Afghanistan, none of the world is remote. Even the very remote Falkland Islands has dedicated internet available to residents, along with Starlink.

Yesterday I suspect I flew over 10,000 +/- homes that never have had electric service. Yet every one of the homes with no electric more likely than not had smartphones, and internet to include youtube. Twenty years ago, no smartphones, no internet to these homes, very remote/ exotic, etc. Today the same Taylor Swift video being watched in the suburbs of WDC is being watched in homes that have never had electric in South East Asia.

Reality is technology has brought the entire world to our smartphone. We can deny it--- but it is a fact. I watch Sean the Sheepdog man heard his sheep with dogs in Scotland on a regular basis on Facebook. Do you think one gets a better appreciation of the centuries old trade of herding sheep in person, than watching extensive library of the herding by the same rancher?

On the other hand, if my three week vacation to Scotland was to live on Sean's ranch, and work the heard with him daily, eat meals with his family and him, that is something that internet/ youtube can't duplicate.

A few of Sean's videos:

You're right. The world has changed. We have traveled to pretty remote parts of the Yucatan in Mexico. At night everyone is outside on their phone. "Houses" dont even have doors or windows but they have phones.

 

[2strokeNorthstar]

Plenty of bad food worldwide.

 

[Pablo]

Plenty of bad food worldwide.





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I thought Taco Bell existed so you can get the runs without traveling!

 

[y_p_w]

Personal opinion imho

They really to me are two different things different styles different tastes. I’ve never had a pizza as good as Napoli anywhere but again that’s just me

I saw a review of a Neapolitan pizza place in NYC on YT, from a more or less nonprofessional food guy. It was Una Pizza Napoletana, which one Italian publication rated as the best pizza restaurant in the world. He said it was OK, but criticized the wetness in the center and overall didn’t think it was that great. Some of the comments were more “stay in your lane” as if he was out of his league if he were reviewing this place and judging it by slice house standards. His criteria was obviously guided by his love of NY or New Haven style pizza. Then trained chef Joshua Weismann ate there and I think gave it his highest rating ever for a pizza place, where thought it was nearly perfect.

We’re all guided by our own biases. I remember back when it was legal in my state, I went to big wedding banquets for ethnic Chinese friends and they’d serve shark fin soup. That I really didn’t get. Just kind of a weird gelatinous feel, and it was pretty obvious that there was zero flavor in there from the fin. But they’d pay $50 a bowl for it where it was considered an insult to not have it on the menu for your guests.

 

[2strokeNorthstar]

Plenty of bad food worldwide.

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Tacos Bell won't be happy until everyone has been given the chance to get diarrhea

 

[crashz]

I love to travel. My previous job sent me a lot of placed domestically, but they were environmental remediation projects, so not often beautiful places. I've met some great folks though.

My wife is 1st gen American, with Greek parents. Half of her family is in Greece and its just wonderful to go there. We are also committed to spending a long weekend in Ireland for Christmas each year. Fun fact: Its cheaper for us to fly to Ireland than Florida or Las Vegas.

Have a few other bucket list places I need to visit before I die: Alaska, Chicago, Oregon, Seattle, Hollywood, Dallas, Houston, Austin, Albuquerque (again), Rome, Sicily, Japan, Australia, New Zealand etc.

To those who are nervous, please don't be. You are literally depriving yourself of amazing experiences that no internet search or screen saver can ever duplicate. I literally never thought I'd say this, but I would rather drive a cheap pile of junk than give up traveling.

 

[Vil_Riker]

Plenty of bad food worldwide.

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This is taste of home when you are abroad.

I have to admit to have enjoyed a McDonalds meal (different menu items than what is available in the US) in China on occasion.

 

[Fitter30]

Have no desire to leave this country. Haven't seen most of it.

 

[Pew]

Think of me. Locked in China. Not good.

*Starts playing Phil Collins - In The Air Tonight*

 

[Jack Watts]

Besides Canada, I hadn't been outside of the US until I was in my early 40's, when I started traveling to China for work. I now live in Spain (well, a small village in Mallorca, which is sorta Spain, but doesn't really feel like Spain). Never say never and all, but I don't really see myself moving back to the US. My wife and I are very comfortable here.

Personally I'm of the mind that there would be a lot less anger in the world if people traveled outside of there own sphere a little bit and had the opportunity to experience other cultures first-hand. Youtube videos just aren't the same...

 

[CKN]

Besides Canada, I hadn't been outside of the US until I was in my early 40's, when I started traveling to China for work. I now live in Spain (well, a small village in Mallorca, which is sorta Spain, but doesn't really feel like Spain). Never say never and all, but I don't really see myself moving back to the US. My wife and I are very comfortable here.

Personally I'm of the mind that there would be a lot less anger in the world if people traveled outside of there own sphere a little bit and had the opportunity to experience other cultures first-hand. Youtube videos just aren't the same...

Was just there a few months ago. It's a beautiful place!

 

[Jack Watts]

This is taste of home when you are abroad.

I have to admit to have enjoyed a McDonalds meal (different menu items than what is available in the US) in China on occasion.

A factory owner there insisted on taking me to KFC. I have never been to ta KFC in the US, and it really wasn't on my bucket-list in China. I remember having a sandwich which was half chicken/half shrimp (split right down the middle!? what the....), and some spicy wings. I was all better than it sounded! I have to think the US KFC menu is a bit different.

You can also get a beer at McDonald's in Spain (and literally...everywhere), so there's that....

 

[Jack Watts]

Was just there a few months ago. It's a beautiful place!

Yeah, it's pretty amazing. The sheep herding video upthread was interesting, because there are sheep runs directly in front of our door every couple of months. The first time one of our dogs went absolutely nuts--she's now used to it. This place, especially the center part of the island in the foothills of the mountains, feels like it's frozen in time.

 

[Pablo]

Has anyone gone out for the churro and soy milk breakfast in China? I was jetlagged the first time. I'm in some kind of haze.......how did these make it from Mexico??? But wow, nice carb bomb chased with high caf green tea, ready for the day!!

 

[Pablo]

*Starts playing Phil Collins - In The Air Tonight*

Those girls just wanted to practice their English.

 

[Jack Watts]

Has anyone gone out for the churro and soy milk breakfast in China? I was jetlagged the first time. I'm in some kind of haze.......how did these make it from Mexico??? But wow, nice carb bomb chased with high caf green tea, ready for the day!!

I'm a Spaniard now... If a churro doesn't come with some dipping chocolate, it has no right to be called a churro. If some legit churro stands open up in the PNW, maybe I'll reconsider my position about moving back!

I did have a "cane juice drink" on some back street in Shanghai, where the guy had the cane juice just laying on the dirty sidewalk and stuck it in the press. Since I had just had my hepatitis vaccines prior to travel, I figured "why not?!". That was my off-the-plane breakfast. It was pretty good!

I always travel with an emergency pack with Imodium etc, and because of that I've never actually gotten sick. I always seem to be giving it away to work colleagues. Kinda like carrying a rain jacket on the bike always seems to guarantee dry weather.

 

[Pablo]

I'm a Spaniard now... If a churro doesn't some with some dipping chocolate, it has no right to be called a churro. If some legit churro stands open up in the PNW, maybe I'll reconsider my position about moving back!

I did have a "cane juice drink" on some back street in Shanghai, where the guy had the cane juice just laying on the dirty sidewalk and stuck it in the press. Since I had just had my hepatitis vaccines prior to travel, I figured "why not?!". That was my off-the-plane breakfast. It was pretty good!

I always travel with an emergency pack with Imodium etc, and because of that I've never actually gotten sick. I always seem to be giving it away to work colleagues. Kinda like carrying a rain jacket on the bike always seems to guarantee dry weather.

Alas, no chocolate!! That would have made it right. Spain is in our plans, for sure.

I'm a sucker for the coconut juices in equatorial latitudes. Always refreshing. I really have never gotten bad #2 sick*. And again same, guys would come for shorter stays and get it real bad. One guy had to bale.

*I did get some kind of conjunctivitis - long story - people all said - we will help, but you no go to Chinese hospital. This started a trip....we ended up in some hidden pharma place behind a restaurant. Fully stocked. Japanese pills and eye drops, better in less than two days. $2 US

 

[CKN]

Never been outside the US. In retirement sure, I'll probably do a cruise and probably not get off at most ports as I see no reason to do that in the Caribbean because I don't see a reason to visit a third world country, but otherwise like boat rides (I have done the Cape May Ferry just for the ride). I would do a Mediterranean cruise and get off the boat in most places, but in particular want to go to Croatia. I hear Poland is nice and intend to visit that in retirement.

Exposing yourself to other cultures might be a start. You are not going to get that staying on a cruise ship.

Source-been to 38 countries. Some places were barely third world. Nothing like meeting the people-sampling the food.