4 ms·
OT but as an European who wanted to come visit the US again (been an exchange student in Ohio State in 2010 and been in US two times aside of that) I keep findi
by epolanski 10mo ago
OT but as an European who wanted to come visit the US again (been an exchange student in Ohio State in 2010 and been in US two times aside of that) I keep finding more reasons not to than to do so.
The two biggest off putting things are immigration (had few friends blocked half a day required to give access to all their devices just recently, treated very brutally out of nothing) and the insane inflation that happened in the last years.
Traveling to the US used to be cheap for Europeans, but the prices are nowadays insane for anything. Used to have a hard time spending 150$ per day in Manhattan, it's twice the amount just for a budget hotel. Went to see the Knicks vs Bucks for 40$, it's like 10 times the amount for the same seat.
Attractions like Disneyworld and such as well have skyrocketed to the point it's really off putting.
If at least immigration wasn't so obnoxious and I didn't hear horror stories from IRL friends I could swallow the pricing pillow, but not both.
- andrewmcwatters 10mo ago[dead]
- 999900000999 10mo agoOur food is also bland horrible. Theirs no reason to take a vacation here. Everyone is subject to arbitrary detention without reason or cause. Asia is still cheap, has better food and generally has significantly lower crime.
- Moomoomoo309 10mo agoI truly did not get that complaint until I left the NY/NJ area. Wow, it is shocking how bad restaurants are here in the US outside of a few regions. It makes me realize why so many New Jerseyans end up coming back!
- salvesefu 10mo agoBad and expensive.
- rayiner 10mo agoThe bad food is a plus. The most orderly civilizations generally have the blandest food. Almost all societies with good food are chaotic and disorderly. This is true even within the US—nobody raves about the food in Vermont or Utah—and nobody raves about how clean and orderly New Jersey is.
- dttze 10mo ago[dead]
- rangestransform 10mo agoWhat the fuck is the purpose of having a civilization if everyone lives like a puritan instead of enjoying their lives, also Japan exists to disprove this
- rayiner 10mo agoJapan is blessed with incredible natural ingredients, but it's famously mild and light on seasoning compared to other Asian cuisines. There's a whole historical tradition as to why Japanese food avoids strong flavors: https://www.sushiya.de/en/washoku/shojin-ryori/ https://www.sushiya.de/en/washoku/shojin-ryori/
- pepperball 10mo ago[flagged]
- nebula8804 10mo agoYou don't enjoy the food in so called 'Real America'? Taco Bell and Wendys are all a MAGA needs so its good.
- Larrikin 10mo agoOur fruit sucks and we basically have no street food culture worth discussing. But we have the best pizza in the world. Detroit, Chicago and a decent NY are just better. The northern part of the east coast easily has the greatest concentration of amazing sandwiches in the world. It was shocking to me just how bad a sub sandwich can be even if you are in a different location in the US, I never found one I would recommend in Chicago. Most places I've traveled have a single style of sandwich maybe worth eating. Although sandwiches like the Banh Mi deserve to be discussed. But you can get those wherever there is any kind of Vietnamese population in the US and I haven't noticed much difference regionally personally. Brisket BBQ was also invented here and most countries do not even a bad option for it.
- epolanski 10mo ago> But we have the best pizza in the world There's italians all around the world. You can have a great pizza virtually everywhere. I had a great one, and I mean among the best I had in my life (mind you I've been to the highest rated pizzas in Italy) even in Sangenjaya, Tokyo, Pizzeria Da Peppe - NAPOLI STA CA.
- Larrikin 10mo agoJapan regularly wins best Italian pizza competitions, but those chefs are usually Japanese. I've been to a few of the winners in Tokyo and they were great but I still prefer a Detroit style over them
- epolanski 10mo agoThe one I went was pure Neapolitan thanks God. > but I still prefer a Detroit style over them We all have our Stockholm syndrome :)
- ojhughes 10mo agoI really didn’t enjoy Chicago pizza when I visited, as with many things in the US it’s quantity over quantity and the cheese is not as good as you find in Europe
- afpx 10mo agoI wouldn't worry - the best parts of the US you can catch on TV or YouTube.
- jawilson2 10mo agoAgreed, there's nothing like watching someone hike the Grand Canyon or driving through Yellowstone on Youtube.
- deleted 10mo ago[deleted]
- afpx 10mo agoMaybe VR?
- atlanta90210 10mo agoVR is dead.
- afpx 10mo agoSorry for the knee jerk unfunny snark. Just a little annoyed reading complaints from people who can't get their vacation in when pretty much my entire neighborhoood is in panick mode because they see probability of impending doom rising.
- rangestransform 10mo agoThe NYC hotel situation isn't the normal inflation, but the hotel lobby bribing the government for reduced hotel permits and banning airbnb. The amount of regulatory bullshit in NYC to run a hotel is insane, including special permit carveouts for small independent hotels (i.e. the shitholes next to the Queensbridge Houses) The other thing is due to the K-shaped economic recovery, where companies realized the bottom 90% have no money and don't bother to try for their business at all. Concert tickets have similarly increased in price and decreased in supply.
- epolanski 10mo agoAmerica is an important part of western culture due to its media exposure, from the news to streaming to music, etc. It's a strong hook willing to see it with your own eyes and not a screen. Also, I have some friends and I always had a good time in US so I wanted to share the american experience with my SO. But if for the same money I can take 2/3 normal vacations or stay a month in Capri..I'm not rushing.
- rayiner 10mo ago> The other thing is due to the K-shaped economic recovery, where companies realized the bottom 90% have no money and don't bother to try for their business at all. Concert tickets have similarly increased in price and decreased in supply. You see this all over the economy. Since 1980, income of the top 10%, subtracting the top 1%, has increased much more than the income of the middle 20%. That’s why every brand is trying move upmarket. Disney World ticket prices have increased vastly more than inflation, because the company is willing to ditch middle class customers to chase a more affluent customer base: https://nypost.com/2022/08/03/disney-world-prices-up-3871-in-50-years-more-than-wages-rent-and-gas/ https://nypost.com/2022/08/03/disney-world-prices-up-3871-in... This is also why “middle class luxury” chains like Sizzler have gotten squeezed out.
- lenerdenator 10mo ago> Used to have a hard time spending 150$ per day in Manhattan, it's twice the amount just for a budget hotel. Went to see the Knicks vs Bucks for 40$, it's like 10 times the amount for the same seat. Attractions like Disneyworld and such as well have skyrocketed to the point it's really off putting. There's actually quite a bit of the US outside of NYC and Orlando, and a lot of it is cheaper.
- PearlRiver 10mo agoWhy not just go to Canada? Montreal is cool.
- lenerdenator 10mo agoI mean, that's fine, though it's kind of feeding into the whole "Canada and America are so ridiculously similar" thing that people who want Canada to be the 51st state keep bringing up.
- sammyoos 10mo agoMontreal and Quebec City are probably the two most unAmerican large cities in Canada. They have culture and history that is unique.
- sva_ 10mo agoAnecdotally I can say that I was just in Boston for the holidays and the immigration officer was the most chill out of the 3 times I visited. But yeah the prices are crazy.
- epolanski 10mo agoHas it happened this year? Because now you're required to list all of your handles on any social media you had in the last 5 years and any email you used in the last 10. This applies even for visa waiver countries as of 2026. This makes me nervous because I have been critical of the US on some topics regarding the news or geopolitics (e.g. the recent events in Venezuela). But even admitting the us is a sane country protecting the right to speech, there are 0 chances I remember all my emails (I don't even remember all the clients I worked with but gave me an email) or reddit/forum accounts.
- sva_ 10mo agoI went there about 3 weeks ago. It was asked of me but only optionally, and I didn't do it.
- rangestransform 10mo agoThe Canadian border guards are still significantly more aggressive than the US ones
- xethos 10mo agoThe Canadian ones have to deal with Americans that don't realize the second amendment doesn't excuse forgetting there are firearms in your vehicle That's why the American side presumably has "Don't forget about your guns" signs, while I can vouch for the Canadian side having "Don't forget pot isn't legal down there" signs. The former is much more dangerous to officers than the latter, and justifies a more aggressive response IMO
- kylehotchkiss 10mo agoIf immigration wasn't so obnoxious, the prices it cost to visit NYC, Disneyland/world or even the crowds you'd have to deal with at national parks aren't worth it. There's a lot of beautiful places in the world (including the country to the north), and I sense the political winds in USA will eventually change and the exchange rate "benefit" US currently has will dwindle.
- geodel 10mo agoI think it is good decision on your part. This whole traveling thing is not doing much good to the earth, to one's pocket, or to most of local people, cities, places one is traveling to (besides of course minority of people engaged in travel related businesses). Travel used to be prerogative of rich or elites. A few more may travel due to work or business. But nowadays it is becoming an essential thing even for those like me who can't really afford or need. People who don't like or do traveling are considered as morally deficient.
- seanmcdirmid 10mo agoYes. A discount trip for me (American) now is a trip out to Japan. Everything is awfully expensive now.