The U.S. Dept. of Commerce has published a report that last year 26.9 million residents traveled overseas. Were you in that number? The top 10 destinations (excluding Mexico & Canada) were: <BR> <BR>Britain 16% <BR>France 11% <BR>Germany 9% <BR>Italy 8% <BR>Japan 5% <BR>Spain 5% <BR>Netherlands 4% <BR>Switzerland 4% <BR>Bahamas 3% <BR>Jamaica 3% <BR>

Well, that puts me in the Germany, Italy,and Switzerland numbers for last year. <BR>Patti

I may be biased but I'm surprised Australia didn't feature in the list!...although I realise we are on the other side of the world & the 15+ hour flight is a bit daunting!! ;-)

We travel to Europe, Africa, Central and South America but have no desire to go Australia because of the distance and heat.

Regrettably, I was not one of those %s last year, but am in the process of correcting that - late April, Paris; late May, Cayman Islands.

Look at me.............I'm a statistic.

OK so I have 4 out of the 10 - but wait, that's 39% out of 68%, so that's really 57% of the list...so that means there's 32% unaccounted for...where did THOSE people go?

I think the reason why so many Americans go to Britian is because English is the primary spoken language and the obsession about class. <BR>

OK, I'm able to understand the language thing about Americans going to England. But "obsession with class"? <BR> <BR>If Americans are obsessed with class, why did they elect Bill Clinton -- low-income, single-parent family -- over the patrician and well bred George Bush? <BR> <BR>You've heard of the American Revolution, right? Happened around the mid-18 century, in case you missed it.

Jamie - <BR>One only has to look at all the gated communities,poor public transportation, housing projects and consumerism to see that Americans are obsessed about class status. I think what makes Americans Brit -envy is linegae. Let's face it - the only way American will ever feel superior to each ther is if they feel they were born wit the right genes or inot the right family. <BR> <BR>As for you poltical dribble - you probably are excited about that $300 tax refund, which works out to less than $1 a day, and you foolishly think it will do a lot for the economy. Just like when Dubya's daddy went to JC Pennies during the 1990 recession at Christmas time and bought socks thinking that would encourage Americans to spend and feel good about the economy. Jamie - you are so easily suckered.

Observer: Get the facts on the tax relief. That's $1.35 Trillion over 10 years, average $135 Billion per year. The $300 per person rebate is just the beginning, the average family of four will see a $1,600 tax savings this year, don't forget taxes were cut effective July 1 and will be cut again in January. This huge infusion of money into the hands of the consumer along with loooow interest rates, will get this economy rolling again next year. You are in fact the sucker with a political agenda. Go back under your rock.

I am not surprised that Britain is #1 for US tourists, but I do not understand Observer's insistence that it has to do with America's obsession with status. <BR> <BR>Britain is #1 for US tourists for two main reasons: 1. the US started out as a British colony resulting in a shared political and literary history (Americans schools teach a fair amount of British history and literature, thereby creating a natural interest in the UK); 2. there is no language barrier, making a trip to England much more "do-able" to the average American than a trip to, say, Turkey. <BR> <BR>I do not understand what this supposed obsession with status has anything to do with it.

Not Much: Your statistics on the average family of 4???? Does that mean all 4 people in the family have to work? I am a family of 2 and my tax break (not my refund) annualizes out to $720 a year. Granted, I'm above average.

Grasshopper: Count the rebate, that's part of this year's tax savings. You can see that your $720 + $600 = $1,320 (assuming the other member of your family works and got the same refund). Not far off the average and you're a family of 2. The tax reduction may not seem like much to you but multiplied out by the 100 million plus taxpayers, and it's a big infusion of expendable dollars into the economy. Your tax saving is a good start toward a nice trip to Europe, a favorite destination of many on this board.

Not Much... never assume. We two are Mom and Kid and my tax refund and reduction are not that relevant to me. I'm looking for someone to whom it is truly relevant and planning to give it to them. (right now leaning toward a 6th grade teacher who is buying science supplies out of her own pocket). My research shows that my tax reduction is much higher than the average (since my income is in the higher bracket) so my point is it's not a good idea to think a family of 4 equals 4 working folks.

Hi Philip: <BR>I was in Britian,France and the Netherlands this year. <BR>U.S. should add the Scandy countries. <BR> <BR> Ellen

<BR>I'm part of the statistics for Britain, Germany and The Netherlands. <BR> <BR>Those that believe that Americans are obsessed with "lineage" probably haven't spent much tim in the US. The British may believe that Prince Charles is inherently superior to them because of the circumstances of his birth, and the Dutch and Belgians may hold similar views concerning their monarchs, but in the US, such notions are regarded as absurdly antiquated. <BR> <BR>And before anyone brings up the Kennedy's or the Bushes, with the exception of the east coast, the Kennedy's have a trashy reputation throughout the country, and one of Bush's greatest obstacles during the presidential race was his alleged sense of entitlement to the office.

Grasshopper: If you think $1,020 net money in your pocket is not relevant, which in your high tax bracket probably equates to over $2,000 gross, more power to you. I believe the government statistics (which I trust more than your research) refer to a family of 4 with 2 persons working. That would equal $600 rebate plus $500 tax savings per person totaling $1,600. I hope you continue to give you tax reduction away each year, and don't forget to compound it, i.e. this year's $1,020, plus $1,020 next year in addition to next year's tax cut etc. FYI, my tax savings were slightly higher than yours (guess I'm in that higher bracket you talk about) and I appreciate getting the money back so I can spend or save it as I so desire, instead of the government dumping it in some pork barrel. Probably use it toward next years vacation.

More Americans should go to Turkey or somewhere where they don't know the language - going to a place because English is spoken is laziness. <BR> <BR>The tax rebate will not help anyone get ahead - yes, you can buy a dvd player or if you drive a SUV, 3 full tanks of gas - but face it - this refund is nothing but a very hollow gesture. There are many Americans who won't get a dime because they didn't qualify, It's amazing how gullible so many Americans are when they hear the phrases "tax refund", "tax cut", "no new taxes". This refund will benefit corporations - upper management will get that $50,000 bonus will another 2 people are laid off. Reducing consumer debt would put the economy on better footing than a trip to the mall. <BR> <BR>As for class status - why do so many American romanticize the Kennedy's as America's first royal family? <BR> <BR>Why do so many American's refuse to use mass transit? Because many American think their better than perceived "lower class" who have to use mass transit. Many middle class people go to great expense tp divorce themselves from their middle class taste / background. <BR>Class and status are very similar.

Observer is a disgrace to both the British and Americans, and is probably neither. The spelling is abominable, as is the sentence structure. <BR> <BR>Observer, I suggest you don't make such sweeping and pompous assertions while your grasp of our language is abysmal.