What are hot topics of discussion for Europeans traveling to the USA?...
May 26th, 2008, 03:20 AM
#21
9-11 was just the most spectacular moment of world terrorism. If you count the number of bombs that have gone off in Ireland, the UK, France, Spain, Italy and Germany in the last 25 years and the number of deaths caused by those bombs, you will probably reach a greater number of casualties.
However, the European countries have made crossing borders easier over the last 25 years, and I don't think anybody wants to live in an armed camp.
Miami airport is my own favorite, because I get pulled aside and locked up for half an hour every time I land there -- with an American passport. Why do they do this? Because I had a passport stolen in South Africa when I was mugged there in 1996 -- twelve years ago! Yes, I guess they're just fighting terror...
However, the European countries have made crossing borders easier over the last 25 years, and I don't think anybody wants to live in an armed camp.
Miami airport is my own favorite, because I get pulled aside and locked up for half an hour every time I land there -- with an American passport. Why do they do this? Because I had a passport stolen in South Africa when I was mugged there in 1996 -- twelve years ago! Yes, I guess they're just fighting terror...
May 26th, 2008, 03:26 AM
#22
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This is the only site I am aware of where UK (mainly) discuss travel to the states:
http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/places/united-states/tips
It's part of the guardian's site:
http://travel.guardian.co.uk/talk
Less hooting loons there too.
http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/places/united-states/tips
It's part of the guardian's site:
http://travel.guardian.co.uk/talk
Less hooting loons there too.
May 26th, 2008, 03:56 AM
#23
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Kerouac -
Well, perhaps with all those bombs going off in Europe THEY should be the ones being more careful! Just because they are more lax, doesn't mean it's the way to go as far as policy is concerned. Maybe they're dong their people a disservice, especially if they want to keep them safer.
I personally am OK with all the security, even if I believe someone could, of course, still get through and strike the U.S. again. Nevertheless, if nothing was done after what happened 9-11, we'd be idiots! (Once burned, twice shy; or - do we learn nothing from history and just go about doing things the way they were done before?)
And, your experience in Miami -yes, perhaps ridiculous. I'm sure there must be nothing that the European governments do that is ridiculous, as they are perfect.
Well, perhaps with all those bombs going off in Europe THEY should be the ones being more careful! Just because they are more lax, doesn't mean it's the way to go as far as policy is concerned. Maybe they're dong their people a disservice, especially if they want to keep them safer.
I personally am OK with all the security, even if I believe someone could, of course, still get through and strike the U.S. again. Nevertheless, if nothing was done after what happened 9-11, we'd be idiots! (Once burned, twice shy; or - do we learn nothing from history and just go about doing things the way they were done before?)
And, your experience in Miami -yes, perhaps ridiculous. I'm sure there must be nothing that the European governments do that is ridiculous, as they are perfect.
May 26th, 2008, 05:08 AM
#27
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I'm more with flanneruk on this issue. Even though, (US) travel related websites exist, e.g. the ones in Germany that Hans mentioned, I would say that more people traveling from Germany to the US consider it a "normal" trip, rather than a trip into the great unknown. A huge deal of forums deal more with "professional" problems, e.g. immigration, working/studying abroad, internships, etc.
What I did not see much are threads on clothing, except for climate-related questions.
Also non-existing seem those odd conclusions that often seem to thrive on Fodor's, e.g. Colorado passed a law against burning dog poop in residential areas where more than 3.74% of the population are of Irish descent -- how will that affect tourism???
Questions re. tipping, speed limits, tickets (dodge or pay), immigration procedures, etc. are being asked, yet I did not find many threads that veered off into endless futile discussions whether this or that is unfair or not.
Those who try to get into a heat debate on what travellers see as US "oddities" usually get one of the following simple answers:
1. Why whine when you can't change it. (Immigration procedures)
2. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. (Tipping, Speed limits/go with the flow)
3. Be nice, you are a guest. (No Sir, Hitler is not running for office again.)
4. If you can't stand it there, go somewhere else. The world is big enough.
What I did not see much are threads on clothing, except for climate-related questions.
Also non-existing seem those odd conclusions that often seem to thrive on Fodor's, e.g. Colorado passed a law against burning dog poop in residential areas where more than 3.74% of the population are of Irish descent -- how will that affect tourism???
Questions re. tipping, speed limits, tickets (dodge or pay), immigration procedures, etc. are being asked, yet I did not find many threads that veered off into endless futile discussions whether this or that is unfair or not.
Those who try to get into a heat debate on what travellers see as US "oddities" usually get one of the following simple answers:
1. Why whine when you can't change it. (Immigration procedures)
2. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. (Tipping, Speed limits/go with the flow)
3. Be nice, you are a guest. (No Sir, Hitler is not running for office again.)
4. If you can't stand it there, go somewhere else. The world is big enough.
May 27th, 2008, 02:46 AM
#28
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CW, can you clarify your frame of reference, please?
Do you mean Britain's loonies live in Britain, or do you mean Fodor's loonies live in Fodor's?>>>>
I meant that the loonies who might want to blow up, say, a cafe in Exeter already live in the British Isles (as did all the Irish terrorists).
As to Fodors loonies; they are in a class of their own. You could run the national grid off some of them.
Do you mean Britain's loonies live in Britain, or do you mean Fodor's loonies live in Fodor's?>>>>
I meant that the loonies who might want to blow up, say, a cafe in Exeter already live in the British Isles (as did all the Irish terrorists).
As to Fodors loonies; they are in a class of their own. You could run the national grid off some of them.
May 27th, 2008, 03:00 AM
#29
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Gosh...why are you Americans so defensive? The border control sucks. Plain and simple. I go to the US each year and it is always the same (and has gotten worse since 9 11). The returning americans are treated well, given more customs officers and processed quickly. Meanwhile, the lines for foreigners stretch for a km, and even those on crutches are not given a break. They have fewer customs officers and they are treated like criminals. It doesn´t matter where they are from.
It is embarrassing to see and makes me ashamed for my country.
The only other topic I hear about is shopping.
It is embarrassing to see and makes me ashamed for my country.
The only other topic I hear about is shopping.
May 27th, 2008, 03:13 AM
#30
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This from a site dealing (mainly) with family holidays,with very little of the in depth discussion of fashion items, or food, or dynamic currency conversion we see here. Quite boring really.
http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewforum.php?f=2
http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewforum.php?f=2
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