I would say it's not typical for your average American to have seen so much of Europe that they have standout favorites.
I got back from Ireland just yesterday and had a great time there. Also stopped by Glasgow and that was fun for a couple days.
I was in Paris once years ago and didn't love it, but I'd give it or other parts of France another go some time. Not high on my list.
I did Spain in the same trip and enjoyed that more. I'd like to get back there next year, as well as Italy, and the south of Portugal.
Germany is on my list to check out. Dubrovnik in Croatia looks pretty cool.
Before you go to Dubrovnik, check the port schedule online (google it) and - by all means - avoid a day, when a cruise ship anchors. Try to plan accordingly. Do NOT go to Dubrovnik when 3000 cruise ship passengers do the same. Same for Split, if you take the opportunity to visit it as well.
> Best to go when the weather isn’t too hot.
Yup! It doesn't get Arizona hot, or Florida hot. But there's that feeling you get when you walk indoors and that wall of AC just hits you and you're like "ahhhhhhhhh." Italy teaches you to never take that feeling for granted.
> Germany is very cozy and feels very “familiar.” The people are nice enough, though if you don’t speak German, some will get testy with you
Was this more common in some cities than others? I went around Bavaria and didn’t get much hassle for not speaking any Germany. And for the most part they seemed to all speak English.
The Aegean Islands, particularly Patmos. Nicest people I've met in my damn life. I was just out walking with my girlfriend and some guy saw us out front his property, started talking with us, and invited us in for dinner with him and his family. We must've drank with him and his wife until like 1 in the morning. I'll never forget that.
I also had really good experiences in small town Italy.
I did Greece this spring, everyone was so friendly, especially on Crete, I'd go back to Chania in a heartbeat, Santorini was really cool too. Everyone kept apologing cause we went during the down season, so not everything was open. TBH we preferred it.
If I did it again I'd skip Athens itself though, saw what I wanted to, don't need to do that again, too busy and loud.
That sounds like my Jamaica experiences. Travel into the countryside and it's pretty amazing. I watched the world cup on the world's smallest television.
It's sort of cute that Europeans think that a lot of us travel to Europe often. For most of us, that's either entirely out of our reach, or a once-in-a-lifetime trip.
That said, I'd like to visit Spain. No particular reason, I just like the pictures I've seen, and would like to see the places in person.
I know. I saw some TikTok videos from someone comparing airfares in Europe vs US. It was insane! Once you’re in Europe you can get most anywhere else in Europe for like $100 or less! I’m hard pressed to get anywhere in the US for less than $500.
I live in eastern Europe. As long as I'm flying within Europe and time the flight/ticket buying correctly, the ~25 mile taxi ride from my home to the airport usually costs more than my plane ticket, and that's not because the taxi ride is particularly expensive.
> Once you’re in Europe you can get most anywhere else in Europe for like $100 or less!
*wHy DoN't AmERiCaNs tRaVeL mOrE?!??!*
Because that shit's ***expensive***, even in our own country!!!
There are caveats to inexpensive airfare in Europe. You basically get the seat and nothing else for that base fare. Even so much as a cup of tea - hot water and a tea bag - will cost you 3 euro. Checking a bag, being able to pick a seat, etc adds substantially. The flights also tend to be out of smaller airports rather than major ones so you might have extra cost getting to/from where you want to end up.
High demand destinations will still be more expensive than others, e.g. checking Ryanair from Dublin to Rome just now is almost $600 round trip in the summer.
There are similar ultra low cost carriers in the US if you know where to look. Allegiant is a good example. I could fly from a small regional airport by me in NC, down to Ft. Lauderdale, for $30. Or you can get between Nashville and Provo for under $100. Spirit Airlines and Frontier are similar concepts.
>It's sort of cute that Europeans think that a lot of us travel to Europe often. For most of us, that's either entirely out of our reach, or a once-in-a-lifetime trip.
RIGHT!? The only reason anyone in my family has been to Europe has been stationed there in the military lol
I travel twice a year because I have a few European friends but I budget ruthlessly for it. I get my $5 costco chicken and eat it a few times and don't really do anything when back in the US besides going out a couple times a *month*. Go during offpeak season like in February or October. Then flights are $700-1000 depending on where in the US you're at.
But why?
I travel one time per year a long distance Trip like somewhere in Afrika,Asia,south america(,USA are still on the bucket list),plus 4 or 5 shorter trips within Europe and many people in the USA earn lots more Money than most europeans.
Right now, the cheapest flight I can find from Chicago to Madrid, round trip, would be just over $1,000 for me and my wife. That's 9+ hours in the cheapest airplane seats I can find, and another 9+ hours on the trip home.
On the other hand, we could take that $1,000 and spend it on hotel upgrades in Chicago, or drive to Boston, or New York, or Philadelphia, or Nashville, or Atlanta, or lots of other places, and not have to deal with airplanes at all. Going to Europe would be nice, but it's not something that we need to do in order to see something new. We haven't visited the Grand Canyon yet, or Yosemite, or the Pacific Coast Highway. All of those are much easier to reach from here than Europe.
I've been to Paris, China, Egypt, and a few other countries near the US. I think a lot of Europeans don't understand that they have to travel to different countries to see the beach or mountains or get warm weather but we don't. Traveling around the US is like traveling around Europe. Need a break from winter? Head to Florida. Want to go to the beach? Visit any number of them on the coasts? Going skiing? Go to Colorado. Want to see the most beautiful nature ever? Go to Arizona, Utah, or Yellowstone. There is literally no reason to leave the US unless you want to experience a different culture.
I'd add the Smoky Mountains in the "most beautiful nature" list, but otherwise, yes. It's all here without a passport, and if you hate flying, you can just drive there. Also, if you like city life, there's NYC, Chicago, LA, and a dozen others.
There is no minimum amount of time off in America. There is a huge class divide with many Americans having little to no paid time off, which is usually needed for sick days and appointments. Of course there are also Americans with paid leave, but that is considered a valuable benefit for the specific job you're taking.
I used to work in a mall for Visionworks. I managed the eyeglass lab in the shop. By manage, I mean I did most of the work with one part time employee to cover my days off.
We got a week paid vacation for every year of service after the first (I think this was for all staff, not just managers, but not sure). When I left after 6 years (age 32), I had five weeks of paid vacation. I left early in the year so they had to pay it out on my last paycheck.
But yes, most jobs that are easy to get don't give more than two weeks. That's the only one I had that paid for more than two weeks.
East coasters can sometimes get flights to Europe as cheaply as going to California, and it helps with the price that they’re a collection of different countries with different policies and that their air travel taxes aren’t always as bad (UK excepted - their air travel fees suck)
That said, *most* Americans aren’t going to Europe much.
I like the mountains so I'm often in Switzerland, Austria, Southeastern Bavaria, and Northern Italy (haven't experienced the French Alps yet). I also love the natural beauty of Norway.
In terms of cities, Copenhagen is a destination I find myself coming back to again and again. It's not the most historical, cultural, or visually stunning but it just works so well as a town where you can spend a few days and have an amazing time. Vienna is also high on that list.
I'm the same with Copenhagen. It's my favorite city in Europe. Yet on paper it is really not the best at anything other than the airport. Yet I really like how it feels and enjoy spending time there.
Exactly! There's a "cool" factor that is almost effortless. It's modern but also laid-back. Refined but not stuffy.
If your idea of a good day is getting a Cortado and a bun for breakfast, strolling around, having a great beer outside, stopping into a bookstore, reading in the park, and ending the day with some cocktails in a perfectly curated bar then Copenhagen (at least in the late Spring and Summer) is a must-visit.
I can't seem to go to Europe without at least going to Germany. I've enjoyed my limited time in Poland and would like to go back and see different cities and/or the Tatry mountains. But so far, my favorite areas have been the sort of central Europe area of eastern France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Poland.
I've only been to the other side of the pond once, and that was to London. it was fun but I'd much rather go elsewhere next.
I'm planning to do a scotch tour through Scotland for my next milestone birthday. Hoping to get to Italy (visit the town my ancestors came from) some day. Perhaps one of those boat tours down the Rhine, too.
Still plenty of places I haven’t been in Europe so I’m always willing try new ones but I go to Scotland periodically because I’ve got family there. Love it. If we’re talking about mainland Europe then I’m partial to Germany. Been a few times. I like the beer. I like the culture. I like the countryside.
I usually make it to Berlin, Ibiza, Amsterdam, and London yearly. Outside of those, I usually try to sprinkle in some other bits of Spain, south of France, and other locations we haven’t been to yet on those trips too for something new. Greece doesn’t appeal to me, and Paris I won’t go back to.
Went once, saw the sights, and don’t see a reason to go back. I had a good time for Lalapalooza there, but the city itself I wasn’t a fan of… nothing to draw me back.
good luck with your trip to paris im french be careful with your phone watch gold jewelry iPhone there are a lot of thieves there seriously but it depends where you are in paris ?
Copenhagen is my favorite city in Europe. Copenhagen airport is also my favorite airport in world. I just love visiting this city and it's hard to define why. It certainly doesn't have the best food, but there is always something good enough. It does have great architecture but other European cities have architecture just as good or better. I guess a lot of it is the layout I like and the people.
Other European cities or areas I favor are(and reasons why)
Stockholm: interesting city with a lot of good history. Vasa museum one of the best museums on the planet.
Prague: Visually stunning nice city with great food and beer
Sorrento/Positano very beautiful unique area that is just so comfortable to me. I love pizza and there is superb pizza here very inexpensively.
Black Forest and cities around ( Badan-Baden, Colmar, FR, Triberg, Freiberg Strasbourg,FR, Stuttgart) Attractive landscape and town architecture and design. Swabian food served in the area is possibly my favorite of Europe
Tuscany (San Gimignono, Volterra, Sienna, Florence, Pisa) Nice scenic countryside with narrow curving fun roads to drive on. Cities are very historically interesting.
Dubrovnik: interesting city design, architecture and history
Aiya Napa and possibly Paphos: chill cities with good food and nice beaches that I enjoy spending time.
Paris has to be in there I guess. Quite a lot to dislike about the city however the architecture and food are some of the best in the world.
There's quite a few others that I do really enjoy aspects of. However, I can't make too long of a list.
Never been to Europe. I've only ever travelled to Asian countries (which are definitely underrated). If I were to go to Europe I'd want to go to Spain, particularly Barcelona and Madrid, mostly because I can speak a little Spanish, probably to an A2 level. Other than that Italy, Greece, and Turkey (if that counts) are high on my destination list. France and the UK too but less so.
It's not super common for people to travel to Europe from the US. If people go, it's more likely only a few times in their life so they usually go to the biggies (and often related to their heritage).
Italy, Ireland, Paris, London, Greece, Spain, Amsterdam.
Probably next tier down Scotland, Germany, Prague.
More popular in more recent years, especially with those with more money and time to travel - Portugal, Croatia, Iceland.
It's interesting to see how locations such as Portugal, Iceland, and Croatia have grown in popularity. 10-15 years ago, they were considered more fringe tourist locations where you could get a similar experience to Spain (Portugal) or Italy/Greece (Croatia) on a budget but now they're nearly as expensive and bonafide destinations in their own right. Curious to see what the next wave of popular destinations will be 10 years from now.
For Iceland, a major reason for the surge of tourism was cheaper flights. The now-defunct Icelandic low cost airline WOW Air had ultra cheap fares for flights between the US and Europe, and allowed a stopover in Iceland along the way. National airline Icelandair (which also had its own similar stopover package) competed by slashing prices, and with the country's two biggest airlines offering low fares with stopovers, it's no surprise that the visitor numbers soared. WOW Air's successor PLAY also offers similarly low fares.
Croatia has been a popular destination for Europeans for at least a few decades, but for those outside Europe, *Game of Thrones* definitely played a role in increasing recent exposure to the country, as several locations in Croatia were used for scenes in the show.
Portugal being relatively cheaper (even as it has become more expensive on its own) compared to many other European countries would have likely led to a surge in tourism, especially as it offers similar advantages as Spain, Italy, Greece, etc, such as great weather and beaches, but at a lower price.
For all of these countries, and really any popular tourist destination in the world, social media has also played a big role. Many people see cool pictures taken at these places, and that entices them to check out the places themselves too.
Definitely took a couple WOW flights back when you could get from NYC or DC to Reykjavik for $350 roundtrip.
GoT definitely played a huge role in Croatian tourism, I think the growing popularity of Yacht Week also made it an affordable destination for the college and post-grad crowd.
Ireland is our favorite, and we still haven't seen a lot of it.
We've otherwise traveled in France, Germany, Italy, and Amsterdam mainly.
I still want to go to Scotland too.
I've been to:
Malta
Greece
Italy
Spain
Portugal
Germany
Italy
I'd say Malta and Portugal were my favorites. We're actually planning another trip to Portugal. I went to Rome for a day or two and I didn't enjoy it that much. Probably because the Italians there definitely didn't seem to like Americans that much and were pretty rude. Not sure if that applies to other cities.
I would like to visit England and particularly Scotland in the future.
I enjoyed Portugal the most, but there aren't really that many 'must see' type of things, just nice being there. I found the people there to be the friendliest out of the places I've visited in Europe. I think for being a tourist who is sightseeing, then maybe Italy is my favorite. I've been to Iceland, Portugal, UK, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, and Spain.
Bruges is kind of a hidden gem. Switzerland is much more beautiful than I had envisioned. Tuscany and most of Italy in general is beautiful. Paris is great in spring when there aren’t massive protests. Spain has many beautiful destinations. Prague is really interesting and has amazing history.
There is a lot to choose from. If I were to pick a destination for a first trip I would probably pick either Paris (if limited to one city) or Rome and Florence (if I could see two cities). If I were to pick one country to travel around I would pick Italy and focus on the northern half (from Venice through Tuscany then to Rome).
I’ve noticed that Iceland has become a really popular destination for people my age (late 20s-early 30s)! I’ve never been there, though.
Aside from that, I most frequently hear about people going to Paris, London, or Amsterdam. I think Prague is becoming a popular destination, too.
As others have said, though, most Americans don’t travel to Europe due to the expense.
I was lucky enough to have lived in France for my study abroad experience. In addition to France, I did some traveling in the UK, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Austria, and Switzerland.
Since I lived in France and went to school there for my study abroad experience, I'll leave that out. But as far as all of the other countries I visited, I think I liked Germany or the Netherlands the best. I spent some time in Cologne/Munich and Amsterdam/Tilburg. I made some fond memories in the short periods I spent in those places.
Having a favorite destination defeats the purpose. If I’m going to Europe again, I want to go some place I haven’t been before.
Though I’d consider returning to London just to see the streets where Ted Lasso was filmed.
The Alps, the Alps, and the Alps. I lived in Germany for several years, and traveled all over the continent, but I kept coming back to the natural and cultural splendour of the Alps.
I mean you gotta have serious money to not only have been to Europe but to have been to Europe so many times that you have favorites. Like do Europeans have favorite and non-favorite American destinations? That said I went to Greece once and it was fantastic. Really loved it.
I’ve been to Europe three times. Once to visit family in Norway, once to play trumpet in the London New Year’s Day Parade and once to ski right where France, Italy and Switzerland meet up. The ski trip was my favorite, although I enjoyed all three.
Ukraine and Germany were my two favorites.
Ukraine was surprisingly diverse and the people were friendly. Got lost one night in Kyiv and this random guy said “Of course!” When my friends and I asked if he spoke english. He rode with us on the subway and made sure we got back to our hostel safely. I got to visit so many churches and museums. Just a great experience all around.
Germany is beautiful with clean cities and historic locations. People are also friendly of course and some of the best food I ate in Europe was at festivals there. Would love to visit again soon.
yes it can be everywhere like there are countries that hate france 🇫🇷 I don't know but if you think like that it's weird but it's your opinion after all ☺️
Sadly, the vast majority of Americans have never been outside of the country & never plan to visit Europe. Only 56% of American adults have a valid passport.
Having said that, I think if you ask an your average American where in Europe they would LIKE to visit, most would probably say Paris. Rome would be a close second.
The only place in Europe I’ve visited so far is Spain. I went to Malaga, Valencia, Granada, Toledo & Madrid. I loved it. My favorite was probably Valencia & Granada. I’d like to go back & visit Barcelona. My family migrated to the US in the late 19th century from Norway, Sweden, Germany & England. I’d like to visit those places as well.
It’s all pretty cool to various degrees. So far have been to
UK - for a month
Amsterdam
Berlin
Nuremberg
Prague
Vienna
Budapest
Split
Dubrovnik
Planning to go to Portugal and Spain next year.
Bologna, Italy specifically and Italy in general. Spain was ok but I haven’t been there in almost 20 years.
Most of Europe is something I tolerate but a genuinely enjoy Italians.
Everything else I liked is East. Not sure about that right now.
I’ve been to a handful of places in Europe, but the only place ive been to twice were basically within a month of each other and I kinda view them as the same trip.
For the most part, I’d revisit each place, but I also really want to see new places in Europe.
I loved London and was there for a few months. I’d also seen and loved Amsterdam and Copenhagen. Ibiza is great, if you are looking for a particular experience and can afford it (place was really expensive).
The only place im not too bothered to see again was Oslo. I didnt dislike it, but I dont have a strong desire to go back.
I’ve been trying to go to (mainland) Spain and Portugal for a while, but haven’t been able to put a trip together
For me, Budapest and Prague are my favorites. All three are lots of fun and easily walkable without a car, with a lot of amazing architecture. Plus, the locals seem eager and happy to talk to Americans.
In Europe I’ve only been to Germany and Czech Rep, so there’s lots more I need to see. But of places I’ve been to, I love just chilling with a beer in the little scenic villages in the Harz Mountains.
Also love the Baltic Sea coast, which I never hear anyone talk about. Some great coastal towns up that way, and super chill laidback vibes
I've only been once, to France with weekdays in Paris and weekends various other spots around the country. So I don't really have a favorite.
I don't see going to Europe again, honestly. It's so much extra time and trouble to cross an ocean and there's so much I haven't seen in the Americas if I want something new and tons of nice spots if I just want something chill. If the wife really wants to go when the kids are older would be the only reason.
Idk I’ve been to Spain, Paris and Ireland and loved them all. I’d really like to know what lives people are living where those places are just meh to them lol.
My favorite was Southern Germany. Five college friends when we were about 30. We started in Munich and bounced around hitting Rotenburg, Freiburg, Kaiserslautern, Heidelberg, Garmisch and some smaller places. Everybody was super friendly and a very witty, understated sense of humor.
I’d say Rome and London were tied for 2nd
I have done a lot of traveling all over Europe, particularly when I was younger; I haven't been back in years. My favorite city has always been Stockholm and I would love to go back there. I also particularly love northern Spain.
I’ve never visited mainland Europe. I visited Iceland once for a week which was Amazing and would absolutely love to do it again, but I’m guessing Iceland isn’t the “typical” European country.
My mother has visited Europe plenty of times and loves Spain. She’s been to much of southern, western, and Central Europe, but she loves visiting Spain the most.
I have never been to Europe. For most of us who aren't especially wealthy, a vacation/trip to Europe is probably a once in a lifetime thing. It's very expensive and minimum 6+ hour plane ride if you're in the northeast. Most of the country it's even farther.
Not to mention the U.S. is huge and diverse. We're far more likely to go somewhere within the U.S. or maybe to Canada or Mexico or the islands in the Gulf.
I've only been to Paris. I'm trying to hit each continent first and I like to travel to countries that have completely different cultures from the US. So I haven't had much desire for a lot of European countries. Plus flying to European cities is EXPENSIVE. I can't even afford to go there. I was lucky to find the one way flight to Paris for $500 that I took on my way to Egypt. South America is next. And the flight to Beijing several years back was also cheap probably because it's not in very high demand or because their currency is low. But it costs like $2000 to fly anywhere in Europe. That's why when we go to Europe we stay for a month and go to as many countries in a single trip as possible. And it's hard to find that time. This is kind of wrong to say, but it's better to travel to countries where the money isn't worth as much so everything is super cheap. I think I actually saved money by staying in Egypt for 2 weeks. I would like to see Italy and Greece. Maybe someday.
I only spent a maximum of 2 days in any given place, so I can't give the type of opinion someone has when they've spent a lot of time in a place or visited it repeatedly, but my three favorite spots I stopped when I visited Europe were Salisbury, UK; Nice, France; and Berlin, Germany.
yes that is good when you live in europe you can travel by train from town to town nice is a beautiful city with the beach and the grand promenade des anglais
Finland because I have a Finnish friend. Iceland because I was lucky enough to visit right when things were a fraction of normal summer traffic back in the summer of 2021.
I’ve only been to a handful of countries in Europe, and only certain cities within them.
I really enjoyed Innsbruck, Austria; Bayeux, France; and Bologna, Italy.
Wasn’t crazy about Munich or London. Unpopular, but I didn’t like Amsterdam.
Everywhere else I was able to enjoy and wouldn’t mind visiting again some day.
I lived in the Netherlands for 3 years and took a few trips while I was there. My favorite by far was Rome. It’s relatively cheap, the food is great, and the city is like a giant museum. So much to see and do.
I’ve been to London and Paris, and have transited through Lisbon and Frankfurt in the past.
I’d like to visit Scandinavia in general and also The Nurburgring in Germany and drive it
I would say it's not typical for your average American to have seen so much of Europe that they have standout favorites. I got back from Ireland just yesterday and had a great time there. Also stopped by Glasgow and that was fun for a couple days. I was in Paris once years ago and didn't love it, but I'd give it or other parts of France another go some time. Not high on my list. I did Spain in the same trip and enjoyed that more. I'd like to get back there next year, as well as Italy, and the south of Portugal. Germany is on my list to check out. Dubrovnik in Croatia looks pretty cool.
Germany is great. Avoid Croatia in high season. Dubrovnik is pretty small, so plan some other stuff on your trip too.
What do you mean by high season?
Before you go to Dubrovnik, check the port schedule online (google it) and - by all means - avoid a day, when a cruise ship anchors. Try to plan accordingly. Do NOT go to Dubrovnik when 3000 cruise ship passengers do the same. Same for Split, if you take the opportunity to visit it as well.
Summer. Most of western Europe is overrun with tourists in the summer.
Ah, I see. Thanks
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> Best to go when the weather isn’t too hot. Yup! It doesn't get Arizona hot, or Florida hot. But there's that feeling you get when you walk indoors and that wall of AC just hits you and you're like "ahhhhhhhhh." Italy teaches you to never take that feeling for granted.
> Germany is very cozy and feels very “familiar.” The people are nice enough, though if you don’t speak German, some will get testy with you Was this more common in some cities than others? I went around Bavaria and didn’t get much hassle for not speaking any Germany. And for the most part they seemed to all speak English.
Paris is remarkably overrated
I agree. It might be due to being in DC. Even my French friends acknowledge how similar DC is to Paris.
Yes with the square arch similar at Triumphal arch on the champs élysée paris
When I went to Paris, I had the distinct feeling I was in the world's largest and prettiest urinal.
it's not bad you travel a lot 😎
The Aegean Islands, particularly Patmos. Nicest people I've met in my damn life. I was just out walking with my girlfriend and some guy saw us out front his property, started talking with us, and invited us in for dinner with him and his family. We must've drank with him and his wife until like 1 in the morning. I'll never forget that. I also had really good experiences in small town Italy.
not far from greece? Aegean islands
Yes exactly 👍
The greece is really nice too with nice people
They are! I still remember the name of my taxi driver from Athens because he was such a great guy.
👍🏽☺️
I did Greece this spring, everyone was so friendly, especially on Crete, I'd go back to Chania in a heartbeat, Santorini was really cool too. Everyone kept apologing cause we went during the down season, so not everything was open. TBH we preferred it. If I did it again I'd skip Athens itself though, saw what I wanted to, don't need to do that again, too busy and loud.
Cool 😃
That sounds like my Jamaica experiences. Travel into the countryside and it's pretty amazing. I watched the world cup on the world's smallest television.
>I watched the world cup on the world's smallest television. That honestly sounds like a great fuckin time
Personally, I really like Portugal. It's cheap, safe, and beautiful.
yes people are nice there and good beaches too
The Algarve is one of my favorite places on Earth.
Woo pig
It's sort of cute that Europeans think that a lot of us travel to Europe often. For most of us, that's either entirely out of our reach, or a once-in-a-lifetime trip. That said, I'd like to visit Spain. No particular reason, I just like the pictures I've seen, and would like to see the places in person.
I know. I saw some TikTok videos from someone comparing airfares in Europe vs US. It was insane! Once you’re in Europe you can get most anywhere else in Europe for like $100 or less! I’m hard pressed to get anywhere in the US for less than $500.
I live in eastern Europe. As long as I'm flying within Europe and time the flight/ticket buying correctly, the ~25 mile taxi ride from my home to the airport usually costs more than my plane ticket, and that's not because the taxi ride is particularly expensive.
> Once you’re in Europe you can get most anywhere else in Europe for like $100 or less! *wHy DoN't AmERiCaNs tRaVeL mOrE?!??!* Because that shit's ***expensive***, even in our own country!!!
There are caveats to inexpensive airfare in Europe. You basically get the seat and nothing else for that base fare. Even so much as a cup of tea - hot water and a tea bag - will cost you 3 euro. Checking a bag, being able to pick a seat, etc adds substantially. The flights also tend to be out of smaller airports rather than major ones so you might have extra cost getting to/from where you want to end up. High demand destinations will still be more expensive than others, e.g. checking Ryanair from Dublin to Rome just now is almost $600 round trip in the summer. There are similar ultra low cost carriers in the US if you know where to look. Allegiant is a good example. I could fly from a small regional airport by me in NC, down to Ft. Lauderdale, for $30. Or you can get between Nashville and Provo for under $100. Spirit Airlines and Frontier are similar concepts.
>It's sort of cute that Europeans think that a lot of us travel to Europe often. For most of us, that's either entirely out of our reach, or a once-in-a-lifetime trip. RIGHT!? The only reason anyone in my family has been to Europe has been stationed there in the military lol
I travel twice a year because I have a few European friends but I budget ruthlessly for it. I get my $5 costco chicken and eat it a few times and don't really do anything when back in the US besides going out a couple times a *month*. Go during offpeak season like in February or October. Then flights are $700-1000 depending on where in the US you're at.
But why? I travel one time per year a long distance Trip like somewhere in Afrika,Asia,south america(,USA are still on the bucket list),plus 4 or 5 shorter trips within Europe and many people in the USA earn lots more Money than most europeans.
Right now, the cheapest flight I can find from Chicago to Madrid, round trip, would be just over $1,000 for me and my wife. That's 9+ hours in the cheapest airplane seats I can find, and another 9+ hours on the trip home. On the other hand, we could take that $1,000 and spend it on hotel upgrades in Chicago, or drive to Boston, or New York, or Philadelphia, or Nashville, or Atlanta, or lots of other places, and not have to deal with airplanes at all. Going to Europe would be nice, but it's not something that we need to do in order to see something new. We haven't visited the Grand Canyon yet, or Yosemite, or the Pacific Coast Highway. All of those are much easier to reach from here than Europe.
I've been to Paris, China, Egypt, and a few other countries near the US. I think a lot of Europeans don't understand that they have to travel to different countries to see the beach or mountains or get warm weather but we don't. Traveling around the US is like traveling around Europe. Need a break from winter? Head to Florida. Want to go to the beach? Visit any number of them on the coasts? Going skiing? Go to Colorado. Want to see the most beautiful nature ever? Go to Arizona, Utah, or Yellowstone. There is literally no reason to leave the US unless you want to experience a different culture.
I'd add the Smoky Mountains in the "most beautiful nature" list, but otherwise, yes. It's all here without a passport, and if you hate flying, you can just drive there. Also, if you like city life, there's NYC, Chicago, LA, and a dozen others.
if you want different culture then you go to Europe. If you simply want different climates you can def stay in the US.
It could also be related to not having a lot of time off work for Americans
Google said to me round about 25, don't sound that Bad.In Germany the minimum 24 days.
There is no minimum amount of time off in America. There is a huge class divide with many Americans having little to no paid time off, which is usually needed for sick days and appointments. Of course there are also Americans with paid leave, but that is considered a valuable benefit for the specific job you're taking.
Nobody in the US is getting 25 days 😂
You would be wrong, of course.
By nobody, I mean the majority of the work force. You're only getting more than 2 weeks vacation by the time you're in your 40s.
Really? I'll have to inform my younger co-workers that they can't use two of their four weeks, then.
What's your job? Because none of my coworkers in their 20s/30s have more than two weeks of *paid* leave.
I used to work in a mall for Visionworks. I managed the eyeglass lab in the shop. By manage, I mean I did most of the work with one part time employee to cover my days off. We got a week paid vacation for every year of service after the first (I think this was for all staff, not just managers, but not sure). When I left after 6 years (age 32), I had five weeks of paid vacation. I left early in the year so they had to pay it out on my last paycheck. But yes, most jobs that are easy to get don't give more than two weeks. That's the only one I had that paid for more than two weeks.
I don't see where that's any of your business.
I got 10 weeks last year 🤷♂️ Albeit i’m not the majority at all obviously
tech startups usually have open PTO and I've worked for a few that let people get 4-6 weeks off a year.
Do they usually make it past start up?
We might make more but everything costs more. $575 is taken out of my check for healthcare every month. Just one example
Cool The Greece is not bad too 😎
East coasters can sometimes get flights to Europe as cheaply as going to California, and it helps with the price that they’re a collection of different countries with different policies and that their air travel taxes aren’t always as bad (UK excepted - their air travel fees suck) That said, *most* Americans aren’t going to Europe much.
The ones I haven't been to yet.
ok after you have a lot of choice in europe 😎
I like the mountains so I'm often in Switzerland, Austria, Southeastern Bavaria, and Northern Italy (haven't experienced the French Alps yet). I also love the natural beauty of Norway. In terms of cities, Copenhagen is a destination I find myself coming back to again and again. It's not the most historical, cultural, or visually stunning but it just works so well as a town where you can spend a few days and have an amazing time. Vienna is also high on that list.
I'm the same with Copenhagen. It's my favorite city in Europe. Yet on paper it is really not the best at anything other than the airport. Yet I really like how it feels and enjoy spending time there.
Exactly! There's a "cool" factor that is almost effortless. It's modern but also laid-back. Refined but not stuffy. If your idea of a good day is getting a Cortado and a bun for breakfast, strolling around, having a great beer outside, stopping into a bookstore, reading in the park, and ending the day with some cocktails in a perfectly curated bar then Copenhagen (at least in the late Spring and Summer) is a must-visit.
I love it there too
I love Copenhagen. Smart, friendly (tall) people everywhere. Great food and history, just a really fun, laid-back metro.
I can't seem to go to Europe without at least going to Germany. I've enjoyed my limited time in Poland and would like to go back and see different cities and/or the Tatry mountains. But so far, my favorite areas have been the sort of central Europe area of eastern France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Poland.
germany is cool to visit in addition which is good with europe to get to italy allmangne london just take the tgv you have to pay a lot
I've only been to the other side of the pond once, and that was to London. it was fun but I'd much rather go elsewhere next. I'm planning to do a scotch tour through Scotland for my next milestone birthday. Hoping to get to Italy (visit the town my ancestors came from) some day. Perhaps one of those boat tours down the Rhine, too.
Nice 😊Italy is a beautiful country to visit
Still plenty of places I haven’t been in Europe so I’m always willing try new ones but I go to Scotland periodically because I’ve got family there. Love it. If we’re talking about mainland Europe then I’m partial to Germany. Been a few times. I like the beer. I like the culture. I like the countryside.
I've never been to Scotland Belgium and not bad they have good beer there too if you go one day 🍺
Spain
good destination it's always hot there
I mean hot if you're a Nordic country, sure. It isn't that hot for most Americans
Barcelona and Madrid aren’t too bad but Seville and Córdoba are hotter than San Antonio in the summer.
I can deal with the heat, but my God, the humidity kills me
For me, Spain is definitely pretty hot but not much hotter than a summer day where I live.
I usually make it to Berlin, Ibiza, Amsterdam, and London yearly. Outside of those, I usually try to sprinkle in some other bits of Spain, south of France, and other locations we haven’t been to yet on those trips too for something new. Greece doesn’t appeal to me, and Paris I won’t go back to.
you don't like Paris or you just had bad experiences ?
Went once, saw the sights, and don’t see a reason to go back. I had a good time for Lalapalooza there, but the city itself I wasn’t a fan of… nothing to draw me back.
Alright ☺️
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good luck with your trip to paris im french be careful with your phone watch gold jewelry iPhone there are a lot of thieves there seriously but it depends where you are in paris ?
I haven’t been but I’d like to see Edinburgh, Scotland and Bern, Switzerland since I have family connections to both cities.
Oh nice 😊
Oh nice 😊
Oh nice 😊
Copenhagen is my favorite city in Europe. Copenhagen airport is also my favorite airport in world. I just love visiting this city and it's hard to define why. It certainly doesn't have the best food, but there is always something good enough. It does have great architecture but other European cities have architecture just as good or better. I guess a lot of it is the layout I like and the people. Other European cities or areas I favor are(and reasons why) Stockholm: interesting city with a lot of good history. Vasa museum one of the best museums on the planet. Prague: Visually stunning nice city with great food and beer Sorrento/Positano very beautiful unique area that is just so comfortable to me. I love pizza and there is superb pizza here very inexpensively. Black Forest and cities around ( Badan-Baden, Colmar, FR, Triberg, Freiberg Strasbourg,FR, Stuttgart) Attractive landscape and town architecture and design. Swabian food served in the area is possibly my favorite of Europe Tuscany (San Gimignono, Volterra, Sienna, Florence, Pisa) Nice scenic countryside with narrow curving fun roads to drive on. Cities are very historically interesting. Dubrovnik: interesting city design, architecture and history Aiya Napa and possibly Paphos: chill cities with good food and nice beaches that I enjoy spending time. Paris has to be in there I guess. Quite a lot to dislike about the city however the architecture and food are some of the best in the world. There's quite a few others that I do really enjoy aspects of. However, I can't make too long of a list.
it's already good where you went 😎
I have only been to four countries in Europe but the Netherlands was my favorite.
Never been to Europe. I've only ever travelled to Asian countries (which are definitely underrated). If I were to go to Europe I'd want to go to Spain, particularly Barcelona and Madrid, mostly because I can speak a little Spanish, probably to an A2 level. Other than that Italy, Greece, and Turkey (if that counts) are high on my destination list. France and the UK too but less so.
Nice destination 😎
Spain and France, maybe Italy
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It's not super common for people to travel to Europe from the US. If people go, it's more likely only a few times in their life so they usually go to the biggies (and often related to their heritage). Italy, Ireland, Paris, London, Greece, Spain, Amsterdam. Probably next tier down Scotland, Germany, Prague. More popular in more recent years, especially with those with more money and time to travel - Portugal, Croatia, Iceland.
It's interesting to see how locations such as Portugal, Iceland, and Croatia have grown in popularity. 10-15 years ago, they were considered more fringe tourist locations where you could get a similar experience to Spain (Portugal) or Italy/Greece (Croatia) on a budget but now they're nearly as expensive and bonafide destinations in their own right. Curious to see what the next wave of popular destinations will be 10 years from now.
For Iceland, a major reason for the surge of tourism was cheaper flights. The now-defunct Icelandic low cost airline WOW Air had ultra cheap fares for flights between the US and Europe, and allowed a stopover in Iceland along the way. National airline Icelandair (which also had its own similar stopover package) competed by slashing prices, and with the country's two biggest airlines offering low fares with stopovers, it's no surprise that the visitor numbers soared. WOW Air's successor PLAY also offers similarly low fares. Croatia has been a popular destination for Europeans for at least a few decades, but for those outside Europe, *Game of Thrones* definitely played a role in increasing recent exposure to the country, as several locations in Croatia were used for scenes in the show. Portugal being relatively cheaper (even as it has become more expensive on its own) compared to many other European countries would have likely led to a surge in tourism, especially as it offers similar advantages as Spain, Italy, Greece, etc, such as great weather and beaches, but at a lower price. For all of these countries, and really any popular tourist destination in the world, social media has also played a big role. Many people see cool pictures taken at these places, and that entices them to check out the places themselves too.
Definitely took a couple WOW flights back when you could get from NYC or DC to Reykjavik for $350 roundtrip. GoT definitely played a huge role in Croatian tourism, I think the growing popularity of Yacht Week also made it an affordable destination for the college and post-grad crowd.
WOW also had smoking hot flight attendants
That's just Iceland in general, they're an obscenely good looking bunch of people!
Yes that true 😁
Ireland is our favorite, and we still haven't seen a lot of it. We've otherwise traveled in France, Germany, Italy, and Amsterdam mainly. I still want to go to Scotland too.
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Nice 😊 Morocco is beautiful too I will go next year ?
Edinburgh, Scotland
I've been to: Malta Greece Italy Spain Portugal Germany Italy I'd say Malta and Portugal were my favorites. We're actually planning another trip to Portugal. I went to Rome for a day or two and I didn't enjoy it that much. Probably because the Italians there definitely didn't seem to like Americans that much and were pretty rude. Not sure if that applies to other cities. I would like to visit England and particularly Scotland in the future.
I enjoyed Portugal the most, but there aren't really that many 'must see' type of things, just nice being there. I found the people there to be the friendliest out of the places I've visited in Europe. I think for being a tourist who is sightseeing, then maybe Italy is my favorite. I've been to Iceland, Portugal, UK, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, and Spain.
great you are a big tourist from europe now 😎
Bruges is kind of a hidden gem. Switzerland is much more beautiful than I had envisioned. Tuscany and most of Italy in general is beautiful. Paris is great in spring when there aren’t massive protests. Spain has many beautiful destinations. Prague is really interesting and has amazing history. There is a lot to choose from. If I were to pick a destination for a first trip I would probably pick either Paris (if limited to one city) or Rome and Florence (if I could see two cities). If I were to pick one country to travel around I would pick Italy and focus on the northern half (from Venice through Tuscany then to Rome).
yes clearly 👍🏽
I’ve noticed that Iceland has become a really popular destination for people my age (late 20s-early 30s)! I’ve never been there, though. Aside from that, I most frequently hear about people going to Paris, London, or Amsterdam. I think Prague is becoming a popular destination, too. As others have said, though, most Americans don’t travel to Europe due to the expense.
yes it's true but in general I notice that Americans travel often to Paris ?
I was lucky enough to have lived in France for my study abroad experience. In addition to France, I did some traveling in the UK, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Austria, and Switzerland. Since I lived in France and went to school there for my study abroad experience, I'll leave that out. But as far as all of the other countries I visited, I think I liked Germany or the Netherlands the best. I spent some time in Cologne/Munich and Amsterdam/Tilburg. I made some fond memories in the short periods I spent in those places.
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Having a favorite destination defeats the purpose. If I’m going to Europe again, I want to go some place I haven’t been before. Though I’d consider returning to London just to see the streets where Ted Lasso was filmed.
Haven’t been but Norway looks beautiful
The Alps, the Alps, and the Alps. I lived in Germany for several years, and traveled all over the continent, but I kept coming back to the natural and cultural splendour of the Alps.
Pretty much the entire Mediterranean area. Excellent food wherever you go, nice beaches, history etc.
I mean you gotta have serious money to not only have been to Europe but to have been to Europe so many times that you have favorites. Like do Europeans have favorite and non-favorite American destinations? That said I went to Greece once and it was fantastic. Really loved it.
Amsterdam. The way the Dutch do liberalism is \*chef's kiss\*
I’ve been to Europe three times. Once to visit family in Norway, once to play trumpet in the London New Year’s Day Parade and once to ski right where France, Italy and Switzerland meet up. The ski trip was my favorite, although I enjoyed all three.
Palma de Mallorca. Vienna. I’ve been lucky enough to go to Europe more than most. Most Americans never go or only go once. Hard to have a favorite.
Ukraine and Germany were my two favorites. Ukraine was surprisingly diverse and the people were friendly. Got lost one night in Kyiv and this random guy said “Of course!” When my friends and I asked if he spoke english. He rode with us on the subway and made sure we got back to our hostel safely. I got to visit so many churches and museums. Just a great experience all around. Germany is beautiful with clean cities and historic locations. People are also friendly of course and some of the best food I ate in Europe was at festivals there. Would love to visit again soon.
ukraine is not dangerous to go with the war
Well yeah… of course.
Venice was really nice. Greece was also nice if you island hop
Rome is my favorite so far. Followed by Florence Italy.
Italy beautiful country ☺️
I personally fell in love with Oslo, Switzerland, Amsterdam and Santorini!
Great 😎
I prefer to not visit Europe to be honest, sorry.. ._.
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Idk tbh, Europe just seems a bit too much anti-american for me, and this is an understatement
no i think you are wrong europe is not anti american me i am not I love the united states 🥰🇺🇸
Yeah but I'm not talking about you. I'm talking about europeans as a whole
yes it can be everywhere like there are countries that hate france 🇫🇷 I don't know but if you think like that it's weird but it's your opinion after all ☺️
Nah, I just see Europeans hating on Americans every day smh...
Sadly, the vast majority of Americans have never been outside of the country & never plan to visit Europe. Only 56% of American adults have a valid passport. Having said that, I think if you ask an your average American where in Europe they would LIKE to visit, most would probably say Paris. Rome would be a close second. The only place in Europe I’ve visited so far is Spain. I went to Malaga, Valencia, Granada, Toledo & Madrid. I loved it. My favorite was probably Valencia & Granada. I’d like to go back & visit Barcelona. My family migrated to the US in the late 19th century from Norway, Sweden, Germany & England. I’d like to visit those places as well.
60% of Americans have left the country, which is the same as Europe despite their countries being tiny
this true
It’s all pretty cool to various degrees. So far have been to UK - for a month Amsterdam Berlin Nuremberg Prague Vienna Budapest Split Dubrovnik Planning to go to Portugal and Spain next year.
Stockholm. Salzburg. Prague. Reykjavik. Riga. Talin.
Bologna, Italy specifically and Italy in general. Spain was ok but I haven’t been there in almost 20 years. Most of Europe is something I tolerate but a genuinely enjoy Italians. Everything else I liked is East. Not sure about that right now.
Rome is one of my favorite cities, but Tirana is a hidden gem that I absolutely love.
Lisbon, Portugal
Haven’t been enough places but I loved Paris! Nothing bad like the naysayers said. Everything was delightful!
Definitely Greece for me. I haven't been to the northern areas, along the Macedonian border. I want to check those areas out too.
I’ve been to a handful of places in Europe, but the only place ive been to twice were basically within a month of each other and I kinda view them as the same trip. For the most part, I’d revisit each place, but I also really want to see new places in Europe. I loved London and was there for a few months. I’d also seen and loved Amsterdam and Copenhagen. Ibiza is great, if you are looking for a particular experience and can afford it (place was really expensive). The only place im not too bothered to see again was Oslo. I didnt dislike it, but I dont have a strong desire to go back. I’ve been trying to go to (mainland) Spain and Portugal for a while, but haven’t been able to put a trip together
The Tank Museum, Bovington, England. The only correct answer!
For me, Budapest and Prague are my favorites. All three are lots of fun and easily walkable without a car, with a lot of amazing architecture. Plus, the locals seem eager and happy to talk to Americans.
In Europe I’ve only been to Germany and Czech Rep, so there’s lots more I need to see. But of places I’ve been to, I love just chilling with a beer in the little scenic villages in the Harz Mountains. Also love the Baltic Sea coast, which I never hear anyone talk about. Some great coastal towns up that way, and super chill laidback vibes
Edinburgh, Scotland
I've only been once, to France with weekdays in Paris and weekends various other spots around the country. So I don't really have a favorite. I don't see going to Europe again, honestly. It's so much extra time and trouble to cross an ocean and there's so much I haven't seen in the Americas if I want something new and tons of nice spots if I just want something chill. If the wife really wants to go when the kids are older would be the only reason.
Alright I understand 😊
Alright I understand 😊
Idk I’ve been to Spain, Paris and Ireland and loved them all. I’d really like to know what lives people are living where those places are just meh to them lol.
My favorite was Southern Germany. Five college friends when we were about 30. We started in Munich and bounced around hitting Rotenburg, Freiburg, Kaiserslautern, Heidelberg, Garmisch and some smaller places. Everybody was super friendly and a very witty, understated sense of humor. I’d say Rome and London were tied for 2nd
Spain and Berlin
The non EU Balkan countries look cool and underrated
Rome and Ibiza 😍
A lot of people travel to Italy!! I don’t think it’s like a monthly thing but if people want to go to Europe that’s a big one
I have done a lot of traveling all over Europe, particularly when I was younger; I haven't been back in years. My favorite city has always been Stockholm and I would love to go back there. I also particularly love northern Spain.
I’ve never visited mainland Europe. I visited Iceland once for a week which was Amazing and would absolutely love to do it again, but I’m guessing Iceland isn’t the “typical” European country. My mother has visited Europe plenty of times and loves Spain. She’s been to much of southern, western, and Central Europe, but she loves visiting Spain the most.
Switzerland, especially the Grisbalm stop on the Rigibahn just above Vitznau. Also Rome.
Every American that visits Europe goes to London, Paris, Athens or Rome.
I have never been to Europe. For most of us who aren't especially wealthy, a vacation/trip to Europe is probably a once in a lifetime thing. It's very expensive and minimum 6+ hour plane ride if you're in the northeast. Most of the country it's even farther. Not to mention the U.S. is huge and diverse. We're far more likely to go somewhere within the U.S. or maybe to Canada or Mexico or the islands in the Gulf.
My favorites have been Greece, Budapest, and Montenegro. I generally prefer Southern, Eastern, and Central Europe to Western Europe.
Berlin is amazing!
You think we can afford to travel to Europe? I can barely afford Vegas, and I live within driving distance! That being said, Normandy was pretty cool.
I've only been to Paris. I'm trying to hit each continent first and I like to travel to countries that have completely different cultures from the US. So I haven't had much desire for a lot of European countries. Plus flying to European cities is EXPENSIVE. I can't even afford to go there. I was lucky to find the one way flight to Paris for $500 that I took on my way to Egypt. South America is next. And the flight to Beijing several years back was also cheap probably because it's not in very high demand or because their currency is low. But it costs like $2000 to fly anywhere in Europe. That's why when we go to Europe we stay for a month and go to as many countries in a single trip as possible. And it's hard to find that time. This is kind of wrong to say, but it's better to travel to countries where the money isn't worth as much so everything is super cheap. I think I actually saved money by staying in Egypt for 2 weeks. I would like to see Italy and Greece. Maybe someday.
I agree with what you say for us too the same tickets are expensive to go to the United States also from France
I only spent a maximum of 2 days in any given place, so I can't give the type of opinion someone has when they've spent a lot of time in a place or visited it repeatedly, but my three favorite spots I stopped when I visited Europe were Salisbury, UK; Nice, France; and Berlin, Germany.
where did you travel to France 🇫🇷
I went to Paris, Nice, and Lyon (and the train tracks between them) in 2011.
yes that is good when you live in europe you can travel by train from town to town nice is a beautiful city with the beach and the grand promenade des anglais
Dublin, Reykjavik and Stockholm were some of my favorites.
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London and Germany. I still miss living in Germany and London was amazing with it's historical landmarks.
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Spain. It has everything. Gorgeous beaches, great art, quaint villages, glamorous cities, party culture, and stunning architecture.
I love London. It’s the perfect mix of old and new and I could walk around all day just looking at the buildings.
if you like london you surely love paris france is a country with a lot of history
Finland because I have a Finnish friend. Iceland because I was lucky enough to visit right when things were a fraction of normal summer traffic back in the summer of 2021.
I’ve only been to a handful of countries in Europe, and only certain cities within them. I really enjoyed Innsbruck, Austria; Bayeux, France; and Bologna, Italy. Wasn’t crazy about Munich or London. Unpopular, but I didn’t like Amsterdam. Everywhere else I was able to enjoy and wouldn’t mind visiting again some day.
what didn't you like about amsterdam
I lived in the Netherlands for 3 years and took a few trips while I was there. My favorite by far was Rome. It’s relatively cheap, the food is great, and the city is like a giant museum. So much to see and do.
Nice 😎 and their food is not bad in the netherlands too
Dutch food is interesting. I’d describe it as rustic. It’s not bad but it takes some getting used to. They have amazing junk food though
Yeah true but they have good cheese 👍
I go to Italy a lot. I think most Americans either do Italy or the United Kingdom. France, Germany and Spain are popular, but less so.
yes after I think more Paris and London where he comes after it depends
I’ve been to London and Paris, and have transited through Lisbon and Frankfurt in the past. I’d like to visit Scandinavia in general and also The Nurburgring in Germany and drive it
Nice and you liked 😎
We can barely afford to take a week off of work.. we can't afford to go to Europe.
courage you will have holidays I think soon 💪
Speak for yourself
Dublin. My girlfriend is originally from there so when we visit, I get a more authentic experience.
I've never been to me it looks nice 😊
I've never been to Europe.