Travelling to USA

[24lemons]

We are due to fly to LAX on March 28th for 2 weeks where we will be visiting family in San Diego and doing the usual touristy stuff you’d expect with a 4 year old. (She starts school in September so we took the opportunity to travel outside school holidays while we could)

Given the current state of the US I can’t say I’m particularly enthusiastic about going but I think it’s too late to change without losing a lot of money.

Without entering into a political debate, what are your feelings about travel to the USA. Is there anything I should be aware of? I’m not going to be engaging in any political discussions with anyone out there

[RammyMP]

I’m in the same boat, going in July, I’m just planning on not getting into any conversations with the locals about politics!

If anything I think I’ll be spending less in the outlet villages!

[8.4L 154]

The problem with ill not engage in politics is that the Americans around you will anyway which may or may not drag you into it or leave you feeling unsafe.

As for touristy stuff, don't expect national parks, or NPS facilities to be operating normally or even open, many are struggling with job cuts and are operating on restricted hours or closing facilities.

Pray the FAA and ATC turned up for work and are not extremely distracted by their job being under threat the day you fly and that the TSA don't go on strike after being the latest trump target cuts.

[ThunderSpook]

We are also going in July, but it’s Florida so I figure that part of the country is already completely backwards and screwy in the head, it couldn’t get much worse. We’ll hopefully be fairly protected by the planet and the mouse anyway.

[Rollin]

I'm there in April. I go on a solo motorbike trip every year and talking with small town Americans is one of the highlights of the trips. Politics always comes up and why wouldn't you discuss it? They aren't going to shoot you.

[24lemons]

8.4L 154 said:

Pray the FAA and ATC turned up for work and are not extremely distracted by their job being under threat the day you fly and that the TSA don't go on strike after being the latest trump target cuts.

Yeah that had crossed my mind as well

[DeuceDeuce]

24lemons said:

We are due to fly to LAX on March 28th for 2 weeks where we will be visiting family in San Diego and doing the usual touristy stuff you’d expect with a 4 year old. (She starts school in September so we took the opportunity to travel outside school holidays while we could)

Given the current state of the US I can’t say I’m particularly enthusiastic about going but I think it’s too late to change without losing a lot of money.

Without entering into a political debate, what are your feelings about travel to the USA. Is there anything I should be aware of? I’m not going to be engaging in any political discussions with anyone out there

I was in LA & Santa Barbara a few weeks ago.

Other than how expensive it is, I think you’ll find there’s plenty to be enthusiastic about. I can’t believe the thought of cancelling has crossed your mind because (presumably) because of their current president?

Get over yourself and go and have a great trip. It’s much the same place as it was 12 months ago.

[AB]

Nothing has changed, you’ll notice no difference. No reason at all to be concerned.

[Guyr]

I highly doubt it'll be a problem.

We were there for three weeks in Oct/Nov including Election Day, travelling through Democrat and Republican states (Chicago to New Orleans) and politics barely got mentioned or even noticed by us. We were really surprised.

[bimsb6]

As you are going to california it will be expensive and you may see people spitting feathers ever time trump says something.

[Petrus1983]

AB said:

Nothing has changed, you’ll notice no difference. No reason at all to be concerned.

Couldn't agree more.

[TownIdiot]

Petrus1983 said:

AB said:

Nothing has changed, you’ll notice no difference. No reason at all to be concerned.

Couldn't agree more.

Not sure that's entirely correct.

There have been some changes to women's health care provision that would concern me if I was travelling with women who could be pregnant.

I'd do A LOT of research before travelling to a state impacted by this.

[Griffith4ever]

Petrus1983 said:

AB said:

Nothing has changed, you’ll notice no difference. No reason at all to be concerned.

Couldn't agree more.

I wonder if Americans debated coming here during the Brexit voting? :-) Or perhaps now under Labour?

Somehow I doubt it. Switch off your TV and carry on as nomal. People have not changed. Politics is always changing.

[Petrus1983]

TownIdiot said:

Not sure that's entirely correct.

There have been some changes to women's health care provision that would concern me if I was travelling with women who could be pregnant.

I'd do A LOT of research before travelling to a state impacted by this.

He's going for a 2 week vacation!!

[TownIdiot]

Petrus1983 said:

He's going for a 2 week vacation!!

It's a risk people should be aware of, so they can make their own judgement.
It's not just about having an abortion.

And st happens on holiday sometimes - which is why many people buy holiday insurance for short trips, especially to the USA.


Edited to add: the above is not something that would concern me in California, but it's something to consider in Florida

Edited by TownIdiot on Saturday 8th March 10:43

[DJC76]

Griffith4ever said:

Petrus1983 said:

AB said:

Nothing has changed, you’ll notice no difference. No reason at all to be concerned.

Couldn't agree more.

I wonder if Americans debated coming here during the Brexit voting? :-) Or perhaps now under Labour?

Somehow I doubt it. Switch off your TV and carry on as nomal. People have not changed. Politics is always changing.

People haven’t changed but one example given above is quite right. The NPS and Forestry services have been hit hard so if a visit to a NP is planned there is a chance it will be affected.

To the person above who mentioned ATC I wouldn’t worry about that, ATCO jobs are not under threat and they’ve been working flat out for decades so they’re well accustomed to it. They still turn up for work during government shutdowns when they’re not being paid so this latest round of political grandstanding won’t be anything new to them.

I’ve just returned from Canada where I met many Americans almost all of whom immediately engaged in political conversations largely out of embarrassment. They made the same points, we haven’t changed, we’re good people we’ve just managed to elect a circus act.

[Cotty]

I think I would take a not my monkeys not my circus approach.
Do your thing and avoid politics.

[bimsb6]

The owner of our local thai/ malaysian restaurant refused to go to the states when trump got elected in last time , i assumed they were muslim worried about being detained etc , but no just paranoid .

[Norgles]

I got back from 2 weeks in California yesterday.

Nothing has changed, if anything the trip actually restored some faith. Everyone I spoke with was apologetic about the situation and just as puzzled / concerned as we all are. I am sure residents in some other states may think different to the people I met in California. Saying that I met a couple from Texas and they were just the same as those from California.

[paddy1970]

If you see someone with a MAGA cap....run...they are likely to sense your Britishness...