Many international travelers claim that visiting the U.S. has become a more stressful experience in recent years due to increased political hostility, more rigorous protocols and higher travel expenses.
Public tension
Deep political divisions within the United States have led to an increase in large-scale protests from both sides of the political spectrum. These protests and last-minute counterprotests can often be found blocking off city streets and causing delays while flooding tourist cities with tense atmospheres.
Visitors from abroad may find themselves navigating through these protests while experiencing heavy delays and unwelcoming partisan environments.
Border screening
Entering the U.S. has slowed way down with stricter regulations being enforced at airport customs. International visitors often experience longer wait times, aggressive interrogation from border patrol agents, and invasive searches of their paperwork and electronic devices.
Unpredictable lag times can span hours, leaving many irate tourists missing their domestic connecting flights before their vacation has barely started.
Tech fees
Costs start sneaking up on you before you set foot on the plane. The price of obtaining electronic authorization to travel and receiving visas has slowly increased (up to $250 in some cases), so now you pay a nonrefundable administrative fee just to gain access to enter the U.S.
Visa instability
Sudden changes in regulations have created a nightmare logistical puzzle for international travelers visiting the U.S.
With entry and immigration rules subject to change with little notice, visitors now reasonably fear that their valid visa or travel authorization may be suddenly revoked or suspended during their flight.
Visitors must gamble on rushed approval or denial, unforeseen processing delays, additional scrutiny, or denied entry at the airport gate with non-refundable funds.
Tipping fatigue
Tipping in America has grown past restaurants to self-service kiosks, cafes and fast-casual counters.
Automated prompts have subjected international visitors to tell servers they should leave a 20% to 25% tip just for over-the-counter transactions.
This has made tipping an expensive and unnecessary guessing game that raises the base price of every meal.
Uncertain delays
With limited federal investment into public transit solutions and deteriorating infrastructure, travelers are often left with renting cars or navigating America’s notoriously unreliable air traffic system.
Flight delays, traffic jams, and unexpected cancellations are all parts of daily life that can quickly throw off a jam-packed trip filled with multiple destinations.
Exchange rates
The continued rise and strength of the U.S. dollar compared to most major world currencies, such as the Euro, British Pound, and Canadian Dollar, means that as soon as you land abroad, you lose buying power.
Coupled with inflation domestically on food and accommodation, basic restaurant meals and hotel rooms are pricier than comparable venues in Canada, Europe or Asia.
Costly safety nets
In contrast to countries that offer universal, government-funded healthcare networks, America’s privatized system is notoriously harsh.
Since any trivial ailment has the potential to leave you with thousands of dollars in medical expenses, visiting tourists are required to buy expensive, extremely comprehensive travel insurance plans.
Nighttime safety
Iconic U.S. downtown areas have become less safe to explore at night because of an increase in visible property crime and decreased pedestrian traffic.
Blocks that were once bustling with tourists have become dimly lit, less patrolled, and suffer from erratic public conduct.
Hostile rhetoric
Loud anti-immigrant rhetoric promoted in the media and political arena has contributed to the United States feeling like a much less welcoming place to foreign travelers.
Heightened animosity toward foreigners from leadership branches often filters down into retail shops, hotels, and airports. Countless visitors have reported receiving contemptuous stares or treatment for speaking their native language.
Gun violence
Gun violence in the United States is such regular news overseas that many tourists are hesitant to travel there. High-profile shootings at locations like malls, concerts, and airports suggest no place is safe.
Several governments even go as far as printing notices about guns on their travel advisory pages directly. That extra worry can cast a dark cloud over any family trip.
Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.