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Americans Recommend Foreign Visitors Avoid These 45 Things When They’re Traveling The Country

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The United States is full of diverse cultures, histories, and landscapes, creating a rich and complex national tapestry that takes time to truly understand.

So when foreigners come to this unique place of the world, they want to take in as much as possible. However, in their quest for authentic experiences, travelers may end up in awkward and uncomfortable situations.

Interested in how they can protect themselves from this, Reddit user AlainasBoyfriend posted a question on the platform, asking the locals, "What should a foreigner avoid while visiting the United States?" Here are the most popular answers they have received.

This post may include affiliate links.

#1

Americans Recommend Foreign Visitors Avoid These 45 Things When They're Traveling The Country Leave all your stereotypes about America home, it's a hugely diverse country and your experience in one part of the US will be very different to your experience in another. Keep an open mind and have fun.

zerbey , Samson Katt Report

Final score:

342points

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#2

Americans Recommend Foreign Visitors Avoid These 45 Things When They're Traveling The Country Don’t be bullheaded when it comes to the weather. If the locals are worried, you should be worried.

TakeThisification , Nikolas Noonan Report

Final score:

339points

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#3

Americans Recommend Foreign Visitors Avoid These 45 Things When They're Traveling The Country You should avoid any sweeping generalizations about the USA. The US is effectively 50 separate countries. It’s an absolutely massive landmass with pretty much every type of terrain, climate and a huge variety of cultures. Anyone that tells you otherwise probably barely travels.

_lippykid , NASA Report

Final score:

319points

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#4

Americans Recommend Foreign Visitors Avoid These 45 Things When They're Traveling The Country If it says no trespassing don't trespass.

Dragonbourn00 , Adam Lowly Report

Final score:

287points

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#5

Americans Recommend Foreign Visitors Avoid These 45 Things When They're Traveling The Country If you are visiting a more rural area, like Montana where I live, don't underestimate the rural-ness. You might not be able to get a hotel in a small town and there are plenty ty of places where there aren't any hotels or accommodations. You can take highway and run out of gas because there aren't any gas stations for 70 miles. Also, if it is a dirt road, and there are a lot of them in the rural U.S., don't ever assume that you will have cell/GPS reception or that the dirt road goes anywhere besides 50 miles into the mountains where you can get stuck or break down. It's hard to conceptualize for people who live in more populated areas. Your best bet is to plan ahead and read reviews. It is absolutely worth it to visit areas where there is wilderness. That is why I live here. That being said, it's dangerous in a different way than visiting a city.

Violet624 , Matthew Lancaster Report

Final score:

276points

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#6

If you get pulled over DO NOT GET OUT OF THE CAR. Do not take your seatbelt off, keep your hands visible, move slowly, be polite. Especially if you're darker skinned in any way.

CreativeAd190 Report

Final score:

275points

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#7

Americans Recommend Foreign Visitors Avoid These 45 Things When They're Traveling The Country If you go to the national parks, don’t attempt to take selfies with the wildlife. A full grown bison will throw you through the air like a crumpled piece of paper.

abby-rose:

I want to really emphasize this. There are US Park Rangers who are full-time employees of the National Park Service. Their job is to protect the park, the wildlife, and visitors. Take the posted signs seriously and listen and do what rangers advise.

Yearly, a dozen or so people die in the Grand Canyon National Park, often tourists who go hiking without enough water or food and are not aware of how treacherous the terrain and weather can be. Same for Big Bend NP in Texas.

Juergen2993 , Lukas Kloeppel Report

Final score:

260points

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#8

Americans Recommend Foreign Visitors Avoid These 45 Things When They're Traveling The Country Don't go to the big chain type places. Go to the mom and pop little restaurants and coffee shops and specialty shops. You will usually find new cool things you enjoy.

OpeusPopeus:

To add to this: FOOD TRUCKS!!!

ElectionProper8172 , Joana Godinho Report

Final score:

246points

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#9

Americans Recommend Foreign Visitors Avoid These 45 Things When They're Traveling The Country Avoid a hospital visit. Whatever you think it costs, it’s more.

N0t_N1k3L:

Medical travel insurance that goes into the 7 digits. Someone from my country had the misfortune of having a stroke in the USA. 150k+ in expenses. When I went there it was my number 1 concern: getting insurance.

pug_fugly_moe , Thirdman Report

Final score:

229points

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#10

Anyone wearing a MAGA hat.

yourpaljax Report

Final score:

229points

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#11

dont go walking around late at night by yourself ESPECIALLY if youre a woman. I have friends from korea which is a country where its safe to go walk around at 1 am. When they visit here i always have to tell them that its not like that here and a big risk to be out alone especially in cities like LA.

SojinxGSD Report

Final score:

200points

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#12

Americans Recommend Foreign Visitors Avoid These 45 Things When They're Traveling The Country Always ask the locals where they like to eat. They know better than any travel blog.

mikemac412 , Alex Haney Report

Final score:

198points

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#13

I feel like this answer changes depending on where you are coming from. Certain parts of the country REALLY dislike certain nationalities. There's no way coming here as a german/swede or European is the same experience as middle eastern/African/Asian.

Hbimajorv Report

Final score:

193points

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#14

Americans Recommend Foreign Visitors Avoid These 45 Things When They're Traveling The Country When visiting the U.S., it's best to avoid discussing sensitive topics like politics and religion with strangers, even if they bring it up. Also, be mindful of local customs and etiquette, as they can vary widely. And of course, don't forget to tip in restaurants—it's a common practice here. Enjoy your time in the States!

Vexina1997 , Jessica Da Rosa Report

Final score:

183points

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#15

I was in a bar in Russia once and the bartender told me he wanted to visit the US and to go to Alabama because of the song sweet home Alabama.

Literally the only time anyone has said they want to go to Alabama to me, don't go to Alabama foreigner.

DaveinOakland Report

Final score:

175points

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#16

It’s not uncommon for perfect strangers to greet you, unlike most of the world where people tend to keep to themselves. If someone says “How are you doing?” it’s not really a question, just a greeting.

kindest_asshole Report

Final score:

174points

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#17

Taking weed across state lines. It’s not legal everywhere.

Gromit801 Report

Final score:

172points

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#18

Honestly, most of the bad areas will be intuitively bad to any human being with basic decency and common sense. That said, I would avoid Texas.

Yak-Fucker-5000 Report

Final score:

169points

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#19

Americans Recommend Foreign Visitors Avoid These 45 Things When They're Traveling The Country America is HUGE and things are a lot further apart than Europeans realize.

UnspecificGravity:

The flight from London to New York is only about an hour longer than the flight from New York to Seattle.

MrRGG , Mackenzie Cruz Report

Final score:

164points

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#20

Don't smoke in public buildings, this is illegal.

Don't smoke in someone's house, apartment, or condo without asking for permission. This isn't illegal, but it's still extremely rude.

Max10imus Report

Final score:

155points

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#21

Americans Recommend Foreign Visitors Avoid These 45 Things When They're Traveling The Country Ordering a large at a restaurant, or *especially* a movie theater. I don't care how hungry you think you are, you will not eat/drink it all in one sitting.

Amazing_Excuse_3860 , Geraud pfeiffer Report

Final score:

154points

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#22

Americans Recommend Foreign Visitors Avoid These 45 Things When They're Traveling The Country Heavily depends on where you are going....but don't assume the price you see is the price you pay. Sales tax isn't included on most price listings and Tip is expected for food service.

bluejams , Kenny Eliason Report

Final score:

153points

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#23

DO NOT TRY TO BRIBE COPS. As f****d up as American cops are bribery does not fly. Unless you're wealthy or powerful.

Final score:

153points

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#24

Americans Recommend Foreign Visitors Avoid These 45 Things When They're Traveling The Country I find a lot of foreigners have about 2 1/2 inches of a personal space bubble, while us Americans value our space. Keep at least a 2-3 feet distance when conversing with strangers. I've had an Italian guy come so close I thought he was going to kiss me. Very uncomfortable for someone who isn't used to a lack of personal space.

MasterPip , cottonbro studio Report

Final score:

149points

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#25

Americans Recommend Foreign Visitors Avoid These 45 Things When They're Traveling The Country Driving from New York to LA.

MedicinalTequila:

We had an exchange student from France staying with us (NY). one day, we saw her with a map of the US, said she was going to take a bus to California because she had heard so much about it on television.

We had to sit down and explain it was going to take a week, each way.

MarbleousMel:

"Lol I have some German friends who flew into Texas and wanted to make a day trip to Los Angeles during the week they were in the US. After that first trip, they planned much better and now visit the country by regions and give themselves more time."

No_Finish_2144 , Ekaterina Belinskaya Report

Final score:

143points

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#26

Americans Recommend Foreign Visitors Avoid These 45 Things When They're Traveling The Country Don't interact with police unless you absolutely need to.

Snackdoc189 , Jacky Lam Report

Final score:

141points

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#27

If there is garbage on the street or on the floor of the establishment, there are other regulations being ignored. If the floor isn’t clean, the rest of the place isn’t clean either. I know that sounds very snobbish and privileged, but coming from absolute poverty and climbing my way out, it’s absolutely correct.

PilkShots Report

Final score:

139points

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#28

If you're visiting a well-known and large city (New York, Boston, Seattle, Las Vegas, Houston, etc.) Avoid contact with people passing out CDs or offering to give you free things because they will try to charge you for it once they reel you in.

noellemackenna Report

Final score:

134points

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#29

If you’re visiting Alaska, DO NOT visit rural or remote areas alone, especially if you’re inexperienced.

Alaska has the highest missing persons rate (about 168 missing people per 100k of the population, and we have 730,916 residents as of 2023), and the VAST majority of the state is unpopulated, unexplored and untamed wilderness. There’s even the Alaskan Triangle, a huge expanse of land between Anchorage, Juneau, and Utqiagvik (formerly known as Barrow) where more people go missing, along with disappearing aircraft, alleged paranormal and extraterrestrial sightings, and much more.

My advice, if you’re a first-timer to Alaska, is to stick to Southcentral Alaska. You’ve got Anchorage and the Mat-Su Valley, where there’s plenty of tourist attractions. If you’re feeling more adventurous, there’s whale-watching and glacier tours in places like Seward and Homer. If you want somewhere further in the interior, there’s a two-hour drive to Talkeetna, or a another 6 hours to Fairbanks!

totallynotalaskan Report

Final score:

131points

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#30

Americans Recommend Foreign Visitors Avoid These 45 Things When They're Traveling The Country Avoid looking lost and unorganized in areas of big cities with high crime rates. Dress functionally, always keep the illusion of knowing where you are and where you're going, pay attention to your surroundings. Bad people will target folks who look lost and unorganized more often than people who appear oriented.

xtrasmolpp , Szymon Shields Report

Final score:

124points

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#31

Americans Recommend Foreign Visitors Avoid These 45 Things When They're Traveling The Country Don't expect the US to be pedestrian-friendly. Some of our larger cities are, but even they pale in comparison to EU cities. You need to drive here. NYC is basically our only major city that's not true of, but even there, public transport is not as good as that found in a lot of European and east Asian nations. You should expect to have to rent a car as part of your vacation expenditure if you don't have other accommodations.

MothraWillSaveUs , Refine 網頁設計 Report

Final score:

121points

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#32

Gary Indiana!! Do not, under any circumstances, go to Gary, Indiana. Ever

stublycurious Report

Final score:

116points

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#33

The heat. If you're going to hike in the desert, bring plenty of water.

tacobelmont Report

Final score:

113points

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#34

Americans Recommend Foreign Visitors Avoid These 45 Things When They're Traveling The Country Generally, you should tip at sit-down restaurants with full service (ie waiter comes and takes your order, brings food, refills drinks and clears your dishes). At these places, traditionally the minimum is 15%, but most people I know tip closer to 20% standard.

Heliawe , Gül Işık Report

Final score:

98points

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#35

Americans Recommend Foreign Visitors Avoid These 45 Things When They're Traveling The Country Hollywood Boulevard.

Ok_Response_3484:

My cousins came from Oklahoma with preteens/teens and I tried to warn them that it wasn't really a good place and especially not for kids. They didn't listen. When I saw them that night, their mom said "I should have listened to you. It was horrible"

Wishing4Signal , Aman Report

Final score:

97points

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#36

Don’t do the kiss on the cheek greeting. Well, as someone already mentioned, the US is 50 separate places with different customs, but the peck on the cheek, if that’s common where you’re visiting from, isn’t so popular here. It was something I had a hard time getting used to when visiting friends in Colombia.

5hrs4hrs3hrs2hrs1mor Report

Final score:

88points

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#37

Don't lock anything valuable in your car. This includes the trunk.

Affectionate_Ask_769 Report

Final score:

81points

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#38

Look up the crime rates of any city before you go there so you know which areas to avoid.

Final score:

78points

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#39

The typical touristy places. This is a massive country with so much more to offer than Disney, Las Vegas, Hollywood, etc.

9_of_Swords Report

Final score:

77points

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#40

For the most part, the US is reasonably safe as long as you're not looking for the dangerous parts. For example, don't visit the ghetto – the worst parts of the US are arguably more dangerous than the poorer parts of some other developed countries.

Hollywood is a tourist trap. Honestly, the entirety of LA is just a difficult place to visit and it's not set up well for tourism.

New York can be a bit dirty as a city, mostly due to high density. It's a great city to visit with a lot to do, but it can be overwhelming if you're alone since it's so big.

Chicago is actually a pretty nice city to visit, the reputation is mostly due to the bad areas, but if you're visiting, you're probably going to be in the city where it's reasonably safe.

Moaning-Squirtle Report

Final score:

71points

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#41

In Washington DC, avoid taking pictures in front of DC District court thinking it is the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court is 6 blocks away Also, the White House is MUCH smaller than you think it is.

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Final score:

70points

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#42

I say this as a Mississippian, Jackson, Mississippi.

Fragraham Report

Final score:

66points

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#43

The one thing you should probably avoid above all else is being a bad guest. If you have someone buy you a treat, eat it and thank them for it. If they suggest X attraction, at least consider it. A lot of them will love being hosts or at least guides and if you spurn that they'll be hurt.

Final score:

65points

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#44

Be careful where you stay in bigger cities. I've seen people Airbnb places in bad neighborhoods in NYC and suffer for it.

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Final score:

52points

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#45

North Philly. Maybe just avoid Philly all together.

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Final score:

50points

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Rokas Laurinavičius

Rokas is a writer at Bored Panda with a BA in Communication. After working for a sculptor, he fell in love with visual storytelling and enjoys covering everything from TV shows (any Sopranos fans out there?) to photography. Throughout his years in Bored Panda, over 300 million people have read the posts he's written, which is probably more than he could count to.

Rokas is a writer at Bored Panda with a BA in Communication. After working for a sculptor, he fell in love with visual storytelling and enjoys covering everything from TV shows (any Sopranos fans out there?) to photography. Throughout his years in Bored Panda, over 300 million people have read the posts he's written, which is probably more than he could count to.

Kotryna Br

Kotryna is a Photo Editor at Bored Panda with a BA in Graphic Design. Before Bored Panda, she worked as a freelance graphic designer and illiustrator. When not editing, she enjoys working with clay, drawing, playing board games and drinking good tea.

Kotryna is a Photo Editor at Bored Panda with a BA in Graphic Design. Before Bored Panda, she worked as a freelance graphic designer and illiustrator. When not editing, she enjoys working with clay, drawing, playing board games and drinking good tea.

What do you think ?

David A Paterson 1 year ago

Thanks everyone. More than half of these are the exact opposite of advice for Australia. Which makes the advice even more valuable. Advice for Australia: do trust the police, they are there to help you, do take selfies with wildlife, if stopped get out of the car unless on a tollway, there are no bad neighbourhoods in Australia (mostly), there's very little variety from place to place, don't worry about skin colour, no specific people to avoid, unlikely to run out of gas because the cars aren't gas guzzlers, food from chain restaurants is edible, if you get sick or have an accident then go to hospital emergency immediately, sit in the front seat in taxis and Ubers. Airbnb isn't bad. Don't tip. Exact opposite of much of the good advice here for America.

33points

Norm Gilmore 1 year ago

I think there's a Troll active. Damn near every comment, regardless how innocuous is getting downvoted...

17points

sofacushionfort 1 year ago

Avoid the big-name American lagers, and try the local microbrewery instead.

17points

Toujin C'Thlu 1 year ago

Who keeps downvoting everything?

11points

michael Chock 1 year ago (edited)

Remember 99% of America is owned by corporations. 2 or 3 groups own Vegas. 3 or 4 groups own everything in the grocery store. 2 or 3 groups own all the amusement parks. If you want something unique or good be prepared to go out of your way. (Farmers markets, roadside stands, food trucks, swap meets, little towns no one has heard of...). Also, if something good and unique becomes popular, it will be owned by a corporation in a year, so don't get attached to anything.

8points

PaleInspection9242 1 year ago

Avoid BP articles on visiting the US. Come visit the US with an open mind, healthy curiosity, common sense, and a yen for something new and you will find an incredibly diverse country full of wonderful people, stunning national parks and natural sites, and amazing cuisine.

7points

Kiwi Panda 1 year ago

I was going to say-the downvote gnome is visiting

6points

Limey 1 year ago

Avoid measuring anything unless you have some bananas with you.

5points

Della 1 year ago

Wow this was an eye opener...I'm an American, and tend to think it's a great and beautiful country, with helpful and honest people. And I've traveled around the US as well as other countries....I think we do just fine. Bottom line is, don't be stupid no matter where you go!!

4points

Gina Babe 1 year ago

As an American, this was a fun read. America seems really hard to travel to.

4points

Bored Retsuko 1 year ago

I feel terrible for saying this, but as a European, my takeaway is all the cliché advice one hears about travelling to Middle Eastern countries seems to apply 100% to the US. :-/ Like, not safe for homosexuals, not safe for a woman travelling alone, lots of scams and bribing, don't trust the police....

2points

Gypsy Mata 1 year ago

Avoid San Francisco.

2points

WonderWoman 1 year ago

Unless you are white, stay away from our southern states, while racism is everywhere, the southern states make it a way of life.

2points

Jellyfish 1 year ago

Being asked to be a good guest by an AMERICAN must be a joke. No people are more like 'I've seen better' than americans who just walk around trying to get everything with money and being offensive towards any country's history.

1point

El Dee 1 year ago

Sounds dystopian or, at least, like an underdeveloped country..

1point

Richard Henderson 1 year ago

Ok, you’ve convinced me. I won’t visit the USA.

1point

Greenmantle 1 year ago

I would love to explore the national parks and natural attractions... but avoid all the gun toting, political BS as much as possible.

1point

The mad duck 1 year ago

The comment section is a warzone 💀

1point

Craig Reynolds 1 year ago

The price you see is NOT the price you pay! Sales tax and possibly tourist taxes are added depending on where you stay. We hate it. I would love a "what you see, is what you pay" economy.

1point

pebs 1 year ago

The world is full of wonderful and interesting countries, I don't see why you would necessarily go to the USA.

1point

LokisLilButterknife 1 year ago

You do know that the US has some amazing national parks and varied landscape that I just can’t see in the UK? I cried the first time I visited Alaska and saw awe inspiring landscapes I just wouldn’t see in Scotland. I also got to marvel at the beauty of the Grand Canyon.

5points

pebs 1 year ago (edited)

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Ida Schmidt 1 year ago

This comment has been deleted.

0points

John Smith (he/him/xy/️) 1 year ago

Just avoid the US altogether. It is the only country where 6yo know what an active shooter is...

0points

Jonathan MacFarlane 1 year ago

It's nice to see BP offer genuine advice.

0points

Tjoori Vids 1 year ago

Well, I still have a few states / places on my bucket list. Montana/Wyoming to see the Prairie and the Rockies. Yellowstone. Washington DC. Smithsonian. South/North Dakota. Alaska. Death Valley. NOT on my bucket list: Disney. LA. Las Vegas. Never will be on my list of places to visit. (I'd happily go to Red Rock Canyon NP / Sequoia NF tho.)

0points

WalterWhiteSavannah 1 year ago

I remember going to a concert in Seattle with me then girlfriend and her little sister when I was 19. My gf handled the hotel and it was this ridiculously sketchy place that was probly beautiful 60 years earlier but was in the Seattle equivalent of Vancouver down town Eastside when we were there. Two giant dudes were openly selling crack right outside the hotel doors (pretty sure it had rooms available by the hour) and the crack dealers were eyeing my gf and her sister hard. My gf got mad cause I didn't say anything to them... like really? Sure if some scrawny creep is staring at you back home at the bar ill speak up... in some crack ravaged part of Seattle sorry but my 160lb a*s isn't saying a word to a couple 320lb crack dealers. Desl with the stares.

0points

Carlos Moreno 1 year ago

As a Floridian, there is way more things to do than Disney and Miami Beach. In fact, most floridians do not even go there. My top attractions in Florida are the following: 1) Bok Tower Garden (specially in winter) trust me, this place is Skyrim epic. 2) NASA/cape cannaveral, look up the rocket launch schedule and plan a visit, truly unique. 3) saint augustine, visit the castle on Sundays and they do reannactmen of colonial times and they fire the castle cannons, plus USAs oldest town. 4) clearwater beach/siesta key for the beach lovers. 5) miami underground food scene - go to restaurants like ghee and order the sample menu, go to any cuban bakery and order croqueta preparada instead of the cuban sandwich, and for late night snacks go to any venezuelan or colombian burger joint. ENJOY!

0points

The Original Bruno 1 year ago (edited)

Eastern Humidity. Think shorts, water and sunscreen are going to make even cities like New York or Boston comfortable during the summer? Think again. We don't get the killer heat waves Europe gets: 38 degrees C is absolute max from Boston to Miami in the summer on the East Coast, but it reaches *almost* 38 degrees A LOT. And the humidity! When Americans say, "it ain't the heat; it's the humidity" believe them! At 70 percent humidity, 99 F (38 degrees C) feels like 138 F(63 degrees C)!

0points

Ace 1 year ago

Shame so many of these are about behaviour, danger, etc. Was hoping to get much more of actual things/places/destinations to be avoided.

0points

Two_rolling_black_eyes 1 year ago (edited)

Even people who live here forget what our nation's name (United States of America) means. We are a union of self governing states and each one makes up their own rules and has their own culture. If you check out the borders between states, it becomes glaringly obvious. I live in Colorado. The first highway exit from Wyoming has a marijuana dispensary because its legal in Colorado but not in Wyoming. The commerce clause of our constitution means Wyoming can make it illegal to own it inside of their state but they can't tell Colorado they can't sell it to Wyoming residents. Wyoming has an exit immediately across the border from Colorado that its only buildings are businesses selling explosives and offroad vehicles. There is one interstate between Oklahoma and Texas that has an exit on the actual border. On one side of the road is casinos and porn shops. On the other side of the same road is liquor stores and gun shops. Different states, different rules. Different ideas of what is normal and what is abhorrent. Abortion is becoming illegal again because we've decided its up to each state to decide what the rules are and whether its even a healthcare issue.

0points

Shane Hussel 1 year ago

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0points

Craig Reynolds 1 year ago

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Judy Steelman 1 year ago

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The Original Bruno 1 year ago (edited)

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David A Paterson 1 year ago

Thanks everyone. More than half of these are the exact opposite of advice for Australia. Which makes the advice even more valuable. Advice for Australia: do trust the police, they are there to help you, do take selfies with wildlife, if stopped get out of the car unless on a tollway, there are no bad neighbourhoods in Australia (mostly), there's very little variety from place to place, don't worry about skin colour, no specific people to avoid, unlikely to run out of gas because the cars aren't gas guzzlers, food from chain restaurants is edible, if you get sick or have an accident then go to hospital emergency immediately, sit in the front seat in taxis and Ubers. Airbnb isn't bad. Don't tip. Exact opposite of much of the good advice here for America.

33points

Norm Gilmore 1 year ago

I think there's a Troll active. Damn near every comment, regardless how innocuous is getting downvoted...

17points

sofacushionfort 1 year ago

Avoid the big-name American lagers, and try the local microbrewery instead.

17points

Toujin C'Thlu 1 year ago

Who keeps downvoting everything?

11points

michael Chock 1 year ago (edited)

Remember 99% of America is owned by corporations. 2 or 3 groups own Vegas. 3 or 4 groups own everything in the grocery store. 2 or 3 groups own all the amusement parks. If you want something unique or good be prepared to go out of your way. (Farmers markets, roadside stands, food trucks, swap meets, little towns no one has heard of...). Also, if something good and unique becomes popular, it will be owned by a corporation in a year, so don't get attached to anything.

8points

PaleInspection9242 1 year ago

Avoid BP articles on visiting the US. Come visit the US with an open mind, healthy curiosity, common sense, and a yen for something new and you will find an incredibly diverse country full of wonderful people, stunning national parks and natural sites, and amazing cuisine.

7points

Kiwi Panda 1 year ago

I was going to say-the downvote gnome is visiting

6points

Limey 1 year ago

Avoid measuring anything unless you have some bananas with you.

5points

Della 1 year ago

Wow this was an eye opener...I'm an American, and tend to think it's a great and beautiful country, with helpful and honest people. And I've traveled around the US as well as other countries....I think we do just fine. Bottom line is, don't be stupid no matter where you go!!

4points

Gina Babe 1 year ago

As an American, this was a fun read. America seems really hard to travel to.

4points

Bored Retsuko 1 year ago

I feel terrible for saying this, but as a European, my takeaway is all the cliché advice one hears about travelling to Middle Eastern countries seems to apply 100% to the US. :-/ Like, not safe for homosexuals, not safe for a woman travelling alone, lots of scams and bribing, don't trust the police....

2points

Gypsy Mata 1 year ago

Avoid San Francisco.

2points

WonderWoman 1 year ago

Unless you are white, stay away from our southern states, while racism is everywhere, the southern states make it a way of life.

2points

Jellyfish 1 year ago

Being asked to be a good guest by an AMERICAN must be a joke. No people are more like 'I've seen better' than americans who just walk around trying to get everything with money and being offensive towards any country's history.

1point

El Dee 1 year ago

Sounds dystopian or, at least, like an underdeveloped country..

1point

Richard Henderson 1 year ago

Ok, you’ve convinced me. I won’t visit the USA.

1point

Greenmantle 1 year ago

I would love to explore the national parks and natural attractions... but avoid all the gun toting, political BS as much as possible.

1point

The mad duck 1 year ago

The comment section is a warzone 💀

1point

Craig Reynolds 1 year ago

The price you see is NOT the price you pay! Sales tax and possibly tourist taxes are added depending on where you stay. We hate it. I would love a "what you see, is what you pay" economy.

1point

pebs 1 year ago

The world is full of wonderful and interesting countries, I don't see why you would necessarily go to the USA.

1point

LokisLilButterknife 1 year ago

You do know that the US has some amazing national parks and varied landscape that I just can’t see in the UK? I cried the first time I visited Alaska and saw awe inspiring landscapes I just wouldn’t see in Scotland. I also got to marvel at the beauty of the Grand Canyon.

5points

pebs 1 year ago (edited)

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Ida Schmidt 1 year ago

This comment has been deleted.

0points

John Smith (he/him/xy/️) 1 year ago

Just avoid the US altogether. It is the only country where 6yo know what an active shooter is...

0points

Jonathan MacFarlane 1 year ago

It's nice to see BP offer genuine advice.

0points

Tjoori Vids 1 year ago

Well, I still have a few states / places on my bucket list. Montana/Wyoming to see the Prairie and the Rockies. Yellowstone. Washington DC. Smithsonian. South/North Dakota. Alaska. Death Valley. NOT on my bucket list: Disney. LA. Las Vegas. Never will be on my list of places to visit. (I'd happily go to Red Rock Canyon NP / Sequoia NF tho.)

0points

WalterWhiteSavannah 1 year ago

I remember going to a concert in Seattle with me then girlfriend and her little sister when I was 19. My gf handled the hotel and it was this ridiculously sketchy place that was probly beautiful 60 years earlier but was in the Seattle equivalent of Vancouver down town Eastside when we were there. Two giant dudes were openly selling crack right outside the hotel doors (pretty sure it had rooms available by the hour) and the crack dealers were eyeing my gf and her sister hard. My gf got mad cause I didn't say anything to them... like really? Sure if some scrawny creep is staring at you back home at the bar ill speak up... in some crack ravaged part of Seattle sorry but my 160lb a*s isn't saying a word to a couple 320lb crack dealers. Desl with the stares.

0points

Carlos Moreno 1 year ago

As a Floridian, there is way more things to do than Disney and Miami Beach. In fact, most floridians do not even go there. My top attractions in Florida are the following: 1) Bok Tower Garden (specially in winter) trust me, this place is Skyrim epic. 2) NASA/cape cannaveral, look up the rocket launch schedule and plan a visit, truly unique. 3) saint augustine, visit the castle on Sundays and they do reannactmen of colonial times and they fire the castle cannons, plus USAs oldest town. 4) clearwater beach/siesta key for the beach lovers. 5) miami underground food scene - go to restaurants like ghee and order the sample menu, go to any cuban bakery and order croqueta preparada instead of the cuban sandwich, and for late night snacks go to any venezuelan or colombian burger joint. ENJOY!

0points

The Original Bruno 1 year ago (edited)

Eastern Humidity. Think shorts, water and sunscreen are going to make even cities like New York or Boston comfortable during the summer? Think again. We don't get the killer heat waves Europe gets: 38 degrees C is absolute max from Boston to Miami in the summer on the East Coast, but it reaches *almost* 38 degrees A LOT. And the humidity! When Americans say, "it ain't the heat; it's the humidity" believe them! At 70 percent humidity, 99 F (38 degrees C) feels like 138 F(63 degrees C)!

0points

Ace 1 year ago

Shame so many of these are about behaviour, danger, etc. Was hoping to get much more of actual things/places/destinations to be avoided.

0points

Two_rolling_black_eyes 1 year ago (edited)

Even people who live here forget what our nation's name (United States of America) means. We are a union of self governing states and each one makes up their own rules and has their own culture. If you check out the borders between states, it becomes glaringly obvious. I live in Colorado. The first highway exit from Wyoming has a marijuana dispensary because its legal in Colorado but not in Wyoming. The commerce clause of our constitution means Wyoming can make it illegal to own it inside of their state but they can't tell Colorado they can't sell it to Wyoming residents. Wyoming has an exit immediately across the border from Colorado that its only buildings are businesses selling explosives and offroad vehicles. There is one interstate between Oklahoma and Texas that has an exit on the actual border. On one side of the road is casinos and porn shops. On the other side of the same road is liquor stores and gun shops. Different states, different rules. Different ideas of what is normal and what is abhorrent. Abortion is becoming illegal again because we've decided its up to each state to decide what the rules are and whether its even a healthcare issue.

0points

Shane Hussel 1 year ago

This comment has been deleted.

0points

Craig Reynolds 1 year ago

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Judy Steelman 1 year ago

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The Original Bruno 1 year ago (edited)

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