Why are you going to Europe?

When I can't afford the travel insurance for International travel, when I am too decrepid to fly, when I am too poor for international flights or travel with a depressed Cdn$ or just grow weary of making those long treks, then I'll work at seeing more of 'home' than I aready have. That being said, I have driven across the country several times and drove from Victoria to Halifax via Tiajuana once.
I have some Territories to visit and a good number of States in the middle I have missed.

Do the far flung places while you can tolerate and afford long flights and able to see and walk a lot. Personally the jazz festivals in Europe dominated by American talent are better over there. The audience is more diverse.

This is a question that I never hear in Australia. Over here overseas travel tends to be seen as a right of passage especially for the young. I think that it is part of our colonial legacy. I have heard that even in the early 20th century, older Australians of British descent sometimes still referred to Britain as "home", so this fueled the desire to travel there.

I think it is possible to do a road trip across Europe, but the difference between Europe and both the US and Australia is I think the greater population density. I think driving across Europe, you would find yourself dodging any number of big cities. They do not have the large desert areas of either the US or Australia.

I go to Europe because the world is a very big place and there is much to see.

And that includes the US. Right now we are alternating years of travel, one year to Europe, next year in the US, etc. I haven't explored all of the US yet, but I'm getting there. I have done a cross country US road trip twice, moving from West Coast to East Coast and back. Getting to experience fireflies in Kentucky, a tornado in Kansas, Graceland in Memphis, was all worth it.

As a teenager I climbed to the top of one of the great pyramids of Giza. I've been swimming with sea lions in the Galapagos. I've trekked through the Amazon. I've climbed volcanic peaks in the Andes and been to Machu Picchu. I've walked through the Houses of Parliament in London and Budapest, nibbled coconut ice cream in a floating market in Bangkok, gone on safari in Kenya... and on and on and on. I could rattle on about countless wonderful experience I've enjoyed in Europe.

At the same time... I lived in Vegas for many years but have never once been to the Grand Canyon. I've never been to Yellowstone or spent any meaningful amount of time in New Orleans. I've never really visited New York city, beyond a quick day or weekend for work or a wedding. There's a whole bunch of Smithsonian museums I've yet to step inside. I've technically been in most every state in the US save a few, but with most of those never done more than pull off the interstate to get gas. My one trip to Hawaii was a mileage run - a flight out for the airline miles to qualify for elite status, half a day in Honolulu, then the first flight back to the mainland the next morning (same cabin crew on the in- and outbound flights, and they politely smiled and shook their heads at how silly I was). There is so much of the US I should absolutely see, and so much more here I should absolutely do. I keep telling myself I need to take a little road trip to and through national parks in the US (perhaps rent an RV?), but when it comes time to actually plan a trip I look elsewhere.

I grew up overseas, and spent my early life hopping from one country to another (foreign service brat). The fascination with Europe hit me early on as a child, and it's not something I've been able to shake since, nor have I had any interest in shaking it. There's a lot I appreciate and enjoy about the US, but I'd almost compare my desire to travel to Europe as much as possible with friends who make fishing or wine or some other such hobby the focus of their travels. Instead of any single interest like fishing or wine, though, Europe - and international travel as a whole - is the hobby. I crave finding myself in a foreign land, surrounded by people speaking a language I don't understand and seeing signs I can't read. Even the most basic activities - walking from one place to another, grabbing a bite to eat, or hopping on a subway car - are little adventures unto themselves. Talking to locals introduces an entirely new perspective, and brings with it an entirely new dynamic. I suppose, as well, I constantly tell myself all the places here in the US will be readily available whenever I want, so I'll focus on the places abroad in the meantime - I didn't really avoid the Grand Canyon or deliberately skip it, but if I had an airline mile for every time I told myself "I'll check out the Grand Canyon next weekend" while living in Vegas, I'd not have needed that Hawaii flight!

What I really need is one of the many friends I've made in Europe to come visit me in the US, and drag me along with them when they go see the Grand Canyon. :)

Simply put, it excites us. We just finished a 6 week trip to France and the UK and were planning to do something Regional (Pac NW or Canada) but couldn’t get as excited as we did at the thought of returning to Italy and Switzerland. Plus trains. Love the trains and the no car lifestyle! Love to be active .

We looked at a Canadian Railway journey to Banff, Jasper, and more, but for the cost for a week we can spend a much longer time in Italy, excluding airfare.

Road trip? Heck no! Trains not cars whenever possible!

We’ve traveled to Europe each year for the last 8 years and a few before that time. I’ve always felt that we should travel farther away while we’re physically in great shape and healthy, and we would save our longest USA road trips for when we’re retired.

We’ve both been to at least 40 of our 50 states (currently on vacation in beautiful Newport, Rhode Island!) with more plans to fully enjoy portions of the US each year now that we’ll both be retired by 2020.

Mike,
No one really asks us that.............we have bounced around the globe to complete our bucket list of all 7 continents, and since there is a bit of discussion if New Zealand should be its own continent (since it is technically on a separate continental shelf from Australia(), we have even completed out 8th before it is even its own continent ;)

No one asks the question, because those who know us know that we put a priority on visiting certain places (many in Europe and then many in other destinations, including some far-flung places in the US, like Hawaii). We made doing so a priority while we were still physically able to do so. A (thank God) short-lived very serious medical issue for one us (once it was cured) caused us to ratchet up our travels to 3 big trips a year (life is short or CAN be short).

Now that we did some grueling really long hauls (Asia about did us in), we now have a puppy and have stayed put for over a year (very unlike us), and friends know that we now have the "anchor dog." But, once our pup is of a certain age, we WILL travel again, as there are some additional places we would like to see.

But, on a very broad-based generalization, there is also the thought that traveling in our own country is easier (and will be easier as we age)..........no 21+ hour flights, not as many time zones to adjust to, and no international long distance plans to deal with........and should something happen, we are not worried about what third-world hospital we might be sent to temporarily before using upgrades medical evacuation on travel insurance go get back to home sweet home.

So, if your priorities are same as ours were, or even if they are different, just explain............people will understand, and when they run into you, they will ask where you have been and where you are going next. It look some adjustment for people to realize the puppy is now our key focus (along with some updates at our home)......but everyone knows now, and we exchange dog stories and then quickly ask about THEIR travels..........and we all know how people love to tell about their travel experiences............we get to be the kind listeners :)

Just in my experiences, the people who ask why I'm going to Europe aren't really looking for genuine answers.

I agree with Nathan. People rarely ask me that, but when they do it seems like a superiority thing, like "why would you go all the way over there when there are so many beautiful things right here?" And 100% of the time this is from people who have never left the country.

Maybe their follow-up question is going to be "and you could see the other countries by taking the It's A Small World ride at Disneyland."

I like medieval art and architecture and towns --- teensy bit hard to find that in the US.

However, I have driven cross country in the US (not all at once, but Minnesota to the east coast and Minnesota to the west coast) and visited most states. I love Utah and the southwest.

Mike,
The world is too big and too expensive for me to see it all. I go where I go for my own reasons. I go overseas to experience new cultures and to learn by making myself a bit uncomfortable. I travel in the states to see beautiful things, but the culture is basically the same, so a bit less learning is involved.

I used to get asked that question regarding not seeing "your own country." but not anymore. They're free to ask, I ignore the question basically. Ever since my first trip in 1971, I have been traveling in Europe and Germany when the money was around. The longest period of time away from Europe was from 1978-83. I went back in '84, the first trip since 1977. Money, energy, and time have been focused on traveling in Europe. Only since the 21st century have I included elsewhere in the US, ie outside of CA.

Including France and Germany are still a ton of places I need to see before my traveling days cease... Lithuania, Poland, Hungary, England, Belgium, Finland. Austria.

An epic road trip suggestion...from Paris to Lithuania via Berlin and Warsaw. #2 suggestion...Paris to Lviv in the Ukraine.

I've had a few people mention the "why are you going to Europe when there are so many beautiful things here" comment. While that's very true, especially here in "Beautiful British Columbia" (which is the slogan on our license plates), I usually reply, "yes but Europe is different in so many ways including different cultures, languages and most of all the history". I find that fascinating and a different experience to have breakfast in a German speaking area and supper in an Italian area. If I want to see WW-II historic sites, great works of art or whatever, I'm not going to see many of those in Canada. It's also such a treat to use the fantastic transportation systems there, including high speed trains and mountain lifts.

In all fairness though, I did manage to achieve one of my "bucket list" items in 2017 with a visit to the Maritimes. That's an area I've wanted to see for a long time. I've thought of taking The Canadian (train) from Vancouver to Toronto, but it's quite expensive so that hasn't happened yet. I'd also like to take a trip on The Ghan but will probably need to win the lottery to afford that.

"The rest of Austria.? Scary" If it is, I had better get there and not miss it. That's exactly why I go to other parts, towns and "out in the sticks" of Austria...say, to Linz, Graz, Deutsch Wagram, Bad Ischl, Hollabrünn, St Pölten, Salzburg, Wiener Neustadt, Leoben.

What do you fine folks think? Any epic road trips in Europe or otherwise?.... Route 66?

I love road trips in Europe and at home in the US. On a road trip through Slovenia, Croatia and Italy (Trieste) I have a great memory of stopping in a small Café in Slovenia and having a wonderful chat with the proprietress and her mother about why we were traveling in Slovenia, and some enjoyable discussions about live in the US / live in Slovenia. I love those moments in travel!

I recently drove the western portion of Route 66 with my parents, from Santa Monica, CA to New Mexico. (We're hoping to travel from there to Chicago at some point.) It was such a great throwback trip! Visiting the tiny towns from the '60s with their soda fountains and dime type stores and small museums showcasing cars and lifestyles of the era. If you enjoy small town Americana type travel, it's a wonderful road trip!

I like to do some of each kind of travel, Europe and at home. I do agree with many posters above that I have a drive to travel as far as I can now, before I'm no longer able.

"and you could see the other countries by taking the It's A Small World ride at Disneyland."

Or: "Why go to France when you could come here [Las Vegas] and see Paris and the Eiffel Tower" I got that question from either my dear departed mother or father, or both.

"Why go to France....?" As Mistenguett sang in 1929, "C'est ça Paris."

I can't stand Americans. The less I'm here the happier I am.

Cause Europe is physically HARD and we are doing it while we are young and full of energy and strength. There is so much walking, and stair climbing and bus/train and exploring. I had no idea till I went the first time. We don't usually drive in Europe, that may be an option as we get older. My husband and I go hard and fast (the café rest stops are getting more frequent), sun up till sun down, take calculated risks and really enjoy each others company, it builds our marriage and makes wonderful memories. In America I drive and when we get older, we plan on buying an RV and traveling across the US. For now, our trips in the US are committed to visiting family and that is very important to us. We both work full time and spend one years vacation with family/camping with friends/exploring nearby and the next year to Europe. Now that the grandkids are being born being with them on our time off is getting to also be a priority, so there goes more vacation time and less time for Europe.

from the BBC: Barack Obama on why travel matters

The former US president describes his most memorable travel experience, finding his place in the world on an overnight bus trip and the importance of listening.

I've been to all but 6 of the US states and I love traveling around the US. Everyone who knows me knows about my domestic travels so they would never ask me this question. If anyone did, my answer would be that I love my country and I've seen an awful lot of it but my country is so young and my personal history and that of the country itself is rooted in Europe and I'm interested in that history. You can't find it here in a country less than 300 years old. And the infrastructure of the country, big cities with historic buildings, churches, museums, etc is even younger than that. Add to that the desire to experience different cultures, to learn by seeing and actually being where important events have happened, to hear people speaking my ancestors native languages rather than English. What's hard for me to understand (although I try) is why aren't you going to Europe? Or, in the case of people whose history originated in places other than Europe, why aren't you going to Africa, Asia, the Middle East, etc.?

Of course I know the answer to that is often the cost and time involved and I understand that everyone has their own reasons for why they want or don't want to travel to places other than the US.

FastEddie for the win!

My reasons for traveling to Europe are endless however if I have to mention a 3 -
Culture, Art and Cuisine. =) coupled with the most beautiful scenic areas. it is no exaggeration to state that nearly anyone could find something to enjoy

If an American whose heritage is not European and that's plain to see, Hispanic-American, African-American, Chinese/Japanese-American and so on, asks me for vacation advice on where to go, try something different, etc, etc, I tell them to go to Europe...straight out.

How that is done depends on them , be it by tour, ie RS or American Express, Educational Forum, AAA, whatever or with the family or friends, or going solo. Obviously, travel style, finances, health issues, if any, age, interests, time factor are variables for them deal to deal with. the bottom line is: go to Europe. If it is "their" first trip (10 days -3 weeks), going only to the UK and France, fine, or just to the UK, fine, Italy and France, and UK, fine. If the focus is on London, Vienna and Berlin on a 3 week trip, fine..doable.

I leave it to them on picking the exact itinerary. If they're absolutely clueless, then I tell them what their itinerary should be since they have no idea in the first place.

I go to Europe to work.

Well, it seems that way these days. I have taken a large percentage of my 55 trips to Europe as part of work (the fun of being part of a world wide corporation) and started my European travels as extensions of those trips. The company was paying for the round trip, I paid for the extra hotel nights and whatever activities I went for. Worked well. The extended stay work permit visas my employer had to arrange for me also helped with me not having to worry as much on the tourist visit limits. Recently, it has been more work and less RS tours, but hope to take a few more in the coming years. I will probably spend most of the next six months in Germany. No complaints.

Truthfully, I have always been a traveler. I like going places I have never been and want to go everywhere I can before the money runs out and I get too old and feeble to handle the long flights. When will that be? Hopefully not for another 30 - 40 years. But you never know. And there could be other world events which limit travel that no one can predict or plan for. I am saving the tours of the remaining parts of the US, Canada, and Mexico I have not been to so far for that part of my life after I can't make the long journeys whatever the reason may be. Pack up the old VW and drive. It has a degree of relaxation that flying never did nor never will.

On the rare times, I've been asked this question I say I've been in 35 states and that's generally more than the person asking the question.

My epic trips:
Seattle to the Grand Canyon (Bryce and Zion), back through Nevada, Reno, and Crater Lake.
I've driven most of the West Coast albeit in chunks. Seattle to SF and back up the coast. Flew to San Jose and drove to San Diego.

Seattle to Arkansas and back as well as Chicago to Seattle and I'm still not fond of Kansas or South Dakota.
I've done the leaf-peeping trip around New England.
Driven from Seattle up to BC and over to Banff and back (so beautiful).
I've done enough long drives I've gotten to the point I think they're tedious and unless its the only way to see something I'd rather not.

Its hard to have an epic drive in Europe unless you're crossing countries since the distances are far shorter. One of the longest was from Canterbury to Rye to to Salisbury to Bath to the Cotswold with lots of side trips.

Because lucky people are blessed with the gift of curiosity, we are nomadic by nature. American is a young
country and Europe is not. The architecture of the buildings and detail of ancient ruins is marvelous - The Roman Forum incredible.
The churches of Europe are reason alone to take out a loan and get on a plane, even for the irreligious.
I have seen the waterfalls in Yosemite, the lights of Vegas, an Arizona desert sunset, hiked in the Grand Canyon and
the Appalachian Trail. I grew up in a town without a red light, where everyone looks the same, talks the same, and
has the same narrow judgmental views. I love hearing the different languages as I sit in a cafe in Venice or stroll the streets of Rome and seeing people who do not mirror my skin and face.
It satisfied the nomadic gene.

Why do I go to Europe?

Because it's not here.

I go to Europe because I live in Europe.

I go to the US to see family and for work.

I go to Europe for the history and culture - folk and artistic. I tell my friends to go to North America for nature/scenery. When I was in the Alps, I kept thinking the Canadian Rockies are better - they have bears, the Alps have cows. Last month I went to the "dramatic" Portuguese coastline, and California and Oregon are better. Deserts, forests, wildlife, oceans, lakes, rivers . . . . . . my favorite place in the world is Zion National Park in Utah.

But nothing in the US or Canada can compare to the Colosseum, the cobbled medieval villages, the great art and architecture of two millennia.

I usually smile and say that I have been to most states (not by choice) and that there is no comparison to Europe. Then I suggest that I could plan their next trip to Europe (and make it cheaper than their trip in the States) so they can see what they have been missing.

All my memorable moments traveling have been outside of the US (except for skiing). When someone suggests I should hike the Grand Canyon, I tell them that I like to hike from a small cute village to another like Italy, Austria or Switzerland; that after a long hike, I can just stop at a small cafe and get a glass of wine looking at an incredible scenic view devoid of highways and chain stores; that during a hike, I will encounter a historical monument/building like a lighthouse from the 19 century, that will make me pause and reflect on the past.

That is why I am not hiking the Grand Canyon anytime soon.

Agreeing with Nathan - its most often not a real question, its an implied criticism.

I suppose you could drive the pilgrimage routes in Europe, but that would be cheating.

I will admit no one asks me this. They want to know where I am going next so they can imagine it themselves some day. Maybe given our winters, it is because most everyone at least flies south for a break....and that is Cancun or DR, not Florida.
Europe roadtrip? I am a birder, so an April road trip from Vienna, through the steppes of Poland and points further east.

I go to Europe to rest and relax as I do in Berlin, London, Paris, etc.

I spent a year in England as a teenager and had several short trips to Europe in my 20s before settling into work in New York. I figured I'd keep going to Europe from time to time but also wanted to see more of the US. Over the next decades I moved to the west coast, drove across the US nine times, and visited 49 states (look out, Oklahoma). I thought I should "see my own country" before spending more time in Europe, but resumed travels there about the time I retired. Now I try for a domestic trip and a Europe trip each year. (Have also been to China, South America, Mexico and various Caribbean islands including Cuba, not to mention Canada, one of my favorite countries.) So I never get the "see America first" question because I have.

Chani gets it right -- here we have amazing natural wonders and limited historic sights, Europe is loaded with history, art, and architecture, the natural landscapes maybe, let's say, less astounding. Much to recommend both, no reason to have to choose if you can handle both health and time and cost-wise.

I enjoy driving in continental Europe where they've got the side of the road right, but a long multi-country road trip woudn't be a goal for me. Too many fascinating places to stop and explore. But I hope Big Mike does his bucket-list trip across the US and back. Lots of good stops, and also stretches where the best plan is to keep moving and drink in the scenery.

I go for the gelato...the good stuff, made that morning in the back of the shop, with nothing added to it to make it last weeks on some shelf somewhere, with flavors so unique and intense that it can bring tears of joy to my eyes. Wish I could have some right now....

Because, quite frankly, most of the USA bores me. I’m an urban person and I’d go insane at a national park. And most of our cities aren’t that unique. If I woke up in Des Moines, I couldn’t tell it apart from Omaha unless maybe from the license plates. Also, I hate to drive and most USA cities require a car.

I have seen a decent amount of the USA and there’s a few places I am overdue for a return visit to. Bit, I’m mainly interested in urban areas with good public transit and cultural activities and that describes Europe more than most of the USA.

I chose to see Europe first, beginning at 21...first time away from home, from Calif, first time on a flight, a charter flight, which was off to London to start the 12 week solo trip that would end up including 5 countries...England, Austria (Vienna) , Sweden, Germany (Berlin), and Holland.