Reception of Americans

A lot of commiseration. Enjoy Ireland.

We just returned from the Netherlands and Belgium. Folks were aware, but didn't express any strong feelings. I suspect it's because many folks don't have cars, relying on public transportation. And since it's spring, home heating costs aren't an issue. Mostly folks just laughed sympathetically when the subject of American political leadership came up. Then we changed the topic.

Note- This topic has come up frequently here, and it often gets shut down, if it gets too political.

Is there any better country than Ireland? I don’t think so!

My neighbor’s kid just arrived a couple days back and is having a blast! There is deep affection and the Irish can separate people from politics.

Don’t overthink it. Have a beer!

Happy travels

The same as always. Expect condolences from some folk when they learn your from the US.

We had a two week trip in March to Dublin, Galway, and Cork looking at places to move to (retirement visa). We were met with the kindest and most welcome, understanding, knowing, perceptive, empathetic, and generous welcome wherever we went. As an aside, I will say i have never heard so many American voices on a foreign trip before.

“ We just returned from the Netherlands and Belgium. Folks were aware, but didn't express any strong feelings. I suspect it's because many folks don't have cars, relying on public transportation.”

I can’t speak for Belgium, but in the Netherlands a lot of people do have cars and therefore the current cost of car fuel is a very hot and sensitive topic. The current price of a liter of gasoline is €2,30 per liter. Yes, per liter not per gallon

Hi there, This topic is coming up so often, thought you might like to read the webmaster's comment. It's the very first under 'General Europe' https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/general-europe/should-americans-go-to-europe-a-friendly-reminder-about-political-posts.

Have a blast! I loved Ireland. The only problem was ending chats when people heard my accent and just wanted to chit chat. "Ohhhh I just love your accent!" hahaha.

How are Americans being received in today’s political climate?

Mostly pity.

Same here in Germany.

Been in Sicily for 3 weeks, really not a word, no hassles, pretty much nothing.

In Ireland you will get more flack for calling yourself "Irish" if you have distant ancestors from there, than your politics.

It was several years ago but during the RS Ireland tour, I think just about every RS tour mate said at one point that they were Irish and nobody gave then any guff. However, one person suggested another person was a “souper” and there was hell to pay!

Happy travels!

P.S. Derry Girl quote:

Orange Order (Season 1, Episode 5)
• Orla: "Well, practice makes perfect, Aunt Mary. You know, that is why they are so cracker."
• Erin: "Did you just call the Orange Order 'cracker'?"
• Erin: "I don't think they accept Catholics, Orla, or, you know, acknowledge our right to exist."
• Orla: "I'm considering joining."
• Ma Mary: "They've been playing the same three songs since 1795. What do they need to rehearse for?"

We were in Ireland last summer and we heard a lot of negativity, especially about fuel costs (after first Iran bombing). But nothing against us personally.

Here is an interesting gifted link from our newspaper opinion section by an American who lived in Europe. Its related to our upcoming World Cup games but reflective on the overall position we are in:

https://www.kansascity.com/opinion/readers-opinion/guest-commentary/article315641514.html?giftCode=f5d326f3cff9cd648fb44cce27c2f8bef6886dd534a4e67e7a2d1059e87cd3e8

The current price of a liter of gasoline is €2,30 per liter. Yes, per liter not per gallon.

Yikes, Dutch_traveler, that's over $10 a gallon. I'm so sorry.

David, I loved the quote, and I loved the show! Have you seen "How to Get to Heaven from Belfast" yet? I loved that as well.

And marysmith, from one Minnesotan to another, you'll be fine. I've been traveling a lot since the 2024 election and haven't had any problems with folks overseas. As others have said, they may commiserate with you, and some may want to chat a bit with you about it, and that's fine. I like to chat and I'm happy to talk about anything.

I'm from Minnesota and traveling in the UK right now. By and large the main comment I'm getting right now when locals ask where I'm from is about the weather-want to know if it really is as cold and snowy as they've heard! Only one political comment so far.

I returned 2 weeks ago from a 3 week tour of Ireland. My traveling companions and I commented frequently about how friendly the Irish were. On the last day a local couple we met at a park asked up about politics. We engaged in a good conversation with them about politics and other topics. No problems at all.

Enjoy your trip! It's a wonderful country to tour. The beauty can be almost overwhelming at times.

We haven't been to Ireland since '22 but loads of friends and acquaintances there and throughout the Isles. Typically they consider it the height of cheeky to engage complete strangers in discussing politics. The few dozen who consider us close friends have lately more and more expressed feeling betrayed by their own politicians, and that's what predominates their vitriol. No need to shoot the messenger as they say.

Likewise, being a fluently multi-lingual couple, we tend to engage with a somewhat broader spectrum of locals in the course of our European travels than perhaps do N Americans who speak only English. Talking to scores of Europeans in their own languages where they feel comfortable expressing themselves in a fully-nuanced manner, we have found let's just say a pronouncedly more varied consensus than that frequently published in the American "travel influencer" sphere. Again, no need to shoot the messenger.

Mistakes in Ireland: 1) praising Oliver Cromwell; 2) skipping the pubs; 3) Irish whiskey, wow, that’s a kind of “troubles” in itself.

Talk about music, talk about the weather, talk about politics— talk about whatever you want— or whatever they want. Just remember to sing occasionally.

How about making the Irish apologize to us? Have you ever read James Joyce’s Finnegan’s Wake and then having to write an essay about it? Torture. Reading it is a crime against humanity.

The Irish should apologize to me.

Happy travels.

Have you ever read James Joyce’s Finnegan’s Wake and then having to write an essay about it? Torture. Reading it is a crime against humanity.

Ulysseys is worse.

We've always found the Irish to be some of the nicest people on earth.
Most of the locals you'll meet consider every American to be long lost cousins, and are generally inclined to treat you like visiting family.

Finishing the Heart of Ireland tour today. Zero negativity toward Americans as far as I have seen. No love for our leadership but they don’t seem to be taking it out on us.

We just went on a RS tour and said (the truth,) “We are from Minneapolis.” They know of our Resistance in January-Feb 2026.

I disagree about tipping. Tipping 10% in restaurants in Ireland and NI is standard. However you do not tip for drinks at a pub. Sometimes a service charge is already included in which case you don’t need to tip on top of that.

I don't want to turn this into a big debate but I spend a lot of time in NI and tipping at restaurants is common there. I don't want people travelling there to visit with the expectation they won't be tipping for anything. However, if there's a service charge included you don't need to add anything on top of that.

I hope you can relax and enjoy your holiday. I've been in Sweden 2 months this trip & not a single person has mentioned the US, except to say, 'We loved California!"

I would say be quiet (no offence) as a european we find americans to
much , be quiet talk in lower volumes be respectful and dont compare
everything to the states.

One of those gross generalizations based upon the noisy Americans (maybe) one hears speaking, you have no idea how many quiet Americans are sitting around you. My Swedish twin sister in laws are SO loud in quiet Sweden, always makes me smile.

Europeans by and large treat their guests with kindness and respect. I wouldn’t expect anything else, in all but one or two places in Europe. I live here; I have never had an issue with anyone from any country; including the Irish. Like in the U.S., friends can disagree. Don’t expect anything less for an expat or for a tourist.

But if you are still worried, then possibly you will feel more comfortable in the old definition of Eastern Europe where the approval numbers of the US among its citizens range from 25% in many countries to probably not less than 35% where I live to 50% or more in Serbia; so roughly equal to the spread depending on your location in the U.S. Eastern European countries also tend to be among the safest countries in Europe.

We were in Ireland in March, and received a very warm welcome from everyone, and much understanding, compassion, and encouragement about our plan to leave the United States and move there.

I have been to Europe over 30 times in my life as well as living in Germany for four years and haven't noticed a difference in the way Americans are treated.

We recently returned from Scotland and then the RS Best of Germany. We treated people with kindness and respect and received the same back. The only place we saw anything related to American politics was in Germany where in the Brandenburg Tor a building was running a continuous message board with racist slurs from one our President’s speeches.