Who is going to the USA, who has changed their travel and what will you do differently?

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Still going to US in August, will consider travel for mid next year when flights need to be booked in July. AUD will be primary motivation for whether I go or not unless something dramatically shifts with immigration requirements/issues.
 
Absolutely no reason other than increased cost (lower AUD + higher prices) to reconsider. No plans currently but I certainly will be looking to visit again fairly soon.
 
We're heading over end of this week for a couple of weeks in Alaska after touring in Canada first. Too far along the timeline to do anything without incurring financial penalties, so hoping it all goes well, and that there's enough money left in my Super investments to pay for the lower dollar and higher prices!
 
I am a dual US/Australian citizen so I have made many trips back over the years. I have seen everything I wanted to see in the touristic sense, done a lot of road trips since I was young. I do have family back there and saw them last year. They have never been to Australia so I reminded them that planes fly in both directions.

I used to do a lot of shopping especially at Ross Dress for Less but the AUD is not helping these days. Hotels are more expensive and there is that annoying tipping culture.

I am not a fan of the current regime (trying to be polite). I kind of saw the writing on the wall last year and purposely brought forward my last hurrah trip to South America from Oct 2025 to Oct 2024 doing a loop through Chile, Brazil and finally in the USA. It was a smart move because it would have been much more expensive this year. I was able to avoid the annoying visa requirements for Chile and Brazil because last Oct neither required a visa for US passports. Done and dusted.

I can still churn US credit cards low key because the minimum spends (usually $4000-5000 USD) are getting high with the bad rates. So, no I don't plane to go back in the foreseeable future, I have no real reason to and other countries I want to go birding in.
 
In the period up to late 2016 I’d been to the US about 50 times. Since then I’ve made one trip, at the most recent New Years break. No plans to go back for another four years…

No worries, until then, I’ve still got to find time to visit:
Turkmenistan
India & Sri Lanka
Kuwait, Bahrain & Saudi Arabia
El Salvador, Bolivia, Chile & Uruguay
St Vincent and The Grenadines, St Lucia & Grenada
Malawi, Eswatini & Lesotho
Nigeria, Togo, Benin, Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire
South Korea

Busy like a 🐝. 😜
 
Just back from a February trip and yes, going again in August. Poor exchange rate will mean a shorter trip than originally planned. Thats the only difference.
Entry procedure in Feb was no different to last year, or the year before..etc etc - have NEVER been asked to hand over phone/laptop etc and don't expect to be asked to in August.
😀
 
Of the 70 plus countries I have travelled to, there is only one (yes one) where I have been been very rudely treated on entry for no reason and unnecessarily harassed (on multiple occasions).

Due to a weird electoral system where a few wealthy people in one state have an undue influence on the election of a POTUS, I can no longer travel there on an ESTA as I have visited Cuba.

I despise LAX

It is now no longer a place where shopping is cheaper than AU

I am wary of the implied empowerment of a certain cohort of gun toters and persons who would want to emulate them that don't believe in the rule of law who it seems are free at large regardless of the judiciary.

There are lots of other places I want to see on my bucket list before making another repeated visit there (Although I do have a number of decades long friends there and some sites I have not yet got to see in several visits aka Antelope Canyon for one).

I already have plans for the next two years to visit other bucket list places.
 
I despise LAX

I've also been a long term LAX critic, but having been flying through there a few times a year for the last 15+ years, I've got to admit it's starting to resemble a pretty decent airport. This was confirmed when last week I was re-routed through SFO, now that's a terrible airport.

I think once the people mover is operational which should sort out the ground transport, it's probably going to be near the top of the list for US gateway airports, and for oneworld has great lounges.

I can no longer travel there on an ESTA as I have visited Cuba.

Did you go after it was declared? I went in 2013 and can still go as it hadn't been declared then.

As for rudeness I'd actually say US don't even reach top 5 of my list. Often indifferent but not really rude. I've had worse treatment from Canada and Ireland.
 
And also has some of the most pleasant people that I have met.

An amazing country full of contradictions.

Yes I have some dear friends there but sadly one couple are considering emigrating and leaving their existing life behind because one "doesn't look white" and they are fearful.
 
I've also been a long term LAX critic, but having been flying through there a few times a year for the last 15+ years, I've got to admit it's starting to resemble a pretty decent airport. This was confirmed when last week I was re-routed through SFO, now that's a terrible airport.

I think once the people mover is operational which should sort out the ground transport, it's probably going to be near the top of the list for US gateway airports, and for oneworld has great lounges.



Did you go after it was declared? I went in 2013 and can still go as it hadn't been declared then.

As for rudeness I'd actually say US don't even reach top 5 of my list. Often indifferent but not really rude. I've had worse treatment from Canada and Ireland.

Actually it was declared decades ago, Obama rescinded and guess who restored immediately came to office the first time. AFAIAA Only those who travelled during Obama period are exempt.
 
As for rudeness I'd actually say US don't even reach top 5 of my list

Every traveller has their own unique experiences which can vary greatly. I had zero issues in those two countries in fact at Vancouver they were very welcoming and friendly on three occasions. However I know others that would agree with you.

Ireland was nothing stand out either way.
 
Actually it was declared decades ago, Obama rescinded and guess who restored immediately came to office the first time.

Not quite, there was economic sanctions but wasn't on the terror list.

It didn't stop you visiting Cuba as a foreigner.

AFAIAA Only those who travelled during Obama period are exempt.

No that's just factually incorrect. The CBP website is quite clear, it's only for travel on/after 12 Jan 2021.
 
Not quite, there was economic sanctions but wasn't on the terror list.

It didn't stop you visiting Cuba as a foreigner.



No that's just factually incorrect. The CBP website is quite clear, it's only for travel on/after 12 Jan 2021.

I travelled May 2024 and not exempt
 
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I have visited the US many times over the years but have not been there since 2017 (for no particular reason). I am planning to visit Canada in 2026 (I'm originally from Canada) and may visit a sister living in Vermont. If I had already planned a trip (to the US) in 2025 I would still go but if not yet booked would travel to Canada instead - they need the support.

Our 2025 travel includes some Australian trips, Europe (mainly Switzerland) then a cruise to Raja Ampat (ex Darwin).
 

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