America, it looks like Europe might be ghosting us.
It’s not just a feeling; it’s a fact. The Guardian reports that in March 2025, the U.S. experienced a 17% decline in visitors from Western Europe compared to the previous year. That’s not a slight dip; it’s a mass exodus.
It turns out that our European friends have some brutally honest reasons for swiping left on a U.S. vacation, and it boils down to a potent cocktail of politics, price tags, and personal safety concerns. We’re talking about a “silent withdrawal” that could cost the U.S. economy billions of dollars.
So, this is precisely why the American dream vacation is turning into a nightmare for many Europeans.
The political vibe just feels off
Let’s just say it: the U.S. political climate is a major turn-off. This isn’t just about disagreeing with policies; it’s a gut feeling that the country has become unwelcoming and unpredictable. Many Europeans see the political rhetoric and policies under the Trump administration as actively hostile.
The director of the major French hotel group Accor nailed the feeling, attributing the downturn to an “anxiety about entering an unpredictable territory.” That one phrase captures the fear of arbitrary rules and a tense atmosphere.
It’s not just talk. Tour operators are seeing it in their bookings. Accor reported a 25% drop in summer bookings from Europe, and another operator, Voyageurs du Monde, saw a 20% decrease. Online, the sentiment is even more blunt. Forums on Reddit and Quora are filled with Europeans saying they’re flat-out boycotting travel to the U.S. until the political situation changes, with some calling the country a “Tinpot dictatorship.”
The data doesn’t lie
The numbers back up this “conscious uncoupling.” According to Euronews, the 17% drop in visitors from Western Europe in March 2025 is just the average. For some countries, it was a freefall. Arrivals from Germany, Ireland, and Spain plummeted by more than 20% in that month alone.
This isn’t just hurting our feelings; it’s hitting the economy hard. The World Travel & Tourism Council projected that the U.S. would be the only country out of 184 it studied where foreign visitor spending would fall in 2025. One research firm, Tourism Economics, had to drastically change its forecast from a healthy 9% growth to a potential 9.4% drop for the year.
If that trend holds, it could mean a staggering $21 billion in losses from travel-related exports. This has become a full-blown crisis for “Brand USA,” where the country’s political identity has become so toxic to a key market that it’s directly damaging the product it’s trying to sell: the American vacation.
It’s become a shockingly expensive trip
Beyond politics, there’s a much simpler reason Europeans are staying away: the U.S. is just ridiculously expensive. A conservative estimate for a one-week American vacation for one person is around $3,000–$3,500. For comparison, a week in Mexico can cost under $1,700, and a trip to budget-friendly parts of Europe can easily stay under $2,500.
The daily costs are the real killer. It’s tough to find a decent mid-range hotel for under $300 a night. On average, a 10-day trip for two to San Diego costs approximately $3,670. A similar trip to Athens, Greece? Just $1,886. That’s nearly half the price for a vacation in a city with thousands of years of history.
Even industry pros are shocked. A tour operator from Tennessee was quoted for a week-long tour in Oregon and replied that it was “more than a trip to Europe we did last year.” When your own national parks cost more than a transatlantic getaway, you have a value problem.
When a trip to the Alps is the budget option
The comparisons become even more absurd when examined in detail. Thinking of a ski trip? A single-day lift ticket at a popular U.S. resort can run you well over $200. In the European Alps, it’s closer to $80. It has become so lopsided that some American families now find it cheaper to fly to Europe for a ski vacation than to travel within the United States.
It’s the same story with big cities. In late 2024, the average hotel in New York City cost a jaw-dropping $417 a night. Meanwhile, in London—one of Europe’s priciest capitals—the average was about $204.
For Europeans, it represents a fundamental mismatch in values. They’re used to a travel culture with fantastic options at every price point—great hostels, efficient trains, and incredible street food. The U.S. often forces tourists into high-cost, car-dependent options that offer little better experience for the money.
The fear of gun violence is very real
There’s no polite way to say this: many Europeans are scared of America’s gun violence. And frankly, the statistics show they have every right to be. It’s not just a media narrative; it’s a mathematical reality that sets the U.S. apart from every other developed nation.
The U.S. gun homicide rate is 26 times higher than that of other high-income countries. Let that sink in.
Compared to specific European countries, the numbers are even more horrifying. The age-adjusted firearm homicide rate in the U.S. is 33 times greater than in Australia and an almost unbelievable 77 times greater than in Germany. With firearms being the leading cause of death for American children and teens, it paints a terrifying picture for visiting families.
A unique American problem
This isn’t a risk that Europeans are used to managing. According to the U.S. News &World Report, the U.S. is the only high-income country with more civilian-owned guns than people. The problem is so pervasive that even America’s “safest” places are dangerous by European standards.
Constant news of mass shootings—more than 488 across the US in 2024 as per BBC—cements this image of a country on edge.
For a potential tourist, this isn’t a typical travel risk, such as pickpocketing. It’s a fear of random, lethal violence that can’t be avoided by sticking to “good neighborhoods.” It transforms the U.S. from a vacation spot into a place that feels fundamentally and culturally unsafe.
Getting through the border can be a nightmare
The stress of a U.S. trip often begins before you even book a flight. The online entry application, known as ESTA, is a high-stakes process. A simple typo in your passport number can’t be corrected; you must submit a new application and pay the fee again.
Then there are the eligibility questions about your past. A minor conviction from years ago could lead to a denial, forcing you into a much longer and more challenging visa process.
And here’s the kicker: even with an approved ESTA, you’re not guaranteed entry. The final decision is up to the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer you meet at the airport, leaving a cloud of uncertainty hanging over your head until the very last minute.
Horror stories from the front lines
The in-person experience at the border is a massive source of anxiety. Travel forums are full of Europeans sharing horror stories. They describe CBP agents as “intimidating,” “pricks,” and making them feel like they’re “about to be locked up just for daring to be there.”
There’s a widespread fear of being pulled into a back room for “secondary screening,” having your phone searched, and being turned away for no apparent reason. One young solo traveler recounted being escorted by armed guards to a locked room, terrified, only to be questioned and eventually let go.
The process creates a feeling of “presumption of guilt.” Instead of being welcomed as a guest bringing money into the country, the first impression is often one of suspicion. It’s an adversarial start to a vacation that can sour the entire experience.
A medical emergency could lead to financial ruin
For Europeans accustomed to universal healthcare, the U.S. medical system is the stuff of nightmares. The costs are so astronomical they seem like typos. A simple doctor’s visit can cost $250-$350, while a trip to the ER can easily top $2,000.
And if something serious happens? A heart attack can land you a bill of at least $25,000. An ICU stay after a stroke can exceed $150,000. Need a medical flight home? That’s another $25,000 to $100,000.
A 7-day hospital stay in the U.S. averages $16,000. In Germany, a 10-day stay is about $4,000. The numbers speak for themselves.
The hidden cost of “required” insurance
Because European national health plans don’t cover these costs, travel insurance is non-negotiable. But insurance for the U.S. is, you guessed it, way more expensive. This adds an extra $200 to $400 to the trip budget before a single thing is booked.
This effectively acts as a “fear tax” on American tourism. You have to pay a significant financial penalty just for choosing the U.S., all to protect yourself from a risk that is almost unthinkable in most other developed countries.
There are simply better, easier, and cheaper options
As Europeans and others turn away from the U.S., they aren’t just staying home—they’re going next door. Canada and Mexico are rolling out the welcome mat and reaping the benefits.
While U.S. numbers are down, arrivals in Canada from Europe surged by 10.3% in July 2025, with significant increases from the UK and France. Mexico is also booming, with Canadian visitors—its second-biggest market—jumping by 11.8% in the first half of the year.
News reports and tour operators explicitly connect this shift to a “boycott” of the United States, with travelers actively choosing friendlier, more stable alternatives.
Why go through the hassle?
At the end of the day, it’s a simple calculation for many European travelers. Why spend more money, face a stressful border crossing, worry about gun violence, risk financial ruin from a medical bill, and navigate a tense political climate?
Especially when you can visit Canada or Mexico and get a fantastic North American experience for a fraction of the cost and anxiety.
As one traveler on a forum wisely put it, for Europeans, a trip to the U.S. is a significant investment. And right now, “the balance has shifted.“ The U.S. is no longer seen as the best place to make that investment.
Key Takeaway
So, why are Europeans opting for the U.S. over their own countries for their holidays? It’s not one single thing—it’s everything at once. A political climate that feels unwelcoming, vacation costs that are double what they’d pay elsewhere, and legitimate fears over gun violence and crippling medical bills are just the start. Add a stressful border crossing and the fact that friendlier, cheaper, and easier alternatives like Canada and Mexico are rolling out the welcome mat, and the choice becomes pretty clear. For many Europeans, the American vacation has simply become too expensive, too stressful, and too risky.
Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information. It is not intended to be professional advice.
Disclosure: This article was developed with the assistance of AI and was subsequently reviewed, revised, and approved by our editorial team.
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How to Save on International Money Transfers: What Banks Don’t Tell You
How to Save on International Money Transfers
Normally, I’d question the hidden fees in my bank’s international money transfer services. While banks sometimes advertise low transfer fees, they usually do not mention the substantial exchange rate margins that quietly siphon money out of your funds. It shouldn’t be expensive to send money overseas.
I’ve discovered seven practical strategies that anyone can use to save on international money transfers, whether you’re sending $100 to a family member or paying for a service in a foreign country. These tactics will help you retain more of your hard-earned money.
