Andrew McCarthy Believes Americans Are Afraid To Travel

LOL… I wish I could travel. I just can't afford it.

Is this supposed to be controversial? Because what he says is absolutely correct. Was it a slow night for headlines?

It's not that they are afraid to travel, it takes money. And when you are of work, there is no money to take an airplane trip.

Yes, it's true, but what I'm really afraid of is the airport security long, long lines. It's just not worth it. There's plenty to see right here.

It's a side blurb from CNN. Not really a headline.

I used to travel a lot, mostly to visit my family members who live in different places. I'd rather spend my money visiting them, than seeing a foreign country. Also, we have so many beautiful things to see here, there's no reason to go to another country. We have all different types of weather in the US. Most of my family members feel this way. And to go to another country would require flying…have you seen the prices on the airline tickets? We could get a whole week family vacation in the USA for the price of one airline ticket overseas.

if you want to pay for my travels, I will be more then happy to go. it is not about fear, its about money, and I don't have enough to do it.

To some extent, he is correct. I tend to travel alone, mostly to Europe. I have never had a problem and I do try to blend in. Knowing how to speak the language, even a few key phrases, is always helpful as well. People tend to be helpful and more open when they know you are willing to try. Even if you mangle their language a bit.

So true. I'm not rich, there are great ways to travel cheap and I'm burning up the globe as we speak. The world becomes a much smaller place when you get out in it.

This is one of the best books ever! Andrew is an amazing writer-

I don't travel because I have no money. If I had Andrew's money, I would travel all over the globe. And I would never, ever stay in a "western style" hotel.

How are you supposed to learn anything about another place if you go stay in some place that's just like home?

Likewise, but I can absolutely see his point. I know lots of people who are perfectly willing to travel within this country (and do so on a somewhat regular basis), but who won't even consider travelling outside of the country because of various (sometimes unspecified) horrible things that happen in "those places."

Totally disagree.

Americans don't travel because they are not adventurous. It's not a matter of fear… it's a matter of being "grossed out" by different food & cultures. Look, it's expensive to travel and if you need to save for years for a holiday then you're going to go where you KNOW you will enjoy yourself.

And of course he has to make it political by talking about the "liberal" parts of the country, as if they are superior to the conservative parts of the country. TYPICAL. Liberalism versus conservatism has absolutely nothing to do with it. He doesn't seem to acknowledge that this is a country where people can be freaked out by food from a different part of the country, let alone from a part of the world where they eat different parts of an animal.

I think Andrew is absolutely right. Take a look @ the news & movies that are out there. We learn what we see and hear. Also, it take $$$ to travel, most of us are just trying to get by and yes it would be nice to see the world. But when you travel especially far away, you need to pay for everything, lodging, food, transportation, nicknacks, a way to get their & back, among other things. I would love to travel freely, but am unable to because economically I can't!

I'm making over $7k a month working part time just using the Google. I feel so much freedom now that I'm my own boss who can choose his working hours. You can make above $2000/day too, working for this billion dollar company. This is what I do Buzz17.com

I'm making over $7k a month working part time just using the Google. I feel so much freedom now that I'm my own boss who can choose his working hours. You can make above $2000/day too, working for this billion dollar company. This is what I do Buzz17.com

No They Are Just Too Poor.

The beauty in believing in God and believing He has a set time for me to die is, I can make those trips. If I die, it is my time to do so.

I don't fear other countries. I FN HATE THEM! I hate the lazy socialist drunks being forced to live and die by government control. I hate the lazy socialist cab drivers, I hate the lazy socialist hotel workers and I hate the FN languages. I hate the bland italian food, the sky high price of everything in France and the horrible stench of the middle east. I LOVE THE USA and I LOVE ENGLISH. I also love how so many hate the usa until they need life saving surgery at UCLA or Clevland Clinic, or a liver transplant in Pittsburg, or a lung transplant at Vanderbuilt. Or, a real education OR just flat out protection from their own country. He is not correct Susan Higgins, you just think like a socialist. I travel the USA to spend my money where it belongs. I travel the USA Because I love my country. I travel the USA Because there is 10x more to see and do here than anywhere. Everytime I am forced to travel on business I come home sick. It is not fear Susie, it is flat out hatred. And don't you forget it

I traveled enough in the military, 44+ countries and in many cases way off the beaten tourist path..This includes South & Central America, Europe, Africa, The Middle East, Cenral Asia and Asia..They all started blending together….Not afraid just burned out quite frankly..An RV parked by some lake with family and freinds here in NC or maybe the Grand Canyon, now that's what I'm talking about!

The next headline will be Andrew McCarthy raped and eaten by tribe of fundamentalist Muslims/Mormons. He showed no fear before the encounter…

I agree – I have been to over 80 countries, including most of Africa and I think the continent of Africa should sue MGM for the Tarzan movies that made Americans afraid to go there.

it really isn't just money. in many parts of the world one can easily survive on $10-$20/day. True, getting there can be expensive but people in the States travel, they just go to places like the Caribbean, Florida, Hawaii, etc. rather than really exploring the world. I just got back from 6 weeks in SE Asia and literally met only 1 other person from the States. Tons from Europe, Canada, etc. In Africa I don't think I met any. I really do think it is fear. The media does an excellent job of terrifying the public to earn more viewers.

I wish I could afford to travel. I wish I could afford to take the time off to travel. Until the time and money come, if I can't drive there in a reasonable amount of time it is not going to happen. I don't think most people are afraid, they just don;t want to deal with the hassles that come with travelling, especially when you throw children into the situation.

I am so proud of my wonderful daughter for the explorations she has made over the last several years and for all she has learned & imparted to others.

Sorry to hear you feel that way Debra.

No need to be sorry, I love my family & it's pretty large, so always some place to go. We also, meet up in places where we don't live, so we see a lot of the country. Still more to see though.

…and the goal is always to make it to all 50 states. Working on it.