How safe is it for Americans to travel abroad?

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Ibrahim M	it is very safe as far as you dont sound like Bush and think like him. If you show less arogance and show respect you feel home where ever you go Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

oohbetty	No we don't. Us Brits love the Americans so tell him to come here next time (that is if it wasn't an experience he had visiting the UK! I hope not). Thinking about it we accommodate low lifes who come here illegally, sponge off the welfare system and incite hatred against the west so maybe he bumped into one of them. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Paul J	I'm British but I live in America and pretty much no one leaves America anyway. But generally you can go to most places in the world and be just fine. Any of the tourist destinations ANYWHERE in the world would be glad of a few Americans and their dollars. Sure, if you go to the middle of Iran waving the US Flag then you're not going to be welcomed but regardless of Bush's policies Americans are welcome anywhere. But another point to notice is that when a lot of Americans travel outside of the US they're unaccepting and dismissive of foreign cultures. Because the US is so bland culture is a shock. Plus, i don't know anyone who is "jealous" of any American, that's just something Americans tell themselves to justify not seeing the rest of the world :) Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

knightofsod	From what I know many foreigners dont like us. Including many Europeans. I think it's safe to go abroad, but might not be pleasant. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Techy	I'm Lebanese, and I've seen half the countries of the world (ok.. not literally, but pretty close :) ), and I can tell you that, GENERALLY SPEAKING, people don't hate americans. in fact, in most countries, americans are idolized. I know that when I was in Lebanon, we'd be at a clubhouse or whatnot and would see an american visitor, and it's like, say, Tom Cruise walked in... in some places Americans are idolized... Of course, on the other hand, you will go some places, and you will find that you will be treated rudely... but then again, that might not be just the culture... perhaps the person they talk to? people are people... with attitudes weird habits and all that... so you have to take that into consideration. Being from a foreign country myself, I noticed that I have been treated rudely at times, but haven't really blamed the culture, but the individual that actually treated me rudely. My bottom line, don't let this one or two bad experiences stop you from seeing what's out there. believe me, there is A LOT to see, and the US is not the whole world... so keep an open mind, expect some funkiness on the way, it's part of the adventure... you'll love it, I promise. Response for people commenting on the middle east: ======================================... I agree with you guys for the most part, but please don't make that a rule. Being Lebanese, and not because I'm wanting to brag, but I'm telling you this from personal experience of tourists coming to lebanon.... I can tell you that Lebanon, and Lebanese families are one of the most hospitable in the world... at this time, yes, I wouldn't advise you to go certain part of Iraq, for instance... but, the Middle East is big in itself, there are options, you just have to choose wisely depending on the circumstances. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

cindy s	I would say very dangerous wherever you go. After traveling to other countries Americans have lost the respect they once had. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

JS	Pretend to be Canadian - plaster your luggage and body with Canadian flags as they do so they aren't mistaken for Americans! Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

gokart121	? Get on a plane, and find out for yourself. The world is a big place, don't miss it because your friend had a bad experience.... Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

uconntea989	yeah basically everyone hates us...either jealous or angry about the past or current events... but it really depends on where you go to find out how safe it is...i doubt many ppl will KILL you if they found out that you're american...it really isn't a problem in most places... if you go to a thrid world country, the people will like attack you because they want money...and they will be nice to you... other places they will despise your american-ness but not really do anything bad to you Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

enlightenment	It depends what type of American you are and what you act like. If people know you have a brain and are aware of the facts about the Iraq War and about the Middle East and about US interventions in Latin America for instance, they will respect you. If you are a stooge who has thier head up thier anus then people there (with more education, know-how and culture) will think you are an anus. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Rick C	It depends...some places like the middle east or other unstable areas are hotbeds of hatred of America and they WOULD be dangerous. A lot of people report this treatment from Europe but I've never had that experience. The only time most Americans get mistreated in Europe is when they act like Americans...think they are entitled to special treatment, act rudely and obnoxiously etc. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Isis	A lot of countries either hate the USA or are jealous. Outside of the UK. Europe, The Caribbean (except Cuba)or Canada I would tread with caution. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

shmargle	Well why I was in Uruguay South America, I was alomost jumped because someone told someone else that I was an American, really I am Canadian, It really depends where you go in the world, definately stay far fra away from the Middle East, Asia isn't a bad place for american (CHINA) Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Roadrunner58-79	Go to the US State Department web site and it will tell you of any travel advisories to any country in the world. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

soniaatcalifornia	EVERYBODY HATES US THANKS TO BUSH!!!!! He is doing a find job of it. Also, the Americans in general are very rude hostile people! Unfortunately, we have to pay the price for every idiot who paved the path of destruction for us. I would not travel abroad EVER! Even if someone gave it to me on a silver platter with a cherry on top. I'm aware of how the world feels about us and it seems you are aware of this also now. Please don't do it if you don't want to run the risk of being taken hostage or anything to make us pay for all the destruction Bush is causing. Wow, your poor friend! Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Matrim	It depends where you go. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Coolink	Say you're Canadian and you'll be safe anywhere in the world. Canadians don't like war. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

student	as an Iranian , once i gave a ride to one American lady when she was lost!and when i asked her how you found Iranians?she said "afterwards i do not believe in USA medias about Iranian!!!" and she said she could not believe Iranian women are the most protected free women in middle east!!! she said she traveled many times as she is a journalist and it happened many times that people would do a favor for her and in return asked her to go and tell Americans we are peacfull people!!! hm!i forgot to tell she told me"i traveled many countries and i never saw any country as friendly as Iranians!!!"and i have to add that she was happy for being in Iran but our journalist get VISA C for being in USA!you know what does it mean? Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

eddiervc	Think of the outpouring of love for the US after 9/11. The hatred the world now has towards the US is due solely to the current administration... Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

scott_v1963	Personally, I love travelling with a broad. I don't know why it wouldn't be safe for Americans or anyone els? Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Isabelle	he is right ! Everybody hates Americans ! They are loud, can't speak any other language, obnoxious, think they are above the rest, badly dressed, their best sex fetish is the American flag.........OH..stay at home and kill each other instead :-)) (Joking..don't take me seriously..but maybe your friend was one of those ???) I still think you would be pretty safe anyway. Lots of Americans go abroad and do not recounter anything particularly nasty. I don't know why your friend had such a bad experience. Maybe he was among stupid people who regard the nationality before considering the person. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

SlackWabbit695¼	The way you phrased your question was a bit like an ignorant tourist my friend - you didn't say what country he went to, so you are treating all foreign countries the same way. So if he was similarly indiscriminate, then he probably deserved hostile treatment for not respecting the country that he was in. A great example of how tourists can be treated differently was seen in the show "the Amazing Race". You had two American teams going against each other. One was the "frat boys", who typified the stereotype of the ignorant American - loud, obnoxious, sneering at other people, and not really showing any interest or respect in any of the countries they visited. In the end, they lost the game because they couldn't even recognize the flags of the countries that they had spent so much time in. On the other hand, you had the "hippies", who took a genuine interest in the countries they went to. They learned local customs, they spoke Japanese, knew the layout of the land, and truly embraced all that they encountered. In return they were loved wherever they went. So it really does depend on what kind of tourist you are. But in general, yes, most countries of the world despise America for they way it invaded of Iraq and how it handled the aftermath. (Iraq also unfortunately typifies American involvement in foreign countries, such as the Middle East in general, Viet Nam, as well as central America. So the same pattern seems to repeat itself without end where only American interests count at the expense of the locals.). And some people will unfortunately transfer their anger towards any American they see. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No