'''Travel is so broadening''

I like traveling overseas but I don’t consider it broadening per se. It might be so for someone who never reads, but do they travel?

For me it’s just fun.

76% seems really high to me...how many of those are just people who went to some all-inclusive resort in Mexico or the Caribbean? I didn't think that many Americans even have passports.

Of all the things I wish I could afford, I wish I could afford to travel more. I just came back from Mexico, for example, I was struck (among other things) the many symbols, signs and protests about the injustices reaped upon it's citizens by in many cases, their own police force. I don't say that as in an "America is better" kind of way, but more of a better understanding of the oppression people face & why they'd choose a perilous journey to the US.

Agreed, the number seems high, or rather higher than is always suggested.

This study at link is now 6 years old but shows a huge increase in the number of passport holders over 30 years:

1990 4%

1997 15%

2007 27%* (U.S. citizens traveling by air between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda were newly required to have a valid passport)

2018 42%

I feel pretty good that I am in the 26% who have visited 5 countries or more, but that said, I've visited JUST five countries, and I'd like to be in the "or more" category.

The five I've visited (and spent actual time in, driving around and experiencing some of the culture or natural beauty - not via a resort) are: Italy, France, England, Canada and Mexico.

I've spent quite a lot of time in Eastern Canada (having had a former boyfriend from there) and just a little time in Mexico (outside of Tijuana, we went camping in Baja, CA - that was an experience I'll never duplicate). Canada is NOT just like the US, by the way - it is different.

I'm hoping to cross over into the "or more" category this year, but as of yet don't have a plan as to where. I sometimes like to fly by the seat of my pants on those things. We'll see.

This hurts the mythology that Americans don’t travel internationally.

If you count Vatican City I've been to six.

Is it really broadening when you just do sex tourism?

In the 65+ age group, only 15% are non-travelers.

I’ve been to 19 countries in Europe, including Monaco and Vatican City and not counting Gibraltar. Also, Canada, Mexico and Bahamas, of course. Seeing foreign countries in-person makes me have less respect for them, not more.

[quote]Seeing foreign countries in-person makes me have less respect for them, not more.

Just as Sinclair Lewis said.

I think travel is broadening for teens and young adults. It also reinforces how fortunate we are in the States for a lot of things, and how sparse our cultural/artistic history is.

Asia- Taiwan, Hong Kong, Philippines, Thailand, Myanmar. I'd love to put Japan, but it was a layover for an overnight

Tahiti/Bora Bora

Bahamas

South America: Argentina

North America: Canada, Mexico

Europe: France, England, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Vatican City, Romania, Austria, Germany

US: Hawaii, California, Arizona, Nevada, Texas, Montana, Colorado, Utah, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Louisiana, Georgia, North Carolina, New York, Massachusetts

Since r12 added it on his post (and despite the fact I've only been to five countries), I've driven through and/or visited almost every state in the U.S. except Wisconsin, Arkansas, Michigan, Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Delaware and Rhode Island.

Born in Hawaii.

The “Globe-trotter” definition is hilarious!

Yes, R14. I don't consider myself widely travelled, but I have 5 countries beat by 5x or more. Many European friends could quickly name 15 Asian countries, 10 in Africa, 10 in South America, 25 in Europe, plus Australia, the rest of the Americas... And none of them through corporate travel or on hurried tours. An American friend who is a school teacher has travelled to 65+ countries and many other friends have done their travel on the cheap.