Are you wary of travelling to USA currently?

[RosaMoline]

I am sure you will tell me I’m BU, but that’s fine!
I’ve been to the states numerous times - Florida (all over, not just Disney/Orlando), New York City, California (los Angeles), Massachusetts and New Orleans.
Myself and 2 adult DCs were planning to go to Orlando again this October. Primarily for Halloween and DS (28) is autistic & very fixated with all things Disney.
DD (30) and I decided not to go ahead and take DS to Disneyland Paris instead. Yes, we’ve been there before, and it doesn’t really compare to the US version (IMO) not even close, but DS won’t mind.
it’s solely down to the current POS in charge and all his minions. America seems (to me) to be on a knife edge, very volatile, and DD being LGBT is understandably unsettled too.
I am not the sort of person who usually would even give a moment’s thought to something like this, but I just have a really uneasy feeling about going there. Chances are, at age 58, I may never go again.
AIBU or would you be thinking twice at the moment about travelling there? (especially Florida which is a red state)
I detest that man SO much!

None of my hard earned cash will be going into his economy. I know this will have no effect on anything but my conscience but it helps me sleep at night.

There is some truth that sectors of the USA need a wake up call. In many sectors they live as if they have money trees and it's still the 1950s. Americans have been fed this false narrative by subsequent Governments that they are the best country in the world. Take the military eg a family member still shops in military shops and has additional benefits owing to her husband being in the military in the 1960s. It's ridiculous. The USA is still antiquated in many ways. Having to deal with their banking system and many of their companies is mind blowing. It's like a time warp.

I have travelled all over the US and am still shocked at how poor their websites are for attractions. Often very little practical information such as opening times, are you open on bank holidays, accessibility, etc. They expect you to ring and check out basic information.

I think if I already had a trip booked imminently I would probably go rather than risk losing money and a trip of a lifetime. The USA still has loads to offer in terms of history, culture, sightseeing, entertainment and that toad being in power doesn’t change all that. I don’t know that Americans will see much immediate change; on a day to basis life will go on much as it has been doing. I do desperately fear for the trans community and those from ethnic minorities.
However (and this a big however) I am not going out of my way to go there anytime soon and would prefer to wait until someone sane is in power before booking another trip. I’m not worried about safety so much as not really wanting to contribute to the economy of a country that would vote someone in who is a racist, homophobic, bigoted, gun- loving criminal.

At this rate some of you will have nowhere in the world to go 🤷‍♀️

As a visitor the changes will start to show, for example, in places like visiting the national parks. Lots of rangers have been laid off indiscriminately and some trails are closing already.

Classic Mumsnet isn’t it? 😂

Thank you! We appreciate the support. I’ve never seen my own country so united. The disrespect and threats against Canada is an unforgivable betrayal. Canadians have died to help the US fight wars they often provoked, and they threaten to annex us?

Canadians are en masse protesting with out wallets, buying “Canadian first, everywhere else second, American last”. Florida oranges are rotting in our supermarkets, but limes from Mexico are flying off the shelves lest we get scurvy. We are choosing British Cadbury chocolate over American, Amazon purchases have fallen 10% compared to last year, and we are changing US holiday plans for Canada or Europe, not just as a protest, but to avoid being investing in the regime.

I live close to the US border and I didn’t think I’d have to worry about them invading, but many people are quietly figuring out plans on if that happens.

We welcome you!

Make sure your family has their passports and other identification on them at all times. ICE raids are absolutely occurring and you don’t want you or your kids to get caught up in one with a non American accent and no documentation.

They seem to be more targeted than that, they seem to know who they’re picking up before they do so. Even though it’s often unfair. And callous. And not usually aimed at British people.

I wouldn't go.

I don't fear civil war but I would expect prices to rise, crime to increase, health care (generally not just for pregnancies) to be even more compromised (as staff who can get work easily in other countries leave) and any federal run department such as air traffic safety to have more incidents over the next few years.

Decent healthcare is one of the first things I look for when I travel so that I know if my DC are unwell I can rely on the health system. I don't feel that way about the US.

@CanadaNotAMum Ww keep a copy of our passports with us. We have had quite a few holidays in Canada, most recently last September in Nova Scotia. Had an amazing week in the Great Bear Rainforest a few years ago. Always love Canada

By the way, I hate to tell you, but Cadbury is owned by an American company. Modelez. They makes Oreos and Toblerone. Cadbury sold around 15 years ago to Kraft Inc and are not British. Rowntree are part of Nesle: Swiss. Not American though.

Thank you for the Cadbury info! This situation might be the thing that makes me give up chocolate entirely.

@CanadaNotAMum Oh no!! Try Nestle brands. Swiss! As for USA siding with Russia and North Korea at the UN?!! What a dangerous world we now live in. Hopefully USA citizens are stronger than a Trump dictatorship.

I went in our local Le Beau Marché and they had Nestle and Lindt - I’m buying these now. There is also a brand produced in Vancouver but can’t remember the name.

Or go for Laura Secord, now in Canadian hands again.

I saw that and it aligns with my research for non-US brands. Often the packaging shows two brands, the main brand and in smaller font on the back the corporation that the brand belongs to.
Many brands have a wikipedia entry, if you have a few minutes, there often will be the answers about the owners.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mondelez_International

About flight safety and maintenance and research in parks and on trails:

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/24/us/delta-flight-haze-evacuation-emergency/index.html

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/25/us/chicago-midway-airport-near-miss-planes/index.html

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/25/federal-workers-mass-firings-reaction

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/24/us/national-park-rangers-layoffs/index.html

Edited: sorry, did some back scrolling and can now see someone else has already said this!

Sadly Cadbury is no longer a British chocolate 😕.US conglomerate Kraft/Mondelez bought it out a few years ago with a hostile takeover.

I'm making a conscious choice now to buy European/Canadian/Australian products. I've been surprised at what I'd considered quintessential European or British brands are actually US owned.

We are supposed to be going to Japan this year, but with the international situation deteriorating so rapidly I'm having doubts about any long-haul trips for a while yet.

I’m thinking the same thing. I’ve got a trip to India booked for November.

I really would still go! This is what bullies do. Make you all scared. If we are advised not to go, that’s different. Don’t be bullied into changing plans.

From our point of view, I’ve spoke to our tour operator this morning and their USA agents are briefing them regularly on how they think holidays may, or may not, be affected. Summer temp recruitment is going ahead. Most people laid off were probationers. Not that I agree with that because any service needs to replenish itself. Also the hotel we are staying at in the park is a concession. They don’t anticipate any NP we are going to closing. Maybe longer queues for entry and fewer talks from rangers. So we are obviously still going.

There's a German tourist with a valid passport, visa and return flight - which she has now missed--being detained by ICE for the last few weeks..... Nope I don't think I'd risk the US at the minute

My goodness, just seen that story and it's nuts.

@CanadaNotAMum We're also close to the border and giving serious thought to what we'd do in case of a ground invasion. I don't think it's likely but it does not feel impossible.