My Wife and I are going to Europe in 8 months.
In this Trump clusterfuck, I’m wondering how two obvious United States citizens will be received.
I feel like getting a button, ‘I didn’t vote for him (it really)’ But dammit, i feel somewhat responsible since I live in the USA. The US really jacked things up.
Any recent experences traveling since it was elected?
I traveled to Europe (Iceland and Greece) during Trump’s first presidency and I didn’t feel I was treated any differently than I was when Obama was president.
This is really really over exaggerated. ‘Claim to be Canadian and sew a Canadian flag on your backpack’ was so-called advice going back to at least the W Bush Iraq era and has probably been around before that.
Absolutely nothing to worry about. No one that the average tourist is going to run across is going to be talking about Trump non stop. I assume you’re not planning on hitting up student oriented coffeehouses or bars where the activists are likely to hang out.
Avoiding protests is always a good thing, just move away just as if you stumble upon one in Washington DC.
I believe you need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) to travel to the United Kingdom, as of January 8, 2025.
And ETIAS will launch at some point for travel to the Schengen area, but it has been delayed numerous times.
Don’t act like an asshole and people everywhere will treat you just fine, especially in those Western countries. And Iceland is certainly in Europe, they’ve been in Eurovision nearly every year.
Thanks. We are unobtrusive. And quite. Happy to talk to locals and explore. Sounds like it will be OK.
I’m not afraid to share the embarrassment of my own country, should someone bring in up. I won’t.
So you are from Iceland? My cousin and her husband were there last year and spoke highly of the emergency health care he recieved. He had a siezure, and something to do with his lungs. It was while the volcano was oozing.
You need the ETA just to change planes in the UK, even if you never leave the terminal.
I suppose it’s in case there is a reason you cannot continue travel, you can leave the airport to stay in a hotel. Still, it was a bit of a surprise to me. Luckily it’s easy to apply for and not too expensive ($13).
Just dont bring up politics or religion, or current events, and you’ll be fine. If anyone wants to talk with you about those topics, politely decline or just move away.
The above should also applies to domestic holiday meals!
I am an American living full time in Europe.
People here are definitely curious about how the U.S. has been losing its mind over the last decade or so. This is especially true very recently, since Germany et al. have their own problems with revitalized fascist assholes knocking on the governmental door.
I had more than one co-worker come to my desk the day after Trump’s reelection to express sympathy and ask questions.
So there’s definitely awareness of, and curiosity about, American politics. If you display any openness on those subjects, you’ll get a receptive, interested response. It’s unlikely anyone will press you, though, if you signal close-mouthedness. People here are generally respectful, and are quite aware that the Americans who come to Europe are not the same as the Americans who stay inside U.S. borders and who are largely responsible for steering the country off a cliff.
If you were traveling in Germany or Austria, I’d counsel a bit more caution on political topics, because the resurgent fascists are more loud and obvious and confrontational there. But those aren’t on your list, so travel away.
If this was directed to me (the OP) No, not from Iceland. That’s our first stop. Flying out of Denver.
Thanks everyone, looks like it should be cool (I’m still embarrassed though).
Being in Eurovision is no indication whether a country in in Europe ot not. Austrailia is in Eurovision!!
If depends how you define it, politically Iceland is in the EEA (but not the EU) and culturally it is pretty much European so I would consider it part of Europe.
Geologically the Mid Atlantic ridge (which divides the Eurasian and North Americal plates runs through Iceland so by that measure half of Iceland is in N. American and half in Europe.
You’ll be fine, OP! Europe is always awash with US tourists, you won’t scare any horses. You’ll get plenty of ‘Trump though’ comments but all in good heart. And plenty of sympathy - we know the US is split down the middle on Trump and many European countries are having their own political nightmares right now.
Icelanders themselves will answer this question inconsistently depending on whether it does or doesn’t serve their interests to be included in or excluded from Europe on any given topic.
So what would they consider themselves? North American? Or just kinda sui generic/unaffiliated? I’ve never thought of Iceland as anything but European, whether it’s an EU member or not.
I was reliably informed by locals that they may alternatively consider themselves European, Scandinavian, or simply Icelandic depending entirely on context and convenience. But also that, depending on who you’re talking to, you may not get the same answers from person to person and topic to topic.
It was a very interesting place to visit and learn about, to be sure.
Don’t mention the war. I did once, but I think I got away with it.
Despite having lived in Canada for 47 of my 51 years, my accent gets me mistaken for an American off and on when I travel Over There. I’ve never once been asked about American politics. And honestly, the stereotype of the loud American tourist (Hawaiian shirt, wears flip-flops into the Louvre, complains at the top of his lungs that the beer is too warm) is a caricature that’s accurate for like .001% of the Yanks over there. If someone is spending their money (especially in this economy) to travel, they’re not going to engage in unpleasantness. When I took a bus tour of Cologne a couple of years ago, a couple of Americans were sitting across the aisle from me. Got a retired military vibe from the husband.
“You don’t sound like you’re from around here either.”
“Yeah, I’m from Toronto.”
“Texas.”
“Uh-huh.” (dead silence for the rest of the tour)
I do occasionally get the odd Canadian question. A Vodafone clerk in Cardiff once asked me if I knew Drake.
It’s bucket list for me. I wanted to go years ago when it got cheaper there because of their economic situation at the time, but I couldn’t find time. And now it’s even trickier, but I vow to get out there.