[screye]

Surprised Canadians would pick the US as a tourist destination to begin with.

Europe is cheaper and more fun. America's one advantage: nature, is matched and at times exceeded by Canada. Flights to warm places like Miami and SD take just as long as Mexico or the Caribbean.

Other than NYC and Utah-area national parks, I can't think of unique reasons for Canadians to vacation in the US specifically.

[mullingitover]

Also, if you want the booming, futuristic metropolis experience that doesn't exist in any comparable way in the US, China now offers visa-free travel for Canadians[1].

[1] https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c875d3d3x34o

[metalman]

ok thats interesting, wonder how they take to overlanding? drive west the whole way accross Canada, ship the rig, fly over , keep driving west till the atlantic shows up, ship the rig , fly home.

[elevaet]

There were lots of places in the USA that (as a Canadian) my family and friends loved visiting - Kauai for hiking and beaches, Mt. Baker for skiing, bay area for all the weird stuff that goes on there, Nevada for that thing in the desert, Oregon coast for surfing, Utah-area parks like you said, hiking in Washington.

Lots of amazing outdoor adventures to be had in the USA. Now days I don't know anyone that goes to the states.

[null_deref]

> Other than NYC and Utah-area national parks, I can't think of unique reasons for Canadians to vacation in the US specifically.

While NYC and Utah Area national parks are iconic, the US has immense geographic and cultural diversity beyond them. Destinations like New Orleans, the California coast, or the unique high-desert landscapes of New Mexico offer experiences that are distinct from anything available in Canada.

[morkalork]

Trump aside, the US hasn't been good stewards of their tourism in major cities. Las Vegas is bent on pricing itself out of reach and New Orleans apparently hasn't been the same since Katrina.

[null_deref]

I take your point, but I believe the U.S. brand has historically shown a strong ability to weather the types of challenges you mentioned. I’m actually quite optimistic that it can bounce back at least partially to its former standing relatively quickly once the current unrest subsides. Additionally, speaking as someone from outside North America, I find the unique appeal of New England to be a major draw also

[saltcod]

Shorter, cheaper flights. Toronto to Orlando is 2.5 hrs I think?

[stockresearcher]

All the major Canadian airports also have the US customs and immigration on-site. You go through it as part of the standard airport security process and then the airplane goes to a domestic terminal when it lands, as if the flight had originated within the US. You get off the plane, grab your luggage and leave, no additional lines, security, talking to officials, etc.

The only European airport that does this is Dublin, last I checked.

[jen20]

Shannon also has pre-clearance. The list is small outside of Canada though - Dublin, Shannon, Abu Dhabi, Aruba, Bermuda and Nassau.

[OJFord]

You can use eGates in the UK, same as me as a British citizen (as long as your passport's new enough, probably all of them by now) - that covers it doesn't it? Otherwise I'm not clear what 'pre-clearance' is skipping? Painless for me into Canada too.

[jen20]

Americans can _often_ use eGates into the UK - but the same set of exemptions apply as to British citizens using them. For example, if you're traveling with children under 10, you can't.

However, as others have pointed out, this isn't what pre-clearance is. It's more akin to clearing French passport control and customs in Dover or rather than Calais, and can make the trip substantially shorter than it might be otherwise.

When I still lived in the UK, I found it quicker and more pleasant to fly from Heathrow (or Bristol) to Dublin and then on to the US having cleared immigration during the layover. It's also quite a bit cheaper when you fly from the UK in a premium cabin since Ireland doesn't have the egregious air passenger duties that the UK does.

[PygmySurfer]

It saves you the hassle of going through customs when you land at your destination.

[lukeinator42]

No, they mean we actually clear US customs in Canada as non-US citizens.

[OJFord]

That's what I thought until they mentioned Dublin etc., what does US customs have to do with those in the first place?

[j45]

Europe is likely much more cheaper and fun for those in and around the EU both proximity and accessbility wise.

Looking at the currencies, it might be a bigger difference.

Also looking at flight distance, it might be further.

Visa requirements coudl also vary too.

[jamincan]

I did a two week trip through Southern Utah and northern Arizona two years ago and it was amazing. I loved it, the scenery was incredible and I would love my parents to make the same trip to share what I experienced. They recently outfitted their truck with a camper in the back and have been enjoying long roadtrips in their retirement and it would be a perfect trip for them.

But they have zero interest in going. Part of it is fear and uncertainty about the situation there currently, but another part is just the sourness that the idea of visiting the US right now gives that kind of sucks the appeal out of such a trip.

There are other places they can visit, and Canada is indeed a lovely country in its own right, but I hope there is a time again where they can find joy in the idea of visiting the US and enjoying the beauty of the southwest before they are too old to really appreciate it.

[baxtr]

An 8 hour flight vs a 2 hour flight maybe?

[unethical_ban]

I don't see how getting to Europe is cheaper or easier than getting to the US.

Also the US speaks english which can be nice for an easy vacation. No need to learn phrases or customs before going somewhere.

[jmclnx]

US is far easier to get to. Just go to a Maine or NH beach the the summer. People from Quebec are everywhere.

FWIW, you have not lived until you see a way overweight man wearing only a tiny bikini bathing suit :)

[jeffrallen]

Tabernac!

[xnx]

> America's one advantage: nature

Proximity? Language? Hard to drive to Europe.

[readthenotes1]

At one point, the largest cohort of illegal immigrants in the US was Canadian visa overstays. They must have liked something about the place...

[doomslayer999]

That was Indians, mostly punjabis, hopping the border.

[8note]

florida and california are drivable from canada

[pedalpete]

As a Canadian, we don't think of travelling to the US as "international travel". It's more like going to a friends house.

I remember flying Alaska Airlines out of SFO and when I went to check-in at the International Terminal, the gate agent said "Canada isn't International" and looked at me like I was the dumbest human on the planet.

Either she was seeing Trump's future, or....