Is Traveling to the U.S. Still Worth It in 2025?
This post may contain affiliate links. If you use them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Please see our disclaimer page for more information.
We analyzed 337 comments from a social media thread discussing traveling to the U.S. The sentiment analysis classified 75% of the comments as negative and 25% as positive, with high confidence scores (0.96 – 0.97). This sentiment classification was meant to depict the tone of the comments, which may or may not directly indicate whether a commenter is likely to visit the U.S. Usually, commenters engage with each other in positive or negative tone while not specifically discussing the topic at stake. Regardless, we’re delighted to bring you the main contention of the debate.
Perception of the USA
Commenters were divided regarding their opinions about the U.S. Some, especially Australians in the country, painted a picture of rapid decline. Opinions on whether to travel split sharply. Some argued against traveling to the U.S., citing safety, principles, or political protests. Others recommended traveling with caution, mentioning that most tourists visit the country without incident and can enjoy the U.S. if they plan carefully. A minority urged going sooner rather than later, before policies become worse.
Experiences varied dramatically. Some reported no problems traveling across major cities like L.A., Miami, New York, and Denver, describing friendly locals and smooth customs. Others, particularly those who are brown, LGBTQ+, or have immigrant backgrounds, emphasized real risks such as detentions, racial profiling, or harassment.
Tips and Advice
As briefly mentioned earlier, practical tips were evoked repeatedly. Commenters recommended to keep passports and itineraries handy, avoid risky neighborhoods while in the country, stay alert as a solo traveler, budget for inflation, and follow visa rules closely. Flying into liberal states like California rather than conservative regions was recommended by some. Commenters generally agreed that tourists following these precautions are unlikely to face serious issues, though a few stressed that luck and circumstances can make a difference.