Stories like this can’t be good for tourism.

[jon-nyc]

Two German teens plan a long post-graduation trip to the US and Costa Rica. Because they didn’t prebook places to stay for the entire 5 weeks they planned to be in Hawaii, customs agents threw them in a detention facility and then booted them out of the country.

I imagine stories like this get wide coverage throughout Europe.

Here are the two scary looking gang members/terrorists:

https://nypost.com/2025/04/21/us-news/german-teens-traveling-to-us-jailed-and-deported-over-loosely-planned-vacation-being-found-suspicious/

[Klaus]

Wow. I've made many trips to the US where I didn't book everything in advance.

If it is mandatory to book every accommodation in advance, they should say so instead of making entry in the US a game of chance.

[Klaus]

Independently of this story, I read recently that tourism from Germany to the US is down around 40%.

[jon-nyc]

@Klaus said in Stories like this can’t be good for tourism.:

Wow. I've made many trips to the US where I didn't book everything in advance.

If it is mandatory to book every accommodation in advance, they should say so instead of making entry in the US a game of chance.

Maybe I should send you a letter for your July visit.

[jon-nyc]

[taiwan_girl]

Waiting for a "rag tag" group of of small level people with pitchforks (farmers, restaurant owners, hostel owners, small business companies, etc etc) to gather outside the White House demanding change. Behind them will be the big business owners waiting their turn.

[Wim]

@Klaus There is no real mentioning. But they do require an adress where you're staying your first night. Maybe that was unclear?

BTW, my experience with US customs and immigration never was agreeable...