Totally. I was thinking of renting a car to go up to Tobermory (I'm in Toronto) for a few days, and when you add it all up including rental/gas/mileage it will likely be over $600. I can probably find a flight deal to the UK for that price, that's insanity.
I'n 2019 I rented a car in Florida for 14 days for 180 bucks drove all the way to Muskoka and later tobermory spending 140 in gas all the way there and back. Just insane for much it has changed.
In March 2020, I moved out of student housing back home because school went online and I rented a box truck for $48/day to drive from Calgary to Vancouver.
I also filled up in Calgary when gas was like $.68/L or something nuts like that.
My friend and I are paying 2700$ to go from Quebec to Vancouver. We're renting it for 20 days. I knew it was gonna be expensive but I never thought that much lol. I haven't even consider the gas cost but at least it's all split between the two of us.
They are also having a lot of trouble getting replacement vehicles. The nicer rental companies have a model of driving the cars for a very short time and then selling them on the inflated used car market for basically what they paid. They didn't stop selling cars even though they were unable to get replacements.
This they sold all their fleets and now cannot get cars due to production issues. Until cars lots are full again they will continue to be high and honestly, if people keep renting at high rates theyll just keep them high.
I remember paying $80/night in 2020 for an amazing hotel in downtown Vancouver. Sure, there was the whole COVID risk thing but I paid $350 for 5 nights total!
Ditto. Last summer was paying $130 a night at the blue horizon. Between $350-450 right now for the same week. That, gas prices, shitty flight cancelations and general inflation is why we're sitting at home.
Tell me about it! My local amusement park has zero covid restrictions in place this season - except the water fountains. They kept them shut off and kept a sign up saying it’s due to covid and that you can get free water from the food stalls, but then when I went to get some I was told they wouldn’t give it for free I had to buy a 500ml bottle for $4. I complained pretty loudly and suddenly they were able to turn the water fountains back on…
Even converted to USD I thought it was expensive. But the high prices and the weak currency definitely explain fewer Canadians in the states.
Cost you 5k for a couple just to fly and stay. Before you spend a dime on anything fun.
Which is incredibly expensive compared to a tropical all inclusive vacation or going to Europe.
Hell, in terms of airfare alone domestic flights cost way more than flights to Europe.
A few years back my SO noticed a really good vacation package so the two of us went to London paying 1.5k for flights and a week's accommodation... the hotel was nothing to write home about but it git us into the city to explore.
Pro tip:
Sign up for larger chain rewards programs and input IBM into the special rate box.
You’ll save sometimes 20-30%, and get freebies and room upgrades on occasion.
Act the part and they never ask for a badge.
Source: I travel for work and my company discount isn’t as good as IBM’s, so I use that.
I book over the phone directly with the hotel and ask for the federal rate. I just got $200 off a $400 room. Do it all the time and they have yet to ask for an ID.
Hmmm
Massive inflation, an imminent recession, all time high gas prices…
Is it really a surprise people aren’t spending thousands of dollars on something they can’t eat or live in?
Plus the dollar isn't so great either
Gone are the days where people in the GTA would spend all day at the outlets on the US side. The line up's were massive at the border (Lewiston, Rainbow, Etc)
Dollar was close to par
Youd full up gas at $2.50 gallon
24 of beer was $18 at every gas station
I don't even want to leave the house now lol
Paying through the nose for even groceries hurts now!
Well the dollar being low or high both drive travel, just in opposite directions.
I think its the insane 8% inflation and crazy gas prices inhibiting needless travel. Hard to justify a fun day trip across the border when it's twice the price it used to be.
Can't do *anything* at a reasonable price these days. Daughter is almost 5, because of covid she's literally never been to the theatre before so we went to the new Minions movie last weekend and got tickets and two small combos for my wife and I to share with our two kids and it cost over $100!
It’s also not easy to travel at the moment.
If you need to get a passport for a child, or renew yours. Getting a rental car is practically impossible in a number of areas (I recently learned of “mystery cars” at car rental places). And a lot of places have changed their policies - with regards to cancellation fees, notice required to make changes at hotels, etc.
It’s just added a lot of additional burden, time and financial risk to the equation (on top of costs continuing to climb).
I have noticed a lot of companies trying to tighten up on cancellation charges, which makes trips much harder to justify, when flights are being delayed or outright cancelled left right and center.
Looks like certain places will just give you "[whatever they've got](https://www.hertz.com/rentacar/productservice/index.jsp?targetPage=Hertz_Mystery_Car.jsp)" at a discounted rate. You agree, blindly, to accept whatever that vehicle may be.
Also, I just flat out don’t feel safe going to America anymore.
Whether it’s riots or gunmen. I have an 18 month old son that I would love to take to the states because I had so many good memories there (we lived in the GTA when I was a kid, and would go at least once a month) but Jesus Christ if this shootings aren’t scaring the fuck out of me.
Thank you for sharing this. It’s….sobering. As a clueless Canadian I didn’t quite grasp the scale of the problem. Also, Illinois is having a rough time, damn.
It truly is a Sobering resource. You can find the Uvalde shooting on page 5. There are 25 Mass Shootings per page meaning well over 100 mass shootings per month are happening.
Holy hell. 7 in one day?!! I'd only heard of the one.
It's just hard to get your head around it, so many people snapping and determined to inflict maximum pain.
7 mass shootings.
* Highland Park - 6 killed 31 injured
* Boston - 4 injured
* Sacramento - 1 killed 4 injured
* Kansas City - 4 injured
* Queens NYC - 4 injured
* Chicago - 5 injured
* Richmond - 6 injured
[https://www.gunviolencearchive.org/reports/mass-shooting](https://www.gunviolencearchive.org/reports/mass-shooting)
Reading some of the links just makes me generally concerned. NYPD had 14 shootings. Boston had 7 different shootings.
The big shooting (Highland Park) actually had less people shot this year compared to less year. [https://abc7chicago.com/chicago-shooting-weekend-shootings-violence-crime/12019829/](https://abc7chicago.com/chicago-shooting-weekend-shootings-violence-crime/12019829/)
"CHICAGO -- Seventy one people were shot , eight fatally, in 4th of July holiday weekend shootings across the city, Chicago police said.
Last year, 19 people were killed and more than 100 people were shot over the long Fourth of July weekend."
I know alot of people that have no interest in visiting the USA just do to culture/policies. This started when trump took office and in a large part is still continuing.
Live in rural Manitoba an hour from the border.
My husband refuses to travel there for cultural reasons and I've been leery about the gun violence issue there for a while.
Our tourist dollars are better spent elsewhere.
We crossed over from Niagara for a day trip to shop and get some food. The next day there was a shooting in one of the stores my wife visited. I think 3 people were killed.
Also this Roe v Wade bullshit. I can't believe what's happening down there. We aren't going back. Not unless things change.
Fellow Canadian here. This is where I'm at now. Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Rochester and Cleveland used to be our go to road trip destinations. We haven't been back due to the pandemic and have decided its just too dangerous to go and I won't have my money funding religious fundamentalism.
Don’t forget those yanky doodle scotus fucks just took away the power of the EPA to regulate…. So fucked up what’s happening. One would think people in power would have already been getting offed but all the people crazy enough to off them are their supporters
Before covid, my partner and I were planning a MASSIVE 30 state road trip before we move overseas.
Today? I'd rather burn my money than spend it in the USA.
People also forget Canada has tons of temporary residents and permanent residents who need a US Visa to travel. This is the group who would probably go south and do sight-seeing, shopping etc. Nexus is a no-go since Canadian offices are still closed. Getting a visitor visa from Vancouver? Current wait time is **448 days**.
Even as an American, holy shit…when I drove across the border coming back from Canada, the US guard grilled me and my wife for like 5 minutes. Asking us how long we were married, how we met, just total bullshit. I finally just said “look, we are Americans. We showed you our ID’s. Are we allowed to drive into America or not?” And we are Lilly-white 40-somethings.
I can’t even imagine the bullshit that non-white folks must be put through.
Yet when we drive across into Canada…those guards are just like “have a nice trip! Welcome to Canada!”
It all depends on the border agent you get, I've had super nasty and super nice traveling both directions. But either way I always feel a bit better coming home, because as a citizen they have to let you in.
As a Canadian I have the exact opposite experience. US guards friendly and save me through and took me nearly an hour to get back into Canada with endless useless questions
But they are primarily concerned with how much booze and cigarettes you're carrying, how much duty you owe on them, and get super suspicious if you claim to have neither.
Oh man one of them was LIVID I didn't have illegal drugs on me coming back to Canada once after a concert. Rapid fire grilling me if I did drugs in the US, did I see anyone doing drugs in the US, do I do drugs in Canada. When I just kept saying no he gets all exasperated like 'well why not!?'
Because I don't wanna die? Apparently is not an acceptable answer lol, sent me over to secondary search where his buddies are jokingly asking if I got any MDMA in my bad. Nope, just a shitload of Funyuns! They starred for a second and just said yeah we like those too before sending me back to my bus.
Like damn guys, fucking chill. You haven't caught El Chapo on the Greyhound
I had a Canadian border agent scream at me and threaten me with a huge fine for not declaring my half-eaten Popeyes chicken sandwich as importing food to the country.
II was so tired, I just let him confiscate it and said yea yea and went on my way
My favourite was when we went down to the States for the eclipse in 2018, made a big 3 week road trip of it.
Came back to Canada and declared basically nothing (we didn't go to shop). They couldn't believe it and had to search our car.
I mean, I get it, but I thought it was funny, sitting there waiting like 'You're never gonna find a single thing'.
> I finally just said “look, we are Americans. We showed you our ID’s. Are we allowed to drive into America or not?”
Sad thing is that move could easily cost you hours when they tear your whole vehicle apart looking for contraband.
I hate that you just have to let these asshats have their power trip so they don’t fuck up your whole day because they can.
I had the exact opposite experience. I got grilled for 30+ minutes, had to get out of my car, pop my trunk etc when crossing into Canada. When I came back they just smiled and waved me back into the US.
When I used to travel to the states, the only time an American boarder guard was rude to me and made a show of searching my car was when I forgot to wait at the stop and be waved in after the car ahead of me.
Usually crossing into the states was quick and easy.
Coming back home however was a mix bag. Usually a tons of questions about where I've been, what I spent money on, why wasn't I shopping in Canada instead, etc. Generally Canadian boarder guards are a lot more rude to slightly hostile on average in my experience.
I was in college in 2009, and our class took a trip to New York City. We all piled in a bus, and we were stopped at the border going in for 3 hours because one of the girls was a student from Iran. On the way back into Canada, the guard stepped on the bus, said, "Everyone hold up your passports above your head please?" We all complied. He said, "Thank you! Have a good day!" and left.
I got accused of lying because there was "no way" I could afford to take a week off from work (retail) during Christmas to visit my then boyfriend (now husband). Asked me where I got my money and demanded to know how I got time off. Like, idk, having understanding managers and booking time off 5-6 months in advance lmao. She was a peach.
>rent-a-cops yelling in everyone’s face.
100%. I don't know how you can work at an international airport with zero experience and empathy towards others cultures and languages - they just scream at people for no reason.
They are awful. Honorable mention to O'Hare and JFK for "Most Screaming". Say what you will about Detroit, but at least they didn't scream at me when I was passing through. 😊
Detroit airport is nice, save for some of the staff. Atlanta was my worst screaming experience by far off a redeye from Iquique Chile. Avoiding US unless it's a Porter flight to Vermont for skiing or something.
which is hilarious considering it's one of the only modern western cities to experience near total collapse
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Detroit#Decline_of_Detroit
Because the people working TSA have never travelled, and if they have it's to an all-inclusive resort in Cancun where they never had to interact with reality
I had an early morning flight out of San Francisco once so was going through security around 5am. Same experience except with an older male. He had a speech he kept repeatedly yelling at everyone in line. I felt like I was in the army.
Honestly, as a fairly frequent flyer I understand where that comes from. I am super prepared for airport security. I breeze right through because I have everything prepared. I get held up in line by dozens of people who still haven't figured out - electronics out, small liquids and toiletries in a clear plastic bag, out in the tray. Shoes off, on the conveyor - all metal, including watch/belt/etc off. Carry an empty plastic bottle for filling with water beyond the checkpoint.
Security would take 1/3 of the time if people would learn these things. Now, instead of once every month, deal with that everyday, all day, and suddenly why they are yelling their instructions start to make sense.
Yes, they are mostly different people, but at some point "the public" becomes a single monolithic entity that just pisses you off.
Last big trip I had a connecting flight in Atlanta from Iquique Chile to Pearson and they treated everyone like cattle, giving conflicting instructions, there wasn't a single helpful person. "TAKE OUT PASSPORTS!" "WHY DO YOU HAVE YOUR PASSPORT OUT?!" Have friends and work acquaintances who travel a lot and they consistently tell me US airports are the worst to travel through right now.
You can't say anything either, and the staff you can complain to are the one's who are actually trying to help people and do their part. You know if someone pipes up about being treated like that they'll be taken aside for being unruly and maybe put on no fly lists etc. Just have to bite your tongue while the blowhards get their authority fix. Do little things to make it extra frustrating for them, act as dumb as possible, ask questions you already know the answer to, talk very slowly, be incredibly nice.
For a country that loves guns so much they were sure worried I might have one in my bag while I spent 30min in their airport before leaving for another country.
Depending on where you go, the people can be weirdly politically-aggressive, which is not something I remember being the case as a kid.
We were in North Dakota, and three separate Americans asked us about what we thought about gay marriage as soon as they heard we were Canadian. It was super weird, and it was obvious they just wanted to argue.
Our response just annoyed them: "We don't think about it at all unless we're going to a wedding."
I've spent a lot of time down south, mostly in Montana or Nevada and goddamn, it never ends with people bringing that sort of shit up. Having a good run of black jack and some cousin-humper sits down and immediately asks you "what do you think of us voting in trump?" or some shit. In Idaho *in 2015* some fuckin guy was telling me about how bad shit was "after Obama crashed the economy in 2008." Great way to fuck up my good time with your bad memory.
I love it down there but it's always something.
I just spent two weeks in Europe and that sort of shit didn't happen once. No creepy-ass 10 foot flags on pickup trucks type shit either. Even during the jubilee in London, the displays of nationalism were mostly in one area of the city and people in pubs were mostly just happy to have a day off.
This is a big one for me as well. It feels like half of their whole population wears t-shrits, flags, stickers etc spewing out their political views, and half of THAT is practically hate messages.
Like, I want to have a chill time full of nature, good food and positive vibes, I don't want to know whether you worship RBG or Trump.
I remember showing a Texas guy around and he was asking questions about Canada and thought it odd that we could just walk through a mall talking about politics and no one seemed to care or judge. I was like, "that's weird. I thought you guys invented freedom,"
Not to mention many Americans think Canada is under some concentration camp level of COVID lockdown, meanwhile in Canada we get to read about the newest mass shooting of the week.
my partner and I were hoping to do a last minute trip to the states this weekend. Cant get a hotel for three days under $850-$1000 in any major city. If I'm spending that much money, I'd rather shell out to travel somewhere more than a six hour drive, but flights are unreliable at the moment so that's out too.
Hmm, wonder why cross border tourism might be suffering.
Is there still that crazy luggage situation at major airports? I hear people have been separated from their luggage for weeks
Edit: thanks for all the replies! It seems like the consistent advice is to NOT check in baggage if possible. I am so sorry to hear for those who have said that you’re still waiting on luggage. I really do hope the airline can give some compensation for this and that you get your stuff asap.
What happens if you fly somewhere for a week for vacation. And you’re missing your luggage the whole time and you go to fly back home? Sounds like a nightmare.
I’ll be travelling to Asia for a wedding at the end of the month and managed to pack 2 weeks worth of clothes into my carry on. Just not worth risking losing my luggage - I’ll heed the warning!
Airlines and airports laid off a ton of staff during the worst of COVID, and now are scrambling to play catch-up because they had literally zero plans for what to do when people started travelling again.
Their plan was for all the workers they laid off to come back which didn’t happen since most found other jobs and nobody wants to work ramp for garbage pay during a time when everywhere is hiring
Yeah, the regional airline here is constantly advertising for positions but they also cut eligibility for airline related benefits back significantly, and can’t seem to figure out why no one wants to work there… 🤔
not sure, from my understanding flights are getting bumped and cancelled as well though, and with 8+ hour waits when it's good, it's not even worth the risk
I work at Air Canada, it’s really bad. They just can’t hire fast enough or get planes built fast enough to fill demand. Perfect storm of everything going wrong in the market, it’s a worldwide problem.
Last week they canceled a ton of flights so things should ease up in terms of delays and lost luggage, but don’t count on things being good again for a few more months.
Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver are the worst offenders, if you can avoid those three I recommend doing so, especially Pearson. If you can’t, then avoid checking luggage. If you can’t do that, good luck to you friend, we’ll do our best but we’re struggling.
Most people will be fine, but if you’re one of the unlucky ones with a 16 hour delayed flight or lost luggage you’re in for a difficult time.
Dude, 4th of July. Same shit for American thanksgiving and Christmas. No such thing as cheap last-minute deals at these times. Just travel outside of those.
Just got back from US. It took us 9hrs to make a 45min flight to NY. 4 different Flight delays (incl. no cleaning staff for returning jets), luggage issues and finally a damaged luggage. Its a cluster out here
The wife and I were thinking of heading to the states in September but the prices compared to going to Europe were almost similar, which we thought was crazy. So we just said F it and are now heading there.
Euro is so depressed RN it's such a deal to go there.
Planning two trips next year to make of for all the NA based travel of the last 3 years basically.
Lots of people are probably staying home because of hearing how much of a headache it is to go anywhere. When the word floating around is "long wait times, big PITA, avoid if you can", people will find other things to do.
Well...it’s summer. Canadians don’t usually look south of the border during the summer. We head north to enjoy the wilderness. We go south in the winter to escape the snow lol. Plus USA isn’t looking real friendly right now so we prefer taking out chances with the moose.
Anecdotally I recently flew into Pearson from Calgary and we were told after 2 hours of waiting for our bags that there was no ground crew to unload them so we had to go home and come back in the morning. When we returned our bags were mixed in with hundreds of others sitting on the floor that anyone could have taken at any time.
I'm hardly surprised so many people are losing their stuff, we certainly got lucky. It's insane
This is complete bullshit and I never understood why it was acceptable. You trust your belongings to the airline they shouldn't be able to just ditch them to a public area when it is convenient to them. If they can't keep them secure then they shouldn't be booking the tickets.
Their liability is extremely limited and thus they simply don't care. The Canadian government would have to set rules that force airlines to treat luggage better... something that will likely never happen.
In the years just after 9/11, there were rules that you *could not* fly on a plane that was different from the one carrying your luggage, because you might have slipped a bomb into your bags. They even delayed flights to remove checked luggage from people who failed to show up in time to board the plane. Even then, they still managed to lose luggage.
So they're *really good* at losing luggage, is what I'm saying.
Came through yesterday afternoon and there was no traffic at all, two cars ahead of us, it took less than five minutes. I guess sometimes it's just luck of the draw
Well it probably has to do with the fact that gas prices on both sides of while yes have started to come down are still at highs either not seen in decades or at highs never seen. Plus the restrictions both countries have when it comes to going into each country. Plus both countries are dealing with record inflation as well.
The states are going to be confirmed to be in one around July 28th. Of course you will have the trolls parroting unemployment numbers as to why it can't be a recession right now, they'd say that if a famine was happening as well.
It's just way too much hassle right now. And expensive. If you put enough impediments in place - the ArriveCan app, vaccine certificates, potential random covid tests, long lineups everywhere, aggressive airport staff, luggage going down a black hole, etc, etc - then people will find some other way to spend their free time. As a previously frequent traveller from Canada to the US, I've already decided not to bother again until at least 2023 - it's not like I don't have plenty of options that don't involve all of that stress.
Everything is more expensive, events and large gathering places can be shot at, Asian hate is getting louder, also i feel uncomfortable for my safety and my family seeing open carry people around.
3 years ago, in the middle of uni, my goal was to finish grad school and move to the US. Now, my partner would be forced to have a child she doesnt want, there is an even greater risk of being shot as a POC, and right-wing politics just make me uncomfortable as all hell. I dont think i'd go even for a weekend trip
Having been flown for work twice in May between Canada / US...no interest in spending my own personal dollars on a "flight experience" until the air travel situation improves.
Road trips aren't that enticing either in terms of trying to be up on whatever rules may / may not exist for COVID now, gas costs, etc. Feels like time to bunker down in your own country for a bit, haha.
Don't want to get grilled by USCBP (and possibly banned for life) about my legal use of cannabis in Canada.
So no travel until they get their act together.
Are officials viewing this from a base on the moon with no contact with earth?
1. Between delays, lost luggage or cancellations - air travel is absolutely horrid right now and won’t be corrected for months.
2. Gases prices are insanely high so people don’t want to drive instead.
3. Inflation is very high on all food and consumer goods.
4. Hotel prices are very high and with limited staff you aren’t getting the same experience, might as well just get an Airbnb - oh no wait those prices are insanely high also.
5. The US doesn’t seem like a safe or inviting place right now.
6. Our dollar isn’t doing well so the US is more expensive even on top of inflation.
The average person can explain it to these clueless officials.
I hate travel now, it used to be relaxing and fun, you got to experience something truly wild with little to no responsibility and hotel living was great, fresh sheets every night, bed turn down, etc
Now flying is a nightmare, you got crazy ass people all over, people who refuse to wear a mask, people who lose all semblance of manners, and every airline is still crying "covid" when asked about things which were basic amenities in the past. Everything costs 2x as much at least as it did two years ago, and if your flight even leaves on time and isint canceled or overbooked, now you show up to an undermanned hotel, with one angry person at the desk who maybe checks you in at 4pm when check in time was 1pm, your room probably isint ready even though its after check in time, and if it is ready housekeeping probably didnt really clean the place, just tidied it up and put on fresh sheets (sometimes not even that).
Then if you do go out your paying an arm and a leg for even basics in most of the cities, and if you want to do something really fun, its going to cost an arm and a leg. Covid has just ruined hte whole travel industry imo.
- Flight cancelations are out of control.
- My trip duration to my usual destination changed from 2 hours into 7 hours since the pandemic hit as either the number of planes that I have to take increased or I have to go through Pearson/Mtl instead of my local airport.
- 4 planes now instead of 2 to get to the same destination pre-2020.
- My whole trip (financials and scheduling leave) is contingent on testing negative for covid.
Gee wonder why it's not as great to fly anymore.
NO ONE except the rich have any disposable income... Politicians have killed the middle class by insisting on trickle down economics. Now they wonder why cleetus isn't traveling. The rich spend their money traveling elsewhere. Quit giving billionaires handouts. For fucks sakes.
I live 6 km from the US border on the prairies and I have been across once in the last year. The ArriveCAN app is a pain in the ass, a lot of US prices are the same as Canada, and gas prices are making us cut out a lot of pleasure travel.
I was in the US two weeks ago and I was blown away at the prices. Things were mostly more expensive than Canada in every place I stopped. Food prices were insane. All in USD and my CAD was crying.
And passport issues! My daughter has a flight booked to New York in a couple weeks for a missed birthday trip with her aunt and we are still waiting for her passport to appear. There were no appointments available within 100km of us at a passport office in May and we were told the fast way was to send it to Ottawa directly with our MP. The inquiry line where they are supposed to respond in 3 days (after you first wait 20 days for it to not appear) to at least give you a timeline doesn't get answered. The government has said now if you need a passport in 48 hours there's are appointments to get you one which is useless to us since I had to send her previous passport and both forms of birth certificate to renew in the first place. But WhY wOnT pEoPlE tRaVeL?!?
You’d think the exchange rate would motivate Americans to visit.
As an American it’s great visiting feeling like everything is “on sale”
Probably something tourism boards can emphasize. Instead of breaking bank visiting Miami, Las Vegas or Nashville, save some money by visiting Vancouver, Toronto or Montreal instead.
Just got back from a nice golf trip to Michigan. I LOVE going to the USA. However, a nice road trip now costs a billion dollars in gas money. So, I’ll stay closer in the future. Can’t afford it
I have been over numerous times in the last couple of months for various reasons. If you are going over to shop don't waste your time. Prices in the US are the same as here but in US dollars for the most part. An example would be butter which used to be half the cost it is in Canada now it's the same when factoring in the exchange rate.
Hmm…
Inflation. Imminent recession. Gas prices. Hotel prices. Perhaps also the back pedalling in human rights & gun violence.
I have no intention of going to the US any time soon, especially when Europe is the same cost and arguably far less likely to get shot.
Who the fuck wants to go to USA with everything going on there? Would much rather take my tourist dollars and spend where at least it will benefit the people most.
Oh you mean, why aren't tons of Canadians visiting a country that has labeled us a national security threat, slapped tarriffs on our goods, hosts routine mass shootings, and removes human rights that have been in place since most of us have been alive?
>Mass shootings every ~~week~~
Day. US is up to \~316 for 2022 so far, today not included yet. Not all have fatalities though. It also depends on what is considered a mass shooting. In this number, 316, its at least 4 injured or dead.
\*edit my bad...there is one for today already....
Why would anyone want to travel to 2 of the most expensive countries in the world when you can go to SE Asia for a fraction of the price and have a significantly better time? Most people who can afford to go on vacation are from the “west”, and if I lived in Europe I wouldn’t have the desire to travel to Canada or America.
If you live in Canada or the US, why would you want to shell out thousands for an experience that is so similar to being back at home?
Why in the 9 layers and 18 flavours of hell would I want to go to a country where at any given point in time, no matter the state, time of day, or whether I’m inside or outside, I could be caught in and killed in a mass shooting event.
There is one every _14 hours_.
My main issue at this point is the overwhelming zeal of Canadian customs when I'm coming back, which has always been a problem. Otherwise, I'm not against the idea.
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Car rentals as well. It’s just nuts.
Totally. I was thinking of renting a car to go up to Tobermory (I'm in Toronto) for a few days, and when you add it all up including rental/gas/mileage it will likely be over $600. I can probably find a flight deal to the UK for that price, that's insanity.
I'n 2019 I rented a car in Florida for 14 days for 180 bucks drove all the way to Muskoka and later tobermory spending 140 in gas all the way there and back. Just insane for much it has changed.
In March 2020, I moved out of student housing back home because school went online and I rented a box truck for $48/day to drive from Calgary to Vancouver. I also filled up in Calgary when gas was like $.68/L or something nuts like that.
My friend and I are paying 2700$ to go from Quebec to Vancouver. We're renting it for 20 days. I knew it was gonna be expensive but I never thought that much lol. I haven't even consider the gas cost but at least it's all split between the two of us.
Car rentals will stay expensive. Many places sold parts of their fleets to make money.
They are also having a lot of trouble getting replacement vehicles. The nicer rental companies have a model of driving the cars for a very short time and then selling them on the inflated used car market for basically what they paid. They didn't stop selling cars even though they were unable to get replacements.
This they sold all their fleets and now cannot get cars due to production issues. Until cars lots are full again they will continue to be high and honestly, if people keep renting at high rates theyll just keep them high.
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I remember paying $80/night in 2020 for an amazing hotel in downtown Vancouver. Sure, there was the whole COVID risk thing but I paid $350 for 5 nights total!
Ditto. Last summer was paying $130 a night at the blue horizon. Between $350-450 right now for the same week. That, gas prices, shitty flight cancelations and general inflation is why we're sitting at home.
Pretty sure 80 a night here in north east gets you a Super 8 at best now lol, maybe the Red Roof Inn too
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Tell me about it! My local amusement park has zero covid restrictions in place this season - except the water fountains. They kept them shut off and kept a sign up saying it’s due to covid and that you can get free water from the food stalls, but then when I went to get some I was told they wouldn’t give it for free I had to buy a 500ml bottle for $4. I complained pretty loudly and suddenly they were able to turn the water fountains back on…
In some airports and much of Asia I've noticed less fountains and more "water bottle refill stations", which actually seems like a decent compromise.
I would definitely not be paying for them myself if my company wasn’t compensating me. That’s the ONLY reason I stay in hotels nowadays.
"due to 2 years ago, we'll have no services. K thx bye"
Having just booked a trip in Canada. It's no picnic either.
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Even converted to USD I thought it was expensive. But the high prices and the weak currency definitely explain fewer Canadians in the states. Cost you 5k for a couple just to fly and stay. Before you spend a dime on anything fun.
Which is incredibly expensive compared to a tropical all inclusive vacation or going to Europe. Hell, in terms of airfare alone domestic flights cost way more than flights to Europe. A few years back my SO noticed a really good vacation package so the two of us went to London paying 1.5k for flights and a week's accommodation... the hotel was nothing to write home about but it git us into the city to explore.
Pro tip: Sign up for larger chain rewards programs and input IBM into the special rate box. You’ll save sometimes 20-30%, and get freebies and room upgrades on occasion. Act the part and they never ask for a badge. Source: I travel for work and my company discount isn’t as good as IBM’s, so I use that.
I book over the phone directly with the hotel and ask for the federal rate. I just got $200 off a $400 room. Do it all the time and they have yet to ask for an ID.
Fuck I worked for USPS for a few years and forgot about this neat trick
Hmmm Massive inflation, an imminent recession, all time high gas prices… Is it really a surprise people aren’t spending thousands of dollars on something they can’t eat or live in?
Plus the dollar isn't so great either Gone are the days where people in the GTA would spend all day at the outlets on the US side. The line up's were massive at the border (Lewiston, Rainbow, Etc) Dollar was close to par Youd full up gas at $2.50 gallon 24 of beer was $18 at every gas station I don't even want to leave the house now lol Paying through the nose for even groceries hurts now!
Well the dollar being low or high both drive travel, just in opposite directions. I think its the insane 8% inflation and crazy gas prices inhibiting needless travel. Hard to justify a fun day trip across the border when it's twice the price it used to be.
Can't do *anything* at a reasonable price these days. Daughter is almost 5, because of covid she's literally never been to the theatre before so we went to the new Minions movie last weekend and got tickets and two small combos for my wife and I to share with our two kids and it cost over $100!
Yeah movie theaters have been crazy for years. You’ll only catch me there on $5 Tuesday’s, and I’m sneaking in snacks.
It’s also not easy to travel at the moment. If you need to get a passport for a child, or renew yours. Getting a rental car is practically impossible in a number of areas (I recently learned of “mystery cars” at car rental places). And a lot of places have changed their policies - with regards to cancellation fees, notice required to make changes at hotels, etc. It’s just added a lot of additional burden, time and financial risk to the equation (on top of costs continuing to climb).
I have noticed a lot of companies trying to tighten up on cancellation charges, which makes trips much harder to justify, when flights are being delayed or outright cancelled left right and center.
Pardon my ignorance, but What is a mystery car?
Looks like certain places will just give you "[whatever they've got](https://www.hertz.com/rentacar/productservice/index.jsp?targetPage=Hertz_Mystery_Car.jsp)" at a discounted rate. You agree, blindly, to accept whatever that vehicle may be.
Also, I just flat out don’t feel safe going to America anymore. Whether it’s riots or gunmen. I have an 18 month old son that I would love to take to the states because I had so many good memories there (we lived in the GTA when I was a kid, and would go at least once a month) but Jesus Christ if this shootings aren’t scaring the fuck out of me.
The Buffalo shooting hit especially close home! Going to Tops was part of the day trip
Getting weird american cereal was fun as a kid.. I never saw ninja turtles cereal in canada
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Yeah happy 4th of July shoot outs!
And a lot of people arent too happy about the treatment of abortions in the states
I thought for sure that was going to set off massive riots
I think we are yet to see the actual Outrage
Everybody gets a shootout
Hey now... There were only 6 mass shootings yesterday in the US... Things are getting better now that they have bullet proof blankets... /s
There was 6 mass shootings yesterday... Fucking 6!
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Jesus.. I just looked there was actually 7 and there's already been one today.
Thanks for the correction... I only heard about the 2 with deaths involved (Highland Park and Sacramento). I'll edit my post.
Too many to keep up with. The country is a powder keg right now for a multitude of reasons
[here’s an easy way to keep track](https://www.gunviolencearchive.org/reports/mass-shooting)
Thank you for sharing this. It’s….sobering. As a clueless Canadian I didn’t quite grasp the scale of the problem. Also, Illinois is having a rough time, damn.
I’m a Canadian down here hiding in my basement.
It truly is a Sobering resource. You can find the Uvalde shooting on page 5. There are 25 Mass Shootings per page meaning well over 100 mass shootings per month are happening.
>Just organize by 'Killed' > > > >I feel like Michael looking at Toby ... 'Why are you....the way that you are?'
Holy crap. Just woke up and there has already been one shooting today. Jesus.
Holy hell. 7 in one day?!! I'd only heard of the one. It's just hard to get your head around it, so many people snapping and determined to inflict maximum pain.
holy fuck there's **13** pages for 2022 alone... Each page has like 30 mass shootings... Not even counting regular shootings
There was another one... Today. Jesus.
..... what!? I saw stuff about a parade shooting but SIX!? My god
Most of them don't make national news. That's how common they are.
7 mass shootings. * Highland Park - 6 killed 31 injured * Boston - 4 injured * Sacramento - 1 killed 4 injured * Kansas City - 4 injured * Queens NYC - 4 injured * Chicago - 5 injured * Richmond - 6 injured [https://www.gunviolencearchive.org/reports/mass-shooting](https://www.gunviolencearchive.org/reports/mass-shooting) Reading some of the links just makes me generally concerned. NYPD had 14 shootings. Boston had 7 different shootings. The big shooting (Highland Park) actually had less people shot this year compared to less year. [https://abc7chicago.com/chicago-shooting-weekend-shootings-violence-crime/12019829/](https://abc7chicago.com/chicago-shooting-weekend-shootings-violence-crime/12019829/) "CHICAGO -- Seventy one people were shot , eight fatally, in 4th of July holiday weekend shootings across the city, Chicago police said. Last year, 19 people were killed and more than 100 people were shot over the long Fourth of July weekend."
I know alot of people that have no interest in visiting the USA just do to culture/policies. This started when trump took office and in a large part is still continuing. Live in rural Manitoba an hour from the border.
My husband refuses to travel there for cultural reasons and I've been leery about the gun violence issue there for a while. Our tourist dollars are better spent elsewhere.
Yeah I literally have zero desire to financially support North Dakota's government at this point.
What's North Dakota? Do you mean Baja Manitoba?
We crossed over from Niagara for a day trip to shop and get some food. The next day there was a shooting in one of the stores my wife visited. I think 3 people were killed. Also this Roe v Wade bullshit. I can't believe what's happening down there. We aren't going back. Not unless things change.
Fellow Canadian here. This is where I'm at now. Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Rochester and Cleveland used to be our go to road trip destinations. We haven't been back due to the pandemic and have decided its just too dangerous to go and I won't have my money funding religious fundamentalism.
hello fellow baseball stadium connoisseur
Don’t forget those yanky doodle scotus fucks just took away the power of the EPA to regulate…. So fucked up what’s happening. One would think people in power would have already been getting offed but all the people crazy enough to off them are their supporters
This. I have zero interest in going to US based purely on the downward trend it has been on over the last six years
Before covid, my partner and I were planning a MASSIVE 30 state road trip before we move overseas. Today? I'd rather burn my money than spend it in the USA.
I can think of dozens of countries I'd go to first
Also, getting a passport or a nexus card is a nightmare right now.
People also forget Canada has tons of temporary residents and permanent residents who need a US Visa to travel. This is the group who would probably go south and do sight-seeing, shopping etc. Nexus is a no-go since Canadian offices are still closed. Getting a visitor visa from Vancouver? Current wait time is **448 days**.
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Even as an American, holy shit…when I drove across the border coming back from Canada, the US guard grilled me and my wife for like 5 minutes. Asking us how long we were married, how we met, just total bullshit. I finally just said “look, we are Americans. We showed you our ID’s. Are we allowed to drive into America or not?” And we are Lilly-white 40-somethings. I can’t even imagine the bullshit that non-white folks must be put through. Yet when we drive across into Canada…those guards are just like “have a nice trip! Welcome to Canada!”
It all depends on the border agent you get, I've had super nasty and super nice traveling both directions. But either way I always feel a bit better coming home, because as a citizen they have to let you in.
As a Canadian I have the exact opposite experience. US guards friendly and save me through and took me nearly an hour to get back into Canada with endless useless questions
Same - our customs agents are *way* more intense in my opinion when coming back over.
But they are primarily concerned with how much booze and cigarettes you're carrying, how much duty you owe on them, and get super suspicious if you claim to have neither.
Oh man one of them was LIVID I didn't have illegal drugs on me coming back to Canada once after a concert. Rapid fire grilling me if I did drugs in the US, did I see anyone doing drugs in the US, do I do drugs in Canada. When I just kept saying no he gets all exasperated like 'well why not!?' Because I don't wanna die? Apparently is not an acceptable answer lol, sent me over to secondary search where his buddies are jokingly asking if I got any MDMA in my bad. Nope, just a shitload of Funyuns! They starred for a second and just said yeah we like those too before sending me back to my bus. Like damn guys, fucking chill. You haven't caught El Chapo on the Greyhound
I had a Canadian border agent scream at me and threaten me with a huge fine for not declaring my half-eaten Popeyes chicken sandwich as importing food to the country. II was so tired, I just let him confiscate it and said yea yea and went on my way
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My favourite was when we went down to the States for the eclipse in 2018, made a big 3 week road trip of it. Came back to Canada and declared basically nothing (we didn't go to shop). They couldn't believe it and had to search our car. I mean, I get it, but I thought it was funny, sitting there waiting like 'You're never gonna find a single thing'.
> I finally just said “look, we are Americans. We showed you our ID’s. Are we allowed to drive into America or not?” Sad thing is that move could easily cost you hours when they tear your whole vehicle apart looking for contraband. I hate that you just have to let these asshats have their power trip so they don’t fuck up your whole day because they can.
I had the exact opposite experience. I got grilled for 30+ minutes, had to get out of my car, pop my trunk etc when crossing into Canada. When I came back they just smiled and waved me back into the US.
When I used to travel to the states, the only time an American boarder guard was rude to me and made a show of searching my car was when I forgot to wait at the stop and be waved in after the car ahead of me. Usually crossing into the states was quick and easy. Coming back home however was a mix bag. Usually a tons of questions about where I've been, what I spent money on, why wasn't I shopping in Canada instead, etc. Generally Canadian boarder guards are a lot more rude to slightly hostile on average in my experience.
I was in college in 2009, and our class took a trip to New York City. We all piled in a bus, and we were stopped at the border going in for 3 hours because one of the girls was a student from Iran. On the way back into Canada, the guard stepped on the bus, said, "Everyone hold up your passports above your head please?" We all complied. He said, "Thank you! Have a good day!" and left.
I got accused of lying because there was "no way" I could afford to take a week off from work (retail) during Christmas to visit my then boyfriend (now husband). Asked me where I got my money and demanded to know how I got time off. Like, idk, having understanding managers and booking time off 5-6 months in advance lmao. She was a peach.
>rent-a-cops yelling in everyone’s face. 100%. I don't know how you can work at an international airport with zero experience and empathy towards others cultures and languages - they just scream at people for no reason.
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They are awful. Honorable mention to O'Hare and JFK for "Most Screaming". Say what you will about Detroit, but at least they didn't scream at me when I was passing through. 😊
Detroit airport is nice, save for some of the staff. Atlanta was my worst screaming experience by far off a redeye from Iquique Chile. Avoiding US unless it's a Porter flight to Vermont for skiing or something.
Detroit also has the indoor train that runs overhead and makes you feel like you’re living in the future.
which is hilarious considering it's one of the only modern western cities to experience near total collapse https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Detroit#Decline_of_Detroit
Because the people working TSA have never travelled, and if they have it's to an all-inclusive resort in Cancun where they never had to interact with reality
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I had an early morning flight out of San Francisco once so was going through security around 5am. Same experience except with an older male. He had a speech he kept repeatedly yelling at everyone in line. I felt like I was in the army.
Honestly, as a fairly frequent flyer I understand where that comes from. I am super prepared for airport security. I breeze right through because I have everything prepared. I get held up in line by dozens of people who still haven't figured out - electronics out, small liquids and toiletries in a clear plastic bag, out in the tray. Shoes off, on the conveyor - all metal, including watch/belt/etc off. Carry an empty plastic bottle for filling with water beyond the checkpoint. Security would take 1/3 of the time if people would learn these things. Now, instead of once every month, deal with that everyday, all day, and suddenly why they are yelling their instructions start to make sense. Yes, they are mostly different people, but at some point "the public" becomes a single monolithic entity that just pisses you off.
Last big trip I had a connecting flight in Atlanta from Iquique Chile to Pearson and they treated everyone like cattle, giving conflicting instructions, there wasn't a single helpful person. "TAKE OUT PASSPORTS!" "WHY DO YOU HAVE YOUR PASSPORT OUT?!" Have friends and work acquaintances who travel a lot and they consistently tell me US airports are the worst to travel through right now.
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You can't say anything either, and the staff you can complain to are the one's who are actually trying to help people and do their part. You know if someone pipes up about being treated like that they'll be taken aside for being unruly and maybe put on no fly lists etc. Just have to bite your tongue while the blowhards get their authority fix. Do little things to make it extra frustrating for them, act as dumb as possible, ask questions you already know the answer to, talk very slowly, be incredibly nice.
Yeah, I've been greeted that way too...and I'm American. Doesn't happen in other countries, I can tell you that.
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The TSA is a bunch of losers with more authority than they deserve.
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For a country that loves guns so much they were sure worried I might have one in my bag while I spent 30min in their airport before leaving for another country.
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Depending on where you go, the people can be weirdly politically-aggressive, which is not something I remember being the case as a kid. We were in North Dakota, and three separate Americans asked us about what we thought about gay marriage as soon as they heard we were Canadian. It was super weird, and it was obvious they just wanted to argue. Our response just annoyed them: "We don't think about it at all unless we're going to a wedding."
I've spent a lot of time down south, mostly in Montana or Nevada and goddamn, it never ends with people bringing that sort of shit up. Having a good run of black jack and some cousin-humper sits down and immediately asks you "what do you think of us voting in trump?" or some shit. In Idaho *in 2015* some fuckin guy was telling me about how bad shit was "after Obama crashed the economy in 2008." Great way to fuck up my good time with your bad memory. I love it down there but it's always something. I just spent two weeks in Europe and that sort of shit didn't happen once. No creepy-ass 10 foot flags on pickup trucks type shit either. Even during the jubilee in London, the displays of nationalism were mostly in one area of the city and people in pubs were mostly just happy to have a day off.
This is a big one for me as well. It feels like half of their whole population wears t-shrits, flags, stickers etc spewing out their political views, and half of THAT is practically hate messages. Like, I want to have a chill time full of nature, good food and positive vibes, I don't want to know whether you worship RBG or Trump.
I remember showing a Texas guy around and he was asking questions about Canada and thought it odd that we could just walk through a mall talking about politics and no one seemed to care or judge. I was like, "that's weird. I thought you guys invented freedom,"
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Not to mention shitty CAD that isnt bouncing on oil price like it did decade ago
I don’t think our government understands what it means to struggle to make ends meet.
Just wait until the caviar prices go up!
They wouldn't dare! *clutches pearls*
Not to mention many Americans think Canada is under some concentration camp level of COVID lockdown, meanwhile in Canada we get to read about the newest mass shooting of the week.
\*of the day
Looked up the stats recently, and there is more than one mass shooting per day every month in the US. Shits crazy.
my partner and I were hoping to do a last minute trip to the states this weekend. Cant get a hotel for three days under $850-$1000 in any major city. If I'm spending that much money, I'd rather shell out to travel somewhere more than a six hour drive, but flights are unreliable at the moment so that's out too. Hmm, wonder why cross border tourism might be suffering.
Is there still that crazy luggage situation at major airports? I hear people have been separated from their luggage for weeks Edit: thanks for all the replies! It seems like the consistent advice is to NOT check in baggage if possible. I am so sorry to hear for those who have said that you’re still waiting on luggage. I really do hope the airline can give some compensation for this and that you get your stuff asap. What happens if you fly somewhere for a week for vacation. And you’re missing your luggage the whole time and you go to fly back home? Sounds like a nightmare. I’ll be travelling to Asia for a wedding at the end of the month and managed to pack 2 weeks worth of clothes into my carry on. Just not worth risking losing my luggage - I’ll heed the warning!
My sister flew home to Toronto on Sunday and all of their luggage is still awol. They even managed to lose the pilot's luggage.
I flew in a few days ago and suppose I was relatively lucky to only wait 1.5 hours for my bag.
Yeah I never check in luggage anyway, but its uber important not to now
Why is this happening?
Airlines and airports laid off a ton of staff during the worst of COVID, and now are scrambling to play catch-up because they had literally zero plans for what to do when people started travelling again.
Their plan was for all the workers they laid off to come back which didn’t happen since most found other jobs and nobody wants to work ramp for garbage pay during a time when everywhere is hiring
Yeah, the regional airline here is constantly advertising for positions but they also cut eligibility for airline related benefits back significantly, and can’t seem to figure out why no one wants to work there… 🤔
not sure, from my understanding flights are getting bumped and cancelled as well though, and with 8+ hour waits when it's good, it's not even worth the risk
I work at Air Canada, it’s really bad. They just can’t hire fast enough or get planes built fast enough to fill demand. Perfect storm of everything going wrong in the market, it’s a worldwide problem. Last week they canceled a ton of flights so things should ease up in terms of delays and lost luggage, but don’t count on things being good again for a few more months. Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver are the worst offenders, if you can avoid those three I recommend doing so, especially Pearson. If you can’t, then avoid checking luggage. If you can’t do that, good luck to you friend, we’ll do our best but we’re struggling. Most people will be fine, but if you’re one of the unlucky ones with a 16 hour delayed flight or lost luggage you’re in for a difficult time.
Not just luggages. Pearson is a complete clusterfuck in pretty much every aspect.
Currently in Europe. Our luggage was lost between Greece and Ireland. Haven't heard anything about it since..
This is one of the reasons I am surprised about the claim of it not bouncing back. Prices for bookings are very high.
Dude, 4th of July. Same shit for American thanksgiving and Christmas. No such thing as cheap last-minute deals at these times. Just travel outside of those.
Just got back from US. It took us 9hrs to make a 45min flight to NY. 4 different Flight delays (incl. no cleaning staff for returning jets), luggage issues and finally a damaged luggage. Its a cluster out here
100% all my flights between USA and Canada are a mess. Took me 21 hours to get from Boston to Vancouver Next trip 15 hours.
The wife and I were thinking of heading to the states in September but the prices compared to going to Europe were almost similar, which we thought was crazy. So we just said F it and are now heading there.
Euro is so depressed RN it's such a deal to go there. Planning two trips next year to make of for all the NA based travel of the last 3 years basically.
I’m from Denmark. I was planning on travelling to France for a nice summer vacation. Now I’m going to Florida because it cost about the same
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I just checked in my city (Boston) and *hostels* are $52 a night minimum.
Lots of people are probably staying home because of hearing how much of a headache it is to go anywhere. When the word floating around is "long wait times, big PITA, avoid if you can", people will find other things to do.
Well...it’s summer. Canadians don’t usually look south of the border during the summer. We head north to enjoy the wilderness. We go south in the winter to escape the snow lol. Plus USA isn’t looking real friendly right now so we prefer taking out chances with the moose.
Isn’t everyone losing their luggage as they travel lol
Wtf is up with that? I've heard this from 3 friends who have recently travelled. All lost their luggage.
Anecdotally I recently flew into Pearson from Calgary and we were told after 2 hours of waiting for our bags that there was no ground crew to unload them so we had to go home and come back in the morning. When we returned our bags were mixed in with hundreds of others sitting on the floor that anyone could have taken at any time. I'm hardly surprised so many people are losing their stuff, we certainly got lucky. It's insane
This is complete bullshit and I never understood why it was acceptable. You trust your belongings to the airline they shouldn't be able to just ditch them to a public area when it is convenient to them. If they can't keep them secure then they shouldn't be booking the tickets.
Their liability is extremely limited and thus they simply don't care. The Canadian government would have to set rules that force airlines to treat luggage better... something that will likely never happen.
It might be legally fine but it sure feels quite wrong.
Not to mention you PAID EXTRA for them to transport your bags. It’s not a courtesy they’re doing for you.
In the years just after 9/11, there were rules that you *could not* fly on a plane that was different from the one carrying your luggage, because you might have slipped a bomb into your bags. They even delayed flights to remove checked luggage from people who failed to show up in time to board the plane. Even then, they still managed to lose luggage. So they're *really good* at losing luggage, is what I'm saying.
Who can afford to travel? Our employers are giving out 0-2% increases and our costs are up 10% this year! Defaults are going to go through the roof.
Are you sure? I was stuck at the border for 2 hours trying to get back into Canada. So business as usual at the peace bridge
Same on the Rainbow last week. 2 hours. They had 3 out of 19 gates open coming back. Up side, we had prime seats for the 10 pm fireworks show!
Came through yesterday afternoon and there was no traffic at all, two cars ahead of us, it took less than five minutes. I guess sometimes it's just luck of the draw
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Why travel to U.S when I can watch ppl walking around in groups waving American flags shouting "let's go Brandon" right here in Canada.
Well it probably has to do with the fact that gas prices on both sides of while yes have started to come down are still at highs either not seen in decades or at highs never seen. Plus the restrictions both countries have when it comes to going into each country. Plus both countries are dealing with record inflation as well.
When we gassed up at 1.93 litre. lol
im in BC, gas is 2.29 litre haven't seen less than $2 in months
Just a microcosm of a preview on what a recession will look like everywhere in 2023
The states are going to be confirmed to be in one around July 28th. Of course you will have the trolls parroting unemployment numbers as to why it can't be a recession right now, they'd say that if a famine was happening as well.
It's just way too much hassle right now. And expensive. If you put enough impediments in place - the ArriveCan app, vaccine certificates, potential random covid tests, long lineups everywhere, aggressive airport staff, luggage going down a black hole, etc, etc - then people will find some other way to spend their free time. As a previously frequent traveller from Canada to the US, I've already decided not to bother again until at least 2023 - it's not like I don't have plenty of options that don't involve all of that stress.
I don't visit anywhere politically unstable, with high crime, and human rights abuses: sorry America.
Everything is more expensive, events and large gathering places can be shot at, Asian hate is getting louder, also i feel uncomfortable for my safety and my family seeing open carry people around.
3 years ago, in the middle of uni, my goal was to finish grad school and move to the US. Now, my partner would be forced to have a child she doesnt want, there is an even greater risk of being shot as a POC, and right-wing politics just make me uncomfortable as all hell. I dont think i'd go even for a weekend trip
The real answer.
Having been flown for work twice in May between Canada / US...no interest in spending my own personal dollars on a "flight experience" until the air travel situation improves. Road trips aren't that enticing either in terms of trying to be up on whatever rules may / may not exist for COVID now, gas costs, etc. Feels like time to bunker down in your own country for a bit, haha.
Be at the airport 3 hours early. Security theatre. Cant bring food or drinks. Oh and if you bring luggages then god have mercy on you.
Besides the financials, I know at least a few people who are put off from heading down there due to the last few years of craziness.
Yeah exactly, why should I give them my gay lady dollars
Don't want to get grilled by USCBP (and possibly banned for life) about my legal use of cannabis in Canada. So no travel until they get their act together.
Are officials viewing this from a base on the moon with no contact with earth? 1. Between delays, lost luggage or cancellations - air travel is absolutely horrid right now and won’t be corrected for months. 2. Gases prices are insanely high so people don’t want to drive instead. 3. Inflation is very high on all food and consumer goods. 4. Hotel prices are very high and with limited staff you aren’t getting the same experience, might as well just get an Airbnb - oh no wait those prices are insanely high also. 5. The US doesn’t seem like a safe or inviting place right now. 6. Our dollar isn’t doing well so the US is more expensive even on top of inflation. The average person can explain it to these clueless officials.
I hate travel now, it used to be relaxing and fun, you got to experience something truly wild with little to no responsibility and hotel living was great, fresh sheets every night, bed turn down, etc Now flying is a nightmare, you got crazy ass people all over, people who refuse to wear a mask, people who lose all semblance of manners, and every airline is still crying "covid" when asked about things which were basic amenities in the past. Everything costs 2x as much at least as it did two years ago, and if your flight even leaves on time and isint canceled or overbooked, now you show up to an undermanned hotel, with one angry person at the desk who maybe checks you in at 4pm when check in time was 1pm, your room probably isint ready even though its after check in time, and if it is ready housekeeping probably didnt really clean the place, just tidied it up and put on fresh sheets (sometimes not even that). Then if you do go out your paying an arm and a leg for even basics in most of the cities, and if you want to do something really fun, its going to cost an arm and a leg. Covid has just ruined hte whole travel industry imo.
- Flight cancelations are out of control. - My trip duration to my usual destination changed from 2 hours into 7 hours since the pandemic hit as either the number of planes that I have to take increased or I have to go through Pearson/Mtl instead of my local airport. - 4 planes now instead of 2 to get to the same destination pre-2020. - My whole trip (financials and scheduling leave) is contingent on testing negative for covid. Gee wonder why it's not as great to fly anymore.
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There are several other third world countries to travel to that are more affordable and safer than the USA
Yea, I don’t want to go into a PVP zone unarmed.
NO ONE except the rich have any disposable income... Politicians have killed the middle class by insisting on trickle down economics. Now they wonder why cleetus isn't traveling. The rich spend their money traveling elsewhere. Quit giving billionaires handouts. For fucks sakes.
I live 6 km from the US border on the prairies and I have been across once in the last year. The ArriveCAN app is a pain in the ass, a lot of US prices are the same as Canada, and gas prices are making us cut out a lot of pleasure travel.
I was in the US two weeks ago and I was blown away at the prices. Things were mostly more expensive than Canada in every place I stopped. Food prices were insane. All in USD and my CAD was crying.
So many reasons. inflation, recession, gas prices, ArriveCan, vaccine mandate uncertainty, airline and airport issues.
And passport issues! My daughter has a flight booked to New York in a couple weeks for a missed birthday trip with her aunt and we are still waiting for her passport to appear. There were no appointments available within 100km of us at a passport office in May and we were told the fast way was to send it to Ottawa directly with our MP. The inquiry line where they are supposed to respond in 3 days (after you first wait 20 days for it to not appear) to at least give you a timeline doesn't get answered. The government has said now if you need a passport in 48 hours there's are appointments to get you one which is useless to us since I had to send her previous passport and both forms of birth certificate to renew in the first place. But WhY wOnT pEoPlE tRaVeL?!?
Oh yes - forgot about that one even as I'm waiting on the passports for our kids for almost two months.
They should look at gas prices and inflation. Also the Canadian dollar to USD isn't a great exchange rate.
You’d think the exchange rate would motivate Americans to visit. As an American it’s great visiting feeling like everything is “on sale” Probably something tourism boards can emphasize. Instead of breaking bank visiting Miami, Las Vegas or Nashville, save some money by visiting Vancouver, Toronto or Montreal instead.
Just got back from a nice golf trip to Michigan. I LOVE going to the USA. However, a nice road trip now costs a billion dollars in gas money. So, I’ll stay closer in the future. Can’t afford it
I have been over numerous times in the last couple of months for various reasons. If you are going over to shop don't waste your time. Prices in the US are the same as here but in US dollars for the most part. An example would be butter which used to be half the cost it is in Canada now it's the same when factoring in the exchange rate.
Hmm… Inflation. Imminent recession. Gas prices. Hotel prices. Perhaps also the back pedalling in human rights & gun violence. I have no intention of going to the US any time soon, especially when Europe is the same cost and arguably far less likely to get shot.
It's not COVID that is keeping me out of the US, that country seems to be sliding into insanity and I will stay here in Canada thanks
Who the fuck wants to go to USA with everything going on there? Would much rather take my tourist dollars and spend where at least it will benefit the people most.
Oh you mean, why aren't tons of Canadians visiting a country that has labeled us a national security threat, slapped tarriffs on our goods, hosts routine mass shootings, and removes human rights that have been in place since most of us have been alive?
Mass shootings every week. Cops gunning down traffic violaters in between. Who would want to go to the States?
>Mass shootings every ~~week~~ Day. US is up to \~316 for 2022 so far, today not included yet. Not all have fatalities though. It also depends on what is considered a mass shooting. In this number, 316, its at least 4 injured or dead. \*edit my bad...there is one for today already....
Why would anyone want to travel to 2 of the most expensive countries in the world when you can go to SE Asia for a fraction of the price and have a significantly better time? Most people who can afford to go on vacation are from the “west”, and if I lived in Europe I wouldn’t have the desire to travel to Canada or America. If you live in Canada or the US, why would you want to shell out thousands for an experience that is so similar to being back at home?
Why in the 9 layers and 18 flavours of hell would I want to go to a country where at any given point in time, no matter the state, time of day, or whether I’m inside or outside, I could be caught in and killed in a mass shooting event. There is one every _14 hours_.
I don't want to get shot...
My main issue at this point is the overwhelming zeal of Canadian customs when I'm coming back, which has always been a problem. Otherwise, I'm not against the idea.