Money.. when so much must go to services that should be collectively done by society as a whole...as in . Health care, leaves little room for travel.

We are broke! Our employment rate for shitty paying jobs is the highest ever. ????

America is not the American dream. Far from it.

Many Americans struggle on low wages and enjoy less holiday entitlement when compared with other countries. Unions must be very weak in the US.

Traveled extensively including Australia, loved it, very nice place.

Oz has fatal spiders, salt water crocs and killer kangaroos. That damn spider scares me the most.
Europe, please.

I went to New Zealand, is that close enough?

It's far too expensive, unfortunately. ?

I used to travel quite a bit professionally. Traveling overseas and elsewhere is a drug for me. I miss it a lot and would love to travel to Australia regardless of the flight times/expense/critters. That being said, I know a lot of people who have trouble going five minutes down the road. I attribute that to the above plus fear; there’s a lot of fear in the U.S. exacerbated by polarizing influences, and though my inclination is to travel and experience new things and push my envelope, (therefore negating fears) I realize I’m pretty unique.

Well, here you have an American who has traveled overseas....and Australia is one of the countries I visited. Lovely people.

Been to Oz, and much of western Europe. Still would like to see some of South America.

But - travel keeps getting more difficult, especially in the area of security.

At different times of my life, I have lived in Germany, the Middle East, and different parts of Asia. And BTW, while living in Japan, I traveled to Australia and New Zealand. But I know most Americans don't share my Wanderlust, whether it be because of lack of curiosity or the low-wage economy that is the norm here.

what, is the whole world american ? eff off

My primary reason for not traveling much is lack of a companion to do it with.

I do travel overseas - headed to Italy in a few weeks, in fact. I think most Americans don't because of money, limited vacation time, and an utter lack of curiosity. (And that flight to Oz is a killer)

1. Distance
2. Not sufficiently different enough from American culture to to intrigue us.
3. Perceived macho values and tx of women.
4. Too many crocodiles..
5. Mostly desert.
6. Maps show it to be somewhat beneath us.
7. Immigration (whites only) history and current treatment of refugees
8. I could add treatment of Aboriginals but we are far worse there with our Native Americans.)

Despite the above (done partially in jest), Aussies are great and friendly people (in my experience) with a less overbearing government.

Thank you for all your comments. Very insightful.

Australia is a great country, I loved it...you might be surprised to know that many Americans have never left their own state let alone travel overseas. But my Australian friends get 6 weeks of vacation a year or more so its much easier for them to get away. And, if you're off by say 3% of Americans who travel overseas, it equals almost the whole population of Australia

Lack of money, so many in the US are just living paycheck to paycheck.
& I'm not sure how long it's been but we used to be able to go to Canada without a passport (maybe Mexico too) but now we can't.

I think that is a myth. Roughly 75% of everyone I know has at least been to one or two other countries.

Cost is biggest. I haven't even left the state in a long time.

I've traveled to Australia for work and found it to be a wonderful experience. But it probably wouldn't have been on the top of my list for several reasons: (1) cost, (2) travel time, (3) cultural similarity to the US. That said, I'd be happy to live in Australia if not for the fact that it's "the ass-end of the world," as you Aussies say.

Have traveled a bit overseas. Haven't made the hop to Australia yet. On my list!

Have been to Berlin Germany and Buenos Aires Argentina as a child, but in my adult life ive only traveled to other states in the US. Its expensive to travel over seas plus the only place worth visiting in my opinion in certain european countries

I've not only traveled overseas, I lived in Germany for three years. Sold the house, the minivan, and most of the furnishings and moved the whole family. Since returning, I've only crossed the pond once more, but I'll go again if I can ever get ahead, financially. I love to travel.

Money.. when so much must go to services that should be collectively done by society as a whole...as in . Health care, leaves little room for travel.