Top 10 tourist spots U.S. tourist can't go...

[headscratcher4]

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=4328

Interesting...though there isn't much there that really appeals.

[timhau]

10? Imperialist Yanqui pig propaganda! I see only 5.

[rwguinn]

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=4328

Interesting...though there isn't much there that really appeals.
Is this some kind of "New Math"?
Looking for someplace special to spend the Fourth of July? FP investigates five fabulous destinations where a summer getaway is next to impossible.
Five = 10?

[headscratcher4]

Sorry, my bad....very red faced here. 5 -- FIVE -- tourist spots. An Emily Latella moment.

[timhau]

The top tourist spot Americans can't go to is Mt. Kumgang... Mt. Kumgang and Baracoa, Baracoa and Mt. Kumgang... The top two tourist spots Americans can't go to are Mt. Kumgang and Baracoa, and Mogadishu Beach... The top three tourist spots Americans can't go to are Mt. Kumgang, Baracoa, and Mogadishu Beach. And Persepolis.

[rwguinn]

Sorry, my bad....very red faced here. 5 -- FIVE -- tourist spots. An Emily Latella moment.
Way too much Letterman:D

[Ove]

The top tourist spot Americans can't go to is Mt. Kumgang... Mt. Kumgang and Baracoa, Baracoa and Mt. Kumgang... The top two tourist spots Americans can't go to are Mt. Kumgang and Baracoa, and Mogadishu Beach... The top three tourist spots Americans can't go to are Mt. Kumgang, Baracoa, and Mogadishu Beach. And Persepolis.

Nobody expects american tourists.... :D

[Worm]

Cake or Death?

Reading the article from the OP, at least two of those appear to be destinations that nobody should really go, not just U.S. tourists.

i.e.

Somalia - "...a good day in Somalia is the worst day of your life almost anywhere else. The constant state of anarchy, lawlessness, and piracy is usually enough to deter most folks from traveling to Somalia, the world’s third most failed state..."

Burma - "Xenophobic, repressive military junta"

Damn, and I was so looking forward to being kidnapped and repressed on my next vacation....

[CFLarsen]

There is a huge difference between

not being able to go because the country in question doesn't want you there

and

not being able to go because your own country doesn't want you there.

If Iran doesn't want Americans to go to Iran, that's Iran's problem. Sod'em. Whatev.

If the US doesn't want Americans to go to Cuba, that's the US's problem. Oops - the land of the free?

[BPSCG]

Cake or Death?

Reading the article from the OP, at least two of those appear to be destinations that nobody should really go, not just U.S. tourists.

i.e.

Somalia - "...a good day in Somalia is the worst day of your life almost anywhere else. The constant state of anarchy, lawlessness, and piracy is usually enough to deter most folks from traveling to Somalia, the world’s third most failed state..."

Burma - "Xenophobic, repressive military junta"

Damn, and I was so looking forward to being kidnapped and repressed on my next vacation....Well, if you live in North Korea, Somalia and Burma might sound like nice places to visit. Maybe even emigrate to.

[Doubt]

Well, I guess we just need to extend the list a bit to get to ten.

6.) Shangri-La
7.) Never-never land
8.) El Dorado
9.) Atlantis. (No, not the hotel)
10.) Camelot

[geni]

Well, if you live in North Korea, Somalia and Burma might sound like nice places to visit. Maybe even emigrate to.

In north korea as long as you don't upset the authorities you only have to worry about starveing to death. In Somalia that hasn't historicaly been the case. Burma yes would generaly be an improvement on NK.

[geni]

Burma - "Xenophobic, repressive military junta"

Damn, and I was so looking forward to being kidnapped and repressed on my next vacation....


Burma when not suffering from hurricanes or recent large scale crackdowns is actualy okey as a destination.

[mrbaracuda]

6.) Shangri-La


Aaaw. Wait, I'm not a US citizen! Can I go, can I go? Yes? :eye-poppi

[mr rosewater]

Aaaw. Wait, I'm not a US citizen! Can I go, can I go? Yes? :eye-poppi

Yes, but you can't come back!:jaw-dropp

[BPSCG]

Well, I guess we just need to extend the list a bit to get to ten.

6.) Shangri-La
7.) Never-never land
8.) El Dorado
9.) Atlantis. (No, not the hotel)
10.) Camelot
11) Brigadoon

[Nogbad]

Cuba is a popular holiday destination and very safe too - can't see the problem. Persepolis would be fascinating. I have seen Knossos and Ephesus and would love to see Persepolis. Iran was dooable (with care) but the recent posturing on all sides probably rules it out at the moment. The other three are definitely only for the very adventurous indeed.

[BPSCG]

12) Narnia
13) The Emerald City of Oz
14) The Shire, Rivenell, and Mordor
15) Krypton
16) Jurassic Park
17) The Island of Doctor Moreau

Places you probably wouldn't want to go to anyway in boldface italics.

[mrbaracuda]

Yes, but you can't come back!:jaw-dropp

Hooray! :cheerleader2 :D

[Richard Masters]

Cuba is a popular holiday destination and very safe too - can't see the problem. Persepolis would be fascinating. I have seen Knossos and Ephesus and would love to see Persepolis. Iran was dooable (with care) but the recent posturing on all sides probably rules it out at the moment. The other three are definitely only for the very adventurous indeed.

Iran and Cuba would not be too hard to get to, and safely. The catch with Cuba is you are not allowed to purchase anything. With Iran, learning some Farsi would help defuse any dangerous situations. The state department has warnings for most "3rd World" countries, and yet, people live and go there all the time.

It's a matter of keeping a low profile and being respectful.

[Cleon]

Cuba is a popular holiday destination and very safe too - can't see the problem. Persepolis would be fascinating. I have seen Knossos and Ephesus and would love to see Persepolis. Iran was dooable (with care) but the recent posturing on all sides probably rules it out at the moment. The other three are definitely only for the very adventurous indeed.

The problem with traveling to Cuba is that the American government is, in a word, moronic.

It's illegal for US citizens to travel to Cuba without a license (seriously) from the US Department of Treasury. And they are very strict about who they grant these licenses to--they want to know why you want to go, and "tourism" is not considered a valid reason.

It's a stupid policy, but unlikely to change as long as stupidity dominates American politics.

[Primus]

My friend is travelling to the US in a few weeks time from the UK and has passport stamps from Iran, North Korea, Cuba, China and Russia.
I would not like to be the owner of his rear end after he's been through customs :P

[timhau]

Don't most pariah countries put those 'passport stamps' on separate pieces of paper? I'm pretty sure that's what Tony Wheeler said in Bad Lands.

[jj]

11) Brigadoon

Willing to wait, are we? :p

[Beerina]

Apparently only Cuba is a place an American "can't go."

The others are just difficult or dangerous, thanks to the local governments, and most of which would be bad for any Westerner to go to.

[Wildy]

12) Narnia
13) The Emerald City of Oz
14) The Shire, Rivenell, and Mordor
15) Krypton
16) Jurassic Park
17) The Island of Doctor Moreau

Places you probably wouldn't want to go to anyway in boldface italics.

But I heard that Mordor is lovely this time of year...


It's illegal for US citizens to travel to Cuba without a license (seriously) from the US Department of Treasury. And they are very strict about who they grant these licenses to--they want to know why you want to go, and "tourism" is not considered a valid reason.


But is it still illegal to for a US citizen to go to Cuba if they say went to another country first and then went there?

[Mycroft]

The problem with traveling to Cuba is that the American government is, in a word, moronic.

It's illegal for US citizens to travel to Cuba without a license (seriously) from the US Department of Treasury. And they are very strict about who they grant these licenses to--they want to know why you want to go, and "tourism" is not considered a valid reason.

It's a stupid policy, but unlikely to change as long as stupidity dominates American politics.

So you've looked into traveling to Cuba?

Did you actually go?

[I Ratant]

A co-worker married a gal from Peru.
He wanted to go there for the honeymoon.
Security informed him of the "Sendero Luminoso, with the attendant potential for kidnapping, and the loss of his security clearance.
I have no desire to leave LA County any more.

[Beerina]

A guy hitched a girl from Peru
And back they went for the honeymoo'
Tho' she thought him handsome
Kidnapping and ransom
Showed that Shining Path wouldn't doo.

[godless dave]

The problem with traveling to Cuba is that the American government is, in a word, moronic.

It's illegal for US citizens to travel to Cuba without a license (seriously) from the US Department of Treasury. And they are very strict about who they grant these licenses to--they want to know why you want to go, and "tourism" is not considered a valid reason.

The trick is not to get caught. Travel to another country, then to Cuba. Pay cash for your travel to Cuba, and pay cash for everything you buy there. Do NOT leave a paper trail. Do not get your passport stamped in Cuba. US Customs (or whatever they're called now) may ask you where you went when you return to the US, so be prepared to lie and say you were in third-party-country the whole time. Rehearse this story in advance. Do not try to bring back any Cuban cigars or souveniers.

[Architect]

11) Brigadoon


Been there loads of times. There's a nice hotel and restaurant just beside it. Popular for weddings. Doesn't seem to vanish either, although the money did right out of my wallet.....

http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.brigadoon.net/images/BrigODoon.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.brigadoon.net/&h=480&w=640&sz=127&hl=en&start=7&tbnid=4LBnc1bzp5N3oM:&tbnh=103&tbnw=137&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbrigadoon%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den

[Foolmewunz]

So you've looked into traveling to Cuba?

Did you actually go?

Cross the border to Canada. You can fly direct and they'll not stamp your passport in Cuba. Many Canadians I know have been to Cuba.

[Foolmewunz]

I've notified the State Department that until the silly season (aka "Presidential Election Year") is over, my place is off limits to holders of US Passports. You'll probably see it as an addendum on the next watch list.

[Nogbad]

Cuba has a full blown tourist industry. It features regularly on holiday programmes. It generally gets good ratings for beaches, hotels and value for money. It may have its faults but it is not N Korea.

A typical UK Cuban package holiday

http://www.mycubaholidays.com/product.php?langid=3&packid=550&currid=2&gallery=close

[Travis]

We should just bomb Cuba into a smoking pile of ruins so that we in the US can then visit those smoking piles of ruins as tourists.

It's the perfect plan!