Vice versa

See you in the USA

Liberty Statue with Manhattan skyline

It is not too late to book your flight to America.  Every year thousands of Belgians travel to the United States for business or pleasure.  The US is the top long-haul destination for Belgian travelers accounting for nearly one fifth of the market.  In 2008 over 250,000 Belgians visited the U.S. in 2008.  Although there are no official figures yet for 2009, the number is expected to be a bit lower as a result of the economic crisis.  But, overall, the United States remains the third most popular tourist destination, after France and Spain.

 

Why go to the United States?  

myAmerica can think of many good reasons.  Belgian tourists have four major favorites.

Sea and Sun

The United States has many attractions and unique qualities that are appealing to many Belgians.  The beaches and sunny destinations on both East and West Coast are very attractive to Belgian tourists who are happy enough to leave rainy and cold Belgium behind them. Many Belgian travelers are unfamiliar with the extensive amount of nice beaches the U.S. has to offer outside of Florida and California, such as Virginia Beach, Myrtle Beach, the Outer Banks, and Cape Cod.   Think also:  the Hawaiian Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Florida keys.

Shopping

The United States is a paradise for shoppers.  Sales are available all year long.  And donít forget to take advantage of the strength of the euro.  Most Belgians hit New York, Miami, Los Angeles.  Donít forget other major cities with huge shopping opportunities: Atlanta, Dallas, San FranciscoÖ

Wide spaces

Since Belgium is a small, densely populated country Belgians love the open space and diverse landscapes that the United States has to offer.  The number and variety of national parks and their surrounding areas, particularly those in the western U.S., provide a perfect mixture of nature and sporting activities.  Think also: ski resorts in Colorado and New York State.

Family vacations

Amusement and theme parks provide an appealing destination for Belgians looking for a quality family vacation.  The US boasts an impressive number of large theme parks with a wide array of rides and attractions.  And do not forget to visit the towns or cities where the theme parks are located, as well as nearby nature reserves.

How to get there?

Five U.S. airlines: American, Continental, Delta, U.S. Airways and United, offer daily flights from Brussels to a number of American destinations.  In addition to those U.S. carriers, Indian airline Jet Airways also offers daily flights to New York. There are eight daily, non-stop flights from Brussels to the U.S.  Due to competition, airfares have been reduced to affordable levels.  In recent years, partnerships between travel agencies, tour operators and airlines have become very popular, making it easier and more comfortable to travel to the U.S.

Getting around in America

The fly-and-drive market represents 50% of the total Belgian vacation package market.  As few tourist activities in the United States are directly accessible by public transportation, there is a strong need for private car rental and therefore, fly-and-drive vacations.   Approximately 45% of Belgian tourists in the U.S. rent vehicles for travel between cities, as opposed to the 8% that use the intercity rail system, and the 5% that use the inter-city bus system.

Before you go: a few recommendations...

Prepare your trip ahead if time

A good place to start is the Visit USA Committee.  The web site is a goldmine of information and also allows you to order maps and travel brochures.  More information available at http://www.visitusa.org

Check the US Embassy web site to find out what you need to travel to the United States

And don't forget to register online with ESTA.  The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) is mandatory for all travelers entering the United States under the Visa Waiver Program.  More information is available at http://belgium.usembassy.gov

 

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