Trump’s tariff threats and economic uncertainty are causing Canadians to ditch the US and travel to Europe instead. Americans are planning to join them on the old continent, thanks to the US dollar stretching further in travel money. While Americans living in Europe say they’re definitely staying put, seeking to avoid their “toxic and expensive” homeland.

As the new US President’s many policy changes are revealed, Euronews Travel looks at what impact they might have on travel.

Will the US dollar be strong in 2025?

If economists are right, the US dollar will strengthen further against foreign currencies. Even the threat of a new tariff policy means that major world currencies – like the euro – get weakened by moving interest rates.

This then grants Americans who wish to travel outside the states better buying power, potentially enjoying longer or more luxurious trips if they book guided tours, accommodations and restaurants in the local currency.

US expats in Europe plan to stay away from ‘toxic’ America

Craig Sauers, an American based in Tbilisi, Georgia, was already living abroad when Trump won in 2016, which he says came as “a shock.”

As an American abroad, he feels “ashamed, embarrassed and angry” and was “appalled that so many Americans bought into his messaging” eight years later.

“I certainly don’t plan to move back to the US anytime soon. MAGA regime change is one thing, but inflationary pressures also haven’t eased at all. The US is both toxic and expensive right now, and that’s a bad mix,” says Sauers.

“I do hope to visit, though. I’m not getting any younger, and I can’t let my pride get in the way of relationships with my parents, siblings, and nieces and nephews.”

Jared Batzel currently lives in Madrid and is studying for his MBA. He previously served in the US military and other public-sector roles, including USAID which has been all but closed down under Trump.

“I’ve always periodically boomeranged back to the United States for one reason or another… but the returns have been increasingly jarring,” he says.

Batzel is keeping his existing plans to visit the US in May, “mostly for personal or professional requirements”, but says there’s nothing he misses in America, despite being born and raised in a very pro-Trump region of America.

While he understands some complaints and frustrations that Trump voters have, he says he “doesn’t recognise much of America anymore.”

“I have many English-speaking colleagues in Spain who are from a few dozen countries. Many have worked in the United States before or were looking to in the future. Virtually all of them have reconsidered and are seeking more long-term opportunities in Europe or in their home countries,” adds Batzel.

“This goes beyond the politics of the day and includes things like inflation and cost of living, crime and mass shootings, and many other reasons that have made the American brand toxic on the world stage.”

Why are Canadians cancelling travel to the US?

After the Trump administration threatened Canada with hefty tariffs in its first few days in office, prime minister Justin Trudeau told citizens to “choose Canada”.

“It might mean changing your summer vacation plans to stay here in Canada and explore the many national and provincial parks, historical sites and tourist destinations our great country has to offer,” Trudeau said.

Canada listened, too, according to the latest data.

“Already, Flight Centre experts have helped several Canadians pivot away from their US vacations and rebook elsewhere,” Flight Centre Travel Group in Canada told Open Jaw, a daily news site for Canadian travel agents.

“One of our long-time customers cancelled a trip to Arizona over the weekend and now plans to bring her family to Portugal instead,” the travel company confirmed.

Some of these trips are “bucket-list and milestone experiences,” costing between €6,700 and €13,480. Planned cruises are also being cancelled because many stop off at US ports.

It’s not just leisure travellers who are cancelling: A recent Corporate Traveller/YouGov survey reveals that 40 per cent of Canadian small and medium-sized businesses have already cut anticipated US-bound business travel. US customs lines in major Canadian airports are reportedly already much quieter.

According to the US Travel Association (USTA), Canadians are the top source of international visitors to the United States. They enjoy the warmer climes of Florida, California, Nevada, New York, and Texas. In 2024, 20.4 million Canadians visited the US, spending $20.5 billion (€19.60 bn).

Tariffs – when goods imported from other countries are charged a tax, typically a percentage of a product’s value – are a significant part of Trump’s economic plans.

In the first few days of office, the new US administration introduced a 10 per cent tax on all products from China and has also proposed introducing tariffs on products from Canada and Mexico.

Whether the tariffs come or not, Canadians are saying they will continue to cancel. Air Canada will cut several routes to Florida, Las Vegas, and Arizona starting in March, citing the tariff dispute and the weakened Canadian dollar, reports Travel and Tour World.

Hawaii fear fewer holidaygoers in 2025

Although Hawaii is a popular holiday destination with a distinct cultural identity from mainland America, the archipelago relies on the US dollar and so is also seeing fewer visitors due to tariff threats imposed on foreign imports.

Demand for WestJet, a local airline that flies from the US to all the major Hawaiian islands, has dropped by 25 per cent in recent weeks, according to local media, Khon2.

Locals who rely on tourism on the island are now pleading with international visitors not to cancel their trips. Whether the islanders’ requests to support Hawaii’s vital tourism industry are heard, time is yet to tell.

The EU’s high-speed railway network has nearly doubled in a decade, according to the latest official figures.

Lines capable of carrying trains at 250 km/h and more criss-crossed 8,556 km across the continent in 2023, according to Eurostat. That’s up from 5,812 in 2013.

However, the bloc’s total railway network shrunk by 1.3 per cent in that time, stretching only 200,947 km in 2023. “Europe is not upgrading its railways fast enough,” warns Carlos Rico, rail policy officer at campaign group Transport & Environment (T&E).

Despite railway lines being the backbone of Europe’s clean transport transition, the latest figures reveal a map of uneven progress.

Which European country has the highest density of railway lines?

Czechia has the highest density railway network in Europe, with 123.2 metres of railway lines per square kilometre.

Almost all its lines were built under the reign of the monarchy from the nineteenth century onwards, national railway manager Správa železnicand states, and taken over by the communist regime which prioritised rail transport over roads.

It is followed by Belgium (119.2 m/km²), Germany (109.5 m/km²) and Luxembourg (104.8 m/km²).

As Eurostat analysts note, the countries with the highest density of railway networks are all located in the centre of northern Europe, reflecting both their high population density and relatively high volumes of freight transport.

At the other end of the spectrum, the lowest railway network densities were found in Greece (14.0 m/km²), and Finland (19.4 m/km²) – which has the lowest population density in the EU.

Sweden (26.8 m/km²), Estonia (27.2 m/km²), Portugal (27.8 m/km²), Latvia (28.9 m/km²) and Ireland (29.8 m/km²) round out the bottom of the list.

How important is railway network density?

High railway density usually translates into a higher accessibility to railways, explains Rico. However, simply having a station close by doesn’t guarantee an easy ride.

“For a railway system to triumph it needs to be affordable and reliable,” he emphasises. “If the network is very large but frequencies are poor, prices are too high and delays are constant, it will not be able to capture a significant demand.

“And without those passengers, the system will be harder to maintain financially.”

Czechia scores well on the affordability front, with low ticket prices and special fares. But punctuality let it down in T&E’s rail operator rankings at the end of last year.

Within the EU, high-speed railway lines often span national borders, facilitating seamless travel around the bloc. This network has seen significant growth, Eurostat reports, rising by 47 per cent in the decade to 2023.

Spain is leading the way with 3,190 km of high-speed lines, a 66 per cent increase from 2013.

This reflects its status as by far the biggest benefactor of EU funds for high-speed rail between 2000 and 2017, receiving almost half of the funding on offer for the whole bloc.

However, T&E’s Rico explains, it’s also the result of very low construction costs compared to other countries.

Lower land and labour costs keep prices down in Spain, but economies of scale have played a significant role too. The lowest costs per kilometre were achieved when the country had the largest amount of projects in development at the same time.

France is fairly close behind with 2,748 km of high-speed lines, a 35 per cent increase from 2013. It is followed by Germany with 1,163 km and Italy with 1,097 km.

How can we get the EU’s rail targets on track?

Put simply, Europe’s railway network still has a long way to go to support the continent’s energy and climate goals.

The European Court of Auditors warned in 2020 that the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) network, Europe’s key policy for cross-border rail, is unlikely to meet its goals on time.

T&E is urging countries to funnel sufficient national funds into these projects. The European Commission, it argues, should fund top priority investments that boost transnational connections.

Rail represents only 0.4 per cent of transport emissions in the EU while transporting 7 per cent of the passengers.

“High speed lines are a part of the solution, but they are not the silver bullet,” says Rico. “Rail will contribute to transport decarbonisation in coordination with road electrification and clean fuels for aviation and shipping.”

To realise the “climate potential of rail”, he adds, we need increased competition, simplified cross-border ticketing, and a common signalling system in Europe (the ETCS). This latter piece of the puzzle will enable better connectivity and services without the need for new infrastructure.

Visitors to Albufeira may soon need to cover up when they walk around the popular coastal city under a new tourist code of conduct proposed by the city council.

Newly proposed rules mean fines of more than €1,500 could be issued if tourists are found wandering around the resort town in their swimwear.

Albufeira is the latest of several popular tourist destinations in Europe to adopt a so-called ‘bikini ban’.

The proposed rules target “excessive” tourist behaviour

The mayor of Albufeira, José Carlos Martins Rolo, has opened a public consultation over new rules around tourist behaviour in public areas.

Located on the southern Algarve coast, it’s common to find tourists who’ve spent a day at the beach wandering the city ‘partially naked’ in swimwear or even ‘completely naked’, which has been a problem for the city’s family-friendly image.

Visitors will still be free to wear swimwear such as bikinis or swimming trunks on beaches and in popular bathing spots, as well as in external hotel areas such as pool areas.

However, anyone who is ‘scantily clad’ outside of these exceptions could receive a hefty fine of up to €1,500. And if tourists are caught completely naked, the fine issued could extend up to €1,800.

Albufeira is a popular holiday hotspot for families with its beautiful beaches, fun waterparks, and golf courses. It has also, however, adopted a holiday drinking culture with a buzzing nightlife.

At the heart of the town lies The Strip, a so-called party street filled with themed bars and nightclubs. It attracts many hen and stag parties from elsewhere in Europe.

The proposed document says that “urgent” change is needed to tackle tourist misbehaviour, particularly in the wake of an incident last year when eight British male tourists were identified dancing naked – during the day – on top of a bar at Rua da Oura.

The proposed rules will also address other issues to deal with “abusive behaviour”, such as banning alcohol consumption in the street, public urination, defecation and spitting, as well as public sex acts, including from within businesses and terraces (such as open beach bars) that can be seen from public areas.

It’s hoped that the fines will act as a “preventative measure”.

Are the new rules targeted at British tourists?

The Algarve received 5.2 million visitors last year – a record-breaking number, according to the Algarve Tourism Board (RTA).

Of these, 4.4 million tourists came from Britain, followed by 1.13 million German and  967,000 Irish tourists. The nightlight and beaches of Albufeira are particularly popular with Brits.

Local mayor Rolo first proposed a new tourism strategy in April 2024 when he said that while the sun and beaches of Albufeira would continue to be a draw for visitors, the town needed to be promoted outside of its popular summer season.

Rolo added that he wanted to revert or demystify “the widespread image of Albufeira as a mass tourism destination”, “reduce the dependence on the British market” and encourage the town to become an “internationally-leading sustainable tourist destination”.

The public has 30 days to share their opinions on Albufeira’s proposed code of conduct. The expectation is that these rules will be in place ahead of the peak summer season.

So-called bikini bans are rising among Europe’s holiday hotspots

Albufeira is not the only tourist destination to propose introducing dress code laws.

Some parts of Spain, such as Barcelona and Majorca already have rules stating that you cannot go topless or wear swimwear in local shops and restaurants. If you do, you face a fine of up to €300.

In Malaga, the city hall has put up signs in English reminding visitors that local rules around littering, states of undress, rowdiness and reckless driving of e-scooters also apply to them.

In the coastal towns of Split,  Dubrovnik and Hvar in Croatia, ‘disturbances to public order’ laws have been passed against anyone walking around bare-chested or in swimwear. Again, if you do, you face a fine of up to €150 – and up to €4,000 if you’re visibly drunk in public.

In Nice, France, anyone – tourists and locals alike – going topless around town can be fined €35 on the spot, or face a €38 fine if bathing topless where it’s prohibited. However, you’re more likely to be reprimanded, as only “around 5 per cent of police stops” result in a fine, deputy mayor Anthony Borré told local news outlets last year.

Italy was one of the first destinations to tackle tourist clothing when, in 2022, the mayor of Sorrento on the southwestern Amalfi Coast introduced a €500 fine for anyone found wandering around in a two-piece swimsuit.