American Backpackers Deported From Ireland
#17
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 53
Re: American Backpackers Deported From Ireland
I am sure there are horror stories of foreigners and ex-pats travelling. I would have the same sympath for them as I do these three American kids. I wouldn't be chastising them for being 'stupid' or 'not planning properly'.
#18
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: North Charleston,SC. born in Stockport,UK.
Posts: 10,109
Re: American Backpackers Deported From Ireland
I bet they won't try it again though, without 'planning it properly', so lesson learned as far as I can see!
As stated above, they didn't 'suffer' too much in the end, I for one, don't think they earned it though!
#19
Re: American Backpackers Deported From Ireland
Zwirko admitted: "We obviously learned now that we were less prepared than we should have been. We are going to bring what they required of us the first time."
meh, it's not much in the big scheme of things.
#20
Re: American Backpackers Deported From Ireland
Sometimes people need to be chastised, it builds character. Besides, I don't think those guys will be reading BE so their feelings won't get hurt (and by extension, they don't need you to throw a pity party for them and get grieved on their behalf). Or did the US change from the Land of the Free to the Land of the Easily Offended while my back was turned?
#22
Re: American Backpackers Deported From Ireland
Well I've been told I'm a naughty boy on more than one occasion ...
Last edited by dunroving; Jul 15th 2009 at 8:28 pm. Reason: Bad typing - I'm so naughty!
#23
Re: American Backpackers Deported From Ireland
It's been a few years since I've traveled across the pond, but if I remember correctly, the card we fill out on the plane asks for an address of where we are going to be.
#24
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2007
Location: Doha
Posts: 535
Re: American Backpackers Deported From Ireland
These guys had not come to sponge!
#25
Re: American Backpackers Deported From Ireland
The world has changed. Whether for the better or worse, these systems are now in place and we have to take responsibility for fitting in with the requirements of whatever countries we want to visit. That's why I didn't wear my Borat thong last time I visited Dubai.
#26
Account Closed
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 0
Re: American Backpackers Deported From Ireland
I used to like hitch-hiking on the motorways, but AFAIK it's now illegal. It used to be possible to travel internationally without a passport. No longer possible. Not long ago, you could take a tube of toothpaste onto a plane. No go these days.
The world has changed. Whether for the better or worse, these systems are now in place and we have to take responsibility for fitting in with the requirements of whatever countries we want to visit. That's why I didn't wear my Borat thong last time I visited Dubai.
The world has changed. Whether for the better or worse, these systems are now in place and we have to take responsibility for fitting in with the requirements of whatever countries we want to visit. That's why I didn't wear my Borat thong last time I visited Dubai.
TMI my friend
#27
Just Joined
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 28
Re: American Backpackers Deported From Ireland
Yeah, the world has changed a lot...sometimes for the worse.
These guys would have avoided tons of trouble if they had booked a room somewhere their first night out of the US.
These guys would have avoided tons of trouble if they had booked a room somewhere their first night out of the US.
#28
Re: American Backpackers Deported From Ireland
the first time I came to the USA was as a backpacker in 1992 and I hadn't actually aranged anywhere to stay, but I knew I was heading for the Youth Hostel in New York up by Columbia University, so that's the address I put on the landing card. The Immigration bloke at JFK then argued with me, insisting that I'd got the name wrong and that it was called the YMCA (a completely different place in midtown). We went back and forth for a while until he gave me a stern "don't argue with me" look, scribbled out "Youth Hostel" and wrote "YMCA" over it, then waved me through. I suspected that so long as you at least gave them something vaguely sensible in the address field they didn't really give a toss.
#29
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2007
Location: Doha
Posts: 535
Re: American Backpackers Deported From Ireland
the first time I came to the USA was as a backpacker in 1992 and I hadn't actually aranged anywhere to stay, but I knew I was heading for the Youth Hostel in New York up by Columbia University, so that's the address I put on the landing card. The Immigration bloke at JFK then argued with me, insisting that I'd got the name wrong and that it was called the YMCA (a completely different place in midtown). We went back and forth for a while until he gave me a stern "don't argue with me" look, scribbled out "Youth Hostel" and wrote "YMCA" over it, then waved me through. I suspected that so long as you at least gave them something vaguely sensible in the address field they didn't really give a toss.
Stayed at the mid-town Y back in the mid-eighties when passing through NY.
To some of the above...yes, the world has changed I guess. Just read Patrick Fermors 'A Time of Gifts' in which as a young man in the 1930's he set off from London, across the Channel to the Hook of Holland and then walked to Constantinople (now Istanbul); he had a passport, but visas not required.
To what extent do you just 'accept' the rules, and 'fit in' though?
#30
Re: American Backpackers Deported From Ireland
Agree, just say 'Motel 6' in some nearby town (and hope there is one...)
Stayed at the mid-town Y back in the mid-eighties when passing through NY.
To some of the above...yes, the world has changed I guess. Just read Patrick Fermors 'A Time of Gifts' in which as a young man in the 1930's he set off from London, across the Channel to the Hook of Holland and then walked to Constantinople (now Istanbul); he had a passport, but visas not required.
To what extent do you just 'accept' the rules, and 'fit in' though?
Stayed at the mid-town Y back in the mid-eighties when passing through NY.
To some of the above...yes, the world has changed I guess. Just read Patrick Fermors 'A Time of Gifts' in which as a young man in the 1930's he set off from London, across the Channel to the Hook of Holland and then walked to Constantinople (now Istanbul); he had a passport, but visas not required.
To what extent do you just 'accept' the rules, and 'fit in' though?
I've been refused boarding to a transatlantic flight twice due to US visa problems, In both cases, I was pretty pissed (on both occasions, it was due to me accepting advice from people I shouldn't have trusted) but I wasn't pissed at the system, more at my own stupidity for not making sure I had my sh*t together. On neither occasion would I have expected to be front page news and get a free paid holiday out of my crass ignorance.