Ease.

Its a very stress free way of seeing some genuinely amazing scenery (Grand Canyon, Yosemite, New Hampshire, Cape Cod, for a variety of landscapes)

Re- the food, shopping etc, I find it far more varied there than the UK, where many independent outlets still exist, esp in the smaller towns, where they've long since disappeared here.

There's no difference between the average UK high street and US strip malls/ malls these days, bar parking is far, far easier in the US and everything is much cheaper.

All in all, you can pretty much get whatever experience you want in the US, so varied is the landscape, however they speak English, have high levels of service and are in the main very reliable. Not things you can necessary say about the equivalent areas in Continental Europe

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But it's only one (admittedly) big country out of many, so it's hardly the centre of the universe; we actually have more ties pulling us to other places; and the difficulties placed in the way of getting in have made us less inclined to bother going - although to be fair we have been lucky with immigration on the last few occasions we've arrived there.

I am less willing than others to be seduced by the apparent friendliness and openness of people there. As others have said, much of this is superficial veneer, by which I'm not normally impressed. Beneath it, there is the usual mix of different kinds of people and different attitudes.

Lower prices on a LOT of things: does that count? :)

So you love it and I would hate to go now. Why so rude?

In my opinion it DOES resemble Benidorm with all the building work. Thankfully I remember Dubai as a great country with lots of culture, great scenery and few tourists - that's how it was when I went many years ago. (Why are you saying "something you've never experienced"? I've been there when I worked for BCAL and have said so on a few occasions)

I'm under no illusions that lots of people like it. That's their prerogative, as it is mine to hate the thought of travelling to a place that strikes me as an overdeveloped building site (my view, clearly not yours - which is fine).

People are rude and unpleasant about the US - I may not like it (and have commented in the past) but try not to be rude to you about it. :(

PS - I've never been to Barbados actually.

Flights - in winter there are not that many places to go in the world that don't take 24 hrs+ to get there. Egypt - rapacious locals. Caribbean - nice but expensive and small if you want to DO something. CPT - expensive flights long distance.

Last year we went to Gambia, nice but malarial, poor food, poor accommodation, a fair bit of hassle from the 'bumsters'.

The US is not just a country it's a continent and so much to see. Las Vegas I don't care for but from there we went to Utah's canyons which are awesome and don't exist elsewhere in the world.

Always in season - not every part of the US all the time but always somewhere, many places in the world are unvisitable at certain times of year (which might be the times you want to go).

Good infrastructure - no broken roads you can get from A to B in good time again unlike many countries.

Cheap accommodation - well-maintained hotels without frills can be had for under $100 per night.

Cheap transport- car rental is cheaper than say indonesia and the roads
driveable without insane drivers

Safe and secure generally in terms of crime and maintenance

Food is cheaper than the UK

Good for independent travel do what you want no agents needed, no pplanning required.

Plenty to see.

People moan about the immigration but really the overall hassle level is MUCH lower than elsewhere generally

I think I would also have to agree with SRG. I first went to Dubai just over 30 years ago as a child. It was then a relatively small place, unspoilt, not overly supplied with hotels. It was quite possible to meet bedouin on their camels, the urban Emiratis, members of the Al-Maktoum family all within a few minutes of each other. It was a town of some civilisation and an important cultural spot with libraries and educational facilities that served a hinterland of hundreds of miles. There was even a small Jewish community there, somewhat under the radar. Benidorm was also once an unspoilt seaside spot.

Every visit since - and unfortunately I've had to visit Dubai several times a year - has resembled a visit to a tourism spot where the old Dubai and its creek has submerged under a blight of construction and consumerism. It is now quite hard to meet native Dubai people, a wonderful and pragmatic group of people who have almost died out in their own town, along with the camel market and the (impossible to refuse) generous invitations to spend a night out under the stars in bedouin camps.

For me the US has everything you need. Stunning scenery(yellowstone, Hawaii, etc), great beaches, great skiing, great cities, great restaurants and bars. I can't think of anywhere else where you can be lying on a beach but 3 hours later be skiing or shopping in LA. It's a great place

Back to the original question. I like the ease with which you can put together an independent holiday, the knowledge that when you're there the language and the customs are clear, driving is easy and not forgetting the good weather on the Florida Gulf coast early and late in the year (and the MFUs for only 25k miles). Makes for a relaxing holiday on and around the coast.

That said I certainly wouldn't choose that to the exclusion of other locations in the world - travel is one of the few things I spend my hard earned cash on and I like to see different sights. Far too long a list of places still to go to be content with only one country.

My wife and I have gone twice a year for the last decade.

My wife's idea of a holiday is sitting by a pool, reading a book, eating good food and drinking nice cocktails.

My idea of a holiday is go hiking, go fishing, bear watching, etc and generally enjoy the outdoors.

The compromise - we spend the 1st week doing the likes of Yellowstone, Vancouver Island, Grand Canyon and the 2nd week somewhere hot with nice pools, etc - we have found Phoenix or Palm Springs to be ideal for this.

I find myself agreeing with most of the above, in particular with sunrisegirl and meester69, even agreeing that I preferred the old Dubai to today's Dubai.

I've been fortunate one way or another to have visited 37 states. That number has remained static for a while, and Alaska still evades me as do Nebraska, Wyoming and some others. I'm hoping to add New Mexico later this year.

My own favourites are the Pacific NorthWest - Oregon and Washington State are beautiful with a great climate and cultured and welcoming population. (Add British Columbia to that formula.) As for cities, it would have to be New York and Chicago.

The airport 'security' industry is a turn off, especially the public groperama when leaving, and I rarely take domestic flights these days. Having said that, once in it's great.

Exactly, and that explains why many Americans feel they don't need to travel internationally.No need to get on a plane for that. Just stay here and read your Daily Mail. ;)Yes.

I echo quite a few sentiments here, Swanhunter's description of the US is one I don't recognise.

My favourite North American places:

1. Alaska - beautiful scenery, nice folks and wildlife (never seen a bear yet)
2. Entire western coast of North America - Anchorage to LA - just fantastic scenery, people, drink and food.
3. Arizona (Sedona, Prescott, Grand Canyon)

That said, I don't fly directly into the US anymore... TSA, need I say more?

pretty much the same, plus my best friend lives half an hour from the airport and my brother in law half an hour in the opposite direction.

by the time I price up a trip in Europe and paid a fortune for a tiny hotel room its just better value and the easy option. I buy quite a lot of clothes there as my er.. blouse size is a bit disproportionate and I find it easier to buy tops for work.
3 weeks is my limit, after that the price of the fruit and veg, and having the news "presented" to you instead of "read" to you begins to get on my nerves, that and I cant do without decent Indian food much longer :D

I travel the world and the US is no exception. Just spend the last 3 weeks there. The US for me is road trips and wonderful scenery and some exceptional cities. I agree with most of the positive comments that have been made here already. It requires a Mustang convertible though. :) Since they really can't do hotels right in the US I don't bother with 5 star properties anymore. I stay at a Fairfield Inn or Holiday Inn Express and see them as stops along the road. It is a weird 'culture' with little to no taste. I tolerate it for the open roads and the scenery.

Asia is for the relaxing beach hotel holidays. Australia is there for the best cities in the world and the road trips (although a little too big). Africa is there for safaris as well as wonderful scenery. South America I have yet to fully explore but I need better (any :)) Spanish for that I believe. Dubai is Benidorm and I have been there a lot. SRG is right IMHO. Yuck!

Language is not a reason for me to choose the US. I can manage almost anywhere (except South America).

It's the Land of the Weird. Why would you want to go anywhere else?

Supposedly the Indian food over there is far more authentic, which makes sense considering how it has been catered to our tastes here.

Like you though, I much prefer it here (I suspect as its been catered to my tastes), I've yet to go to an Indian their that I like and to be honest I've pretty much given up.

On the other hand, their Americanised Chinese Food is ace, I'd kill for a Crab Rangoon now!