44% of Americans lie about nationality when overseas

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A Send My Bag survey reveals many U.S. vacationers conceal their nationality overseas to keep away from politics and stereotypes.

“Where are you from?”

It’s a standard query vacationers get, one which some Americans choose would not be requested in any respect, as they’d wish to preserve their nationality a secret when overseas.

In a Feb. 2026 survey by the worldwide transport firm Send My Bag, 44% of the 1,000 U.S. grownup respondents aged 18 to 45 mentioned they’ve lied about being American whereas exterior the nation. Of these, 28% mentioned they do it sometimes, whereas 16% admit to mendacity commonly.

You’re not alone. Many vacationers really feel ‘uneasy’ about going overseas.

“It’s not uncommon to tell small lies to avoid awkward conversations, and what we’re seeing here is young Americans choosing to blend in while traveling, opting to focus on their experience rather than being asked for their opinion on the administration’s policies,” Adam Ewart, founder and CEO of Send My Bag, instructed USA TODAY in an e mail. “Europe is a top destination for Americans. They go for the food, culture, and history, not to have a conversation about whether Greenland is about to be annexed.”

They’re involved about how they’re perceived overseas as Americans and do not need to face hostility or undesirable consideration from others with robust political views. “To reduce tension and deflect any potential confrontations, Americans may make the choice to pass for another nationality,” he mentioned.

Do American vacationers behave badly?

Others attempt to keep away from standing out because the stereotype of the noisy, obnoxious American. American vacationers typically get a nasty fame, however it’s not solely detrimental opinions.

From Dec. 2025 to Jan. 2026, Gallup Iceland surveyed 427 tourism professionals for the journey platform Guide to Iceland to be taught their experiences working with vacationers, together with these from the United States, Germany, China, and Canada.

The survey outcomes discovered Americans to have a variety of journey behaviors. They’re voted the simplest to speak with, but in addition the second-most prone to ignore security and environmental pointers and to create “challenges in service,” akin to delays or complaints.

“As one of the largest visitor groups in Iceland, (Americans) represent a very wide range of travel styles and expectations,” Ingólfur Shahin, CEO of Guide to Iceland, instructed USA TODAY. “Their strong English proficiency makes communication easy, but their large numbers and diverse travel habits naturally mean that more issues may be reported simply due to volume.”

It could also be as much as the person traveler to interrupt any stereotypes. “A good traveler is curious, respectful, and prepared,” he continued. “They follow local guidelines, respect nature and local communities, and take the time to understand the place they are visiting.”