After the challenges of 2020, many are looking abroad for extended vacations, and with this perfectly prescribed list of international countries for Americans to visit from Travel + Leisure, foreign travel never felt so familiar. As always, anyone interested in traveling should check local travel restrictions and safety guidelines of both their departure city as well as any locations they’re visiting.

There are approximately nine million former Americans, also called expatriates, living abroad, according to the State Department, and that number is ever-growing larger. So whether you’re looking to pack up and completely relocate, spend a summer across the ocean for an extended vacation, or choose the perfect destination in which to spend your retirement, this curated list straight is the perfect resource. After all, there’s no better source for which countries are the best for Americans to visit than former United States citizens who traded one nationality for another!

New Zealand

The immediate draw of an extended vacation in the Australian-adjacent nation of New Zealand might be the encompassing sense of “home” that Americans immediately feel once stepping foot on the expansive landscapes that the island country greets you with. The entire country is made up of two main, larger landmasses as well as over 700 smaller islands in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, but despite the “spaced-out” geography, many American expats find themselves drawn to the capital city of Wellington, the cultured hub of Auckland, or the picturesque Hawke’s Bay; no matter the New Zealand metropolis you find yourself in, there’s plenty to be drawn to. The northern and southern islands are only a ferry ride away, allowing for residents to spend their first few months surveying the mountain ranges, beach villages, naturally-occurring hot springs, and mesmerizing waterfalls that make New Zealand one of the most-traveled destinations.

When visiting, no matter the length of your stay, budget some time to pay respect to the island’s indigenous community, the Māori, who came to New Zealand over 1000 years ago from their mythical Polynesian homeland of Hawaiki. Approximately one in every seven of New Zealand citizens identify as Māori, and from the architecture to the cuisine, Māori tradition and influence are ingrained in the cultural fabric across the country, so make it a point to watch an authentic weaving or carving demonstration by a Māori tribesman, take an island tour to learn about locations of tangata whenua legend, or pay respects by visiting a manrae, or the complex of carved-houses that serve as a focal point of the indigenous community.

Sweden

Americans traveling abroad for extended vacations in Europe typically find themselves thinking they’ve visited the future once they’re exploring the highly efficient nation of Sweden. The Scandinavian nation that is made up of thousands of coastal islands is found in northern Europe, between Norway and Finland, and it’s the capital city of Stockholm is truly a sight to behold and experience. It’s difficult to not immediately fall in love with the pure, colorful magic that’s to be found in the skies of the Swedish Lapland, because whether you find yourself outside in the Arctic Winter gazing at the unimaginable glory that is the Northern Lights or the illuminating presence of the Midnight Sun in the mighty north, you’ll quickly understand that pictures do justly depict the beauty.

Sweden’s capital, Stockholm, is known as being one of the most welcoming cities on the planet, as is a world-renowned city of tolerance, inclusivity, and forward-thinking. Even more so, it’s generally a breeze to even traverse the city that’s oft-named the “Venice of the North,” since its public transportation system has been awarded for its regulated order and refined elegance. Outside of the capital, you’re sure to find a place to call home in the sweeping cities of Umeå and Kiruna, as they not only reside beside the most reflective waterways or beneath the transcendent hillsides, but they house some of the finest innovations in modern cuisine that is to be found in the Northern Hemisphere.

Try out either of these wonderful countries on your next, safe foray beyond the borders of the United States, or look into the full list of suggested locals from American expats for even more countries to fall in love with.

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