12 essential tips to know before traveling to the USA

Index

Before you book your trip, here are 12 essential tips to know before traveling to the US that will help you plan your dream vacation.

The United States is home to countless natural wonders and cosmopolitan cities that attract travelers from around the world.

From lush Caribbean jungles and beaches to vast deserts and snow-capped mountains, the country has some of the most picturesque and diverse landscapes in the world – and let's not forget the concrete jungles it's famous for.

Check the Validity of your Passport

To enter the US, your passport must have at least six months of validity remaining at the time of travel. This means that if your passport expires in less than six months, you will not be able to travel to the US.

Also, you must make sure that your passport is valid for the entire duration of your trip.

Tourist Visa

The first step to start planning your trip to the US is to arrange your US visa.

The dreamed B2- Tourism visa.

Access the website of the American consulate, make the request by filling out the form DS-160, pay the fee and schedule your interview.

tip in usa

In the United States, you are expected to tip all types of services such as taxi drivers, delivery people, valet parking, doormen, room service, and especially waiters and bartenders. (Most of them earn less than the federal minimum wage, which is already very low!)

Typical tipping practice is between 15% and 20%.

Know that, although it is expected, you it's not obligatory to tip. As a general rule, if the service was good (not exceptional), I give 15%. If it were exceptional, I offer 20%. On the other hand, if the service was terrible, I give 10% or less, depending on how bad the service was.

Finally, always check the restaurant bill before tipping, as some restaurants already include the tip in your bill total. Likewise, some other services already include a “service charge”, which is considered a tip.

The US is much bigger than you might think.

As the third largest country in the world, with an area of 9.83 million square kilometers (including territories), the US has such a wide variety of landscapes and a rich and diverse culture that it almost feels like each of the 50 states is practically one. country for itself.

Not to mention the different geographies and cultures presented by Hawaii, Puerto Rico and other territories.

In fact, when compared, many states are larger than some European countries. Two North-South features divide the country into three distinct areas.

THE west of the Rocky Mountains, we have the states of Pacific, which are known for the long stretches of beach along the California coast, the stunning deserts including the grand canyon, and temperate climate throughout the year.

Between the Rocky Mountains and the Mississippi River are the vast plains that stretch from Mexico to Canada, giving the USA one of the most fertile growing regions in the world.

And last but not least, we have the east from Mississippi, which is the industrial and economic center of the USA. Many big cities like New York, Boston, Washington DC, Chicago, Miami and much more.

Here you also find the Appalachian Mountains, which are not only one of the most ecologically diverse regions in the country, but also played a vital role in US history, from its settlement to its westward expansion.

Visit at least one National Park

While the United States is well known for its bustling cities, the country also offers a healthy balance of nature and incredible scenery with its National Parks.

In fact, the US has the world's first National Park. In 1872, yellowstone it was established by Theodore Roosevelt, starting a natural conservation practice that would spread throughout the world.

With 62 protected areas, the US has amassed an impressive array of national parks, including all kinds of landscapes, flora, fauna and outdoor experiences.

Escape the city and get lost in nature, camp in the dense forest, marvel at the snow-capped mountains that scratch the sky, wander the desert's hidden red canyons and hike through lush valleys and crystal-clear lakes.

make an itinerary

As already mentioned, the US is huge, so you should plan your trip accordingly. How much time do you have available? A few days, weeks, months?

If your trip is short, you'll probably want to focus on just one city or a few nearby cities like New York, Washington DC and Boston.

If you have a few weeks, you can expand your trip and fly to the other coast (like flying from New York to Los Angeles) or take a cross-state road trip.

If you have up to 12 weeks (approximately three months), you can take a cross-state road trip across the continental US, or focus on exploring a region in depth.

Also, do you have a focus for your trip? What would you like to experience?

It could be anything like visiting several national parks, seeing some of the country's most famous cities, and visiting several theme parks.

You can also take an out-of-the-ordinary trip, camp in the wild, attend festivals and major events, or discover the US's historic trails, among many others.

When planning your trip, make a list of:

Free things to do in every city or town
National Parks of Interest
Best hikes, bike trails, hikes (if you're into that)
City tour or day trips of interest
attractions of interest
Restaurants of interest

Now, try to accommodate all of them within your travel timeframe to see how they all fit together. This will help you to know if your trip planning is too ambitious or if you have time to see more destinations or attractions.

Take a road trip across the US by car or bus

Many cities in the USA are far from each other, but in between, there are many impressive places and quirky roadside attractions that you can explore and enjoy. This is one of the reasons road or land travel is so popular in the US.

You can travel between cities and rural areas using bus operators like Greyhound and Megabus, or by taking Amtrak – the national train operator.

When it comes to buses, the earlier you book, the better deals you'll find, including $ 1 bus tickets! The same applies to Amtrak, and they even offer a USA Rail Pass for 15, 30 or 45 days.

when looking for trains or buses, I recommend checking Busbud. They show a wide inventory of train and bus routes at the best price.

On the other hand, if you want more freedom to move as you please, renting a car or an RV is the recommended option for traveling around the USA.

A personal recommendation is that, unless you are visiting a city like New York, Chicago or San Francisco, rent a car while in the US.

Unfortunately, most of the country has not been developed with urban centers and public transport in the same way as Europe. A car is necessary, or at least recommended, to get around even in big cities like Los Angeles, Miami, Houston, Orlando and so on.

Book your domestic flights separately from your international flights

If you are short on time and would like to travel between distant cities, flying will be your best option. What I recommend, however, is to purchase your domestic flights separately from your international flights.

Airlines and flight aggregators often add a premium to domestic flights when purchased along with the international segment. On the other hand, if you book them separately, you have more options across all airline alliances.

Many popular US routes, which are those commonly flown by foreigners, are incredibly competitive among US airlines, so you're more likely to get a good deal by looking them up independently.

Expect to pay more than shown

Unlike most countries, prices displayed in supermarket, store, restaurant, hotels and any other business do not include sales tax. Each state has its own state sales tax, and they range from 7% to 11.5% or more.

Resorts are famous for charging a hefty “resort fee” that is often not mentioned when booking.

This can range from $ 10+ to $ 100+ depending on the resort. Always read the fine print or “not included” section of the advertised price for these extra taxes and fees.

Take out travel insurance

I'm sure you've read horror stories about America's inefficient and expensive medical system. Well, they are all true.

I'm sure you don't want to go home and get a US$ 1,200 bill just for being prescribed ibuprofen by a doctor. That sounds far-fetched, but it's not far from the truth here.

Having travel insurance with medical coverage is essential for any trip, but even more so in the US.

It's also great that your insurance has trip cancellation coverage in case of flight cancellations and other unexpected events.

Visit the Islands in the USA

Both Hawaii and Puerto Rico have several islands that are stunning and make you feel like you are in a different country, worlds apart from the typical US image.

Coming from Puerto Rico, and having grown up there, I can attest to that – as a local!

You can kayak in the world's brightest bioluminescent bay, visit one of the oldest cathedrals in the Americas and surf in the surfing capital of the Caribbean.

Always carry cash with you

As advanced as the US likes to say, it still lags far behind many European and South American countries when it comes to digital payment options.

The US is always trying to catch up, so even today, don't be surprised if many rural businesses accept cash only.

Also, in many places, the tip is left in cash unless you can add it to your credit card.

In most major cities, you will be able to pay for almost anything with credit cards and contactless payments. But still, you will find several companies that are cash only (for tax purposes).

Before leaving your home country, let your bank know you'll be using your debit and credit card in the US so they don't block it thinking it's a suspicious charge.

Some extra quick tips:

911 is the US emergency number.
The US is one of only three countries in the world that use the imperial system. Measurements are in inches and feet, distance in miles, weight in pounds, and temperature in Fahrenheit.
You drive on the right side of the street.
The US spans six time zones. Make sure you know what time zone your destination is in, especially when booking flights and airport transfers.