The United States of America has been the powerhouse of the world for generations; the people are so proud to call themselves American and are so patriotic. America is full of surprises each state has its own charm and unique twist on life. Travelling through this great country opened our eyes; to the freedom and how much the local people were kind and down to earth. The greatness doesn’t stop there everything is supersized; department stores; cars/trucks and of course we all know about the food! Glorious food is available at any time of the day or night. Neil and I spent a month in America; hired 3 cars (Mustang Included); drove across the country 7337km; rode 134 rollercoasters, saw 3 concerts; ate way too much food and we both fell in love with The United States of America
America
Must See and Things to do in th USA
Helpful Hints when Travelling The USA
Accommodation
Some of the roadside motels in America are a little like the scene of a scary movie, cops rolling through people lurking in the car park. Most of these motels are on the cheaper end of the budget and for good reason. Our suggestion is to go for something a little further out of the main city, which is located near public transport or if you are road tripping has free parking. Look for the middle of the range in price (don’t go the cheapest) a clean comfortable and basic motel should be around USD 70-100 per night depending on how close you are to the major cities. You will find in summer and school holidays that the prices of everything increase significantly.
Food
The food in America is incredible, 10 am, 12 pm, 3 pm, 5 pm you can get a full meal at any restaurant at any time of the day. The meals are large and good value for money, you can get a main meal and drink of choice for around $15-$20. You may want to think about just ordering one main to share between two people. There is plenty of cost-effective ways to eat on your trip in America, book accommodation that includes breakfast, pop into a sandwich deli, or stop and get a slice of $1 pizza.
Transport
The United States is HUGE, try not to cram too many places into a short amount of time, choose places in the same general vicinity of each other, eg west coast, east coast.
Road trips are extremely popular in The United States, some of the most scenic, unique, and bizarre things that you can see on the road in between major cities are incredible, we would definitely recommend doing a road trip in the USA. Don’t worry you will get the hang of driving on the other side of the road!
The major cities have convenient and reliable public transport such as metros and bus networks. A single fare journey will cost anywhere between USD $2 -5, it is more cost-effective to buy a return ticket or a day pass that will allow you on all forms of transport in that city.
Taxi’s – Are the most expensive way to travel around the cities, but they are convenient.
Uber – Uber is available in most places across the US and is much cheaper than the taxi option
Lime & Uber Scooters – In big cities such as San Fransisco, Washington, LA, NYC you will see bikes and scooters parked all over the place. These are available to hire through the Lime and Uber Ap, you basically open the app it tells you where the closest scooter or bike is, you go over, scan it and ride it as far as you want. The charge per minute so, be careful to watch the amount so that you don’t end up with a massive fare. They are great for short distances if it is too hot or far to walk. Another thing to keep in mind is if you take a bike it has to be returned to a proper stand or they will charge you a massive fee.
Flying – Is the quickest option however it is not always the most convenient and can be very expensive. You can find some good deals if you are flexible with your times and dates, check out our guide on how to find the best travel deals resources page for some of the websites we use to find the cheapest deals.
Suggested daily budget – For a mid-range budget anywhere between $40-100USD per day, this would be eating out a little, staying in an Airbnb or similar, splashing out on a few outdoor excursions or other attractions. Using the budget tips below, you can always lower this number. However, if you stay in fancier accommodation or eat out more often, expect this to be higher!)
What can I expect from the United States of America?
Language
When traveling to any country; you need to go in with an open mind and respect their customs, cultures, and etiquette. It is important to take the time to learn a few words in the local language, English is the main language spoken in the United States. Each state has its own distinctive slang and accent so in some parts of the US it sounds foreign.
Currency
The currency in the USA is USD or US Dollars $, Check out Travelling with your money for some more information on the cash passport.
Electricity
The voltage in the United States of America (120 V) is less than in Australia (230 V). You need a voltage converter. Gone are the days you have to have 10 different adaptors; it is much easier to have a universal adaptor that covers all or most of the countries you are traveling to.
Visa
The USA has very strict requirements for tourists and transit passengers. There are no acceptions the US Customs and Border Protection officers won’t let you enter if you don’t comply. If your trip is less than 90 days you need to apply for an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) which are valid for 2 years. If you are not eligible for the ESTA then you will need to get a visitor visa before you travel.
Make sure you check the latest information before you travel as it can change quite quickly. Contact an embassy or consulate of the United States for the latest details.
Safety
The US has a bit of a reputation for being a country full of guns, yes most family households will have a gun in their position but it doesn’t mean that it is an unsafe country. You defiantly need to be aware of your surroundings, keep a very close eye on your personal belongings on public transport and in the big cities but overall if you use common sense then you have nothing to worry about. Don’t do anything in the USA that you wouldn’t do at home, don’t walk down dark ally’s on your own, don’t get in the car with strangers, stay in well-lit areas and don’t put yourself in any situation you don’t feel comfortable in.
Travel Insurance
Do not travel to the USA without a good travel insurance policy, the health system in the US is a little different some hospitals won’t even let you in the door if you are not covered by insurance. Medical treatment is super expensive in the US, ensure you are covered for full medical on your policy so your dream trip doesn’t turn into a nightmare. Check out things to consider when taking out an insurance policy post.
Money Saving Tips
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