Things to Know Before Travelling to the USA

Understand tipping

Tipping is a minefield for travellers to the US. Although technically discretionary, it’s an unwritten rule that 15-20% is expected in restaurants. Tips are also common in other service and hospitality industries too, such as for bartenders ($1-2 per drink), housekeepers ($1-5 per night), valets ($1-5 each time the valet brings your car), hotel porters ($1-2 per bag) and taxi drivers (10-15%), so it’s worthwhile stocking up on dollar bills to have them handy for tips. When in a restaurant, always double-check your bill before tipping, as some restaurants automatically include a gratuity, especially if you are a group of 6 or more!

Know your visa situation

The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) allows nationals from certain countries to enter the US for tourism or visitor purposes for up to 90 days without a visa.

Requirements to travel under the VWP include possessing an e-passport, being a citizen of a member country, possessing the ESTA authorisation, visiting for business, pleasure or transit purposes, and staying in the US for no more than 90 days. You must have obtained approval to travel at least 72 hours before your flight (you won’t be able to board your flight otherwise), and after that, your ESTA is valid for two years. ESTAs cost $14 per application, which can be made and paid for online.

National parks & monuments

The USA is blessed with wonderful national and state parks, forests and monuments. There is a fee to enter these, varying from $5 to $20 per car per day, and payable locally. There is also a National Parks Annual Pass providing entrance to all national parks for one vehicle and its occupants for a fee of $80. Most parks have rangers who can provide guidance about the best parts of the park to visit for scenery and wildlife, walking trails, outdoor activities and the best picnic spots.

Be prepared to pay more than what’s displayed

When it comes to purchasing goods and services in the USA, the price isn’t always what it seems. This is because most of the prices you will see are excluding sales tax, so when you arrive at the counter to pay, expect the cashier to require a slightly higher price. As the tax will vary from state to state, it’s safe to expect at least a 10% addition to the total cost. This also goes for most accommodation, with ‘resort fees’ commonly added to advertised prices.

There are plenty of islands worth exploring

As well as the US mainland there are islands that are also worth visiting, in particular, the Hawaiian Islands. This cluster of tropical islands is comfortable to travel to all year round. Ranging from the bustling metropolis of Oahu to the natural playground of the Big Island.