The United States is supersized, from its sprawling big cities to its epic natural splendors. And its citizens? When it comes to friendliness and national pride, we can be a little “extra” too.

Yes, the political rhetoric these days could be described as divisive, but political views don’t typically seep into small talk or day-to-day interactions. Take my city, a college town in the South. Pickup trucks with gun racks are parked beside eco-friendly cars with “Coexist” bumper stickers, and their owners are getting coffee at the same coffee shop and grumbling about the heat.

If you’re planning a trip to the USA, we’ve provided a few pointers to help you navigate planning, etiquette, and health and safety issues.

*YOU MUST NEED COVID TEST PAPER AND VACCINE REPORT PAPER

Things To Know Before Visiting The United States

1. You Need a Tourist Visa or ESTA to Enter the USA

The first and possibly most important of my US travel tips is to be aware of and understand the requirements to enter the USA.

As of today, the US Visa Waiver Program, also known as the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), allows citizens of these 39 countries to enter the US for up to 90 days without a visa. 

This includes countries from the European Union, as well as Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, and a few others.

Your 90 days of visa-free travel start from the moment you step on US soil, including Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and other US territories.

Those 90 days in the United States also include time spent in Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, or the Caribbean Islands if the arrival was through the United States. 

The ESTA application is only required if arriving by air or cruise ship. It is not required if entering overland or on local ferries, such as between Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada, and Washington State. 

The validity of the ESTA is for up to two years. You’re allowed to make an unlimited number of trips to the US as long as each stay has a maximum of 90 days.

The ESTA is far less expensive than the traditional tourist visa, and it only takes about 20 minutes to fill in a simple application form. While you can apply for your ETSA at any time before boarding your flight, it’s advised to do it at least 72 hours before departure.

At the time of departure, have your ESTA and approval number handy, as it’ll be requested during check-in. 

Now, should you wish to stay in the USA for longer than 90 days, or if you don’t fall under the ESTA program, then you’ll need a visa.

Getting Other US Visas

If you want to stay longer in the United States, or if your citizenship is not included in the ESTA program, you will have to look at other US tourist visas – mainly the B-2 Visa (tourist visa). 

These visas are usually much more expensive than the ESTA (around $160-$180 for many countries), but unlike with the ESTA program, the process is a bit more complicated, and there is no single list of requirements as they vary depending on your citizenship. To expedite your application, I recommend using iVisa.

You can also check the visa requirements on your country’s US embassy website or by visiting the embassy or consulate. For example, if you’re Moroccan, head to the US embassy in Rabat, Morocco.

2. Check Your Passport’s Validity 

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

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

3. Pick a region – don’t do it all

With 50 states, 63 national parks, and 4 million miles of highways, the USA can feel like a beast to be tamed when it comes to trip planning and getting around. One solution? A deep dive into one region.

The continental USA – which stretches 3000 miles from coast to coast – is loosely broken into about nine areas: New England, the Mid-Atlantic, the South, the Midwest, the Southwest, and the West, which can be further broken into the Rocky Mountains, the Pacific Northwest, and California.

Beyond the continental US, you’ve got Alaska and Hawaii. Seemingly refusing to join a category is Texas, which is diverse enough – or maybe stubborn enough – to defy regional stereotypes.

4. Don’t overplan your days

It is tempting to look at a map, calculate your mileage, and assume you can make four or five different stops in a day. But be careful with this thought and always expect delays.

Two-lane roads are common in and around national parks, and Winnebagos, wildlife, and gorgeous scenery will slow you down. Smaller roads are also the norm in mountains and rural areas, and passing slowpokes can be stressful.

You may find yourself wanting to extend your stay at one of your destinations – leave room for serendipity in your itinerary.

5. Understand the US Tipping Culture

In the United States, you’re expected to tip all forms of services, like cab drivers, deliveries, valets, porters, room service, and most notably, waiters and bartenders. (Most of them earn under the federal minimum wage, which is already way too low!)

The typical tipping practice is between 15% to 20%. 

Know that while it is expected, you’re not obliged to tip. However, not tipping is considered to be a big faux pas.

As a general rule, if the service is ok (nothing outstanding), I give 15%. If it was 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. 

Other common tip suggestions in the hospitality industry include: 

• Concierge: dependent on the difficulty of your request

• 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

• Doormen: a few dollars if they help you get a cab

• Taxi drivers: 10-15%

• Shared shuttle drivers: $2-3 per person

• Food delivery: $1-$4 depending on the distance from the restaurant to your accommodation

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

6. How long do you need to visit the US?

Exploring a major metropolitan area like New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles or Washington, DC could easily fill a week, especially if you include day trips to outlying parks and beaches. You may be able to cover a small state, like Vermont or West Virginia, in a week too.

To really dig into a region, however, you’ll want at least 10 days, especially if you’re flying in from overseas. Within a week and a half, you can visit two or more cities and a handful of outlying attractions. 

It’s also enough time to explore a couple of national parks in one region, particularly in California or the Southwest.

7. Mondays can be quiet

Many restaurants and small museums are closed on Mondays. Because of staffing shortages, many are also closed on Tuesdays, especially in small towns. Closures can be even more bedeviling in remote tourist towns, with restaurants and attractions not opening until midweek.

If you want to dine and explore to the fullest in Bisbee, Arizona, or Marfa, Texas, plan to visit Thursday through Sunday.

8. Plan Your USA Itinerary Accordingly

As already mentioned, the USA is enormous, 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 cities nearby, like New York, Washington DC, and Boston.  

If you have a few weeks, you could expand your trip and fly to the other coast (like flying from New York to Los Angeles) or do a road trip crossing several states.

If you have up to 12 weeks (roughly three months), you could make a road trip crossing several states across the entire continental US, or concentrate on exploring one region.

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 most famous cities in the country, or visiting several theme parks.

You could also go road-tripping off-the-beaten-path, camping in the wild, participating in festivals and major events, or discovering the US’s historical trails, among many others. 

The options are endless, but be aware that given the size of the country, getting from one point to another could take a lot of time if you’re driving, or a lot of money if flying.

While planning your trip, make a list of: 

• Free things to do in each city or town

• National Parks of interest

• Best hikes, bike trails, walks (if you’re into that)

• City tours or Day tours of interest

• Attractions of interest

• Restaurants of interest

Now, try to accommodate all of them within your trip’s timeframe to see how they all fit. This will help you decide if your itinerary is too ambitious or if you have time to see more destinations or attractions.

9. Public restrooms aren’t always easy to find

It can be surprisingly challenging to track down public restrooms. In downtown areas, your best bets are visitor centers, libraries, indoor malls, and larger city parks. You may have to buy a coffee or snack to get the restroom key in coffee shops in heavily trafficked urban areas.

In the suburbs, try larger gas stations and fast-food restaurants. Along interstates, you’ll typically find rest areas with restrooms, picnic areas for picnics, and space for dog walking about every 60 miles or so. The best option for those with small bladders? When you see a restroom, use it!

10. Expect small talk, but don’t delve into politics

Americans can be chatty, especially in small towns. Chitchatting about the weather or your immediate surroundings is typical, but don’t be surprised if someone eventually asks, “What do you do?” – which typically means, “What’s your job?” Yes, it’s nosy, and why should they care? Share as much or as little as you wish.

Political conversations can get dicey quickly, especially in today’s polarized US, so it is prudent to keep your opinion to yourself. Don’t assume you know someone’s political views based on your location in the US or how someone talks or dresses.

On occasion, someone may toss out a live-wire topic just to get a reaction or show off. In that case, it’s best to smile or change the topic. Discretion is the better part of a future bar fight.

11. Tax is not included in prices

Tax rates vary from state to state

If you think you’ve got just enough money to buy that cute souvenir or T-shirt, you might be in for a surprise when the cashier rings up the bill. At many places where goods or services are sold, the prices displayed on the tag or sign don’t include taxes, which could add 7% or more to your bill. 

Most states have sales taxes and there might be local government taxes levied as well, so make sure you factor that into your shopping budget.

12. Don’t be afraid to visit lesser-known places

With so many iconic sights like the Statue of Liberty, the Las Vegas Strip, and Disneyland, it would be easy to do a USA trip that ticks off all the bucket-list places you hope to see in your lifetime. But with a bit of research, you can find alternative places that are well off the tourist trail but no less spectacular. 

Instead of Niagara Falls, try visiting Ruby Falls, a 45-meter-tall underground waterfall in Tennessee, or skip the Grand Canyon in favor of the lesser-visited Zion Canyon in Utah. Stray off the beaten track and see what you’ll discover.

13. USA tipping culture: how much should you tip?

With coffee shops and casual restaurants now offering a tipping option on electronic transactions, tipping protocols in the US have gotten increasingly confusing.

In sit-down restaurants and bars, tipping is not optional, and tips should only be withheld when service is outrageously bad. Even then, a small tip and a chat with the manager may be best. 

What about coffee shops? If you serve yourself, tipping is discretionary, or you can leave your change. A dollar is always appreciated. For more complicated coffee orders, consider a tip of 15% to 20%.

A 20% tip is the norm for restaurant servers unless gratuity is already included in the bill. For bartenders, it’s 15% to 20% per round or a minimum of $1 per drink.

For airport and hotel porters, $2 per bag is the norm, or a minimum of $5 per cart.

Pay a valet at least $2 upon the return of your keys. For taxi drivers, it’s 10% to 15%, rounded up to the next dollar. Leave a few dollars under the pillow for hotel housekeepers daily.

14. Is the US safe to visit?

For most visitors to the US, petty theft is a bigger concern than violent crime. To avoid being robbed, withdraw money from ATMs during the day or in well-lit, busy areas at night.

When loading or unloading your car, keep an eye on all your bags, especially if crowds are around. Lock valuables in the trunk of your car and put them there before you hit the road for the day. It’s becoming more common for thieves to smash your car window and snatch items left in view.

Read our trip-planning articles for San Francisco, Seattle, New York City, and other major urban areas for city-specific tips on crime prevention.