Greetings from Mystic, Connecticut! Today we’re sharing travel tips from our home country. Anytime you travel, anywhere in the world, there are things you should do, but there are also things you should not do.This post is about the “Don’ts” of USA travel.
USA Travel Don’t
1: Don’t Touch the Americans
Americans really like their personal space, almost as if they have a protective bubble around them. If you get too close to an American, it makes them very uncomfortable. Make sure to leave a bit of space around you,and don’t crowd [or touch] the Americans.
USA Travel Don’t
2: Don’t Count on Public Transportation
In many parts of the world, it’s easy to get around without a private car. That’s not so in the U.S. and you can’t count on public transportation to see a lot of the country. The bigger cities like New York and Chicago have pretty good train and bus systems for getting around within the city and neighboring suburbs, but once you get out into the countryside and smaller towns, the options for public transportation are not good, and sometimes unsafe.
USA Travel Don’t
3: Don’t Underestimate the Size of the U.S.
Think of the Continental United States like Continental Europe;it’s huge. You would never plan a road trip to Lisbon to Paris to Tallinn to Sofia, but many visitors to the U.S. try to plan a trip from New York to Miami to Los Angeles in two weeks. If you only have a few weeks, the best approach is to pick a region of the U.S. [New England, Southwest, Southeast, etc] and spend more quality time exploring one region.
Some examples of distance in the U.S.:
- Chicago to Los Angeles: 2077 miles/3342 km
- Miami to Las Vegas: 2566 miles/4129 km
- New York to Orlando: 1080 miles/1738 km
USA Travel Don’t
4: Don’t Forget About Sales Tax
The price you see on goods in the U.S. is not the final price you will pay. Most of the states in the U.S. add a sales tax to the price when you pay. Some cities add their own sales tax on top of the state tax. And then some goods, like food, are taxed differently than other goods, or not at all. There are currently five states [Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon]with no sales tax. If these states are on your itinerary, plan to do your souvenir shopping here!
USA Travel Don’t
5: Don’t Forget to Tip
On top of sales tax, plan to add another 15-20% to your restaurant bill for gratuity. At a sit-down restaurant with table service,tipping is customary, as service wages are lower than minimum wage. [It’s not necessary to tip at a fast-food or counter-service establishment.] If you are dining with a large group, sometimes the gratuity is automatically added to the bill. When ordering drinks at the bar, it’s good practice to tip a few dollars when you buy a round; this will ensure good service on subsequent rounds.
USA Travel Don’t
6: Don’t Get Freaked Out by Attentive Service & Free Stuff
Because we’re in a tipping culture, a lot of the service can seem over the top to someone from another country. However, people in the U.S. are generally very nice helpful, it’s part of our culture. Also, don’t be surprised at some of the things you’ll get for free at restaurants. Generally, before the meal you’ll get bread , or chips and salsa, depending on the type of restaurant. Tap water [not bottled] is also standard, so that’s usually brought to your table without asking.
USA Travel Don’t
7: Don’t Smoke [Cigarettes] in the U.S.
Cigarettes have become very taboo in the U.S. and people will look at you like you are trying to kill their baby if you smoke around them.What’s funny is, people don’t seem to mind at all about marijuana smoking these days, but cigarettes are totally verboten. If you do smoke, make sure you find a place where you are allowed. [It will vary by state, but there’s usually a prescribed distance from entryways that you can smoke] Most hotels, restaurants and indoor public spaces are smoke-free in the U.S.
USA Travel Don’t
8: Don’t Try to Buy Alcohol Unless You are 21 Years Old
Age limits on alcohol [21] and cigarettes [18] are pretty strict in the U.S. and you won’t be able to buy them without showing the proper I.D.Make sure you have an ID with your birth date. Even if you are in your 30’s, you may be asked to show I.D. Don’t get mad at the person requesting your ID, as they could lose their job if they don’t follow the proper procedures.
USA Travel Don’t
9: Don’t Bother With the Metric System
The U.S. does not use the metric system. Everything is in miles,pounds or gallons. Very few people in the U.S. will be familiar with the metric system, so be prepared to convert distances or amounts, using the baseline below.
For reference:
- 1 Gallon = 3.78 Liters
- 1 Foot = 30 cm
- 1 Yard = 0.9 meters
- 1 Mile = 1.61 km
- 1 Pound = 0.45 kg
- 12 ounces = 355 ml
USA Travel Don’t
10: Don’t Talk Gun Control or Politics
There are a few topics that will most certainly end in arguments,so it’s best not to bring them up. Gun Control and Politics are very polarizing topics, so stick to safer topics such as weather, sports or travel.
USA Travel Don’t
11: Don’t Assume All Americans are the Same
The U.S. is very diverse, geographically, and culturally. There is no “typical American” any more than there is a “typical European.” The U.S.has many different cultures and landscapes. If you travel across the country,you’ll see these regional differences in the cuisine, the language, and mannerisms. If you can, try to visit more than one region and take in these differences; you will be surprised.
USA Travel Don’t
12: Don’t Say the U.S. Has No Culture
The U.S. is sometimes accused of having no culture, but that’s arude assumption. There are many cultural centers in the U.S. New Orleans has a unique Cajun culture with French roots, New England has a very distinct and historic culture, with some of the oldest buildings in the U.S. The Southwest isa great place to learn about Native American culture. Just because the United States is a “newer” country, doesn’t mean there isn’t culture to experience here.
USA Travel Don’t
13: Don’t Think “How are You” is Actually a Question
Americans will often ask “how are you” and then quickly move on.Don’t feel bad if you are asked this, but the person doesn’t wait for an answer. It’s almost more of a greeting in the U.S. than a question. It’s similar to “ça va?” in French; it’s just a greeting said in passing, not a conversation starter.
USA Travel Don’t
14: Don’t Expect Free Extras at Fancy Hotels
In the U.S. the more expensive hotels usually have fewer free amenities. Things like WiFi and breakfast are usually not included in your luxury resorts. The mid-range hotels will offer more freebies, like continental breakfast, free parking and sometimes airport shuttles. Watch out for hidden resort fees, which are becoming very common at higher-end hotels and resorts in the U.S.
USA Travel Don’t
15: Don’t Miss the Local Cuisine
Each region of the U.S. has unique cuisine worth exploring. Herein New England, it’s all about the seafood, with lobsters and clams. Southern food is some of the best in the U.S. with fried chicken, mac n’cheese, grits and BBQ. Don’t just eat at chain restaurants. Ask at your hotel to find out the best local food to try. The locally owned restaurants usually have better service than the chain restaurants, too, because they are often family-owned.
USA Travel Don’t
16: Don’t Get Sick
Healthcare in the U.S. is insanely expensive. Just because you are visiting from another country, doesn’t mean they won’t track you down to pay your bill. Make sure you have traveler’s insurance that will cover medical expenses in the U.S. Something as silly as a broken ankle can cost you thousands, so be careful and be prepared!
USA Travel Don’t
17: Don’t Argue That There are More Than 50 States
For some reason, people outside the U.S. tend to argue that the U.S. has 52 states. It’s not true. There are 48 continental United States, plus Alaska and Hawaii. [Washington D.C. is a federal district, and Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory]
What to avoid when visiting USA?
Things Not to Do When Visiting USA.
Never Drink & Drive. One of the most important things to keep in mind while traveling to USA is never to drink and drive. ... .
Public Smoking is Prohibited. ... .
Don't Interfere in Their Personal Space. ... .
Don't Explain Football to Americans..
What should I know before taking a trip to the USA?
10 Things to Know Before You Go to the USA.
Portion sizes are huge..
Tips are expected..
Tax is not included in prices..
People are extremely talkative..
Don't be afraid to visit lesser-known places..
The country is SUPER sized..
The metric system doesn't exist..
The country is mad about sports..
What is the best reason to visit the USA?
USA: The United States of America is filled with exciting opportunities to have fun, explore, and learn through its national parks, vibrant cities, innovative gastronomy, and variety of arts and culture experiences.
What to do before holiday to USA?
Checklist for Travelling to the USA.
Search Flights. Search flights well in advance to get the best deals on flights to the USA. ... .
Check Your Documents. ... .
Get a Visa. ... .
Understand Luggage Allowances. ... .
Book Accommodation. ... .
Last Minute Things to Do. ... .
Plan Your Trip to & from the Airport. ... .
Get Travel Money..