9 Traveling Tips if You Decide to Go to the USA

Travelling is always fun. Whether you solo travel or you take a bunch of friends along, you make memories that you cherish for ages to come. And it teaches you what many books can’t. Because unless you experience something, you cannot commit it to your memory. Reading books does not guarantee that you will remember all that is narrated about a place. Apart from all this, you get an opportunity to meet people from different cultural backgrounds. Isn’t that cool! However, many people find the connectivity issues very annoying while they are traveling. As for myself, I do my research through Cox Bundles near me about the area that I visit. This service and the like allow you to learn particularly about the places where such companies offer their services. Hence, making it easier for you to connect with others.

And if you are planning to travel to the States any time soon, there is a lot you would know that just the Internet availability.

Here’s what you need to know while traveling around the US:

Passport Validity

First things first. And this does not only apply to America but any country that you are traveling to. Make sure that you have a valid passport. Because all those flight and hotel bookings will go down the drain if the passport is not valid. And that does not mean that you can travel a day before your passport expires. According to a rule, you should have at least 6 months’ of passport validity before you travel to the USA. However, the citizens of certain countries will only need a valid passport for the length of their stay. You will need to search the Internet to learn about the category your country falls in.

Visa Situation

The visa validity rules vary from countries to countries. So, there are some countries whose citizens are allowed to enter the sates for tourism purposes without a visa for 90 days. This is known as the Visa Waiver Program. And if your country falls under the VWP category, then you will have to apply for authorization first. The requirements that you need to fulfill if you travel under VWP include:

• E-passport
• Being a citizen of a member country
• Possessing the ESTA authorization
• Not staying in the States beyond 90 days

TSA Approved Lock

Americans have their own rules. If you thought that you can protect your luggage by using any lock, you got that wrong. The lock that you put on your baggage has to be TSA (Transportation Security Authority) approved. Weird as it may sound, but that’s true. This is because all checked bags are screened. And if TSA inspectors feel the need to inspect any bag, they have the authority to break the lock and check. And if your lock is not TSA approved, the officials will have to break it. To avoid that, use TSA approved locks. Because the airport authorities have specific keys to open them. And they will place a note to inform you what happened, in case they inspect your luggage.

Turn off the Mobile Data

You do not want to pay a hefty amount that international roaming might ask of you. Therefore, turn off your mobile data while you are traveling. However, if you have a mobile plan that allows you to use your data, go for it. And don’t worry about your connectivity issues because you will have access to numerous free Wi-Fi spots. So, try to make the most out of them.

Tipping Etiquette

Do not forget the tipping etiquette when traveling to the States. Ideally, you are expected to pay a 15-20% of your spent amount ion a restaurant. Because the minimum wage is low in the States. And tips serve as an important source of income for many workers there. Hence, be generous while tipping. But do check your bill before you tip. Because many restaurants include it in their bill. Which means that you do not need to tip the server separately. However, tips are not restricted to restaurants only. There are many other services in the States that accept tips. These include:

• Concierge
• Bartenders
• Valets
• Hotel porters
• Taxi drivers
• Doormen

Get Ready to Spend More

When you visit the States and head out for shopping, you will notice that many prices are exclusive of taxes. And it might surprise you when the total that you have to pay is more than you thought. But be prepared. And these tax rates vary from state to state or city to city. So, this might get a bit annoying as well.

We have warned you!

Airport Transfer

Don’t think of the States as some European country. Because it is a pretty car-reliant country. And you will have to book a transport to commute from the airport to your destination. You cannot rely on public transport that often either. Because almost 95% of US households own cars. So, the public transports are often limited as well.

The National Parks

They are 59 in number. And the heart of the States is in these national parks. Not in the skyscrapers and huge building that you thought of. However, you won’t be able to visit all of them in one visit. But you can always try to visit as many as you can. In fact, it is always a better idea to get an annual pass. It is cheap. And offers complete value for money.

Punctuality

Punctuality and professionalism are two things dear to the Americans. Although, many people believe otherwise. So, if you make a commitment to meet someone at a certain time, make sure that you are there on time. Because time is money. And Americans know that. In fact, they practice it.

In case you find yourself lost while struggling to reach a place, you can use services like Xfinity Customer Support. It will come in handy. Other than that there is nothing much that you need to worry about when you travel to the States. All you need to do then is enjoy!