UNITED STATES
Arguably the most talked about country in the world, the U.S. is a place where big cities and national parks rule. Across its 50 states, there are 11 cities with more than 1 million people. What is even more astounding is that its 63 national parks span more than 53 million acres, or 2% of the entire country! International tourists have no problem seeing the allure of this beautiful nation, but most Americans fail to see even 5 national parks in their lifetimes. If you make time to carve out a few weeks to explore, I promise you will not regret it. Of course you could never see it all, but that shouldn’t stop you from trying!
Updated COVID-19 Travel Information:
Currency:
The official currency of the U.S. is the U.S. Dollar (USD) ($)
$1 USD = €0.85 / £0.75
Pricing for Leisure Travelers:
Average Hotel Expenses = $160-$175 USD/Night
Average Food/Drink Expenses = $40-$55 USD/Day
Pricing for Backpackers:
Average Hostel Expenses = $55-$65 USD/Night
Average Food/Drink Expenses = $20-$30 USD/Day
Communication:
English is the official language of the United States. Because of how widely spoken the language is globally, many U.S. citizens do not know a second language. That said, Spanish is the second-most spoken language with roughly 15% of Americans claiming fluency.
Transportation:
Airplane: Given the size of the U.S., air travel is the most popular mode of transportation - whether you are traveling domestically or internationally. That said, unlike most countries, the United States does not have a flag carrier. The “big four”, however, is a common term used to reference American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines. With the exception of Southwest, all of these airlines have main travel hubs all over the world!
Train: Amtrak is the only long-distance intercity passenger railroad in the Continental United States. Their 35 train routes service over 500 destinations in 46 states! Depending on where you are heading, transit times can be lengthy, but the rides are smooth and comfortable.
Bus: Thirty years ago, intercity bus travel in the U.S. nearly became extinct. By focusing on medium-haul trips (between 200-300 miles) and lowering prices though, traveling by bus is now back on the rise. The two main players are Megabus and Greyhound. Compared to trains, buses are generally cheaper but they also take longer.
Car: Depending on which destinations you are hoping to see on your trip, renting a car could be your best option - particularly if you plan to explore national parks out west. That said, city-to-city travel will likely be more efficient by plane or train. The largest car rental company in the U.S. is Enterprise Rent-A-Car. Check out their website for prices and availability.
Taxi/Uber: Ubers, Lyfts, and taxis can be found in any of the big cities in the United States. If you are visiting national parks, don’t expect to find them though.
Miscellaneous:
Unlike many countries, prices displayed at grocery stores and restaurants are always pre-tax (meaning you will be charged more than what the sticker price shows because it does not include the product’s tax).
There is a tipping culture in the United States different than most countries. The rule of thumb is that tipping 15-20% is acceptable, but the more the merrier!
