The U.S. of A. the States, or ‘Murica! If you are planning a trip to the Land of the Free and Home of the Brave, you should definitely plan well. If you are reading this, you are likely located somewhere else in the world, which means getting to the US is going to be a long trip. Due to this, failure to plan carefully may lead to an unpleasant start or even make your whole trip difficult. In order to combat that, we have put together this list of the most important things you need to take into consideration prior to arriving in the States. These range from getting your documents in check to insurance and airport transportation. If you check all of these off your list, then there isn’t much left that could go wrong.
First things first, as this will be one of the things you can get organized in advance, is an airport transfer. For the sake of this argument, we are going to say that you are arriving in the east side of the United States. If that is your starting point, yet you are connecting to another domestic flight, you should book a transfer between airports. For a shuttle from EWR to JFK, you can visit to organize the trip. A lot of domestic flights depart from JFK, meaning it will be the most likely point of departure for the domestic leg of your trip. For any further information, be sure to head to the link provided above.
Now, let’s move on to the other tips for traveling to the USA you definitely need.
You (likely) Need a Visa
Depending on which country you are from, you need to carefully check the Visa regulations. The USA currently offers a Visa Waiver program for individuals from Schengen countries, as well as a few others around the globe. Make sure to check if you are eligible for this, although you will still need to apply for a travel authorization through the Electronic System of Travel Authorization (ESTA). In order to be completely sure, one should head to the official website of United States border control. One thing you can be completely sure of is an AtoB airport transfer that doesn’t require a visa and guarantees a smooth and reliable ride.
Passport Validity
The State Department states that, in order for one to be allowed entry into the United States, they must have a passport that is valid for at least six months beyond the period of stay in the country. To renew your passport, you will need to go to the appropriate government building in your country of residence, keeping in mind that if this is not the country of your birth (or you haven’t become a naturalized citizen), you will need to head to your country’s Embassy. Make sure you do all of this well in advance, as it is something that can be delayed, either due to bureaucratic issues or even by a delay in postage. Something that won’t be delayed, though, is an AtoB airport taxi cab. They are guaranteed to always be on time.
Tipping is a big thing
Be prepared to always have to leave a tip when visiting the States. Although definitely not mandatory, you could get in hot water with staff if you refuse to leave a tip. Standard protocol is to leave 15-20% of the final tab, although, in certain situations (such as very good or poor service), you can differ from this standard. Whether you are dining at a restaurant, wetting your whistle at a local drinking hole, or even getting a haircut, leaving a tip is something that the individual who has performed the service will expect and oftentimes demand unless you have a good reason to not offer it. In order to avoid any conflict, simply make sure to leave the standard amount.
An additional thing to mention, in terms of payments, is the non-inclusion of tax in the prices you will see on menus, supermarkets, and other establishments that display a price on the item prior to purchase. Due to every state having its own laws, we aren’t able to provide a definitive number to keep in mind. Usually, a state tax will vary from 7% to around 12%, with more popular states having higher taxes in most cases. When booking an AtoB airport transfer, you don’t need to worry about this, as the price that is displayed is the one you pay – you also don’t need to worry about gratuity, although it is appreciated.
Book Domestic and International Flights Separately
In most cases, airlines and flight booking platforms will add a premium charge when both international and domestic flights are booked at the same time. If you book your flights separately, you will also likely get a much better price, as the domestic companies are all very competitive and will lead to you being able to find a much better deal.
Although flights may be a quick option, the scenery in the US is stunning and definitely something you should see. If the distance between the two destinations is not too great, you may consider renting a car or even booking your airport taxi between states. It may seem excessive, yet the experience you will have will be worth it.
Get Travel Insurance
The number of travelers who have had nightmare experiences when traveling to the US without insurance is many. You can find them on every corner of the internet, all having a slightly different story about how horrendous it was to travel without getting insurance first. It has become common knowledge that anything relating to medicine in the US is extremely expensive, with simple things such as being prescribed ibuprofen by a doctor costing upwards of $1000!
Not only is insurance great for doctor visits, but it is also very useful for flight cancellations. If you insure your flight, you can receive full compensation for it if it is canceled or you need to change it. The same is the case for an AtoB airport taxi ride, which is also fully refundable if done in advance.
Alrighty, folks, that’s all! With this comprehensive guide on traveling to the USA, you are guaranteed to start it off in the best possible way. You won’t need to worry about anything going wrong, as you will have taken care of all the basics beforehand. We hope you have an amazing trip in the USA. Happy Travels!