Traveling to the U.S. can be a thrilling experience, but if you are too focused on what you see on the TV rather than what America is actually like then you may not be getting the most out of your experience. TV shows often dramatize certain aspects of the country and unless you know what to expect you may not be fully prepared for your vacation. Either way, the US is not a place to be missed so if you are planning your next travel adventure, then America should certainly be on your list.
DON’T Try and See Everything
The U.S. is far bigger than all of Europe combined. The most important advice anyone can give you when you do visit America is not to try and do or see too much. A lot of people want to go to L.A., Miami, New York, and Washington D.C. all in the same trip and this is just not possible. You’ll be so tired you probably won’t be able to take in everything and you may even experience a sensory overload as well. The best thing you can do is try to focus on a particular region. For example, if you want to know what the northeastern region is like, start with New York City and then hit up Philadelphia. If you fancy the west coast more than the east, consider San Francisco or even Los Angeles. Vegas is also another popular destination.
DO Make sure You Tip
Tipping is actually customary in the U.S. and the tips actually make up a huge portion of some worker’s salary. This is especially the case in restaurants where sometimes people are paid just over $2 per hour. It’s a good idea to tip between 10% and 20% of the bill, depending on how good the service you received was. Tipping is normally up to you but some restaurants will automatically add a tip to your bill and this is done at 18%. It helps to take note of your bill to see if you have already paid your tip, as this is a great way for you to really know if you need to tip extra or not. If you are worried about working out your tip on the spot, consider downloading a tipping app that will tell you a percentage of the bill.
DON’T Think You can Smoke Anywhere
Anti-smoking measures are prominent across the U.S. but some places are extra-strict. Smoking is banned in most bars and spaces, but there are also some bans on smoking outside healthcare facilities, beaches, and even parks. Some people also don’t like you to smoke outside their residence, so this is one of the many things that you have to think about when planning your trip. If you are staying at a hotel or a bed and breakfast like the Albert Stevens Inn, the personnel will usually be able to advise you on where you can smoke in the general area so you won’t have any problems there.
Foreign friends, when you are visiting the U.S. there are a couple of things that you need to take into account (the same way we do when we come to your country!) but all in all, it is very easy for you to have a good time. Just make sure that you follow the rules, and not the behavior you see on TV.
