There’s not a person in the world that hasn’t heard about the United States, whether that’s due to its pop music industry, film studios or supersize junk food portions. This country is known as the land of opportunity and home of the ‘American Dream’, and that’s why many people plan vacations there, regardless of the season.
This might not be a perfect country, just like any other, but you should remember that taking a trip to the US can also be a life-changing experience. However, the main obstacle to enter this nation might be visa-policy. Citizens of a few countries can enter the US by simply showing a passport and online permission. As for the rest, you have to
apply for a B1/B2 visa or another type of visa depending on the circumstances. Aside from that, you cannot forget your passport of course, and take a look at the expiration date because you could need a passport renewal. You cannot enter the US with an expired passport, that’s why we give this advice.
So you might
need a passport renewal, or an ETA, or anything else, but we’re not giving you this information only to remind you of the importance of these documents. We’re also ready to give you some interesting facts about the US and its tourism.
The first thing that makes the US so unique is its size. To get a clear picture, a flight from New York to LA lasts just as long as one from New York to London. The United States covers a continent from one coast to the other, so it makes sense that it’s so big, right? While that may not affect you, you should probably be aware that you cannot explore many of the states in just one vacation. Just make an itinerary of the things that you would like to see, and take it from there.
The US is the
third most populated country in the world, with almost 330 million citizens. Due to its impressive number of citizens, this country is known as a cultural melting pot, because you can find here people of all races, religions, nationalities, etc. We recommend you to respect all of these cultures, otherwise, you could have a not-so-pleasant trip.
Another pursuit that may baffle you is shopping. Not because you may have difficulties in choosing from the vast variety of products, but because the price on the shelf and the total you need to pay at check-out are different. Why? Because the price tag at the shelf doesn’t contain tax, and tax is a must in the United States. The cashier adds the tax when you want to leave, so make sure that you have more money than you think you need before going to a grocery store.
Now that we’re talking about money, tipping is another crucial thing in the US. While it’s voluntary in theory, it’s basically a must in the US. This happens because waiters depend on your tip to make a good living. It might be kind of difficult to pay with a tip if the service is not that good, but it’s still best to leave something.
Since American laws are strict and the authorities take them seriously, don't forget to always have your travel documents on hand to avoid issues. That’s why we reiterate that if your passport expires while you are in the United States, you must have a passport renewal or some document that guarantees that you will obtain the passport renewal.
Beyond your passport or passport renewal, you should have in your bag everything you need to enjoy your trip to the fullest, including credit cards. These cards might be useful once you visit New York, as this city has a lot of things to offer.
New York is not called the city that never sleeps for no reason, it has the
famous Statue of Liberty, the most emblematic symbol of the United States that was built by Gustave Eiffel (the same creator of the Eiffel Tower). But, that’s not all you can find in New York, you can also fall in love with Central Square and the hundreds of local stores and enormous buildings like the Empire State.
One of the things that you will love about the United States is that you can find places open 24/7 almost everywhere. Do you want Thai food at 5 AM in the morning? No problem. Do you prefer the pizza at 12 AM? You’ve got it. There are many places open 24/7, meaning that you can get everything anytime.
Another aspect that tourists appreciate in the United States is the food. Since this is a big country full of mixed cultures, it has some of the best restaurants in the world. The funny thing about all this is that the United States may be more limited in terms of the variety of certain foods, at least compared to other places. But as we mentioned before, it has so much cultural diversity, that it becomes the perfect place to discover new cuisines.
New York and San Francisco have a lot of restaurants that have Michelin stars. Of course, you need to spend a lot of money on those restaurants, but if you have the amount, you should definitely try it.
Famous chefs cook there, and the food is heavenly.
But you don't have to spend so much money if you want to enjoy delicious food in any corner. Aside from the fast food that became popular in this nation, you can go to different street food places and try different sandwiches or grilled meats. If you prefer something sweet, then don’t forget to visit the cafes in every corner of the cities, especially if you want to accompany it with delicious pancakes.
Lastly, you should know that
people in the United States are welcoming. They’re always curious about new people, and chances are that they will make you feel at home. The bottom line is that you can find pretty much whatever you want in the United States. You should also explore nature while you stay there because the United States has the most beautiful national parks in the world. Don’t limit yourself to urban areas. As you can see, this country has everything it takes to be recognized as a world-class place to visit.