One thing about The United States of America is it is one of the most diverse countries in the world. With a multicultural society and a diverse landscape, you’ll have a different experience in each of the 50 States.
Reaching to the far North in Alaska to Southern California and Hawaii, I don’t think there is any country on the planet with as many climates. The United States is our neighbour to the South and I have to admit, I’m jealous of their landscape.
They have their choice of visiting The Rocky Mountains and the arctic circle but also have tropical destinations complete with palm trees and jungles.
There is so much to do there, it’s no wonder that it’s the most visited country in the world. This United States travel guide will help you plan your next vacation.
Browse all our articles about the United States here.
Table of contents
Table of Contents
Fast Facts about USA
- Currency – 1 USD = .85 Euro
- ATMs are everywhere and you can make Interac payments at most establishments
- Electricity – 110 Volts AC
- Pre paid Sim Cards are available in the USA you can also buy a T-Mobile personal Mifi that will give you Internet access anywhere up to 5 devices.
- Capital City – The Capital of the United States is Washington DC and it’s a great city to visit. Check out our guide here.
Things to See and Do in the United States
- Visit the Grand Canyon – The canyon is 277 miles long, 18 miles wide, and over a mile deep. Approximately 5 million people visit the Grand Canyon National Park every year.
- Take a Tour of the Big Apple – New York City is one of the most exciting cities in the world and is a must when traveling to the United States. Read: New York City Itinerary – 5 Days in New York
- Take a Road Trip – The US has some of the best road trips including the California Coast, and a trip through Arizona for the Grand Canyon and don’t forget Route 66.
- Explore the National Parks – There are 62 different National Parks across the United States to explore.
- Alaska Cruise – Go to the final frontier of adventure travel in America and explore the wild and untamed state of Alaska. Read: How to Pack for An Alaskan Cruise
United States Travel Guides
Budgeting
Accomodation
Budget – Budget hotels, motels, and inns vary in their pricing. Depending on the city, you might pay between $50 – $100 per night. These rooms may have fully serviced rooms and offer breakfast while some will even offer wifi.
Mid Range – In the United States, you will spend between $100 – $200 per night in a mid-range hotel. These hotels are usually in better locations, offer higher-quality amenities, pool and gym facilities, and a few more options.
High End – In the United States, pricing for luxury hotels begins at $300 per night. Hotels in this range are usually located in affluent parts of any city and offer services to the rich and famous. Staying in one of these hotels is a full experience in and of itself.
Check out our favorite booking platforms Booking.com, Tripadvisor and Air B&B for the best deals on accommodation in the United States.
Food
- The Hamburger – America is known around the world as the land of burgers and you can find them in restaurants and street food trucks.
- Apple Pie – This sweet treat combines sugar, buttered dough and sliced apple to create a dessert that is beloved by the entire continent.
- Clam Chowder – In the city of Boston, you can find this famous soup made with potatoes, pork, shellfish, herbs, and heavy cream.
- Deep Dish Pizza – This type of pizza is made in a deep dish; allowing the crust to rise higher and for lots more cheese and tomato sauce to be added on top.
- Texan Barbecue – The people of Texas are famous for their grilled meats; seasoned, tenderized, and loved by all.
The Best Ways to Get Around the US
Flights: The United States has a very well developed air travel system. You can get flights into the country from anywhere in the world and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the busiest airport in the world.
You can check for the best flights to the United States on Skyscanner.
Transportation:
Buses: The bus system in the United States runs through cities and across the country. Depending on your location, you can find tickets starting from $1.
Taxis/Uber: There are yellow taxis in every major American city. Their pricing is usually metered, Uber is also widely available for use.
Car Rental: If you would rather drive yourself you can rent a private car for between $20 – $50 per day.
You can also compare prices here.
When to go To the US
- The seasons in the United States vary by region. However, a general rule of thumb is to visit in Spring and in Autumn. This is because Summer is considered peak season, and Winter is often too cold to explore properly.
- Many states have four seasons and there is no bad time to visit the US if you are prepared for the weather.
- Summer (June to August) is a good time for road trips hiking, and exploring cities.
- Winter (November to February) is great for skiing, ice skating, and winter carnivals. New York lights up at Christmas.
- Spring (late March to May) can be unpredictable with a mix of snow, rain and warm sunshine and the same can be said for Autumn (September/October) although Autumn is usually dry.
- California, Florida, Hawaii and the Southern States are hot or warm all year round. Keep an eye out for hurricane season in places like Florida, Georgia and Louisiana.
- September through November is considered the best time to go to America, as peak tourism has ended (meaning fewer crowds and lower hotel prices) and there are many beautiful autumn leaves to see. However, for those going for winter sports, January to March is when the snow conditions are at their peak and is a great time for skiing or snowboarding.
Where to Stay in the United States
- Americas Best Value Inn – With prices starting from $75, this budget hotel offers basic amenities as well as free continental breakfast, free parking, and wifi.
- Drury Hotels – Pricing at this mid-range hotel chain starts at $125 per night. Guests can expect high-quality beddings, a pool, and a daily happy hour event where they can mingle with other guests.
- Thompson Hotels – There are ten different Thompson hotels in the United States. They all provide sheer luxury experiences. Prices begin at $300 per night.
USA Accommodation Guides
What to Pack for the United States
You should pack for the United States depending on what season and region you’ll be visiting. For example, the Midwest can experience extreme cold during the winter, while the South often has temperatures over 100 F in the summer.
- Layers – Layers are key when traveling across the United States, especially if going to different states in one trip with varying temperatures.
- Camera – There are many beautiful opportunities for pictures in the United States, so make sure you bring your camera and batteries.
- Refillable water bottle – Many cities offer water fountains where you can fill up your water bottle for free, including most airports and malls.
See our packing tips: packing tips
USA Travel Guide: Best Booking Resources
Whenever we travel to we make sure to start with these companies. We have tried a lot of different ones over the years and all of these have consistently proven to be the best when it comes to offering great prices.
We have used every one of these personally and continue to do so.
- Booking.com: This is our go site to when comparing prices for accommodation. It usually has the cheapest prices, especially in Europe and we love their interface. Not to mention you get free cancellation and you are guaranteed the best price.
- Trip Advisor: What we like about Trip Advisor is that we can look at all the reviews and then book our accommodation. TripAdvisor is where we go when we want to compare prices with multiple accommodation providers.
- VRBO: is the main search engine we use when we are looking for a home or apartment rental. It can sometimes be cheaper than hotels and it is the best way to stay in areas that offer a more local feel.
- Hostelworld: With one of the largest databases of hostels in the world, Hostelworld is the go-to site when you are looking for budget accommodation.
- Skyscanner: This is the first place we check for flights. It consistently comes back with the cheapest and best options. It allows us to compare a lot of airlines to get the best price.
- Rome 2 Rio: If you want to see how to get somewhere by plane, train, bus, ferry or car Rome2Rio lays it all out for you as well as related costs.I love how they show it all to you on a Google Map and it works offline.
- Get Your Guide: For all your day trip and city guide needs, we use Get Your Guide. It has the world’s largest collection of things to do with more than 30,000 activities in 7500 destinations.
- World Nomads Insurance: When traveling to Italy you should always have travel insurance. We have found the best bang for your buck is by far World Nomads.
USA Travel Guide: Related Articles
Browse all our United States Travel Guides and Articles here.
