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Whether you’re coming to the United States from abroad or traveling as an American on your own turf, you need to prepare for your trip in advance. The United States is a big country and there are tons of amazing things to see. However, making mistakes could end up ruining your trip from the start. So, in today’s post, we are going to examine 5 tips for traveling in the United States.
Confirm Your Lodging in Advance
Whether you are staying with friends, booking a hotel, or finding an Airbnb, you need to know where you are staying before you arrive. This is especially true if you want to book specific lodgings. Hotels and other accommodations can fill up quickly, so if you don’t book your room at least a week in advance, you could miss out on getting the place you want. After all, if you need to check in late at night, the last thing you will want to do is frantically search for different accommodations.
Know What Your Health Insurance Covers
If you call the U.S. home, you know that healthcare can be pretty complicated here. Many U.S. health insurance plans work on a network-based system. This means that if you visit a clinic or doctor outside of your approved “network,” you will need to pay a lot more. Generally, foreign travelers can expect to pay even higher prices, unless they acquire internationally-recognized insurance before their trip. In any case, you will want to make sure that you are covered wherever you go, whether you need to get emergency treatment for an injury or foot surgery for bunions.
Make Sure You Have Transportation
As previously stated, the United States is a very big place. More importantly, it does not have a massive public transit system to get you from one place to another. You either need to fly or drive to different locations. Flying can get pretty expensive, especially if you want to visit several different cities in different parts of the country. So, you need to make sure that you have some kind of transportation (bus tickets, car rental, etc) to get you from point A to point B.
Anticipate Price Variations by Location
Once you spend a few days or weeks traveling throughout the United States, you will notice a lot of differences between states, cities, and regions. One major difference is the cost of living. This applies to nearly any kind of product or service you require. For example, the price of a cheeseburger in New York City is much higher than it is in Orlando, Florida. So, be ready for significant price variations along the way.
Know When to Tip
If you live in the United States, you probably already know when to tip and when not to tip for different services. However, the U.S. has a pretty complex tipping culture, so it is not always clear, even for people who have lived here all their lives. For example, you are always expected to tip waiters at restaurants. However, when it comes to most other positions, tips are optional. This can include taxi drivers, bartenders, and many other service providers. If you’re ever unsure what to do, don’t be afraid to ask!
