Ultimate Guide to Visiting the United States of America
The United States is made up of 50 states, Washington DC (the nation’s capitol) and 14 territories including American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Each state in the U.S. has certain geographic features, landmarks, and culture that make it unique. If you are considering traveling here, you will want to read our guide to visiting the United States so that you will be better prepared.
What You Should Know Before Visiting the USA
The United States is enormous and chances are that if you are visiting the US, you will not be able to fit in seeing it all!
Instead, we suggest that you choose a part of the country that you are most interested in and then try to explore a few states near each other.
According to the ITA, the most popular travel destinations in the US in 2024 were Florida, California, New York, Nevada and Texas!
That pretty much covers all four corners of the US!
Paperwork Needed to Travel to the US
If you are a citizen of a country participating in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), you must meet the eligibility requirements to travel to the U.S. under the program.
You will also need authorization through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) before beginning your trip.
Read more about the required travel documents.
What Currency Does the USA Use?
The United States dollar is the official currency of the U.S. and its territories. It is issued in coins and paper bills.
United States coins denominations include 1¢ (penny), 5¢(nickle), 10¢(dime), 25¢(quarter), 50¢, and $1.
American paper currency comes in seven denominations: $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100 bills.
What Languages are Used in the US?
The official language of the United States is English, but some areas of the country also speak Spanish.
There are many regional dialects in the United States as well and depending on where someone was raised, they might have an accent.
What is Typical Food in the USA
Because the United States is such a melting pot, food is varied based on region.
Hamburgers and Hot Dogs can be found just about everywhere, but if you want to know what each state is known for, check out this great list of things you should eat in each state!
Tipping at restaurants in the United States is solely based on your experience with your server.
Servers in the USA do not generally get a salary and tips get split between servers, hostesses and bar staff.
The general rule of thumb is to tip 15-20% of your bill if you are pleased with your service. Tip more than that if your server went out of their way for you.
Smoking indoors is not permitted in the US. This includes restaurants and bars.
