United States etiquette and culture: dos, don'ts and local customs

Etiquette itself costs nothing, but the money habits around it do. Budget the tip as part of the meal, not an extra: on a US$60 dinner for two, 20% is US$12. Sales tax adds roughly 5–10% at the till depending on state and city.

Timing changes the mood of a trip more than manners do. Holiday weekends — Thanksgiving, July 4, Labor Day — fill parks and roads; the same courtesy rules apply, but patience runs shorter and queues longer.

First hour: at the airport and in shops, staff greet you with "hi, how are you" and expect a short "good, thanks" back. Keep answers brief. Border officers ask direct questions about your stay; give short, factual answers and have your return ticket and address ready.

First day: in a café or diner, order at the counter, take a number or a name, and leave a tip in the jar or on the card screen — 15–20% is normal for counter service with a screen prompt. At a sit-down restaurant, the server introduces themselves by first name, refills water without being asked, and brings the bill when you ask; there is no service charge, so the tip is the wage.

First week: you will be asked "where are you from" and "what do you do" within minutes — this is friendly curiosity, not an interview. Answer as much as you like. Manners vary by city and region rather than following one national rule: service in the South and Midwest often comes with more small talk, while big-city interactions tend to be quicker and more direct — neither is rudeness. Watch what people around you do on escalators, pavements and trains, and follow the local flow.

Prices on shelves exclude sales tax, so the total at the register is higher than the label. Cash is accepted almost everywhere, but cards and phone payments are the default; some small places are card-only. Splitting a bill is normal and staff will do it on request.

Alcohol is 21-plus nationwide, and bars, clubs and liquor stores check photo ID — carry your passport or a state-issued ID, since foreign driving licences are sometimes refused. Smoking indoors is banned in most states; outdoors, move away from doorways and ask first.

Manners shift with place more than with any national rule. The Northeast is often fast and blunt; the South is often more formal and warm, with "sir" and "ma'am" common; the Midwest is often polite and understated; the West Coast is often casual, first names from the start. Treat these as tendencies, not rules, and match the pace of the people around you.

Religion and politics come up in conversation more openly than in many countries. You are not expected to agree; a short, neutral answer and a change of subject is normal and respected.