United States travel FAQ: 25 common questions answered

It depends on your passport. Visa Waiver Program travellers — generally the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, but not Canada, and not every EU passport — need an approved ESTA before boarding and can stay up to 90 days. Check the official eligibility list for your passport. Everyone else generally applies for the appropriate US visitor visa.

April to June and September to October suit most of the country, including New York, Washington, DC and the national parks. Miami and the Keys are best December to April. July and August are hot and crowded, and high mountain parks close in winter.

Budget US$150–250 per person per day mid-range, before flights, covering a hotel, meals, transport and tips (2026 estimate, check). Hostels and food trucks can bring that to US$80–120 (check). Add 6–10% sales tax and 18–22% restaurant tips on top of listed prices.

Yes, it is expected. Plan on 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, US$1–2 per drink at a bar, 15–20% for taxis and rideshares, and US$2–5 a night for housekeeping. It is part of the cost of a US trip, not a bonus.

For national parks, small towns and most of the West, yes. In New York, Chicago, Washington, DC and Boston you can manage without one. Fly any leg over about 600 km rather than driving it.

Yes, tap water is safe to drink throughout the United States and is served free at restaurants (check). No vaccinations are required for entry (check), but travel insurance with medical cover is strongly advised.

No. Visa Waiver Program travellers must hold an approved ESTA before boarding; without it you can be refused at check-in. Apply online ahead of your trip and check the official eligibility list for your passport first.

Visa Waiver Program entries are limited to 90 days. Stays longer than 90 days need a visa, not an ESTA. Officers decide your admitted length at the border, so carry proof of onward travel.

Canada is not generally a Visa Waiver Program country, so Canadians normally travel without an ESTA under separate rules. Requirements are passport-specific — check the official US government pages for your situation before booking.

Apply months ahead. A visitor visa usually requires an interview at a US embassy or consulate, and appointment waits vary by country. Do not buy flights until your visa is issued.

Carry your passport, proof of onward or return travel, and details of where you are staying. Officers may ask how long you plan to stay and what you are doing. Answer briefly and keep documents handy.

No. Shelves and menus show prices before sales tax, which is added at the till and varies by state and city. Budget roughly 6–10% on top of listed prices (check).

18–22% of the pre-tax bill at sit-down restaurants. At bars, US$1–2 per drink. Taxis and rideshares, 15–20%. Hotel housekeeping, US$2–5 a night (check). Tipping is expected, not optional.

Cards are accepted almost everywhere, including taxis and market stalls (check). Carry a little cash for tips and small vendors. ATMs are widespread, with fees from both your bank and the machine (check).

Mid-range, budget US$150–250 per person per day before flights (2026 estimate, check) — roughly US$1,050–1,750 for seven days, plus flights. Hostels and food trucks cut that sharply. See the 7-day cost page for a full breakdown.

At US$150–250 per person per day before flights (2026 estimate, check), two weeks runs about US$2,100–3,500 plus flights. Longer trips add domestic flights if you cross the country. See the 14-day cost page for details.

The US is generally safe for visitors, but crime and risk vary enormously by neighbourhood and city (check). Call 911 for police, fire or ambulance. Travel insurance with medical cover is worth having before you arrive (check).

911 for police, fire and ambulance, anywhere in the country. Emergency rooms are expensive, so medical travel insurance matters (check).

It is strongly advised. US healthcare is expensive (check), and travel insurance with medical cover protects you if you need treatment. Buy before you arrive, not after.

Summer heat in the Southwest, hurricanes on the Gulf and Atlantic coasts from June to November, and winter storms in the Midwest and Northeast (check). Check forecasts and park alerts before long drives.

May to September for Grand Canyon, Yosemite and Yellowstone. High mountain parks are largely closed by snow from November to April (check). The Southwest desert is dangerous in midsummer (check).

In New York, Chicago, Washington, DC and Boston you can manage without one (check). Los Angeles and most of the South need a car (check). For national parks and small towns, a car is the practical choice.

Fly any leg over about 600 km. On the coasts, trains and buses work well between cities, including Amtrak along the Northeast Corridor (check). Domestic flights are frequent, but airports sit far from city centres — add an hour each way (check).

Yes, tap water is safe to drink throughout the country and is served free at restaurants (check). Bring a refillable bottle for parks and long drives.

Layers for changing weather, comfortable shoes for city walking, a refillable water bottle, and your passport and entry documents. For national parks, add sun protection and more water than you think you need (check).