The United States is the trip people over-plan and under-understand. The planning part is easy: one region. The understanding part is a short list of things nobody tells you.
Where to go, first time#
| Pick one | Why |
|---|---|
| New York, plus Boston or Washington | The easiest first trip: trains between them, no car needed |
| California | San Francisco to Los Angeles, with the coast between |
| Florida and the South | Miami, Orlando, and New Orleans if you fly |
| Chicago and the lakes | The underrated one |
| A World Cup city | If that's why you're coming; the host cities ranked |
Don't do both coasts in two weeks. The flight is five hours and the time change is three.
Before you fly#
Visa-waiver nationalities apply online for an electronic travel authorisation; everyone else needs a visitor visa and an interview that can take months to book. Use the official US government sites, apply early, and don't pay an agency to fill in a form. Travel insurance is not optional: a hospital visit is the most expensive thing in America.
The things nobody warns you about#
- Prices don't include tax. It's added at the till.
- Tipping is not optional. 18 to 20 percent in restaurants and bars, a dollar or two a drink, a few dollars a bag.
- You need a car almost everywhere. The exceptions are New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Boston, Washington, Philadelphia and New Orleans (doing them alone).
- Distances. Two cities that look close on the map are a day apart.
- Strangers talk to you. It's friendliness, not a sales pitch, mostly.
- Phone. An eSIM bought before you land is cheaper than anything at the airport.
What it costs#
More than the sticker. A mid-range day in a big city, with a single hotel room, three meals with tips and tax, transport and one paid thing, runs well into three figures before flights. The fix is the free things: parks, walking, museums on their free days, the Staten Island ferry.
Meeting an American#
Americans are the easiest people in the world to talk to for ten minutes and among the hardest to make friends with in a week. A Local Friend closes that gap by the hour: an American who lives in the city, who takes you to their neighbourhood and their bar and talks to you like a person, not a tourist. Rent a friend in the USA explains how it works and how much it costs what to expect. Post your trip on Roavi Community with your cities and dates: travellers heading the same way appear, and Local Friends in each city can reply. First stop New York? First time in New York.
First time in the USA? Spend an evening with an American who lives there.
Meet a Local FriendFrequently Asked Questions
Where should I go on my first trip to the USA?
One region. New York with Boston or Washington; California from San Francisco to Los Angeles; Florida with Miami and Orlando; or Chicago and the lakes. Trying to see both coasts in two weeks is the classic first-timer mistake. If you're coming for the World Cup, pick the host city and build around it.What do I need to enter the USA as a tourist?
Citizens of visa-waiver countries apply online for an electronic travel authorisation before flying; everyone else needs a visitor visa with an interview, which can take months to schedule. Check the official US government sites for your nationality and apply before you book anything non-refundable.What surprises first-time visitors to the USA?
Prices don't include tax, tipping is expected at 18 to 20 percent, portions are large, distances are enormous, you need a car almost everywhere, air conditioning is cold, and strangers talk to you. Also: tap water is free and fine, and public transport outside a few cities is thin.How do I meet Americans, not just other tourists?
Bars (Americans talk to strangers at them), a baseball game, a diner counter, and a Local Friend on Roavi: an American who lives in the city, paid by the hour, who shows you their version of it. Post your trip on Roavi Community so travellers and locals in each city see your dates.