Explore the United States With Locals Who Actually Live There
The US is fifty states and dozens of cities that feel like different countries. Most visitors see the famous sights and the inside of a rental car. A Local Friend shows you how people really live, eat and spend their weekends.
Why travel with a Local Friend in United States
Every city is its own country
New York runs on the subway and slices, Los Angeles on freeways and taco trucks, Miami on cafecito and Spanish. What works in one city doesn't in the next. A Local Friend tells you how their city works, so you're not learning it the hard way.
Skip the tourist strip
Times Square, Hollywood Boulevard, Ocean Drive, the Las Vegas Strip: every American city has a street built for visitors and charging accordingly. The neighbourhoods people love are a short ride away.
Get the costs right
Prices without tax, tips of 18–20%, resort fees, parking, which airport train is cheap. A Local Friend explains the money side in the first hour and saves you from the surprises.
Cities to explore in United States
New York
Five boroughs, the subway, food from everywhere on earth. Get out of Midtown into Brooklyn and Queens.
Los Angeles
Beaches, hikes, taco trucks and Koreatown. A city of neighbourhoods joined by freeways; plan one area a day.
Miami
Little Havana, Wynwood, the beaches and the Everglades, in a city that speaks Spanish first.
Chicago
Architecture on the river, the lakefront in summer, blues, jazz and neighbourhoods like Pilsen and Logan Square.
Las Vegas
The Strip done without overpaying, Downtown, Chinatown's food and red-rock canyons twenty minutes away.
San Francisco
The bridge, the hills and the fog, Mission burritos and walks at Lands End.
Orlando
The theme parks planned well, and the Orlando beyond them: springs, manatees, Winter Park and the Space Coast.
Key facts
Capital
Washington, D.C.
Language
English (Spanish widely spoken)
Currency
US dollar (USD)
Best Time
Spring and autumn for most cities; winter for Florida
Time Zone
Six zones, from Eastern (UTC-5) to Pacific (UTC-8), plus Alaska and Hawaii
Visa
A visa for most of Latin America; an ESTA for Visa Waiver countries. Check before you book.
Local Friends across United States
Locals who live here, ready to show you around.
Practical travel info for United States
Best Time to Visit
It depends on the city. New York, Chicago and San Francisco are best in spring and autumn; Las Vegas from March to May and October to November; Miami and Orlando from December to April, outside hurricane season (June to November). Summer is hot almost everywhere except the California coast.
Safety
The places visitors usually go are generally safe. The common problems are petty: phones snatched in crowds and on trains, car break-ins (never leave anything visible in a car, especially in California), and street hustlers in tourist areas. Safety changes block by block in big cities; a Local Friend knows which.
Getting Around
Fly between cities: distances are huge. Inside New York, Chicago and San Francisco, public transport is good and a car is a burden. Los Angeles, Las Vegas side trips, Miami and Orlando are much easier with a car or rideshare. Most transit now takes a tap of a contactless card or phone.
What to Pack
A card that works abroad — very little is paid in cash. Plug adapters for type A/B sockets (110V). Comfortable shoes for walking cities. Layers: indoor air-conditioning is cold everywhere, even in summer. Travel insurance, because medical care is very expensive.
Language Tips
English everywhere, and Spanish is spoken widely, especially in Miami, Los Angeles, Orlando, New York and Chicago. Americans are friendly and direct; small talk with strangers is normal. Tipping is part of the price: 18–20% at restaurants, $1–2 a drink at bars.
Budget
One of the more expensive countries to visit, mostly because of hotels. Budget: about $100–180/day before accommodation, depending on the city. Mid-range: about $250–450/day with a hotel. Prices are shown without sales tax, which is added at the till, and service staff expect tips.
Frequently asked questions
Ready to explore United States?
Browse Local Friends and start planning your trip.
Start with New York