THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW WHEN TRAVELING TO THE US

As the most developed country in the world, the United States has many advantages to become a "promised land" that everyone aspires to visit. In the United States, in addition to the modern infrastructure system, hotel chains, restaurants, and fashion capitals are also a bright spot that attracts a large number of tourists.

I. The ideal time for you to choose to travel to America

America has 4 climate seasons including Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter and the characteristics of each season are very clear. From late March to June (spring) or from September to late October (autumn) will be the ideal time for you to choose to travel to America. The weather during these two periods is usually very pleasant and tourists do not gather much at famous attractions.

II. How long is a reasonable time to travel to the US?

Depending on the conditions and nature of the trip, tourists can arrange their stay in the United States accordingly. Here are some reference time frames from famous reviewers when choosing to travel to the United States.

• 7-day trip: This is enough time to explore the cuisine, scenery, and shopping malls in the area where you are staying. It ensures that your trip is not a waste of airfare.
• 10-day trip: You can explore the entire city and its surroundings.
• 14 to 30 days: This is for those who plan to travel across states to visit relatives/friends

III. Experience booking hotel rooms when traveling to the US

1. Priority is given to booking hotels in the central park area

Depending on your travel destination, the central park will be located in the middle of the city where you are staying. This location is convenient for you to watch the most vibrant and glamorous activities, and it also provides fresh and natural air.

In addition, you can also choose to book a hotel near your destination (within 1-10 km). This will help you save costs and travel time at tourist attractions and shopping malls.

2. Find out hotel information in the US

You can find many hotels that publicly list their prices on the internet. However, you should base your price inquiries and selection on the actual festival situation. It is best to book your hotel 30-60 days in advance to get the best deal.

According to travel experts, if you do not have any information about hotels, you should find out through online booking sites because there will be many discount and promotion programs every month. Hotels on online booking sites will be much cheaper than the prices for direct bookings at the hotels.

If you choose to book directly to save money, it is best to ensure that you have successfully contacted the reception staff of the hotel.      

     

3. Check out the amenities in the hotel

When choosing a hotel to book, tourists should carefully research the services available at the hotel. See the community facilities, facilities dedicated to your room type, and detailed fee schedules. Read more reviews to understand the staff attitude, whether the actual experience is the same as the illustration, and any taxes (if any).

IV. Things to keep in mind when traveling to the US

1. Food is prohibited from being brought into the US

The United States is a country that strictly checks the food that visitors bring in. The first thing visitors need to prepare for themselves is what is not allowed to be brought in when entering the United States. Many people who travel are worried that the local food will not be suitable for them, so they will bring their own food.

But the United States is very strict about these issues, because they are concerned about food safety issues, and that some foods may contain bacteria that can harm the health of the community. The foods that are prohibited to bring in are:

• Ready-made meat products and meat-based foods
• Vegetables, fruits, or seeds are also prohibited

If you want to bring them in, you must declare them to customs, and they will check them very carefully, so we can hardly hide or bring them in without declaring.

The United States has a diverse and rich cuisine, and we can easily buy common foods here, so visitors can be completely at ease and do not need to bring food.

2. Pharmaceuticals are checked and prohibited from being brought on the plane

Many types of medications are not allowed to be brought into the United States. Crushed medications, medications without labels, or medications with colors that do not meet FDA regulations are not allowed to be brought into the United States. Except for the case of diabetic patients, they may bring the crushed medication according to regulations and of course, the traveler must declare specifically when entering the country. Or in the case of travelers who are sick and must use special medications that require a doctor's guarantee, but they can only be used for one year. Some herbal medicines that do not contain substances that change the body of the user are not prohibited from being brought in.

3.Prohibited items to bring on the plane

On flights to the United States, passengers are not allowed to bring flammable items, sharp objects, or weapons. For liquid items such as gel, perfume, lotion, toothpaste, etc., the total volume allowed on board is no more than 50 ml.

4. Aviation regulations

For international flights, airlines often have stricter regulations. Not only are some items prohibited, but flights also have regulations on the number and weight of luggage.

For international flights from other countries to the United States: Each passenger is usually allowed to check in two pieces of checked baggage for free, but each piece cannot weigh more than 23 kg, so a total of 2 pieces cannot weigh more than 46 kg. For domestic flights: Passengers must declare their luggage and pay a luggage handling fee. The luggage fee is $25 for the first piece of luggage and $35 for the second piece of luggage.

5. Time zone difference problem

The United States is a country with many time zones, such as UTC – 11 (Samoa Standard Time), UTC – 10 (Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time), UTC – 9 (Alaska Standard Time), UTC – 8 (Pacific Standard Time), UTC – 7 (Mountain Standard Time), UTC – 6 (Central Standard Time), UTC – 5 (Eastern Standard Time), UTC – 4 (Atlantic Standard Time), and UTC + 10 (Chamorro Standard Time).

Therefore, when visiting each city, tourists need to pay attention to the time zone there to adjust accordingly. Travelers also need to calculate to have reasonable schedules. It is important to have enough time to adjust to avoid jet lag.

6. Note about currency

Before traveling, tourists should prepare foreign currency to facilitate shopping and sightseeing. The official currency of the United States is the US dollar, with the most common symbol being $.TheISO4217codeisUSD,andtheInternationalMonetaryFund(IMF)usesUS$.

The denominations of paper money are: 100 USD, 50 USD, 20 USD, 10 USD, 5 USD, 2 USD, 1 USD. The denominations of coins are: 25 cents, 10 cents, 5 cents, 2 cents, and 1 cent.

However, tourists should also note that if they carry more than $10,000, they must declare it when entering or leaving the country.

Since it is not possible to carry a lot of cash, tourists can use international credit cards such as Visa card and MasterCard to pay for large amounts of money. However, it is also important to remember to prepare loose change to pay for expenses such as transportation.

7. Tipping culture in America

Usually, when using services, eating out, customers usually tip the service staff. The cost is not fixed, depending on the type of service, such as:

• At restaurants or cafes in the United States, the general rule is that customers need to tip around 15% to 20% of the total bill amount. Cafes often have it printed on the bill. For high-end 5-star restaurants, if you are satisfied with the meal, you should tip at least 20% or even 25% depending on your ability.
• At fast food restaurants, if you do not sit down and take out, then on the table there is usually a jar or box with the words "Tips Welcome". In this case, it is up to you how much to tip. American supermarkets also have a similar tipping method.
• When traveling by taxi, customers usually tip an amount of 10-20% of the fare.
• When you go for a haircut, you should tip a 20% amount on the bill to the hair stylist and also tip a few dollars to the hair stylist at the salon.
• If you are visiting palaces, museums, or historical sites that need a guide, tourists should also tip 5 or 10 dollars to thank them.
• At hotels, when the staff helps to carry luggage to the room, you should tip 1 dollar for 1 bag of luggage, if they do better, you can tip more.
• At bars, the rule is 1 dollar per drink, you can also tip 2 dollars for 3 or 4 drinks. Or you can also tip 10% of the bill when leaving.  

Tipping has long been a very common thing in the United States, but if tourists do not like this, or you have a poor service experience, you can skip tipping. If it is printed on the bill, you can request to deduct that amount from the bill.

8. About food and clothes

Most restaurants in the United States use soy sauce as the main condiment. And another thing to keep in mind is that tourists should not bring food with strong odors into hotels, taxis, elevators, etc.
When traveling, tourists often tend to bring a lot of clothes to "check in". However, this can be inconvenient and tiring during the trip, so it is best to limit the amount of clothes you bring.
In addition, tourists traveling to the United States during the hot season should be aware that the sun is quite strong, so be sure to pack sunglasses.

9. About shopping

Shopping costs in the United States are also quite high, so tourists should prepare their own personal items to save money. But if you want to buy, you can buy fashion clothes and cosmetics at supermarkets, outlets, and malls. Note that you should not shop in the counties and states on the East Coast because the prices are higher than the West Coast.

For electronic goods, you can buy them at large electronics and appliance stores such as Bestbuy, Fry's Electronics. Vitamins, household items, and sports equipment can be purchased at Walmart, Costco.
In particular, tourists need to note that pharmacies in the United States only sell drugs when prescribed by a doctor, so it is advisable to purchase travel insurance.

10. Note about traffic

• Traffic in the United States flows in the same direction as in Vietnam, so tourists will generally not be confused, just need to find out and comply with the traffic laws of the United States.
• Public transportation in the cities on the East Coast is quite convenient, while it is more difficult to get around on the West Coast if you don't have a private car.
• In addition, taxi fares in the United States are very expensive, so tourists should note that you do not haggle when taking a taxi and usually have to tip the driver an additional 10%.

11. Problems of littering and smoking in public places

One important thing to keep in mind when traveling to the United States is the smoking ban. As of December 2012, 28 states in the United States have banned smoking in all public places, including bars and restaurants. The strictest ban is in Calabasas, California. And tourists in New York should also note that you must be 21 years old to buy cigarettes.

In addition, littering is illegal in the United States. Acts of littering, littering on the road, in parks, and in waterways will be fined.

12. Security issue

When traveling to a new place for the first time, we need to research and visit areas that are safe and secure. We should pay attention to security warnings from hotel staff and local people, and avoid going to prohibited areas or places that are not safe and secure.

Tourists should also be proactive and take care of their belongings when in public places. They should not carry a lot of cash with them. In addition, they should make copies of their documents in case they are lost or stolen.

13. The hotline is used in emergencies

If you are traveling to the United States and unfortunately experience an incident and need to call the police for help, please call the emergency number: 911. In addition, tourists can also call the number 703 -209 3654 for assistance.

14. Things to keep in mind when in public

When traveling to public places in the United States, we also need to be aware of and comply with the community rules here, such as:

• Do not litter in public places.
• In some public places in the United States, smoking is prohibited.
• When shopping, it is necessary to queue, do not push and shove.
• Avoid discussing political issues in public places.