It’s not uncommon for people to have a travel bucket list. It’s a dream for some people to visit particular places around the world.
America is one of the more popular places to turn up on a travel bucket list. Los Angeles, New York, Florida, and many other cities and states routinely feature.
There are quite a few reasons for this, including:
- An amazing landscape.
- A wealth of theme parks and similar attractions.
- A unique culture.
- A culinary experience like no other.
That doesn’t mean that planning an American holiday is an easy experience. Instead, it could be more complicated than many other places. There’ll be several hoops to jump through and hurdles to overcome. That can often be enough for many people to decide against going. You shouldn’t have to make that decision, however. Planning an American holiday and enjoying yourself doesn’t have to involve a lot of stress. It should be an enjoyable and pleasant experience.
If you’re planning a holiday to America for the first time, you’ll need to keep a few things in mind.
Everything You Need To Know When Planning An American Holiday
Get Your Visas
Your visas will be one of the most important things to get when planning an American holiday. While many people assume that these will be complicated, they don’t have to be. Applying for them is more straightforward than you’d think. In many cases, you’ll be expected to go through an interview, alongside submitting multiple documents.
As long as you’re able to follow instructions, you shouldn’t have a problem getting through this. As time-consuming as this may be, it’ll be worth it once you’re finally on holiday.
Know The Laws
The laws in America will naturally be slightly different than your home country. One of the more common differences is that the legal drinking age in America is 21. That’s somewhat higher than many other countries. Outside of this, you’ll also need to worry about traffic laws if you plan on driving when you’re on holiday. You wouldn’t want to get in trouble while you’re on holiday. By knowing any specific laws that might affect you while you’re there, there shouldn’t be a problem.
Know How To Get Around
While many people plan to drive while they’re on holiday, quite a few people don’t. If you’re in the latter category, you’ll need to figure out how to get around. Taxis can be an obvious choice, although these can be relatively expensive after a few days. Public transport should be quite reliable. You’ll need to research the schedule for your trips to ensure everything goes smoothly.
You could use Uber and similar apps to get around easily, too. If possible, walking could be recommended, as you’ll be better able to see the sights and take your time. If you do plan on driving, make sure that you have a valid driver’s licence with you. While this doesn’t have to be an American licence, you’ll still need to have one on you.
Plan Ahead Of Time
Planning things out ahead of time offers multiple benefits. You’ll save on flights and accommodation by booking early, for example. If you want to see multiple theme parks you should spend time comparing amazing Disney hotels in Florida and similar places. The cost of flights will be a large part of this.
You shouldn’t focus solely on these when you’re planning things out, however. You’ll also need to think about all of the activities that you’ll want to do. What you can do will vary significantly depending on where you’re going. You should spend time researching what to do while you’re there. Planning out your activities will let you determine how much money to bring, among other things. It can also help you ensure that you see everything you want to see while you’re there.
Be Prepared To Spend Money
America can be one of the more expensive places to go on holiday. You’ll need to budget for it accordingly. While the flights and hotels will be the largest of these, there’ll be multiple other things to focus on. Food, travel, and transportation will be some of the more notable costs.
Though you can travel to America on a budget, you should still expect to spend a decent bit of money. It’s also worth bearing in mind that there’s a tipping culture across the country. It’s expected that you tip between 8% and 10% of the total cost of the bill, although you can always go higher. That doesn’t apply solely to restaurants and bars, however. It’s also expected that you tip taxi drivers, valets, and more. If they serve in a service role, it’s generally expected that you tip them.
Top Mistakes When Planning An American Holiday
If you’re planning an American holiday for the first time, it’s easy to make a few mistakes. That’s normal; countless people have done the same thing before. You wouldn’t want to make any mistakes when you’re doing this, however. They could not only interfere with your holiday, but make it more expensive. The more you can avoid these, the better. Some of the more common mistakes when booking a holiday include:
- Booking Late: It’s always recommended that you book your holiday as early as possible. The later you leave it, the more it will typically cost. That’s the case for both flights and hotels. You’ll save a significant amount of money by booking early.
- Flying On Popular Travel Days: It’s likely that, when you’ve gone on holiday, you’ve flown on specific days. Typically, it’ll be a Friday or Saturday, as they’re the most popular days to fly. They’re more expensive because of that. To save on costs, it could be worth flying on a Monday or Tuesday.
- Over Or Under Packing: You’ll need to make sure that you only pack what you need, alongside a few optional extras. There’s a fine balance to this. You shouldn’t overpack, as that’ll lead to excess charges when you’re flying. Under packing, however, will mean that you don’t have everything you need.
- Using A Credit Card, Or The Wrong One: Many people use their credit cards when they’re on holiday. You should minimise this as much as you can. You could have multiple additional charges and fees because of this usage. Using cash instead will avoid these. If you do need to use a card, try choosing one that offers benefits for travel use.
Taking your time and ensuring that you’re doing everything the right way is valuable. In many cases, it can be worth working with a professional. Not only will they ensure that no mistakes are made, but they’ll get you the best deal possible. They’ll also take all of the stress out of your hands. Being flexible with your plans and taking your time is also recommended. When you do, you’ll find that planning a holiday in America will be much less stressful.
Planning An American Holiday: Wrapping Up
If you’re planning an American holiday for the first time, you’ll have several feelings going through your mind. Excitement will be the most notable. Who doesn’t get excited for a holiday? You could also feel some stress or nerves during this process. That’s natural, although you shouldn’t be overly stressed about your trip. To keep that to a minimum – if not eliminate it outright – you should keep all of the above in mind. It’ll ensure that everything’s covered, so you can concentrate on enjoying your American holiday.
You’ll have an amazing time when you’re there, so what’s stopping you?