Tours of America - Thomas Cook Tours

Scenery and wildlife

The scenery in America is famously epic and memorable. From the green hills and small villages of New England to the swamps of Louisiana, the Western deserts and the waves of the Pacific Ocean, it's never less than impressive. The same goes for its wildlife, which ranges from alligators and eagles to moose and grizzly bears.

Way of life

Americans are deservedly known as friendly, enterprising people who are proud of their country. It's advisable, however, to keep your wits about you, particularly in larger cities where some are more enterprising than others. Common sense is your best guide, but in general we would advise you to take taxis when possible and use your hotel's safety deposit box. For more detailed advice, check with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Consular Travel Advice Unit.

Currency, passport, visas and health

Credit cards are the safest form of currency to use, and traveller's cheques in US dollars are welcomed in most places. As ever, it's a good idea to have a small amount of cash on you for small purchases and tipping.

Cuisine

American cuisine is great value and influenced by every nation under the sun. Big cities like New York and Los Angeles are famous for catering to every taste and budget, but you'll also find Miami is excellent for Cuban and Caribbean cooking, Louisiana for spicy Cajun food, California for healthy eating and the West for Mexican and Latin American cuisine. In rural areas, food choices might be more limited but fun is always on the menu.

Suitable clothing

What you should wear will depend largely on where you go. Any mountainous regions will require jackets and layered clothing at any time of year, even in the summer. In the desert, on the other hand, temperatures can rise to in excess of 40 degrees during the day, and then drop to a chilly 10 degrees in the evening. In Florida and the Deep South, summers are steamy and consistently hot, day and night, so you'll need very light clothing for travels there.

Shopping

The US is famous for shopping, and places like New York, Palm Springs, Miami and Los Angeles will not fail to challenge your ability to stick to your budget. Big department stores like Macy's are worth a visit, but so too are the many smaller, colourful stores that America does so well.

Tipping

Although tipping is always optional, it is a way of life in America. A 15% gratuity is considered the minimum for waiters in restaurants, and 20% is preferred. Bartenders get $1 to $2 per round, and cab drivers can expect 12 to 15% of the meter. Valet parkers and hotel workers are similarly accustomed to a few dollars for parking cars and carrying bags.

Taxes

In the US, all goods and meals are subject to state taxes similar to VAT in the UK. The amount charged (usually between 4 and 15%) varies from state to state. There are also local (city) sales taxes that are added to purchases at the cash register, and these range from 4 to 20%.