Arrival

The United States of America is a popular travel destination that is easily accessible from almost all parts of the world.

By plane
Travel to the USA is usually by plane. The USA has numerous international airports that are well connected worldwide. The most important airports include:

New York City (JFK, Newark, LaGuardia): Perfect for traveling to the east coast.
Los Angeles (LAX): A central hub for the West Coast.
Chicago (O’Hare): Ideal for connections to the Midwest.
Miami (MIA): Popular for traveling south and to Florida.

Many airlines offer direct flights from Europe, Asia and other continents.</p><p

By ship
For travelers who prefer a more relaxed journey, there is the option of travelling to the USA by cruise ship. Transatlantic cruises from Europe (e.g. Southampton or Hamburg) to New York are particularly popular.

By car or bus
For travelers from Canada or Mexico, traveling by car or bus is an option. The USA has numerous border crossings that are well developed.

ESTA, Visa

Entry into the United States is subject to strict regulations that vary depending on nationality and purpose of travel. The entry regulations can change at any time. It is recommended that you check the website of the US Embassy or the Foreign Office for the latest regulations before traveling.

It is important to know that you must also have an entry permit if you have a stopover in the USA during a flight and then continue your journey.

1. entry with ESTA (Visa Waiver Program)
Citizens of countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) (citizens of the EU and EFTA except Bulgaria, Romania and Cyprus) can enter the USA for tourist or business stays of up to 90 days without a visa. However, a valid ESTA approval (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) is required.

Travelers still require a visa if they have been in Iraq, Iran, Yemen, Sudan, Syria, Libya or Somalia since May 2011! This also applies to visitors who have been to Cuba since 2021.

Applying for ESTA: ESTA must be applied for online at least 72 hours before departure. The authorization is valid for two years or until the passport expires. An ESTA authorization does not guarantee entry. The final decision is made by the border official upon entry. Since 2020, all social media accounts must be disclosed for the ESTA form.

Costs:
The application currently costs 21 USD.

2. entry with visa
If your home country does not participate in the Visa Waiver Program or you wish to stay longer than 90 days, you will need a visa.

The most common visa types are

B-1/B-2 visa: For business and tourist travel
F-1 visa: For students
&gt;&lt;strong>H-1B visa: For work stays
J-1 visa: For exchange programs

Applying for a visa:

The application must be submitted to the US Embassy or a consulate.
A personal interview is required.
The processing time can take several weeks, so the application should be submitted early.

Important documents for entry

Regardless of whether you are entering the country with an ESTA or visa, you should have the following documents to hand:

A valid passport (for ESTA: electronic passport required)
Proof of return or onward travel (e.g. flight ticket)
Proof of financial means for the stay
If applicable, booking confirmations for accommodation or letters of invitation

Upon entry

Immigration officers will divide the passengers into different queues. This division should be strictly observed.

The immigration officers take a biometric photo of each person entering the country and, for the first entry, also take their fingerprints. They will also ask questions about the purpose, length, whereabouts and any fellow travelers.

Customs

Once you have collected your suitcase, customs may want to take another look inside.

Minimum age 18: 200 cigarettes and 100 cigars (never Cuban!)
Minimum age 21: 1 liter of alcohol (no absinthe)
Gifts with a maximum total value of 100 $
Cash to the value of 10,000 US$ (US dollars or foreign currency)
prohibited: e.g. meat, meat products, fruit, vegetables, plants

On the way in...

The USA is a huge country and choosing the right mode of transportation depends heavily on the region, the duration of the trip and personal preferences.

By car
The car is the most popular and flexible way to explore the USA. The roads in the USA are wide, well signposted and easy to drive on. Many sights, such as national parks or remote places, are only easily accessible by car.

Take every opportunity to refuel, especially in remote areas such as the Southwest.

By train
Train travel is a good alternative, especially on the East Coast, where cities like New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Washington D.C. are well connected. Trains are less practical in rural areas or the Southwest, as they often only connect major cities and travel times can be long.

By airplane
Due to the enormous size of the USA, air travel is often the best choice for covering long distances, e.g. between the east and west coasts. Many domestic flights are relatively cheap, especially if you book early.

Public transportation
In large cities such as New York, Chicago, San Francisco or Boston, public transportation such as subways, buses and streetcars are the best choice. They are inexpensive and as there is often a lot of traffic in the cities, you can get around much faster.

By bus
Long-distance buses such as Greyhound or Megabus are an inexpensive way to travel between cities. The ticket

Toll

There are three main systems for toll collection:

Open system (barrier system): You pay a fixed fee at toll stations, regardless of the distance traveled.
Closed system (ticket system): You receive a ticket when you enter the road and pay when you leave the road based on the distance traveled.
Distance-based system: The toll is calculated based on the distance traveled, often recorded electronically.

There are various ways to pay the toll:

Transponder: electronic toll systems such as E-ZPass (East Coast), SunPass (Florida), FasTrak (California) or TxTag (Texas) allow for quick and cashless payment. These systems often offer discounts.
License plate recognition (pay-by-plate): If you do not have a transponder, your license plate will be captured and you will receive an invoice in the mail.
Cash: Some toll stations still accept cash, but this is becoming increasingly rare.
Credit card: In some cases you can pay the toll with a credit card, especially with modern systems .

If you are using a rental car, you should find out about the toll regulations:

Many rental car companies offer toll programs (e.g. PlatePass, TollPass) where tolls are automatically billed through the rental car provider. This is practical, but may incur additional charges.
Alternatively, you can bring your own transponder or pay the toll via license plate recognition.

Best time to travel

The USA is a huge country with different climate zones, from tropical to arctic. The best time to travel therefore depends heavily on the region.

Spring (March to May)
Spring is one of the best times to travel to many regions of the USA.

East Coast: Ideal for city trips to New York, Boston or Washington D.C. Temperatures are pleasant.
Southern states: Perfect for traveling to Florida, Louisiana or Texas. Temperatures are warm, but not oppressively hot.
National parks: The parks in the southwest in particular, such as the Grand Canyon or Zion National Park, are pleasant to explore in spring, as the summer heat is still absent.
California: The coastal regions and cities such as San Francisco or Los Angeles offer pleasant temperatures.

Summer (June to August)
Summer is high season in the USA, especially for family trips. Many national parks and beaches are well visited and temperatures can vary greatly depending on the region.

East Coast: Cities like New York and Boston can get hot and humid, but coastal regions like Cape Cod or the Outer Banks offer cooling.
National parks: The parks in the west, such as Yellowstone, Yosemite or Glacier National Park, are easily accessible in summer, but also very popular. Early reservations are necessary.
West Coast: California, Oregon and Washington offer pleasant temperatures along the coast, while the inland (e.g. Death Valley) can get extremely hot.

The USA is a huge country with different climate zones, from tropical to arctic. The best time to travel therefore depends heavily on the region.

Alaska: Summer is the best time to visit Alaska. The days are long and the temperatures are pleasant for outdoor activities.

Fall (September to November)
Fall is a fantastic time to visit the USA, as temperatures are pleasant in many places.

East Coast: The “Indian Summer” in New England (e.g. Vermont, Maine) is world-famous. The forests glow in shades of red, yellow and orange.
National parks: Autumn is ideal for hiking in parks such as the Grand Canyon or Bryce Canyon, as the temperatures cool down and the crowds dwindle.
Wine regions: California’s Napa Valley and Sonoma are especially appealing in the fall as grape harvest season begins.
Southern states: Pleasant temperatures make fall ideal for trips to Charleston, Savannah or New Orleans.

Winter (December to February)
Winter in the USA offers a mixture of snow-covered landscapes and warm getaway destinations.

East Coast: Cities like New York are magical in winter, especially at Christmas time. However, it can get very cold.
Ski regions: The Rocky Mountains (e.g. Colorado, Utah) and the Sierra Nevada (California) are a paradise for winter sports enthusiasts.
Southern states and Florida: Pleasant temperatures make Florida, Texas and the Gulf Coast popular winter destinations.
Hawaii: Perfect for a tropical winter vacation with warm temperatures and plenty of sunshine.
Desert regions: Places like Las Vegas, Phoenix or Palm Springs are pleasantly mild in winter and ideal for outdoor activities.

Money

The official currency of the United States of America is the US dollar (USD), which is known worldwide as the reserve currency. The US dollar is issued in banknotes and coins.
The US dollar is represented by the symbol $ and the abbreviation USD. One US dollar is divided into 100 cents. Coins are available in denominations of 1 cent (penny), 5 cents (nickel), 10 cents (dime), 25 cents (quarter) and, more rarely, 50 cents and 1 dollar. The banknotes are available in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 dollars. All banknotes have a uniform design, which sometimes makes them difficult for travelers to distinguish.

The USA is considered the country of credit card payments. Credit cards such as Visa, Mastercard and American Express are accepted almost everywhere, from restaurants to stores and hotels. Nevertheless, it makes sense to carry some cash with you. Cash is often preferred, especially in bars, small stores, at markets or for entrance fees.

ATMs are widely available in the USA and you can easily withdraw cash with international credit or debit cards. Please note, however, that fees may apply.

Tip

In the USA, tipping is an integral part of the culture and is expected in many service sectors. Unlike in some European countries, in the USA it is not just a nice gesture, but a substantial part of the income of many employees.

How much is it customary to tip?
Restaurants:
As a rule, you tip 15-20% of the bill amount. For excellent service, 25% is also appropriate. The tip is usually written on the bill if you pay by card. There is a field for the “Tip” (tip) and the “Total” (total amount). If you pay in cash, you can leave the tip on the table.
Bars:
USD 1-2 per drink is customary, or about 15-20% of the total bill. The tip is often given directly when paying, either in cash or by adding an amount when paying by card.
Cabs and ridesharing (e.g. Uber, Lyft):
Here, 10-15% of the fare is common.
Hotels:
◦ Porters: 1-2 USD per piece of luggage
◦ Room cleaning: 2-5 USD per night, leave tip daily as cleaning staff may change.
Concierge: 5-20 USD is appropriate for special assistance (e.g. restaurant reservations)
Hairdressers and beauticians:
Here you usually give 15-20 % of the invoice amount.
Tour guides:
Tips of 10-20 % of the tour price are customary.

Even with poor service, a tip is often expected in the USA, albeit a smaller amount (e.g. 10%). It is considered rude not to tip at all. If the service was really bad, you can address this politely.

In some restaurants, especially in tourist areas or with larger groups (often 6 or more people), the tip is automatically added to the bill. This is called a “gratuity” or “service charge”. Check the bill before you add a tip.

Language

The official language of the United States is not officially defined, as there is no statutory official language at federal level. Nevertheless, English is the main language and is spoken and understood by the vast majority of the population. Around 78% of the population speak English as a first language or very well as a second language.
In addition to English, many other languages are spoken, particularly by immigrant groups.

Telephone, Internet

Mobile communications in the USA

Roaming charges: Find out about roaming costs from your mobile phone provider before you travel. Many European providers offer special USA tariffs or travel packages that offer lower prices for calls, text messages and mobile internet.
Prepaid SIM cards: A cheap alternative is to buy a prepaid SIM card locally. Make sure your phone is unlocked (SIM lock-free) so that it will work with a US SIM card.
eSIM: Many modern smartphones support eSIMs. You can activate these online before your trip so that you are connected as soon as you arrive in the USA.

Internet access

WLAN (Wi-Fi): WLAN is widespread in the USA and is available free of charge in many hotels, restaurants, cafés, shopping centers and even public parks. Use free Wi-Fi hotspots to save data volume. However, be careful not to transmit any sensitive data (e.g. passwords or bank details) via unsecured networks.
Data volume: Prepaid SIM cards or travel packages often contain limited data volume. Check in advance how much you need, especially if you want to use map apps or streaming services.

Making calls

International calls: International calls from the US to Europe can be expensive. Instead, use apps to make free calls via WLAN.
Emergency number: In the USA, the emergency number is 911, which can also be reached without credit or an active SIM card.
Area codes: For calls to the USA from abroad, dial +1 before the phone number. For calls to Europe from the USA, you must use the international area code of your home country (e.g. +49 for Germany).

Network coverage
Network coverage in the USA is very good in cities and urban centers. However, in rural or remote regions, such as national parks or desert areas, there may be dead spots.

Travel Adapter

A travel adapter is required for trips to the USA, as the sockets and mains voltage there differ from European standards.
Plug types A and B are used in the USA:
Type A: Two flat, parallel pins (without earthing).
Type B: Two flat, parallel pins with an additional round earthing pin.

European plugs (type C or F) do not fit into these sockets, so an adapter is required.

In the USA, the mains voltage is 110-120 volts at a frequency of 60 Hz. In Europe, the voltage is 220-240 volts. However, many modern devices (e.g. smartphones, laptops) are designed for both voltages. Before traveling, check whether your devices are compatible with the lower voltage. You will usually find this information on the device’s power supply unit (e.g. “Input: 100-240V”). If your devices are not suitable for the lower voltage, you will also need a voltage converter.

Heathcare

Medical costs are dramatically high in the USA and can easily cost a fortune during a trip.

German statutory health insurance is not effective in the USA. German private health insurance companies do not even come close to paying the prices of American doctors and hospitals. You should therefore have travel health insurance for a trip to the USA. It is important to note that not all insurance policies cover the USA.

In medical emergencies, you can find medical help around the clock in the Emergency Room (ER) of most hospitals. An ambulance with paramedics can be called via the general emergency number 911.
An Urgent Care practice (also: Walk-in Care, Walk-in Clinic) will mainly treat unannounced patients who come with less serious medical emergencies. This can be a good alternative. These clinics are often located on the outskirts of large shopping centers, in the middle of retailers and restaurants.

Shopping

The prices quoted in the stores are generally net.

A sales tax is usually added, which can vary from place to place. The sales tax can also depend on the item purchased. At the checkout, you then pay around 6 to 10 % more than the price on the price tag.