Every traveler should be aware of the rules for entering the United States, as applying for the wrong tourist visa or arriving without the necessary documentation will result in entrance being denied.

ESTA is a 90-day visa waiver program for certain tourists (Electronic System for Travel Authorization). This travel permission is processed through the United States Visa Waiver Program, which allows you to visit the United States without a visa! To acquire an ESTA, you must be a citizen of a member country (mainly European countries, Australia, and Japan), traveling to the United States for 90 days or fewer on business or pleasure, have a valid passport, and an accepted ESTA application.

It takes roughly 20 minutes to complete the application online, and it costs only $14 USD. Your ESTA is valid for two years after approval, and you can visit the United States as often as you like. Each visit, however, must be no longer than 90 days.

It's vital to understand that the 90-day period begins when you land in the United States. When you pass the border into adjacent nations like Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean, it does not stop or reset. So keep this in mind when you plan your trip; you don't want to end up paying overstay costs or being deported!

Healthcare prices in the United States are exorbitant, and thousands of Americans file for bankruptcy each year owing to medical debt. An ambulance travel can cost over $2,700, while a trip to the emergency room can cost anywhere from $200 to $3,000, depending on your medical condition.

Charges might be as high as $20,000 in extreme circumstances! Before visiting the United States, you must acquire travel insurance. You don't want to be in a situation where you have to decide whether to go to the hospital or wait it out while you're sick! Invest in travel insurance to save yourself the trouble and money. World Nomads is a service we use and recommend.

It is not necessary to purchase travel insurance to enter the United States as a tourist on a B1/B2 visa.
In contrast, Schengen countries require Schengen travel insurance in order to obtain a Schengen visa, which covers more than two dozen European countries.

Every year, millions of tourists visit the United States to see iconic places like New York, Niagara Falls, Washington, D.C., Florida, Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, and more. For the trip of a lifetime, many of them go through the difficult visa process. Because the United States is such a large country with so many amazing sights, most visitors stay for a few weeks to a few months. Among all of your other preparations, remember that travel insurance is essential while visiting the United States.

Although tipping is officially voluntary, it is assumed that wait personnel will make up the difference in tips because their minimum income is lower than average. As a result, tipping is almost compulsory, if not an unwritten rule! When dining out, it is traditional to leave a 15 to 20% tip. If you're dining with a group of six or more people, double-check that the tip wasn't previously included in the bill before tipping.

Tipping customs differ by region in the United States, and even published advice varies widely depending on the source. At a buffet restaurant, for example, some Americans don't pay, but it's customary to tip $1-2/person for wait staff clearing numerous rounds of plates, up to 10% if the wait staff is refilling beverages and providing other services. The usual rule is to tip in proportion to the level of service and quality provided.

You could anticipate to tip bartenders ($1-2 per drink), hotel housekeeping ($3-5 per night), taxi drivers (10-15 percent), and even Bellman ($1-2 per bag) in addition to restaurant waitstaff. When planning your vacation to the United States, it's a good idea to include suggestions in your spending budgeting!

Every country has its own tax rules and rates, but in the United States, you can be sure that sales tax will be charged to anything you buy. Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon are the only states without a sales tax, but otherwise, anticipate to pay anything from 5% to 10% of the transaction price in sales tax.

Hence, when it comes to prices, Americans have a magic trick where price tags have one price and then when it's rung up at the cashier, POOF, it has a different, more expensive price. This ruse is known as sales tax. Most price tags do not include sales tax, so expect to pay more than you think! Sales tax is normally between 6% and 10% additional, and it varies from state to state and city to city.

With so many movies set in New York City, Los Angeles, and Miami, it's easy to believe that these three iconic cities are all the United States has to offer. But, wow, is that incorrect! The United States is one of the world's largest countries, with a diverse geography, population, and climate. The distance between New York City and San Francisco is more than the distance between Lisbon and Moscow!

That being said, don't try to see everything in one trip. Stick to one location, such as the Northeast, where you can see New York City, Boston, and Washington, D.C., or the West Coast, where you can see Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Las Vegas all in one trip! This way, instead of rushing from state to state just to claim, "I've been there," you may genuinely see and enjoy a location.

The national parks of the United States are among the most beautiful in the world. During your travels, you should absolutely stop by at least one, if not both. You may find various parks loaded with magnificent scenery, pristine lakes, and interesting species everywhere from the Grand Canyon to the Smoky Mountains.

With all national parks spanning over 80 million acres across the United States, you might want to plan an entire trip around them because they are one of America's genuine gems and should not be missed! The National Park Service has been in charge of millions of acres for more than a century, entirely for the "enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations."

Today, the United States' 63 national parks attract millions of tourists each year to see unique natural treasures and breathtaking landscapes. U.S. News consulted both travel professionals and recent park visitors to determine the greatest national parks in the United States.

It's probably for the best that the United States is united. Despite the fact that the average area of a US state (78,000 square miles) is larger than a large portion of Europe, this union's individual gems may not thrive as well on their own.

You'll note that things alter from state to state, whether it's the terrain, climate, food, lingo, personality, or even the type of dress! For example, New Yorkers are renowned for always being in a hurry, yet the city is known as the United States' fashion hub, but Californians are known for being laid-back. People dress more casually, preferring flip flops, shorts, and tank tops.

Even the laws range from one state to the next. In Texas, for example, anyone can buy a gun without a license, whereas in California, a specific license is required. Another example is marijuana smoking, which is legal in Massachusetts but illegal in Louisiana. So, just because something is legal in one state doesn't guarantee it will be legal in another!

Outside of major metropolitan areas such as New York City and Washington, D.C., public transit is essentially non-existent, and what does exist is inadequate. Because the United States has a strong automotive culture, renting a car is your best chance for getting around. It will save you time and give you the freedom to go at your own leisure. It is worthwhile. Also, most cars in the United States are automatic, and manual transmissions are difficult to come by. Rentalcars.com has the finest automobile rental rates in the United States.

In the United States, public transportation refers to publicly funded mass transit services across the country. This comprises bus, train, ferry, and, on rare occasions, airplane services. The majority of developed public transportation systems are in central, urban locations with sufficient density and public demand to necessitate public transportation. Public transportation is usually, but not always, less regular and common in more auto-centric suburban areas. Depending on the type of service, most public transit services in the United States are either national, regional/commuter, or local.

Flying is one of the best ways to see the country, aside from driving! However, it is not only time-consuming, but also difficult. Prepare to stand in long lines, remove your belt, jacket, and shoes, walk through a metal detector that is so advanced that it requires a second metal detector to double-check what it missed, and maybe get pulled away for a random search.

You'll also see a number of dogs roaming throughout the airport, sniffing you and your belongings for narcotics and explosives. Here are some suggestions to make airport security as painless as possible:

• Arrive to the airport 3 hours ahead of your flight, 2 hours ahead may be cutting it too close!
• Visit the TSA Website so see the rules and regulations for going through airport security.
• Dress in a way which allows you to quickly take off things like your shoes and belts. Also wear as little metal as possible, like jewelry or watches.
• Always keep your travel documents and passport within reach as you will be asked for it multiple time throughout the process.
• Pack to unpack: Pack all your TSA approved toiletries in one quart size ziplock and your laptop/electronics somewhere that’s easily accessible.

Americans are also big on size. Cars are large, people are large (albeit not all of us), houses are large, shops are enormous, and America is enormous! It ain't American unless it's large. As soon as you order meals in a restaurant, you'll understand America's obesity epidemic.

Because the food quantities are often enormous, any leftovers either go to waste or are consumed by someone who is already full and is compelled to finish. Smaller quantities are served at many high-end restaurants, albeit at a larger cost.

One advantage of large servings is that you can always take the leftovers home in a box and enjoy them the next day. And, being the world's fast food capital, you can anticipate food to be served in huge, larger, and supersized portions! Prepare to gain a few pounds!