Large English-speaking country in North America between Canada and Mexico, and Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
31
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3answers
823 views
Is there a ZIP code I can enter when paying-at-the-pump in the USA with a foreign credit card?
In the USA, many pay-at-the-pump fuel dispensers that accept credit cards require a 5-digit numeric zip code that corresponds to the billing address of the credit card. In Canada, for instance, we ...
25
votes
5answers
3k views
Can a tourist buy a gun in the USA?
This came up as a discussion. With recent incidents in the news, it's often argued by some members of the public in the US that guns are a requirement for safety, and that everyone should have the ...
25
votes
8answers
1k views
Can you tell a cabbie which route to take?
I'm going back home to Virginia for the Thanksgiving holiday and I'll be taking a taxi to Boston Logan. I've noticed that in the past, the cabbie tends to take a longer route, and I was wondering if ...
25
votes
6answers
958 views
Is it dangerous to drive through Death Valley?
I planned to drive through Death Valley with a rental car during end of May or beginning of June. Now a friend of mine told me that this is a little bit dangerous, and that a lot of rental companies ...
22
votes
7answers
2k views
Car rental vs. buying a car for 1 month
I would like to visit a few places in the states sometime next year, and I was thinking of doing a road trip while I'm at it. I could start in either Los Angeles or Montreal, and then I would like to ...
21
votes
9answers
1k views
Is there any United States slang I should avoid in the UK or Ireland?
We'll be spending a couple weeks this summer in the UK (Scotland and London), then a week in Ireland. Is there any slang common in the United States that we be best avoided in either country? For ...
21
votes
9answers
551 views
How can I travel between US towns without flying
Can you help me decide, what type of transport can I use to travel from one US town to another (it will be a big journey), without flying?
Are buses available, and is there any more suitable method ...
21
votes
6answers
2k views
What are the main differences in traffic regulations between the US/Europe?
There are the obvious ones. The US has the keep-your-lane system, where as in Europe you are expected to keep to the right (left for UK) as long as possible.
On my latest travel to the US, I was ...
20
votes
5answers
1k views
Is it wise to pretend to be Christian to safely travel through the US?
In this Economist blog it is stated:
In the most religious parts of America, it is tough being a secular teenager. Many of the kids at Camp Quest say that, at school, they either keep quiet about ...
20
votes
4answers
1k views
What rights do passengers have when flights in the USA are delayed?
What rights do passengers on delayed flights in the USA have? In some countries, depending on the length and type of delay, passengers can receive a free phone call, meal ticket, lodging, booking on ...
18
votes
8answers
5k views
What is the best method for exchanging dollars for Euros?
I'm traveling from the US to Europe in a few weeks. What's the best method of exchanging dollars for Euros?
I imagine there's options like:
at the airport when you arrive in Europe
at a bank in ...
18
votes
3answers
711 views
Are there Data-plan for travelers in the USA?
I intend to travel to the US for a month, and I would really like to use a lot of data traffic during the trip, for browsing, maps, Skype calls, etc. How can I do that? Should I buy a sim? Do I have ...
18
votes
4answers
713 views
Laptop Searches by Customs - UK and US
I'll be traveling to the UK (London) on a study abroad in the spring and will be bring my laptop for school and intern purposes. I was just curious what/if any rights UK customs has to search laptops ...
17
votes
5answers
2k views
Do all American ATMs charge an extra fee for cash withdrawls on a foreign card?
I've just gone to take some cash out of an ATM (Cash Machine) in Seattle. I visited about half a dozen in the end, and every single one wanted to charge me an extra fee (typically about $3) for the ...
17
votes
3answers
294 views
Las Vegas - What is good to do there?
I've been told that unless you have a good plan for Las Vegas, you're not going to have a clue what to do when you get there.
I and my two brothers have a trip planned in October from the 2nd to the ...
17
votes
2answers
281 views
How to tip in the United States?
Tipping customs in the United States can be surprising for people who travel there for the first time. It happened to me whan I used a shuttle van service out of LAX a few years ago.
To sum up the ...
17
votes
2answers
2k views
What does this sticker on the back of my passport mean?
I am currently travelling in the USA and when checking in on the boarding flight to enter the country, the security personnel attached a small yellow-white sticker to my passport (see a somewhat ...
17
votes
1answer
2k views
What happens when a foreigner gets a traffic fine in the United States?
What happens when a foreigner gets a speeding ticket / traffic fine in the United States? I've heard that the issuing officer will demand payment on site or will confiscate the drivers license. That ...
16
votes
4answers
2k views
Can I use USD in Canada?
I will go to Canada for the first time from the United States. I will use credit card as much as possible but I guess I need cash for small shops and cafes anyway. To avoid exchange money back and ...
16
votes
5answers
5k views
What is the minimum time to consider with a connecting flight in the USA?
Given the extensive time taken for immigration formalities in the US, what is the shortest time to consider between connecting flights in the US, when coming from abroad?
Until now I have always ...
16
votes
2answers
690 views
What does “MO” mean after the name of a US city?
There are some places in US, that contain "MO" in their names. For example, Columbia, MO; Kirkwood, MO; Saint Louis, MO. So, what does MO mean?
15
votes
3answers
6k views
Can I use B1/B2 visa to travel to the US without a business purpose?
I got a B1/B2 visa earlier this year when I traveled to the US for a business trip from my company.
It expires in 2013 and I'd love to visit the United States again, but for no other purpose than ...
15
votes
4answers
208 views
What are my options for transportation around the Great Plains (US)?
I would like to make a trip to the Great Plains - specifically, Montana and the Dakotas - because I haven't ever been to that part of the country, but I know nothing about logistics of getting around ...
15
votes
3answers
1k views
What is the connecting time to consider for International to International Transfers in US Airports?
There is a question on "the minimum time to consider with a connecting flight in the USA". In one answer it is said that "international to domestic transfers are always terrible and should be avoided ...
15
votes
3answers
756 views
What is the state of train travel in USA?
I'm planning to go to the USA for some months. I'd like to travel there by train, but I heard that trains aren't really widely used in USA. So my questions are:
How is the rail network in the USA? ...
15
votes
2answers
891 views
What to wear to a casino in Las Vegas?
I love wearing jeans and a t-shirt. Would this be an issue if I want to play in a casino in Las Vegas, USA? Do some casinos have a dress code?
15
votes
2answers
451 views
What's the value of the “genocide” and similar questions on the US customs form I-94?
It's been a while since I’ve been to the United States, so I’m not sure whether it’s still being used, but I remember having to always fill out form I-94 which asked some odd questions: such as ...
15
votes
4answers
299 views
Does one tip in the US/Canada for bad service?
In Aus/NZ you don't tip, it's not generally part of the culture.
In the US/Canada you seem to tip for almost everything, but it's meant to be for a good job. However I've also found some workers ...
15
votes
2answers
664 views
Why is car rental in the US so much cheaper when booking from outside the US?
I'm going on a road trip from San Francisco to New York in a month and I was checking several car rental companies. The big bang brands (Hertz, Europcar, Avis...) were all very expensive, about $2000 ...
15
votes
3answers
1k views
My departure record was not collected when I left the USA. Is this a problem?
I came to the USA on a B1/B2 visa and left as planned after three weeks. I tried to hand in the DHS Departure Record to the officer at the airport passport control but he was not interested. I still ...
14
votes
5answers
397 views
How good is Public Transport In the USA?
I am planning a Round-the-World trip and my first stop will be the USA. I am from England where public transport is quite good and covers everywhere. I have already purchased Greyhound tickets for ...
14
votes
3answers
252 views
Do I have to expect snow at 3900 meters above sea level during summer?
I'm planning to climb a high mountain during end of May, beginning of June, in the Yosemite National Park. The mountain is around 3900 meters above sea level. In Switzerland, I would expect that there ...
14
votes
7answers
865 views
What are the most effective rideshare sites in the US?
Recently, I have been traveling from upstate New York to NYC quite frequently and would like to find a site that is more effective than craigslist in attracting reliable rideshares for splitting gas ...
14
votes
3answers
1k views
TrueCrypt Volumes: Will it cause any trouble?
From various sources (mainly friends and dubious internet sites) I heard that you can get in trouble if you have encrypted volumes/files on your laptop while entering USA. Apparently they assume that ...
14
votes
1answer
518 views
Couldn't return papers to border officials last time. Should I be afraid when going back to USA?
Three years ago I was on holidays in Canada and visited the Niagara Falls. I also went to the American side of the falls and got something like a "short-term visa". I also got a green paper with all ...
14
votes
2answers
425 views
What questions should I be able to answer when entering USA?
Last time I entered USA, the border officer asked me a lot of questions. Some of them were quite personal and others were about my destination in the USA. For example he asked my where I would stay. I ...
14
votes
2answers
2k views
Are there still any “Fly as much as you like” air passes for the U.S.?
Back in 1993 I had a ticket called 'Delta Air Lines Travel America Standby Airpass' that allowed me to take an unlimited number of flights on Delta Airlines within a 30 day period. 60 days were ...
14
votes
1answer
806 views
How long does it take for a US citizen to get their first passport?
If I am a US citizen and I have never had a passport before, how long will it take for me to get one? How early do I need to apply before I plan on going abroad?
13
votes
4answers
10k views
How early should you get to the airport in the US?
When traveling on a domestic flight in the US, how early is it recommended to get to the airport before the flight is scheduled to leave? What about international flights leaving from the US? Are ...
13
votes
2answers
1k views
Do American cellphones work in Europe?
I have a Virgin Mobile Pay as you go phone, is there any chance that will work in Hungary, Italy and Germany?
13
votes
3answers
474 views
Are there electrical outlets in the sleeper cars of the California Zephyr?
I will be taking the California Zephyr the entire journey, and I planned on getting a lot of work done on my laptop during the journey. I will be staying in a roomette, I've taken Amtrak on the North ...
13
votes
2answers
5k views
Greyhound: How early should I get to the bus station?
Some bad fortune has required me to change my Thanksgiving travel plans at the last minute. I canceled my train ticket and bought a Greyhound bus ticket instead. I'm concerned by this language on the ...
13
votes
2answers
161 views
What exactly are the differences between a National Park and a National Forest?
In the United States, most big national parks are surrounded by national forests. I know that you can do "dispersed camping" in the National Forest, but not the National Park, but other than that, ...
13
votes
3answers
152 views
What options do I have for scenic long-distance train journeys in North America that last for 2 nights or more?
I'm looking to take a trip (or two, or three), in North America via train. I want to take a sleeper train and have some time during the day to see interesting things out the window, I don't just want ...
13
votes
2answers
2k views
How long does it take for a Global Entry application to be approved?
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection runs a program called Global Entry, allowing low-risk travelers to complete an application, submit to a background check and interview, and eventually be ...
13
votes
2answers
414 views
How can I go from the American side to the Canadian side of Niagara Falls?
My friends told me that Niagara Falls look better from Canada but my bus will stop at the American side. Can I walk over a bridge or take any public transportation to the other side?
Also, as a ...
13
votes
1answer
2k views
Is there an easy way to calculate the total cost of tolls for a trip within the United States?
Is there a convenient way to calculate the cost of tolls between two arbitrary points within the United States? I'm planning to take a trip along the Eastern seaboard and will be passing through ...
12
votes
5answers
2k views
Is it possible to rent a car in one US state and drop it off in another?
I'm from the UK and I'm looking at planning a road trip around the US with some friends. I wondered if it was possible to rent a car in one state but drop it off in another.
If it's possible do they ...
12
votes
2answers
16k views
Do I need a US visa to change planes in an American airport?
In Europe usually you don't need to go through immigration to change planes (unless you are entering/exiting Schengen). Is it the case in the US as well? May I catch a connecting flight on one of the ...
12
votes
2answers
4k views
Flying within the United States, Passport required?
This month I'll be flying twice within the United States. I am a US citizen with a valid drivers license, flying within US boundaries. Is this sufficient to fly? I haven't held a valid passport for ...
