Large English-speaking country in North America between Canada and Mexico, and Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
13
votes
2answers
17k 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 ...
18
votes
3answers
721 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 ...
16
votes
5answers
6k 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 ...
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 ...
10
votes
2answers
896 views
What are the “rules” for multi-city flights?
As I understand things, airlines generally give discounts for round-trips that consist of a flight from A to B followed by a flight from B to A. How does this logic work for multi-city flights? As ...
7
votes
1answer
534 views
UK citizen, US company, living in UK: Can I use an ESTA?
So:
I am a UK citizen
I work for a US company
I currently live in the UK and have no US visa
What am I allowed to do when I enter the US on an ESTA? Am I allowed to work if I am getting paid in a ...
7
votes
2answers
10k views
90 Day rule on the US Visa Waiver Program not expiring if you go to Canada
I'm on a New Zealand passport.
From most US Embassy webpages:
The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) enables nationals of certain countries,
including Australia, New Zealand, and the U.K., to travel to ...
18
votes
8answers
6k 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 ...
17
votes
2answers
282 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
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 ...
15
votes
3answers
757 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? ...
10
votes
4answers
3k views
Are there any legal requirements for renting a car in the US as a foreigner?
I am planning a road trip in the US with some friends and plan to rent a car for the purpose. Are there any legal requirements for renting a car.
Do they require a US driver's license?
Do I have to ...
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 ...
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 ...
11
votes
5answers
445 views
Hostels in US vs. Europe
How do hostels in the US compare with hostels in Europe? Are they similar in terms of convenience, availability, cost, amenities, etc? Or is the "hostel culture" completely different in the two ...
10
votes
4answers
900 views
Correct reasons for opting out of millimetre wave scanners
Having travelled through SFO a few times, and each time been asked to go through a millimetre wave (or backscatter) scanner, and each time 'opted out' and gone for the search (in public), I'd like to ...
9
votes
2answers
4k views
Can you travel to the US 6 months before your tourist visa expires?
I've heard that you can't travel to the US 6 months before your visa expires. Is that true? Or does that only apply to 6 months until the expiration of the passport? (Or does it apply to neither?)
7
votes
1answer
2k views
What kind of passport do I need when entering the USA?
I heard that you need a biometric passport if you want to enter USA. However, my friend has a biometric passport, but no fingerprints in it. Is this enough? And how long has the passport to be valid? ...
6
votes
2answers
277 views
Re-enter USA from Canada with Visa Waiver Program
My wife and I are doing a North America trip this summer.
We fly to NYC, stay a couple of days, then fly to Vancouver, spend two weeks in British Columbia and then back home (Germany).
We thought ...
13
votes
2answers
421 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 ...
12
votes
2answers
2k views
Flying UK to Canada via USA. Do I need to apply for ESTA?
I'm going to fly from the UK to Canada via EWR (Newark Liberty International Airport). Do I need to apply for a Visa Waiver through the ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization)?
11
votes
2answers
560 views
Foreign car insurance for Canada and/or the U.S
Still working on my plan to Ship my car from Europe to Canada or the U.S. We're planning on leaving early January.
Shipping turns out not to be the problem. However, the next hurdle is: car ...
10
votes
2answers
325 views
Getting to Barrow, Alaska overland
I would like to drive to Barrow, Alaska. Mainly because it is the northernmost inhabited place still on the north American continent.
However, I understand there are no regular roads going to the ...
8
votes
2answers
1k views
How rigorous are Amtrak in enforcing luggage rules?
Looking at Amtrak trains between NY and Boston, I found that all had "no checked luggage" save for a midnight train (less than ideal for a relaxing vacation).
Looking at this reference, it's not ...
7
votes
3answers
2k views
Can I apply for and receive a US visa when residing in country other than my own?
I'm currently residing in a country other than my own, and am planning a business trip to the USA for a week. Being a Bulgarian citizen, I do not qualify for the ESTA visa waiver program, unlike other ...
6
votes
1answer
85 views
Insurance and car rental in US
I'm going to rent a car in California for a week soon and was wondering whether to purchase insurance along with the rental. Some sources, eg Rental Car Insurance – should I purchase it? What ...
6
votes
2answers
286 views
What are the prices of coffee in Poland compared to USA
I live in USA but I'm traveling to Poland for the summer. I am wondering what are the prices in USD of coffee in Poland.
4
votes
2answers
2k views
Do US pre-pay GSM sim cards normally work in Canada?
For an upcoming trip, I'm going to spend about 10-15 days in the USA, followed by about another 10 days up in Canada. While over there, I expect I'll want to make and receive a few phone calls, send ...
3
votes
1answer
80 views
VWP question regarding re entry
I entered the USA on a Visa Waiver Program (VWP) on 1 July 2012 and stayed until 16 Sep 2012 (78 days). On what date in 2013 will I be able to travel to USA again under VWP?
3
votes
2answers
157 views
Carrying my laptop to abroad from India
When I was 14 I was going to USA with my family, my father was carrying his laptop, I was also carrying it but my dad was strictly not allowing that. Which is the solution to carry my laptop from ...
2
votes
1answer
206 views
Will my European phone (Nokia 1208) work in the USA?
I have a Nokia 1208 bought in Sweden with a pre-paid SIM-card from Telia. Will I be able to use my mobile phone in the USA? I'm not talking about expensive roaming fees or so, just whether it's ...
1
vote
6answers
3k views
Do I have to pay traffic fines issued by foreign governments?
I live in Italy and I own a car registered in Italy as well.
Next year I'm planning a long stay in the US (around 6 months) and I want to bring my car with me.
I was wondering, can I abuse carpool ...
21
votes
9answers
552 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
9answers
2k 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 ...
18
votes
3answers
296 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 ...
14
votes
5answers
398 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 ...
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
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 ...
10
votes
3answers
448 views
Can I bring my desktop computer as check-in baggage on a flight?
I am moving from Malaysia to the US, and planning to bring my desktop computer with me. I plan to pack it in my checked-in luggage. Will the computer risk being damaged? Any precaution should I take ...
10
votes
5answers
514 views
How can I cross the Atlantic by ship from Europe to New York? (I am not talking about luxury passenger cruise-ships.)
Suppose that:
I have both valid US & Schengen visas
I am a savvy backpacker with a preference for economical travel
I have no fixed schedule to meet. A longer travel time is even better.
Any ...
9
votes
1answer
95 views
How to research facilities/ratings of US airport lounges online?
For an upcoming trip, it looks like for my US departure I'll have access to more than one airport lounge. (One via FF status, a different via a credit card). This is a nice position to be in, but ...
6
votes
1answer
1k views
What's a good prepaid GSM SIM card without a phone?
My daughter is going to spend the next school year (August 2011 to June 2012) in Memphis, TN as an exchange student from Switzerland. She'd very much like to use her iPhone during her stay in the ...
4
votes
1answer
148 views
Where should I look for cheap renting cars in USA?
I would like to rent a car in the USA from beginning of September for approximately 1 week. I would like to rent it in Niagara and give it back in New York. Where should i look for cheap ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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
520 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 ...
10
votes
2answers
456 views
Price-hacking a one-way flight?
I will be travelling to the USA in a month (by plane) but have found one-way flights are more expensive than return. Is there a good way to deal with this? So I can book the cheapest flight possible, ...
10
votes
3answers
597 views
Shipping a computer from Europe to the U.S
I plan to be travelling to the United States from Europe (the Netherlands specifically) and want to bring my computer. I measured it and it exceeds the dimensions for hand luggage. I'm worried that if ...
