Do you dream of visiting the amazing “land of freedom and opportunity”, skyscrapers and Hollywood stars, American football and surfing, stunning beaches and huge canyons? Then choose your favorite tours in the USA and hit the road! And also check out useful information about the United States that every tourist should know.
US: location. According to Thesciencetutor, the country, which includes 50 states, is located in North America. The United States borders Canada in the north of the country and Mexico in the south.
USA: capital. The administrative and political capital is Washington DC (“Washington DC”, as the Americans often call it), which does not belong to any of the states. It is here that the main buildings of power (the White House, the Capitol and others), most of the historical sights, the National Avenue and a huge number of national museums are located.
USA: language. The official language in the United States is English and almost the entire population of the country knows it, but Spanish and Chinese are also popular. In hotels you can also meet Russian-speaking staff.
USA: visa. To obtain a non-immigrant visa to the United States for Ukrainians, you need to pay $ 160 to consider a visa application, fill out an application, provide a passport, necessary photos and come for an interview. It is also worth taking with you to the meeting a document confirming financial solvency (if possible), a certificate of your position provided by the employer, information about the tourist route and a certificate of criminal record or its absence.
USA: features of customs control. Without a special monetary fee, it is allowed to import up to 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars (except for Cuban ones, which are banned), 2 kg of tobacco and 946.3 ml of alcohol. Also allowed are personal items, cosmetics and perfumes in the amount that may be needed during the trip, and gifts worth up to $ 100 (per person). Currency over $10,000 and gold for this amount must be declared.
US customs regulations strictly prohibit the entry into the country of food, plants and seeds, drinks containing absinthe, drugs and weapons, certain drugs containing drugs or not certified in the US. The ban also applies to insects, “poaching” products made from animal skins or bones (from ivory, crocodile skin, etc.), from dogs and cats. Do not take matches, lighters, goods made in Iran, Cuba, Myanmar and Sudan.
USA: climate and seasonality. The climate in different states of the USA is different from each other. If we take the most popular cities as an example, then in Washington and New York tourists will be very comfortable: in winter it is about 0 – +3 degrees Celsius, and in summer it is usually from +22 to +26. In Las Vegas in winter it is about +10, and in the warm months of the year up to +33. In Los Angeles throughout the year, about +13 – +22 degrees, and in Miami from +20 to +30.
USA: time. The country is divided into 6 time zones and, when compared with Kiev, the time can vary from 6 to 11 hours. Again, if we cite popular cities as an example, then in New York, Washington and Miami you can add +7 hours to Kiev time, and in Las Vegas and Los Angeles +10 hours.
USA: currency. The official currency is the well-known US dollar – one of the main currencies of the world.
USA: tip. In bars, restaurants and hairdressers it is customary to leave from 10 to 20% of the cost of a tip check (in expensive restaurants up to 30%), in hotels and taxis – about 10-15%, porters, tankers and other staff can be left from $ 1 to $ 5 at your own discretion.
USA: telephone. It is recommended to buy a sim card from one of the local operators at the prepaid rate when entering the country. Payment for calls is quite different for different operators, so it is best to consult on the spot with a guide or in one of the mobile operator’s salons regarding the selection of the most reasonable tariff. The phone number for all emergency services is 911.
USA: electrical network. The mains voltage in the USA is 110-120 volts. Sockets here are predominantly with flat 2 or 3 plugs, so you should take with you or buy on the spot special adapters for plugs.
USA: dress etiquette. There are no restrictions or any rules regarding clothing.
USA: official holidays. The most important holiday is Independence Day, which is magnificently celebrated on July 4 throughout the country. On this day, you will see parades with processions, national costumes and a sea of flags, fireworks and much more.
Also popular are Thanksgiving on the last Thursday of November (with traditional turkey dinners) and Christmas, which the country celebrates on December 25th. And the New Year in the United States is celebrated, like almost all over the world, on the night of the first day of January.
It will be interesting to visit the country on Halloween, October 31, which almost all Americans celebrate merrily and brightly, dressing up in “terrible” costumes, putting on makeup and going to processions, festivities or parties.