This blog for first time travellers was originally posted as a guest blog to Anita Burgess Travel. But there is light at the end of that International Travel tunnel, so it is timely that I re share this with you.

6 Tips for a relaxing USA holiday

The USA is a big place with so many things to see and do, it can get a little overwhelming. We have made a number of trips there over the last few years so I hope what we have learnt will help make your trip a little easier.

Accommodation

We book our accommodation before we leave New Zealand. I find that either Wyndham Group or Choice hotels suit our needs. Both offer a variety of accommodation types and I often seek out ones offering breakfast included in the room price and rooms that have a microwave and fridge. I book direct and sign up for the rewards programs offered as the room is often cheaper (I do compare prices on the likes of Expedia etc, but make sure you are aware of extra costs like taxes). I read the reviews on the hotel’s website and on Trip Advisor before making my final decision. Keep in mind that some people complain about the smallest thing.

Carry-on Luggage

There are several things that can make air travel more comfortable. This is a list of what goes in my carry-on bag

Compression stockings – these help increase circulation and reduce the risk of swelling or deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and clotting that can occur from a long flight.

Neck Pillow – I don’t find the plane seats to be very comfy for sleeping, a great neck pillow can help somewhat.

Eye mask – great for blocking out the light when trying to sleep

Headphones – I’m not one of those people who can sleep anywhere and find that having noise cancelling headphones great for helping. Along with some music or rain sounds via an app on my phone.

Change of clothes – I generally have some tracksuit pants and some thick socks for when heading to sleep. Doesn’t hurt to have a change of clothes in your carry on in case of mislaid bags

Sleeping tablets – Personal choice but I always use these on the flight to ensure I get some sleep while on the plane

Snacks – Packaged foods for snacking or for when you get off the plane

Reading material – I use the kindle ap on my phone and ensure I’ve downloaded a few books before heading away.

If you travel with your phone and/or laptop don’t forget associated chargers plus an adaptor that can be plugged into USA power sockets.

Drink bottle – you can take an empty bottle through security and fill it up before getting on the plane.

Medication – pack your medication and if necessary get a letter from the Doctor outlining what medications you are taking.

Driving in the USA

If you plan on hiring a car in the USA don’t forget your NZ driver’s license. Remember that they drive on the right side of the road. Roundabouts are becoming more common, but they are called Traffic Circles and of course you head right instead of left around the circle. Often there are 4 way stops which can be a little confusing, who ever got to the stop first, goes first.

A lot of roads in the USA have tolls we chose to use the device on our rental car where you pay a one-off fee for the time of the rental, saves having to worry about cash. So ask the attendant about tolls when you pick up your hire car.

When you are filling up your vehicle with petrol be aware that the bowser colours are different to those in New Zealand. Pay at the pump is starting to become more commonplace but often you need to pay in the store first before filling.

If you look like you are about to step out onto the road as a pedestrian especially in parking areas cars will often stop and wait for you to cross we encountered this a lot in Colorado. If you are driving be mindful of pedestrians too.

Shopping

Remember to add sales tax in to your calculations when buying anything. If you want bargains check out the outlet malls. Two brands I know of are Premium and Tanger which can be found across the USA. A store Ross – Dress for Less often has brand names at reduced prices.
Be aware that store opening hours vary with many opening later than in New Zealand.

Organise your spending money well in advance, the rates are often better when ordered via your bank rather than purchasing at the airport. We take cash and put funds on to a loaded for travel card. We haven’t had any issues using the cards in the USA and with pin numbers being more widely accepted it does make shopping easier. (previously you signed when you purchased, no pin numbers)

If you like to prepare your own food while travelling there are plenty of supermarkets to choose from. We make sure to take advantage of the store cards offered as these give you discounts like the ones we use in NZ.

Travel Documents, Insurance and Data

Make sure your passport is up to date and that you apply for an ESTA. Travel insurance is a must, we use the insurance attached to our Kiwibank mastercard and always inform the bank of our travel arrangements. Previously when travelling to the USA we have bought a sim card once we landed however this last trip our phone provider, 2 degrees had a good roaming rate so we went with that, but it does pay to shop around.

Visiting Beaches and National Parks

There is a variety of places to visit from the Grand Canyon, The Hoover Dam, Lake Tahoe, Bonneville Salt Flats and so much more. Be aware that access to these are not always free. On our most recent trip in August 2018 we found that beach access at Incline Village at Lake Tahoe was restricted to residents only, so we drove further south to find a publicly accessible beach. Also, at Mono Lake in California we had to pay a fee to enter. A pass to most National Parks can be purchased online or at many of the parks (further info https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/passes.htm )
Do lots of research before heading to the USA, especially around places you wish to visit, check out travelling times, we use google maps a lot!. Some of the major cities like San Francisco or Denver offer a pass where you can visit a number of attractions for a discounted price called the City Pass which can be beneficial especially if you have limited time.

Find out more about my recent trip from Reno to Salt Lake City here