The main thing to keep in mind about traveling in the USA - besides costs - is the continent's immense scale. Texas alone is twice the size of Germany. It's easy to get overambitious. Unless the point is to have a road trip, you don't want to spend all your time on the road. Which brings up another issue: cars. Unless your budget won't allow it, you'll probably want to rent a car at some point, as it's the easiest, most flexible way to travel outside of the major cities.
When to go
Anytime is the perfect time to see the USA. Nevertheless, the main holiday season is summer, which is bounded by Memorial Day (the last Monday in May) and Labor Day (the first Monday in September). In summer, hotels charge more and crowds are more crowded, but sometimes you have to strike while the iron is hot: mountain parks and gorgeous beaches are just not the same without the presence of a warm, beaming sun.
That said, one region's high season can be another one's hell: July in the Pacific Northwest is wonderful, but in the deserts of the Southwest it's brutally hot. As a general rule, latitude and altitude are your main guides in determining weather and season: the higher you go, and the further north, the later summer arrives and the earlier winter begins.
One travel truism is that spring and fall are often the best seasons. The shoulder seasons - roughly March to May (spring) and September to November (fall) - tend to avoid the extremes of weather, prices sometimes drop and scenery is often at its peak. Again, check your destination: spring may not arrive until May or even June in the Rocky Mountains or Sierra Nevada, or it may bring an off-putting amount of rain, as it can in Seattle.
Winter is high season in ski areas, and the cold drives the snowbirds south. With careful planning, however, a successful winter trip can yield the riches of America's landscape virtually all to yourself.
What to take
- Hotel or camping reservations. Seriously - sometimes everything's booked!
- Your driver's license and adequate liability insurance. The country's big - you'll want to drive.
- A handful of credit cards or a healthy bank account. Figure out your budget, but be prepared in case you need extra.
- An open mind. Americans tend to confound expectations.
Right there. When you're in need.
Trusted by more than 1 million Australian's, Travel Insurance Direct believes in looking out for our travellers. Take us with you on your next trip.