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USA Travel Guide for Australians
The United States of America is a vast country and a land of many great travel opportunities for Australian visitors, from the bright lights of the Big Apple to the movie wonderland of Hollywood and the ease of California and the natural marvel of the Grand Canyon. USA Travel Guide for Australians
Whatever way you choose to discover the United States of America, one thing is certain: your trip won’t be just another low-key, relaxing vacation but rather a massive, exciting and memorable adventure.
To help you get started with your trip preparations, here are several things to bear in mind.
Visa requirements
Your first step in planning is understanding visa requirements for entering the country. The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) permits nationals from certain countries to enter the States for visitor or tourist purposes for up to 90 days without a visa. If you’re eligible for the VWP, you have to apply for authorization through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) before your trip. USA Travel Guide for Australians
The VWP requirements include being a citizen of a member country, possessing an e-passport and the ESTA authorization, visiting for business, pleasure or transit purposes, and remaining in the US for 90 days maximum. Also, you need to obtain your travel approval at least 72 hours before your flight and after that, your ESTA will be valid for two years.
If for some reason, you don’t qualify for the VWP, you will have to apply for a visa to visit the US.
Flight to the USA
Flying to the US from Australia can take between 13 and 24 hours, depending on where you leave from, whether you’re on a direct flight or with layovers, what airline you’re traveling with and what your final destination is. The ticket can cost between $370 to $670 but it’s best you buy it in advance since waiting and hoping for a discount can leave you stressed out and without a choice of seating. USA Travel Guide for Australians
Upon your arrival, it’s best you rent a car to allow you more freedom of movement when you go sightseeing but do check the driving rules before your trip. Also, bear in mind that the US is a huge country and to see as much as you can, you’ll be crossing big distances and you need to be able to communicate and take as many photographs as you want. This is why getting a USA Sim Card is extremely helpful as it gives you 4G data speeds, 5GB of data, hotspot/tethering, unlimited texts and calls to both US and Australian numbers (landline & mobile).
Booking accommodation
There are endless accommodation options in the USA, ranging from motels, apartments, resorts, campgrounds, lodges, vacation homes, Airbnb and many more. You will be able to find a few independent hotels but for the most part, you’ll get a corporate chain experience.
For a longer stay, it’s best you rent an apartment or a suite with a kitchen so you can save on eating out, but if it’s just for a couple of nights, hotels will do. Most hotels, motels, resorts and B&Bs can be easily booked online via Hotels.com and Booking.com with available reviews on TripAdvisor.
You will also be able to find cheaper accommodation on the outskirts of big cities that aren’t glamorous and with only the basic amenities, but they usually provide free Wi-Fi, breakfast, and parking. As for Airbnb, it isn’t as cheap as it used to be since now it typically includes cleaning fees, state and bed taxes.
Prices in the USA
It’s a smart decision to learn about American prices before your trip so you can plan your budget. It’s typical for the US not to list prices with sales tax so you’ll have to pay more than you expected. Also, different cities have different tax rates so the prices vary from one place to another. USA Travel Guide for Australians
In general, for the accommodation, you’ll need to pay around $50 to $100 on the low end, to $250 and over on the high end, with popular destinations even higher. A fast-food meal is around$6 and healthy one between $7 and $10. Espresso will cost you about $3.50, a beer pint $5 and a glass of wine between $5 and $10. The main meal at a restaurant costs about $12 to $18 and about $25 in classier establishments.
If you’re renting a car, it’ll cost you about $200 a week with fuel that can cost about $2.20 a gallon in North Carolina to about double in California.
Road trips
For thrill-seeking adventurers who dream of taking a road trip across America, have an itinerary ready but do leave some wiggle room in your plan. Do some research beforehand, have old school paper maps with you, but don’t forget your smartphone as well.
Experienced road travelers advise you don’t skip the quirky roadside attractions, especially if you’re driving along the famous Route 66. Also, visit all the national parks you see along the way as the US has a fantastic national park system and with a National Parks Pass that cost about $80, you can visit as many national parks as you wish in that year without having to pay the entrance fees. Don’t forget to get your travel insurance, pack enough water and food for the road and have a healthy budget.
Places to see – New York, San Francisco, Las Vegas
There are many amazing cities to visit in the USA, but these three – New York, San Francisco, and Las Vegas are a must-see with their iconic landmarks and rich historical and cultural backgrounds.
NYC has so many exciting things to offer that you could easily live there for years without having seen all of them! However, you need to start somewhere so why not start at Times Square? Its multitude of lit up billboards and advertisements, skyscrapers, classy restaurants, iconic buildings, cool cafes and stores will have something to offer to every tourist. On any given day, there are at least 360,000 pedestrians walking over this busy intersection. From there, you can head over to Lady Liberty, Central Park, The Grand Central Station or some of its numerous and famous museums and galleries.
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3,000 miles away on the West Coast, there’s the city of San Francisco packed with exciting activities, great food, stunning architecture and great food for everyone’s palate. Make sure you visit the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, Fisherman’s Warf, grab a bit to eat at the Ferry Building Marketplace and take a walking tour of the vibrant district of Castro.
Las Vegas, the party capital of the world, has an amazing and vast variety of attractions to offer that will all leave you breathless. Whether you’re an outdoors enthusiast, foodie or photographer, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to enjoy. When it comes to famous sights and attractions, the choice is huge – just to mention a few great places outside the city itself and its famous Strip and casinos: the Valley of Fire, Death Valley National Park, Red Rock Canyon, Zion National Park, Hoover Dam and Lake Mead, Spring Preserve Botanical Garden
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For a country as big as the US, a 7-days’ vacation isn’t enough to see all the things you wish, but at least these tips can get you started and the next time you come, you can easily continue where you left of!
Jack Kewell is a writer, science editor, naturalist, entrepreneur. He is focused on writing and illustrating books. Also, he is a regular contributor to Smoothdecorator. USA Travel Guide for Australians
