United States: good to know
The general-information half of trip planning: how expensive United States feels, what is considered polite, what is not, and the everyday practicalities - alongside our 506 written places.
Friendly small talk with strangers is normal; tipping is a wage system, not a bonus.
✓ Considered polite
- Tip properly: 18-20% at sit-down restaurants, a dollar or two per drink at bars
- Make small talk - servers and shop staff chat because it is genuine culture
- Add sales tax mentally - shelf prices usually are not the till price, though a handful of states charge no sales tax
- Book national park entries ahead - the famous ones use timed reservations in season
✗ Better avoided
- Skip the tip because service is included somewhere else in the world - here it is the wage
- Jaywalk in cities that enforce it
- Underestimate distances - states are country-sized and a car is usually essential
- Expect universal public transport outside a handful of big cities
Worth knowing
- Cards work everywhere; carrying much cash is unnecessary
- Portions are huge - sharing or boxing leftovers is completely normal
- Free refills on soft drinks and coffee are standard
- Health care is private and expensive - travel insurance is essential, not optional
Plugs and voltage: Wikipedia, «Mains electricity by country» (after the IEC World Plugs list), read 15 October 2026.
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Customs are living things - regions differ, cities relax, generations shift. Take these notes as a friendly head start, watch what locals do, and when in doubt a smile and a greeting in the local language cover almost everything.