Welcome to the United States

Welcome to the United States! One of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world. With breathtaking landscapes, unique history & any event you can think of, that is the beauty of traveling to The United States. The US is interesting because you can’t travel as easily as if you were in Europe. To truly see how diverse our country is, is a gift.

From the Pacific Coast Highway to the bayous of Louisiana and the Big Apple over in NYC, the United States is a perfect place to visit at any time of the year! Check out my favorite destinations across this beautiful country & lastly, Welcome to the United States!

Explore the United States Here

Click on any of the states in blue for a free Guide from The Brooklynite Abroad.

Travel Advisory in the US

Tips for Traveling to The United States

Don’t try to do it all: It’s not worth going crazy and in no way is this like any of your European getaways where you can travel to a country in 5 seconds. Stick to one or two states and then consider time for a day trip here and there if you need. Examples of great day trips are Washington DC & NYC or Nevada & California.
Tipping culture: The standard is designated for service industries like going to the hair salon, nail salon, restaurant, bar & performances. If you go to these places, the standard tip is around 15-20% of the total bill BEFORE TAX! Don’t include tax in your tip. This has started to change as lots of places like Dunkin, coffee shops & other “non-service” businesses are asking for tips. If they are just taking your order- do not feel obligated to tip & if you feel the service is not up to par, don’t give the maximum tip.
Rent a car or not?: If you’re traveling our West, renting a car is a must since you can’t really get around anyhow else. If you’re visiting a city, renting a car is not necessary.
Popular Directional Apps: Google Maps & Apple Maps are the most standard. But downloading Waze is another great app because it tracks if there are police nearby, cars on the side of the road etc.
Popular Tour/Booking Apps: I use GetYour Guide for everything as it’s the go-to! Another app you can use is Viator. Lastly, for reserving hotels, you can use Booking.com to help you find them & then go on the OFFICIAL website to reserve.

Safety Tips for Traveling To The United States

Share your location at all times: This is extremely helpful in case god forbid something happens, and someone is tracking your whereabouts. If you’re able to share your itinerary with someone, that would also be great for people to know your future whereabouts.
Verify the Uber before getting in: Don’t get into the Uber or Lyft without verifying the driver and having the driver verify you. Check the license plate and be diligent.
Don’t make eye contact with people making a big scene: This goes for the locos, crazies, and even the homeless. You really never know so don’t cause any trouble with anyone.

Recommended Airlines For Traveling Around The US

Delta Airlines: Delta is by far my favorite airline company. Their service is impeccable, they have great times to fly & the price is certainly what you pay for. The Delta hub is in Atlanta, Georgia so if you’re looking to travel there, tons of great options are in store for you.
United Airlines: United Airlines is another great and reliable airline company. Their flights are great for west coast areas like (Portland, San Fransisco, and more. If you’re between this and Delta, it’s a real toss-up – just know you’re in good hands.
Southwest Airlines: If you’re looking to go on a sporting trip (skiing, golf, etc) & need to bring extra bags- that’s why Southwest is great. You can bring up to two free checked bags- making it the perfect airline.

Airlines To Skip When Traveling Around The US

American Airlines: By far this is one of the most unreliable airlines. I have had countless delays & even cancellations that almost royally screwed over our trips. This airline might seem like the most convenient in terms of price, but it certainly comes at a cost. Do yourself a favor and skip this airline overall.
Spirit Airlines: This is only recommended for short flights (under 3 hours). Anything overnight or more than 3 hours, it’s not worth it. In my experience, they’re so disorganized- it’s comical.