Cross-Atlantic travel is getting increasingly vibrant with each passing day. While yesteryears saw Europeans leave for the Americas in search of greener pastures for a better life, today there are ‘leisure and pleasure’ seekers galore from Europe who just can’t wait to get to the US for a holiday!
Accordingly, in this article, we offer some of the best travel tips you will ever see, as far as traveling to the USA from Europe goes.
English is the primary Lingua Franca
Most mainland European countries are well-versed in their respective languages with English language proficiency not really commonplace. In the USA though, English is by far the most widely spoken language among all communities. In spite of its prolific diversity, you will find most folks well versed in the English language.
Therefore, if you are traveling from a European country that does not speak English commonly whereby your own English language skills are limited (and still happen to be reading this article!), we recommend bringing yourself up to speed on your English language adeptness.
Credit Cards Rule – yet do carry Cash with you
Credit cards are very commonly accepted in the USA. Even if back in Europe, you find fewer establishments which actually accept credit card payments easily, in the USA, you will hardly have such issues.
At the same time, there is a misconception that you can carry very little cash with you and still manage to get by. Remember that cash often proves handy in many situations. Also, while the US has an extensive and very well-developed network of ATMs, depending on where you are heading, you might have to travel far to withdraw money. Accordingly, bringing in at least some US Dollars in cash will always be a good idea.
Be prepared to take Internal Flights
Depending on the places you intend to visit and the distance between them, be prepared to take internal flights within the US, on your trip there. We say this especially because in Europe, it is quite easy to take other modes of travel within the country. But given the size and scale of the USA, flights will always be viable choice.
Unfortunately, this will also mean having to budget for these flights, especially since they can cost a reasonable sum, with no major budget carriers of the likes of easy Jet or Ryan air as seen in Europe, in the US.
Visa Waiver Program makes Travel to the US from Europe really easy
US Customs and Border Protection has a special ESTA USA program whereby eligible citizens and nationals of select countries in the world can travel to the US without having to compulsorily obtain a prior visa in advance.
Now, most European countries are on this list, making it really easy for most folks from Europe to travel to the USA.
The application is made online, paying a mere $14 as fee. Once applied and paid, you simply need to do an ESTA USA check to ensure that your application has been processed.
Once you confirm that, you will be good to go to travel to the US on your ESTA USA without having to get a visa in advance from your home country.
Account for Additional Expenses
Without the slightest intention of discouraging you for your US trip, we would definitely like to caution you about additional expenses you are very likely to incur on your trip there. Some examples, especially pertinent for European travelers include:
- Having to tip frequently, especially while dining out. Tipping is commonplace all over the USA.
- Most prices in departmental stores and elsewhere do not include additional state or central taxes. Therefore, be prepared to spend more than the printed or labeled price, with the final payable amount only known while checking out at the cashier’s till.
- Many hotels and resorts in the USA add on “resort fees” for a variety of charges like pool usage, etc. This is really not something which Europeans are used to.
Global Cuisine
One aspect which will truly please European travelers is the ease with which they will find food from their part of the world in the USA. Are you a Polish native traveling to the US, for example? You will not have any problem whatsoever finding pierogis and other Polish delicacies in the US, especially in cities like Chicago and New York City.
Likewise, in most major parts of the US, you will have no major problem finding practically all kinds of preferred cuisine, be it French, Italian, Spanish, or Mediterranean, along with food from other parts of the world such as Indian or East Asian.
Conclusion
While traveling from Europe to the USA, you can be assured of an absolutely frolicking time. The tips mentioned above should no doubt help you in enjoying your trip even further!