General Information and Advice

Florida Keys

These pages are intended to provide you with more information about travelling the USA.

Touring the USA by motorhome is a great experience. You need to be happy to tackle a large, left-hand drive vehicle on the ‘other’ side of the road, but with a little concentration it soon feels natural. Hitting the open road feels like living the dream.

There is a great variety of campgrounds in the USA, from simple, no facility, park campgrounds to the fully serviced kind with 30A hook-up and drive-through pitches.
America is huge: some things are similar wherever you go, while people, places, laws and customs often vary considerably in character from state to state. Make no mistake: the delight for Britons in visiting America is that, despite the similar language, it is very much a foreign country and culture. For the sake of brevity, we have sometimes concentrated in this factsheet on the four key regions for motorhome rentals among our members – Alaska, California and the west, Florida and New England – but please remember that we can arrange individual itineraries for you all over the North American continent.

On escorted tours, the emphasis is on touring, so some days involve long drives. Distances given are approximate and suggested places of interest are listed in your Carefree brochure and in the day book provided with your travel pack. How much or how little you do is up to you, but most members do a lot! Your tour escorts will be available throughout the tour to provide information, to bring the group together while on site and to help out if any difficulties are encountered.

What’s in a name?

The USA in its entirety also comprises the states of Alaska and the North Pacific archipelago of Hawaii Alaska is separated from the other North American continental states by Canada, so many people refer to the other mainland states as “the contiguous continental United States”, or more simply “the lower 48 [states]”. Visitors from the various constituent parts of the UK may sympathise.

Passports, entry and transit requirements

The UK is a member country of the United States’ Visa Waiver Programme (VWP). VWP member countries’ citizens may travel to the US for business or pleasure for a period of less than 90 days without applying for a visa (which is a process involving several steps and that usually takes some time).

Passports

VWP travellers, including children, require individual machine-readable passports. A machine readable passport can be identified by the presence of two lines of text as letters, numbers and “<”s, printed at the foot of the personal identification page at the back of the passport.

Any full passport issued, renewed or extended between 26 October 2005 and 25 October 2006 must contain a digital photograph.

Any full passport issued, renewed or extended after 26 October 2006 must also include an integrated circuit chip capable of storing the biographic information from the data page, a digitized photograph and other biometric information.

Temporary and emergency passports are exempted from digital photo and electronic chip requirements, but must be machine-readable.

Failure to determine that your passport qualifies for the VWP may result in your being denied boarding by your airline. To check fully up to date information on passport requirements for the US, UK citizens should visit the US embassy website.

Entry and transit requirements under a valid passport

From 12 January 2009 travel to the US under the VWP will be subject to eligibility being granted by an application under the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). An ESTA will also be required in order to transit the United States. If you are a citizen of a VWP country you will need an ESTA, regardless of the country of departure for your journey to the US.

The ESTA application is a web-only system. A third party, such as a relative or travel agent, may submit an ESTA application on your behalf, but you are still legally responsible for the answers submitted on your behalf. You should apply for an ESTA via the website. The response should be almost immediate. You are highly recommended to apply for your ESTA as far in advance as possible, because if you are for any reason denied an ESTA you will then need to apply for a visa. The ESTA currently costs $14.

An ESTA is valid, unless revoked, for multiple travel to the US for two years or until your passport expires. It is particular to the passport mentioned in the application, so a change of passport means a new ESTA application. Amendments to destination addresses or itineraries, for your original trip or for future trips, can easily be made via the website after your ESTA has been approved.

An ESTA does not guarantee your entry to the United States, which remains subject to the usual inspection by customs/immigration officials on your arrival.

More information on ESTAs can be found at on the website.

Prohibited Items

Many governments now impose extremely strict rules, regulations and laws on what may and may not be included in your carry-on (cabin) baggage on airlines. In general it is safe to assume that nothing that might remotely be considered a weapon will be allowed in the cabin and that this will usually include any kind of knife or sharp implement – right down to penknives, knitting needles or even tweezers.

In addition, many countries now also have stringent rules on what liquids are allowed in hand baggage and this particularly has implications for anyone carrying vital medication or those travelling with babies.

Certain animal products, fresh fruit, plant materials or animal pests may not be allowed into the country.

It is highly recommended that you check with your airline for details of what it will and will not accept onto its aircraft, both well before and just prior to travelling. In addition, up to date details of what is prohibited at your point of entry to the United States can be found on the CBP website.

Health

The Department of Health does not make any specific health recommendations for visitors to the USA. However, you may also like to check with your doctor before departure. The United States has no national health service and no reciprocal health agreement with the UK, so you must have full medical insurance to cover the cost of any possible treatment required. For example, if hospitalised, charges may typically be $1000-$2000 per day. Visitors carrying medication should make sure that they also carry a doctor’s certificate in order to avoid problems with customs, as well as noting the comments on taking liquids onto aeroplanes in the section on Prohibited Items.

A range of comprehensive medical and personal holiday insurances, from short stays to annual and multi-trip policies, with leading provider Europ Assistance, is available through Carefree Travel Service.

Tourist Information

The VISIT USA Association, a private not-for-profit group, offers a selection of information and literature on US travel. Please see in particular the destination information, for state-by-state information on US destinations. We particularly recommend the VISIT USA Travel Planner brochure – simply select any of the drop-down search criteria on the website’s brochure search page and the Travel Planner will be at the top of the listing. You will then be given the options both to order a copy and to view the brochure on line. In addition, many states of the USA have their own tourism representation in the UK. For individual telephone numbers please visit the information section of the US embassy website. Neither these offices nor VISIT USA provide visa information.

The USA no longer operates a national tourist office in the UK. The US Travel and Tourism Administration in Washington has also ceased to exist. There is currently no central office for tourist information either within the American Embassy in London, or elsewhere in the UK.

Currency

The US dollar is made up of 100 cents. The exchange rate at the time of writing is $1.60 to £1. Currency can be bought in advance from your bank or from bureaux de change. Travellers Cheques in US dollars can also be bought in advance from your bank. All major credit cards are recognised in the United States. Cash machines are found at banks and in retail areas throughout the United States. Many cash machines accept UK issued Visa and MasterCard cards. We recommend credit cards and travellers’ cheques as the best way to pay for your purchases. You must carry at least one major credit card with you in order to leave a deposit with the motorhome hire company. Banks normally open from 1000-1600, Monday to Friday. Some banks open on Saturday mornings as well.

Time zones

The 50 United States fall within six time zones. The lower 48 states plus Alaska span five of these, which are listed here from east to west, with their abbreviations and difference to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) in hours:

Eastern Standard Time (EST)* incl. Florida and New England GMT -5
Central Standard Time (CST)* incl. Florida (west) GMT -6
Mountain Standard Time (MST)* GMT -7
Pacific Standard Time (PST)* incl. California GMT -8
Alaskan Standard Time (AKST) Alaska GMT -9
*These zones are shared with Canada.

The state of Hawaii and various overseas USA territories fall into other time zones.

Daylight saving operates from 0200 on the second Sunday in March to 0200 on the first Sunday of November. It is not observed in Hawaii, the overseas territories or Arizona (except within the Navajo Nation, which participates because of its widespread location across the three states of Arizona, Utah and New Mexico).

Telephones and postage

International Direct Dialling is available, the country code for calls to the US and Canada being 1. To call the UK from the United States dial the outgoing international access code (00). Follow this with the UK’s country code (44) and then the full UK STD number minus the leading zero.

In most areas, the minimum charge for a local call of unlimited duration is 50¢, but as in the UK public payphones are more and more scarce.

Post offices do not have standard opening hours and these may vary even within a particular town. 0900-1700 would be fairly typical, but some open earlier and some close at 1800 or 1900. Some post offices open on Saturday (for instance 0900-1500), while others do not. Ask at your campground for details of its local post office. Airmail to Europe usually takes between two to five days.

Safety and security

While the USA is a stunning and remarkable country to visit and most Americans are among the most welcoming, hospitable and polite people you are likely to meet anywhere, it is sensible to be aware of the following:

Crime

As anywhere in the world, it is prudent to be generally vigilant about your property, both in terms of your motorhome and personal belongings. No-one wants unnecessary trouble while on the holiday of a lifetime. In particular:

Avoid leaving your door open at any time when your vehicle is unattended.
Avoid wearing expensive jewellery and carrying valuable items in run-down areas.
Do not sleep in your vehicle by the roadside or in rest areas.
Avoid leaving valuable items on display in your vehicle.
Try to stay on main roads and use well-lit car parks.
If hit from behind while driving, indicate to the other driver to follow you to a public place and call 911 for police help.

Terrorism

The US department of Homeland Security operates a colour code system (green-blue-yellow-orange-red) for its assessment of the current terrorist threat to the country. You can see the current level and learn more about the meaning of the various alert levels by visiting the Homeland Security website. You should also monitor news reports before and during your trip to the USA.

As in any other country, you should be particularly vigilant in high-profile public places and report anything suspicious immediately to the authorities.

Severe weather and natural phenomena

Keep an eye on local weather reports, particularly if travelling in areas known for extreme weather (n.b. snow in the mountains, tornadoes in the mid-west, hurricanes on the Gulf of Mexico or even carrying over to the east coast). The hurricane season is normally June-November. The US Geological Survey (USGS) and other sources rate as high the probability of at least one earthquake, of at least 6.7 magnitude (enough to cause widespread damage), striking the west coast (including Alaska and Hawaii) by 2032. See also the Earthquake Hazards Program website.

Forest and brush fires are particularly prevalent from March to November, in dry, windy weather and on the west coast. Keep an eye on regional news reports.

General

Keep relatives informed of your intended itinerary and be sure to top up your fuel and water before travelling into sparsely populated areas.

Please remember that the above information is intended to inform rather than to alarm and applies to a country that occupies much of a continent. Around four million British visitors per year enjoy a wonderful, trouble-free stay in the US.

Weather and clothing

Spanning the breadth of the North American continent, the USA has a very varied climate. Please see also the notes on Severe weather and natural phenomena in the Safety and security section. You can also find more information at the USA Today website and the Weather Channel website.

In general, give yourself flexibility by taking lots of light layers of clothing with you, plus a good jacket and waterproofs for the winter or for areas at high altitude. Good walking boots or shoes are always recommended and in summer a widebrimmed sun hat and a high factor sun screen (at least factor 25, but preferably above) are musts.

A general synopsis of the climate in the most popular motorhome touring areas is given below.

Alaska – general

South-central Alaska, including Anchorage and Prince William Sound, enjoys temperatures kept mild by the Gulf of Alaska, with north polar winds being largely blocked by the mountains. It tends to be brighter and colder than south-east Alaska, which is milder and gets more rain. Winters are very snowy indeed (7.5 metres along Prince William Sound), so spring and summer are when to visit, with the coast usually clear of snow from early May until mid or late September.

Alaska – daylight

Its northerly location means Anchorage gets 19.5 hours of daylight at the summer solstice. If you are a light sleeper you may wish to take eye pads and ear plugs, to keep out the sunlight and birdsong during your normal sleeping hours.

For more information please see also the Alaska.com website.

California and the west (including Colorado, Utah and Nevada).

California has warm or hot weather all year, being warmer in the south. Winter can be quite fresh in the north, but snow is almost unheard-of. Many of the mountains and uplands of Colorado, Utah and Nevada are ski areas in winter, while in summer the climate is generally very hot and dry, compared to the humidity sometimes experienced on the California coast.

Light clothes are appropriate in summer, although nights may be cool, or possibly even a little chilly at altitude. In winter California is usually mild, but the inland western states may be a lot colder, with snow and ice common in some parts.

Hiking in the desert should be supported by copious supplies (several litres if necessary) of water. At the bottom of the Grand Canyon in August, temperatures commonly reach between 40ºC and 50ºC during the afternoon, so a hike down and back from Grand Canyon village should include two early starts, an afternoon break in the shade and a night at the Indian Garden campground. Wherever you are, always take local expert advice before hiking.

Florida

Known as the sunshine state, its location on the Gulf of Mexico means that Florida enjoys long, hot and fairly humid summers. Winters are mild with occasionally cool or sometimes cold air. Temperatures inland are slightly higher in summer and slightly lower in winter than they are on the coast.

New England

Spring can be delightfully cool in the evening and warm and bright during the day, but locals make plenty of jokes about how brief this period can be. Despite a northerly, coastal location, summer can be hot and may also be quite humid, with temperatures sometimes capable of reaching 30°C-40°C.

Autumn (Fall) is still warm and pleasant, with nights not uncomfortably a little chilly. This is the most popular time to visit, with many people coming to see the spectacular Fall foliage colours. Hiking, cycling and canoeing are comfortable and popular pursuits at this time of year. By Thanksgiving Day (the fourth Thursday in November), the ski season is approaching.

For more information please visit the New England Travel Planner website.

Tipping

It is a very good idea to take some currency in small bills with you to cover tips on arrival. It is also standard practice to tip tour guides, so you might like to have some small bills to hand as you leave excursion buses.

Many people in service industries are paid low salaries and depend on tips to top up their earnings. If in doubt, overtip a little. Generally, appropriate rates for tips are as follows (vehicle rental agency employees do not expect tips).

Waiting staff 15% or 20% at table; Room service 15%; bar or counter 10% but at least 50¢ (preferably more). In restaurants, service is almost never included in the final bill. Any amount added on is usually the sales tax, not a service charge.
Taxi drivers 15%.
Car wash employees put $1 or so into the tip cup. Valet parking attendants at least $1 or $2.
Petrol pump attendants do not expect tips, but if they give you good service or wash your windscreens, they will appreciate 50¢ or so.
Porters $1 for the first bag or two, 50 cents for each extra bag.
Hairdressers and barbers at least 15%. If a separate person washes your hair, tip a dollar or two.
Shoe shiners 50¢-$1.
Cloakroom attendants $1, if you are not charged for the service.
Hotel room cleaners about $1 per day after the first night.
Hotel concierge if they should go out of their way to help you, $10-$20 is appropriate.
Local tour guides 10%-15% of the tour price, but at least $1-$2 for a half day tour and $3-$4 for a full day tour.

Shopping

The world’s largest economy is a shopper’s dream, with that great American institution the shopping mall being a major draw for shopoholics. There are still some famous department stores in major city centres, but more and more the biggest shopping centres are now in the suburbs or several miles out of town. Sears and J C Penny are famous American own-brand retailers with a reputation for quality and value for money (in much the same tradition as Marks & Spencer). Clothing sizes are different to ours so make sure you try clothes on before buying. Electrical goods bought in the US may not work correctly in the UK. Video equipment and DVDs are manufactured for a different format to the UK, but the CD format is universal.

Shops are generally open daily and often until late, especially in the cities. Shopping for food and drink is easy, with supermarkets that are very similar to home. You may also find that fresh produce is often sold at roadside stands in fruit and vegetable growing areas.

Local taxes

There is no federal (national) sales tax in the United States. Most individual states apply their own taxes, but even in those that do not you may find that boroughs or municipalities apply a local tax. Local and state taxes paid by tourists in the USA cannot normally be claimed back. Any taxes on your motorhome hire, hotel room, campground fees and items included in the price of escorted tour itineraires have been included in your holiday cost.

Bringing goods into the UK

Each individual traveller is entitled to allowances as follows:

200 cigarettes; or 100 cigarillos; or 50 cigars; or 250g of tobacco
60cc of perfume
2 litres of still table wine
250cc of eau de toilette
1 litre of spirits or strong liqueurs over 22 per cent volume; or 2 litres of fortified
wine, sparkling wine or other liqueurs such as port or sherry and
£145 worth of all other goods including gifts and souvenirs.

If you want to bring back more, you will have to declare it to customs on your way back and pay customs duty and VAT on the full value (not just the excess). For more information, visit see the current allowances on Customs website.

Water

Mineral water can be bought but all tap water is drinkable unless marked otherwise.

Electricity

Electricity is supplied at an alternating current of 110V/120V, as opposed to the 220V/240V in Europe. The frequency of American electricity is 60Hz. Your motorhome will have the appropriate hook-up equipment. You will need to buy a voltage selector and universal adapter (available in most hardware or electrical shops in the UK) to use appliances such as a shaver or hair dryer in US electrical sockets, unless your individual appliances have a feature to deal with this.

Propane gas

Your motorhome heating and cooking facilities run off propane stored in a tank on the motorhome. You can fill up your propane tank at petrol stations. The attendants will fill it for you. A propane tank should never be more than three quarters full.

Further information

For further information, please visit the US Embassy website.

Lonely Planet guides

The Lonely Planet guide to the USA is also recommended. All Lonely Planet guides can be ordered from Carefree.

Accuracy of information

The information in this fact sheet was correct to the best of our knowlege at the time of writing. This fact sheet was last updated on 19 December 2011.