USA Travel Blog

The country is incredibly diverse. The landscapes around the Great Lakes and north of New York (Maine and the coast), the interior and especially the Southern states couldn’t be more different. You see this best culturally on a road trip from Chicago to New Orleans. And the West Coast (California, Washington and Oregon) can’t really be compared with Texas or Florida either.

Precisely because many people are avoiding the USA at the moment, now is a good time to go: it’s noticeably cheaper.

To enter the USA, you need a machine-readable passport (e-passport with a chip) that is valid for your entire stay. Children also need a passport with a chip. The reason is ESTA, which you have to apply for before your trip if you come from a Visa Waiver Program country such as the UK, Ireland, Australia or most EU countries. Read my guide on how to apply for ESTA online carefully. Check the current entry and visa rules with your government before you travel.

What you should know about ESTA: Apply at least 72 hours before your flight. ESTA is valid for 2 years for any number of trips of up to 90 days each, but no longer than your passport. You also need a return or onward ticket, and on arrival you give the address of your first accommodation. If your passport doesn’t qualify for ESTA, you need a visa.

New from 3 November 2026: declaration about stays in the Congo

Because of the Ebola outbreak in Central Africa, you have to confirm before every flight to the USA that you have not been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the 21 days before departure. A connection at an airport in the Congo also counts. This applies to all passengers, regardless of nationality, and also if you only change planes in the USA. Your airline collects the declaration, depending on the airline during online check-in or at the counter. Without the declaration, you won’t be allowed to board. The rule applies until 18 December 2026 for now. Check your airline’s information before you fly.

Travel costs

Visum USA beantragen: Unsere Erfahrung zur Dauer der Genehmigung und den Kosten

If you’re wondering whether the USA is an expensive destination, my answer is: it depends on what you want to do, how you travel and where you want to go. Hawaii is definitely more expensive than the mainland. New York can be affordable if you book a hotel away from the centre (in Jersey City, for example). A rental car with insurance costs around 200 to 250 EUR per week, depending on the size of the car. On the Hawaiian islands, some things were cheaper in the off-season (see my Hawaii tips).

A campervan (RV) is more expensive and costs around 1,000 EUR per week, depending on the state. On the other hand, fuel is much cheaper than in Europe. The advantage of a campervan trip in the USA is that you can cook for yourself and save quite a bit of money.

For bigger cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco or New York, you should budget around 100 EUR per night for a double room on average if you don’t want to book a cheap dive. Read my tips for each city and find out exactly where we stayed.

Keep in mind that for your USA trip you should have a credit card that lets you withdraw cash abroad for free and doesn’t charge fees when you pay. Almost everyone in the USA pays by card, and you rarely need cash.

Booking flights

To find flights, I use Google Flights and Skyscanner. I use these flight search engines to get an overview. Check carefully whether luggage is included in the price.

You can find domestic flights on these search engines too.

Travel hacks: How to find cheap flights (+ best search engines)

Getting around by rental car

A rental car in the USA is a must if you’re doing a road trip. In New York, San Francisco, New Orleans, Philadelphia or Chicago you don’t need a car. In Los Angeles you do, because many attractions are hard to reach by public transport.

Costs vary depending on the type of vehicle and the rental period.

I recommend taking an International Driving Permit in addition to your national driving licence.

It isn’t required everywhere in the USA, but it serves as an official translation and can save you trouble at police checks or with rental companies, especially in states where it is required. When renting a campervan (RV), it is often mandatory for the main driver. Always ask beforehand.

In the USA, Sunny Cars is my favourite and was the cheapest according to tests.

Trip planning

Mietwagen USA Tipps: Meine Erfahrung nach vielen Roadtrips mit Auto

Trip planning

Camper mieten in den USA: Meine Erfahrungen, Tipps & Kosten für deinen Roadtrip

Trip planning

Tipps zum Tanken in den USA mit Benzinpreisen

From boutique hotels to rustic cabins, there are lots of options. I usually book my accommodation in advance, especially in remote areas and the most popular national parks.

For road trips through nature, consider whether a campervan (RV) would give you more flexibility. Then you can also spend the night at campgrounds in the beautiful national parks or state parks.

You’re probably wondering how dangerous a trip to the USA is?

The USA is generally considered a safe destination. Still, there are a few things you should keep in mind.

In big cities, as everywhere, there is petty crime such as pickpocketing or car break-ins. Avoid poorer neighbourhoods, especially at night. Because guns are widespread in the USA, there can be occasional violent incidents, but these rarely affect tourists.

Homelessness is visible in many big cities (Los Angeles, San Francisco, Philadelphia), often linked to drug problems. Still, I never felt unsafe. With common sense, you’ll be fine.

Natural disasters can be an issue depending on the region:

Wildfires in the West, snowstorms in the Northeast, hurricanes in the South (especially between June and November). In Hawaii or California there can also be earthquakes or volcanic eruptions. Also look out for red tide warnings if you want to swim at Florida’s beaches.

In the USA you pay with the US dollar (USD). A credit card is practically essential, and almost all cards are accepted. You can withdraw cash at ATMs with a credit card and PIN. European debit cards that only have a V Pay logo don’t work in the USA. You only need cash for small things, ideally in small bills.

Tipping: Tipping is practically mandatory in the USA, because service staff earn a very low base wage. In restaurants you tip around 20 per cent, on tours 10 to 20 per cent. Check first whether it’s already on the bill.

Trip planning

Beste Kreditkarte für USA: Meine Empfehlung für deine Reise