General Travel Tips

Health: No risks, but make sure you are fully insured as American health care is expensive.  There is no reciprocal agreement between the USA and UK.

Time: Eastern (GMT-5), Central (-6), Mountain (-7), and Pacific Standard (-8)

Electricity: 110V, 60Hz.  Plugs are generally 2-pin.  Buy a travel adaptor before travelling.

Tipping : For restaurants, taxis and hotels typically between 10% and 15%.  A quick way of calculating a tip is to double the sales tax which is always shown on receipts.

Sales Tax : Varies between states, between 5% and 8%.  Most prices on items and labels in stores exclude sales tax.

Budgeting : If you are using buses and camping or staying in hostels and self-catering then reckon on around $50 per day.  Staying in motels and eating in modest restaurants will make this around $100 per day.  Add a further $50 per day if you're renting a car.

Money : All major credit cards are accepted so it's useful to have a Visa or Mastercard with you.  In fact for car rental it is almost essential.  Traveller's Cheques in US Dollars are just as easy to use as cash and provide some security.

Notes (or 'bills') are available in denominations of $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100.  Coins are minted in denominations of one-cent, five-cents (nickel), ten-cents (dime), 25 cents (quarter), 50 cents, and one-dollar.

Credit Cards : All major credit cards are widely accepted, making paying for goods and services very easy.  Be aware that in some places you will be required to show a photo ID (such as passport).  This is to prevent fraud.

It may be worth taking a few different cards as anti-fraud procedures may mean UK card issuers placing a block on the account due to foreign transactions appearing on the account.  A telephone call sorts this out, but in the meantime you will have long waits at shops whilst paying with the card.