When flying to a country which speaks a different language, it’s part of the routine to check the customs and the way which that particular country does things. However, when flying to a country which speaks English, such as America, Australia or New Zealand, it can be easy to think that the customs will be pretty much the same as the UK. In regards to America, there are a few things you should be aware in terms of rules and customs, as well as some essential planning to make your trip a lot smoother.
- Be Prepared to Tip
Tipping is expected in America, from everyone, whether it be your taxi driver, restaurant server or hotel attendant. Whereas tipping is more a habit of choice in the UK based on good service, it’s customary in the United States, and can be viewed as particularly rude if you leave a restaurant without tipping. The majority of a restaurant server’s salary can be made up from tips in America, so it’s a good idea to set aside extra money in your budget for tipping.
- Check Your Flight Times
The United States spans the length of the entire continent and has multiple time zones within it. This can make planning your travel experience somewhat complicated, especially if your flight route has multiple layovers along the way. What’s more, American airports have the tendency to be very strict. If you are flying to San Diego, for example, and you don’t want to deal with the stress of both customs and the long flight time, then Stratos Jets Charters is the best way to go. Private jets go through their own custom checks, and are far more luxurious to fly in. San Diego is an incredible city to visit and arriving on your own private jet is the best way to experience all this wonderful place has to offer.
- Obey the Traffic Laws
American authorities are very strict when it comes to the rules of the road. No parking means no parking, and traffic must remain stopped at a red light until it changes fully to green (there’s no drifting through when the light is amber like you might do in the UK). You should also pay close attention to STOP signs and learn which way you need to look at a junction.
It’s also important to note that traffic laws and speed limits change from state to state, so you will need to check the specific rules for the state you intend to visit. Either invest in a GPS that informs you of changing speed limit signs or keep an eye out for sign changes – back grounds tend to drop suddenly in speed and have a tendency to not be very visible. Locals would calls this a “speed trap”.
- Don’t Overwhelm Your Trip
There’s more than enough to do in one state, let alone 50 of them. Though it’s tempting for most people to want to nip over to a neighbouring state in order to tick another point of interest off their bucket list, a lot of people underestimate the travel distance between states (or even across one state) and don’t realise the toll travel can take on the body. Stick to what you can comfortably do in the state (or states) you want to visit and don’t try and do too much in one trip. You can always go back!