For us a trip to America is usually a dream of years and a single large expense, which leaves no room for mistakes. The country is the size of a continent, the cities are five-hour flights apart, and the rules differ from Europe’s. Tipping is all but compulsory, prices are written without tax, and ending up in hospital without insurance is a genuine disaster. I am writing this for people going to America for the first time: which city to start from, how to move around the country, what to set the money aside for, and which unwritten rules to know in advance.
The USA in brief
| Capital | Washington; the largest city is New York |
| Language | English; Spanish is widespread in the south and in Miami |
| Currency | US dollar; cards work everywhere |
| Visa | B1/B2 visa, with an interview at the embassy in Baku; ESTA does not apply to Azerbaijan |
| Best time | April–June and September–October; Florida in winter |
| Flights | No direct flight; 14–18 hours via Istanbul, Doha or Europe |
| Daily budget | 200–300 dollars at a mid-range level |
American cities: which one to start with?
For a first trip there is no answer but New York. Direct flights from Europe come there, the city is toured by metro, and Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge and Broadway are seen in the first days. Set aside four or five days and be ready for every day to cost: New York is a city that likes money. Washington is three hours away by train, and the fine thing about it is that the museums are free — the Smithsonian complex, the Capitol, the White House, all walked in a day.
Miami is an entirely different story: a winter holiday, South Beach and the port for Caribbean cruises. The west coast is a separate trip. Los Angeles has Hollywood and the studios. San Francisco has the Golden Gate Bridge. Between them runs a week-long coastal road. Many people go to Las Vegas for the casinos, but the real reason is the Grand Canyon, four hours away by car and the strongest impression of an American trip. Chicago draws people with its architecture and Lake Michigan, and Orlando draws families with children to the Disney and Universal parks. Let me give one piece of advice: on one trip choose either the east coast or the west. The two do not fit into a week, and whoever tries regrets it.
How to move around the USA
Between cities the main transport is the plane: New York to Los Angeles is six hours, the ticket booked early is 150–250 dollars, and baggage is charged separately. The Amtrak train is comfortable only on the east coast, between Boston, New York and Washington; elsewhere do not count on trains. New York, Chicago, Washington and San Francisco have metros and need no car. Roaming in America is expensive, while with an eSIM the map and Uber work for the whole trip. Los Angeles, Miami, Las Vegas and the national parks cannot be toured without a car — there a car is like a pair of shoes.
Car hire comes to 50–80 dollars a day; alongside your Azerbaijani licence I recommend taking an international one, drivers under 25 are charged a surcharge, and fuel is far cheaper than in Europe. Uber and Lyft are in every city and cost less than a yellow cab. On the New York metro you need no separate card: you tap your bank card on the turnstile and go through.
Food, tipping and the game of prices
In America take a portion to mean a meal for two: one main course comfortably feeds two people. Burgers, steak, Texas barbecue, New York pizza, seafood in Louisiana — every state has its own flavour. Halal food is on every corner in New York and Chicago, while in the small towns you have to look for it.
There is a trap with prices. The figure written on the menu is not the final figure: 8–10 per cent tax is added, and then the tip — 18–20 per cent in a restaurant, 15 in a taxi, two dollars a bag at a hotel. Not tipping here is not thrift but rudeness, because the waiter’s wage depends on it. Breakfast in a café is 12–15 dollars, lunch 15–25, dinner in a restaurant 40–60, and water and cola are poured without limit. Buying from the supermarket is three times cheaper than a restaurant, and anyone staying long learns that quickly.
American weather: when to go where?
The country spans several climate zones, so «what is the weather like in America» has no answer. In New York and Washington summer is hot and humid and winter snowy, and the best time is April–June and September–October. Florida is 25 degrees in winter, humid in summer, and hurricane season runs from June to November. California is mild all year, and San Francisco is cool even in summer, so take a jacket. Las Vegas and Arizona climb to 45 degrees in summer, so see the Grand Canyon in spring or autumn. For the national parks May and September are the best months, and entry fees and seasonal closures can be seen on the US National Park Service portal.
Read next: How to get a US visa: step by step from the DS-160 form to the interview
Insurance, health and safety
The most important piece of paper in the bag of anyone going to America is the insurance. Calling an ambulance starts at a thousand dollars and a night in hospital at five thousand; these figures are no joke. Buy travel insurance with a limit of at least 100,000 dollars, and call the insurer before going to a clinic — they will tell you where to go. Over-the-counter medicine is limited in the pharmacies, so bring ordinary painkillers and cold remedies with you.
Safety varies greatly by city and even by neighbourhood. The tourist areas are easy, but do not walk into an unfamiliar neighbourhood at night, and do not leave things in sight in the car. If the police stop you, keep your hands visible, speak calmly, and take out documents only after asking permission.
What does a trip to America cost?
A hotel is 200–300 dollars in New York and 120–180 in other cities. Roadside motel chains come to 80–100. A hostel is 60–100 dollars in the big cities and a serious saving in New York. Tax is added on top of the hotel price, and sometimes there is an extra charge called a «resort fee», so read the booking. Museums are 25–30 dollars, and for the New York attractions a CityPASS is good value. Excluding the flight, a two-week trip fits into 3000–4000 dollars per person.
The flight is a quarter of the budget. Ticket prices to the USA vary considerably between the Istanbul, Doha and European options, so buy your dates two or three months ahead. USA tour packages giving New York, Washington and Miami in one programme settle the domestic flights and hotels, while the visa is obtained by going to the interview yourself in any case.
Frequently asked questions about America
How many days does a trip to America need?
The long flight and the 8–9 hour time difference take the first two days — you wake at four in the morning. So plan at least ten days and settle for one coast.
Do you need to take cash dollars?
A small amount; cards work everywhere. More than 10,000 dollars in cash must be declared at the border. When buying dollars in Baku, check that the notes are a new issue, because in some places the old ones are not accepted.
What do they ask at the border?
The purpose of the trip, its length, the address where you will stay and your return ticket. Even with a visa the final decision is the border officer’s, and they have the right to look at your phone. Answer briefly and precisely, and do not say more than you need to.
In closing
For anyone who divides the budget and the time correctly, America is an impression for life: one coast, two or three cities, insurance in hand and a tip in your pocket. The visa process and interview preparation are explained on the USA page, and to build the route and document plan together, fill in the application form.
Note: the prices here are as of the publication date and can change with the city and the season.
