Shelf prices in the USA leave out sales tax, sit-down restaurants expect a 15 to 20 percent tip, and right turns on a red light are allowed after a full stop in most places outside New York City. Those three answers clear up most of the surprises first-time visitors meet. This guide covers the ten questions travellers ask most, with the practical detail you need to act on each one.
The answers apply to visitors of any nationality. Entry paperwork has its own detailed guide, so here the focus is on daily life once you land: money, tipping, driving, health care, safety, electricity, measurements, time zones, alcohol rules and how to get around. For destinations, see the United States travel page and our list of famous landmarks in the USA.
Everyday USA facts for visitors (as of October 2026)
| Topic | What to know |
|---|---|
| Currency | US dollar (USD); cards accepted almost everywhere |
| Prices | Sales tax usually added at checkout |
| Tipping | About 15 to 20 percent at sit-down restaurants |
| Power | 120 V, 60 Hz, plug types A and B |
| Emergency | Call 911 for police, fire or ambulance |
| Time zones | Six across the 50 states |
| Drinking age | 21 in every state; photo ID checked |
| Units | Miles, pounds, gallons, Fahrenheit |
The 10 most common questions travellers ask about the USA
Each answer starts with the short version, then gives the detail and the common mistakes. They run roughly in the order visitors meet them on a trip.
1. Why is the price at the till higher than the price on the shelf?
In most of the United States, shop and menu prices do not include sales tax. The tax is added at the register, so a $10.00 T-shirt might cost $10.80 or $10.95 depending on where you buy it. There is no national sales tax; each state sets its own rate, and many counties and cities add their own on top.
Five states have no statewide sales tax: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon, although some local areas in Alaska charge one. Elsewhere, combined rates commonly run from about 4 to over 9 percent. Hotels add separate occupancy taxes, and rental cars, airport parking and restaurant bills in big cities can carry several extra charges, so the final total can be well above the advertised rate.
Visitors cannot reclaim US sales tax at the airport the way they can claim VAT refunds in Europe. A few states have limited refund schemes for international shoppers, but they are not common. Build roughly 10 percent into any shopping budget, and more for hotels.
- Typical add-on: 4 to 10 percent
- No state sales tax: AK, DE, MT, NH, OR
- Hotels: extra occupancy taxes
- Tip: look for "plus tax" on menus
2. How much should I tip in the USA, and who expects it?
At sit-down restaurants with table service, 15 to 20 percent of the pre-tax bill is the normal tip, with 18 to 20 percent common in big cities. In many states, servers earn a lower base wage and rely on tips, which is why leaving nothing is read as a complaint about the service.
Other common tips: about $1 to $2 per drink at a bar, 15 to 20 percent for taxi and ride-hailing drivers, a few dollars per bag for hotel porters, and a few dollars per night for housekeeping, left with a note. Hairdressers and tour guides are usually tipped too. Counter-service cafés and fast-food places increasingly show a tip screen at the card reader; tipping there is optional.
Check the bill before adding a tip. Some restaurants, especially for groups of six or more, add a "service charge" or "gratuity" automatically. If it is already included, you do not need to tip again.
- Restaurants: 15 to 20 percent
- Bars: $1 to $2 per drink
- Taxis: 15 to 20 percent
- Check for: "gratuity included" on bills
3. Do I really need travel insurance for the USA?
Travel insurance is not a condition of entry for most visitors, but going without it is a serious risk. The US has no free public health system for visitors. A visit to an emergency room for a minor injury can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars, and hospital stays or an air ambulance can run into tens of thousands.
Hospitals must assess and stabilise anyone in an emergency regardless of ability to pay, but they will bill you afterwards. Many policies sold for other regions exclude the US or cap medical cover at amounts that would not last long there, so check the limit. For non-emergencies, urgent care clinics and pharmacy walk-in clinics such as those at CVS cost much less than an emergency room.
Our guide to health insurance for visitors to the USA explains what a good policy covers.
- Emergency: call 911 or go to an ER
- Minor issues: urgent care clinic
- Medicines: many need a US prescription
- Carry: policy number and helpline
4. Can I drive in the USA with my own licence?
Driving rules are set by each state, not nationally. Most states let visitors drive on a valid foreign licence for a period, and many rental companies accept one. An International Driving Permit is widely recommended, and is especially useful if your licence is not in English, since it gives a standard translation. Carry it together with your original licence, which it does not replace.
Americans drive on the right. Right turns on a red light are allowed after a full stop almost everywhere, unless a sign says "No turn on red". New York City is the big exception, where they are banned unless a sign permits them. Washington DC has also banned them since January 2025 wherever signs are posted, which covers many downtown junctions (as of October 2026), and several other cities restrict them in their centres. School buses with flashing red lights must not be passed in either direction on most roads. Speed limits are in miles per hour, commonly 25 to 35 in towns and 55 to 80 on highways.
If police stop you, pull over, stay in the car with your hands on the wheel and wait for the officer. Renters under 25 usually pay a young driver fee, and some companies set higher minimum ages.
- Side: drive on the right
- Right on red: allowed after stopping, unless signed
- Bring: licence plus IDP if not in English
- Limits: in miles per hour
5. Is the USA safe for tourists?
The great majority of visits to the US are trouble-free. Violent crime is concentrated in specific neighbourhoods, mostly away from the places visitors normally go, and well-known tourist districts are busy and generally safe. Petty theft, car break-ins at trailheads and viewpoints, and phone snatching are the problems visitors are most likely to meet.
Keep valuables out of sight in parked cars, since smashed windows at popular viewpoints are common. Late at night, skip the walk through empty areas and take a taxi or ride-hailing car. Ask your hotel which streets to avoid; locals give honest answers. In remote parks the bigger risks are heat, dehydration and getting lost, so carry water and tell someone your plans.
For any emergency, dial 911. It is free from any phone, including mobile phones without credit. Our safety and planning guide for solo female travellers in the USA covers personal safety in more depth.
- Emergency: 911
- Main risk: car break-ins
- Outdoors: heat and dehydration
- Night: use rides, not empty streets
6. What plugs and voltage does the USA use?
US sockets supply 120 V at 60 Hz and take type A plugs (two flat pins) and type B (two flat pins plus a round earth pin). Visitors from most of Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia need a plug adapter.
Phone chargers and laptop power bricks are almost always rated 100 to 240 V, so an adapter is enough. Check the label. Hair dryers, straighteners and kettles built only for 220 to 240 V will run poorly or not at all, and some can be damaged, without a voltage converter. Most hotels supply hair dryers, so leave yours at home.
- Voltage: 120 V, 60 Hz
- Plugs: A and B
- Chargers: usually fine with an adapter
- Hair dryers: often not compatible
7. Why does the USA still use miles, pounds and Fahrenheit?
Daily life runs on the US customary system. Road signs are in miles, petrol is sold by the US gallon, weights are in pounds and ounces, and weather forecasts are in Fahrenheit. Science and medicine use metric, and many food labels show both, but daily conversation will not.
Handy conversions: 1 mile is about 1.6 km, so 60 mph is about 97 km/h. A US gallon is about 3.8 litres. A pound is about 0.45 kg. For temperature, 32°F is freezing, 68°F is a mild 20°C, 86°F is 30°C and 100°F is close to 38°C. Clothing and shoe sizes also follow US scales, so check conversion charts before buying.
- 1 mile: about 1.6 km
- 1 gallon: about 3.8 litres
- 1 pound: about 0.45 kg
- 68°F: 20°C
8. How big is the USA, and how many time zones does it have?
The contiguous states run across four main time zones: Eastern, Central, Mountain and Pacific. Alaska and Hawaii add two more. New York is three hours ahead of Los Angeles, and flying coast to coast takes about five to six hours. Arizona does not use daylight saving time (except the Navajo Nation), and neither does Hawaii, so the gap to other states changes during the year.
The size matters for planning. Driving from New York to Los Angeles is roughly 2,800 miles and takes most people five days or more. Visitors with two weeks usually do best choosing one or two regions, flying between them if needed, and leave the coast-to-coast drive for another trip.
- Time zones: 6 across the states
- Coast to coast: about 5 to 6 hours flying
- No DST: Hawaii, most of Arizona
- Plan: one or two regions per trip
9. What is the drinking age, and do I need ID?
The minimum age to buy or drink alcohol is 21 throughout the United States. Bars, clubs, liquor stores and even supermarkets ask for photo ID, often from people who look well over 21. A passport is the safest ID for visitors; some places do not accept foreign driving licences.
Drinking in public streets and parks is banned in most places, with exceptions such as parts of New Orleans and Las Vegas. Open alcohol containers are not allowed in a car's passenger area. Drink-driving limits are strict, with a legal limit of 0.08 percent blood alcohol in most states and lower in Utah. Recreational cannabis is legal under some states' laws but remains illegal under federal law, and carrying it across state lines, into national parks or onto flights is against the law. For visa holders it can also cause immigration problems.
- Legal age: 21
- ID: passport
- Public drinking: mostly banned
- Cannabis: illegal federally
10. Do I need a car, or can I get around by public transport?
In New York, Chicago, Washington DC, Boston, San Francisco and a few other cities, public transport is good enough to go car-free, and parking costs make a car a burden. Between Boston and Washington, Amtrak trains work well. Most other places, including Los Angeles, the national parks and the South, are built around the car.
Long distances between regions are best covered by domestic flights, often on low-cost carriers. Long-distance buses such as Greyhound are cheap but slow. Many visitors combine both: a city break by public transport, then a flight and a rental car for a road trip. Our best road trips in the USA guide helps plan the driving part.
- Car-free cities: NYC, Chicago, DC, Boston, SF
- Rail: best on the Northeast corridor
- Long distance: domestic flights
- Parks: car needed
US cost and etiquette cheat sheet for first-time visitors
This table collects the small numbers that come up most often on a first trip. Prices change, so treat them as rough guides. Five states, Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon, have no statewide sales tax, although Alaska and Montana allow local taxes and resort taxes can still apply.
| Situation | What to expect | Quick tip |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant bill | Tax added, tip not included | Add 15 to 20 percent of the pre-tax total |
| Shop price | Tax added at the till | Budget about 10 percent extra |
| Hotel bill | Room rate plus taxes and sometimes a resort fee | Read the total before booking |
| Tap water | Safe to drink in most places | Ask for "tap water" in restaurants; it is free |
| Public toilets | Called restrooms; few on streets | Use cafés, malls, libraries and stations |
| Queues | Orderly and taken seriously | Wait your turn, even at bus stops |
| Small talk | Friendly chat with strangers is normal | "How are you?" is a greeting, not a real question |
Practical tips for cards, phones, shops and smoking rules in the USA
Carry two payment cards from different banks and a little cash, because cards are accepted almost everywhere but tips and parking meters still need small change. The short notes below cover the other follow-up questions visitors ask: phone numbers, tap water, late opening hours, strict smoking rules and packing for the season.
Carry two cards
Cards are accepted almost everywhere, including small amounts. Keep two from different banks and a little cash for tips and parking meters.
Know the phone format
US numbers have ten digits. From abroad dial +1 first. Toll-free numbers start with 800, 888, 877 and similar.
Ask for tap water
It is free in restaurants and safe in most cities. Bottled water is sold everywhere if you prefer it.
Shops open late
Many supermarkets and pharmacies open until late, and some open 24 hours, while banks close early.
Smoking rules are strict
Smoking is banned indoors in restaurants and bars in many states, and often near entrances.
Pack for the season
The US spans deserts, mountains and tropics. Our USA packing list covers it.
Planning a trip to United States? Read our United States travel guide, compare hotels in United States or search flights.
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