Planning A USA Trip – A Step-By-Step Breakdown

If you’re thinking about heading to the United States of America for a quick trip or maybe even a longer one, it may sound daunting planning for a USA road trip in a country you know little about.

I know that because I embarked on my first USA trip a little over a year ago, and was overwhelmed with all the information I had to find out about.

From checking the validity of your passports to the US visa application process, planning where to go in the US, what to do in each city, whether to rent a car or fly domestically and everything else in between, I got you!

The USA is one of the traveller’s best destinations, which features many tourist places, historical destinations, monuments, theme parks, sporting events and what not. There are a lot of tourist destinations in the United States which are counted as travellers’ paradise.

That’s why I decided to write a comprehensive guide to planning a USA trip. Whether you’re planning a US road trip or just in the US for a city getaway, here are the things that you need to take note of while planning for your USA trip. I’m sure you’ll be able to glean some US road trip ideas from this guide!

Passport

Each traveller’s passports must be valid for at least 6 months before you can enter the United States, or any country for that matter.

Tourist Visa

ESTA

If you’re from a country that can simply apply for a Visa Waiver Program to the US like Singapore, then you only need to apply for an ESTA, short for Electronic System for Travel Authorization.

This is a pretty straightforward application system and it’s pretty swift too! You can even apply for an ESTA before boarding your flight…but it probably is best to do it at least 72 hours before you board since you can encounter a bit of a setback (very unlikely though, but just to be sure).

You might want to check if your country is eligible for ESTA and if all is well, then simply start your application. The visa itself costs USD 14 and it usually takes 20 minutes to process. The only thing that you have to do is to simply fill up an application form. Once your ESTA gets approved, then you’re now eligible to stay in the United States for up to 90 days.

If you feel like you need more time, then you can re-enter the country since an ESTA is valid for 2 years. This means that you can enter the country multiple times by simply using the same visa. Although, bear in mind that your 90 days do not reset if you cross the border between Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean.

B1/B2

If you’re from a country who is not eligible for an ESTA, then you probably fall under the B1/B2 visa. I’m not going to lie, this one is a bit more complicated to apply for, it’s a bit more expensive and you’re not really guaranteed to get it. Although, it gives you more time to explore the country if you’re granted one so it really is worth a try.

There are two types of visas in B1/B2:

B1 is the visa category that allows you to enter the United States because you need to do some business with a company that’s based in the United States.

B2 is the visa category that allows you to enter into the United States with the sole purpose of tourism, leisure or to visit any of your family and friends.

So before applying for a B1/B2 visa, make sure to really think about the type of ‘tourism’ that you’ll be doing in the United States.

The application for the B1/B2 visa is pretty straightforward and easy so let’s get on with it! First, you have to find the nearest United States Embassy or Consulate in your home country or in the country that you’re currently staying since this is where you’ll be submitting your visa application. Here are the steps you need to follow:

1. Fill up a DS-160 Form. This is an online non-immigrant visa application and it basically is an equivalent for a tourist visa in the US. So you need to fill this up. Bear in mind that this is solely for a B1/B2 visa so if you’re wanting to apply for another visa type, then it probably is best to look it up first.
2. Pay the tourist visa application fee at the selection bank outlets or by the provided payment mode that the US Embassy is giving you. The fee itself is USD 160 and it really is pretty pricey, but considering that you get 6 months each time you enter is quite great!
3. Schedule your tourist visa interview. This is one of the most challenging parts of the visa application process since you’ll need to appear at your local US Embassy for an interview. Bear in mind that all applications between the ages 14 to 79 are required to appear for an interview.
4. Compile all the documents needed for your tourist visa application. Now this can range from bank statements, flight bookings, travel itineraries, sponsorship documents and anything else that you think will help you in getting that most coveted visa. Of course, you need to bring that standard required documents, some other required documents for B1 and for B2.
5. Attend your interview and (hopefully) pass it to be granted your tourist visa. Also, make sure to reiterate your intent to return to your home country since the interviewers might try and see if you’re planning to come home at all. So, just be wise and always come prepared.
6. Now, the waiting game begins. If you’re denied a tourist visa, then the interviewer will hand you back your passport for you to take home. If you’re granted a tourist visa, then the interviewer will hold onto your passports for them to process your approved visas. It usually takes about a week to about a month depending on which country you applied from, so just be patient!

Bear in mind that a B1/B2 visa is valid from 1 month up to 10 years. If you’re lucky, then you might just get a 10 year tourist visa so you won’t have to apply again every so often. Plus, you can stay in the country for up to 6 months!

Planning your USA trip

Palm Springs, California

1. Know your duration

First, you have to decide on the duration of your trip. As we all know, the United States of America is such a vast country. If you only have about 2 weeks or a bit shorter than that, then you really need to focus on the things that you really want to see instead of hopping everywhere since the country is so spread out and travelling time can add up.

If you want to see New York, then go focus on that. If you want to see California, then simply focus on that one area too. We’re quite sure that you’ll have more time later on to go and discover the other parts of the country. In short, if you’re on a limited time, then simply go small and focus on the places that you’re truly looking forward to seeing.

Although, if you’re on a longer travel timeline, then the whole country is your oyster!

2. Research

The main thing to remember is the planning. Where do you want to start? Where do you want to go? What do you want to see along the way? It really is important to plan these things ahead before you embark on your road trip, so plan wisely!

You might want to do a bit more research by scrolling through blogs, forums via TripAdvisor or simply looking at social media for that extra bit of inspiration.

3. Decide on the type of USA travel

Here are a few places to visit in accordance to your own travel preferences:

i. Nature

Rocky Mountains National Park, Colorado

We’re quite sure that you’ll never really have a shortage of nature whenever you’re coming to the United States since the country is so vast. Although you might want to focus on these three states if you’re solely wanting to focus on that beautiful nature: Oregon, Washington State and Maine.

ii. City

Some of the world’s most popular cities are actually located in the United States so you’ll go crazy with the choices if you’re a city person. There’s New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles. You can always find cheap apartments for rent in Chicago. There are a lot more cities than these three but these are some of the most popular ones so it’s always great to start your decision-making process somewhere, right?

New York City

Manhatten Bridge, New York City

Considered as the loveliest state of the United States, New York is well-known for its historical significance and architectural marvel. The Center of Arts, Stamford Art Center, Historical Aircraft Group and Aaron Davis Hall are worth exploring in New York.

Washington DC

Washington DC

Barely any U.S. urban areas remunerate the explorer as much as the country’s capital. Washington DC is crammed with notable sights – from the Capitol and the White House to the National Mall and Arlington National Cemetery.

The delegated brilliance of DC, obviously, is its abundance of innumerable world-class exhibition halls including The Smithsonian, National Air and Space Museum, the National Museum of Natural History, the National Museum of American History, the National Postal Museum, Holocaust Memorial Museum and additionally a few displays.

Washington, DC is likewise home to the biggest and most renowned library in the nation – the Library of Congress with about 161 million aggregate things, including 23.9 million classified books.

With such huge numbers of choices to look over, you would be hard squeezed not to discover something you appreciate in DC.

Las Vegas

Las Vegas is an ideal destination for fun lovers. This place is known for the number of nightclubs and casinos here. There are many good tourist places too in and around the city for travellers to visit.

There are many branded clubs functioning here such as Haze, Ghostbar, Surrender, Moon and Playboy and Krave, to name a few. Las Vegas is also known for adult fun and topless shows. 😉

iii. Beaches

Florida

Las Olas Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale

If you’re looking for some nice beaches to explore, then Florida is your best bet! This state is the southernmost part of the United States and its beaches are heavenly! You might even forget that you’re in the US when you visit Florida…plus, their culture is so rich. Another thing I like is how they mostly stay warm even throughout winter months. This place is absolutely great for a sunny adventure!

Hawaii

Kauai, Hawaii

Know as the beach city, Hawaii is well-known for the beaches and natural beauty of those. Nature lovers will find this place very exhilarating and awe-inspiring. For that reason alone, I lived on Kauai for over 2 months!

Hawaii is also one of the world’s favourite honeymoon spot. There are a lot of hotels here so the travellers may not find it difficult to get a place for desirable accommodation.

iv. Mountains

It’s a given that not everyone is a beach-lover like me; that’s totally okay. If you’re more of a mountain person and if you want to explore more height and altitude, then you should focus on Northern California, Colorado, Utah, Nevada and Alaska.

If you’re a mountain person, there are a lot of camping spots that this country has to offer. For this reason alone, they have a pass called America the Beautiful Park Pass that costs USD 80 for families and it lasts for a year. It’s a pretty sweet deal considering that a single entry to a single National Park usually costs anywhere from USD 25 to USD 35.

Atlanta, Georgia

For those who travel with family, Atlanta, Georgia is a wonderful place to explore family fun at best. You can enjoy the scenic beauty of this land with plenty of mountains, valleys, waterfalls, and canyons. Some other places in Atlantato explore include the Callaway Gardens, Lake Lanier Islands, Atlanta Museum, Blue Ridge Scenic Gateway, etc.

v. Festivals

We all know that the United States is popular when it comes to festivals. Some of the most popular ones are Coachella in California, Governors Ball in New York City, and so much more!

Summer is the best time to head to the US if you want to catch a festival or two. We’re quite sure that there’s a festival that’s going to suit your liking.

vi. History

If you’re looking to discover a more historical side of the United States, then why not visit these more historical states: Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Georgia? Each of these states are historic in their own ways and the history bum in you will surely enjoy your time in these places!

vii. Culture

For all of our culture seekers out there, there’s a wide variety of culture that the United States has to offer, from the Native, Tex-Mex, Irish, Italian, Creole and everything else in between. The entire country is such a big melting pot that you’ll never get tired of discovering something new when you come to the US.

Some of our favourite states for a culture trip are Texas, New Orleans, Louisiana, Tennessee and New York.

Texas

Besides, the special attractions of Texas as the second biggest state in the United States are countless. Any random place you choose to visit such as Riverwalk Burnet, Stonehenge Odessa, Old Stone Fort Museum, XIT Museum, Glass Cactus, HOUSTON Raceway Park has a lot to offer to be remembered for a lifetime.

viii. Food

If you’re a foodie, then the United States has a lot of things in store for you when it comes to their gastronomical adventures.

If you’re into the whole burgers and diners thing, you’ve come to the right place. This is such a prevalent food culture in the United States. If you’re into Tex-Mex, then head over to Texas. If you’re into that healthy vegan lifestyle, there’s California. If you’re into the whole old Italian favorites, simply head to New York. If you’re into seafood, New England is the place to be. You’ll surely be full when you visit these places, so make sure to plan your trips appropriately!

viiii. Theme Parks

2 of the more popular theme parks in the United States are Disneyland and Six Flags. Six Flags Over Georgia in particular is now counted as the largest theme park in the South East region.

If you’re into the whole theme park experience, then these are 2 of the places that you need to go to! They are located in various states across the country.

ix. Road Trips

As we have said time and time again, the United States is such a vast country and there are so many places to drive to. You can do a road trip from east to west, north to south, or in any direction that you want to go to.

Arizona

Grand Canyon, Arizona

The Grand Canyon in Arizona is a characteristic landmark dissimilar to any. The gorge vista with its unlimited size, consistently changing hues and tints, and a rich showcase of shake layers is unmatched by any on Earth. It is exceptional, without a doubt, making it a popular road trip destination.

Spilling out of the Rocky Mountains in the north to the bay of California in the south, the Colorado River is the cutting power behind this gap. The limitlessness of this scene is incredible. It is 277 miles in length, a mile down and 20 miles wide. To see the Grand Canyon out of the blue is an ordeal people will recall for whatever is left of their lives.

Disregard the photos and recordings that you may have seen of the Grand Canyon – being here to observe it with your own eyes is something totally extraordinary.

Sob at seeing the tremendous scene, unfit to contain the fantastically passionate inclination that this antiquated scene incites.

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While you’re here, you can’t miss a trip to neighbour Sedona, which offers magnificent hikes with views to gawk at.

Did you know that you can also do fly fishing here?

4. Bookmark attractions in the US

After you’ve narrowed down the type of travel you want to go and the area you want to cover, make a list of all the places that you would like to hit based on your research.

 Save these locations on Google Maps for easier access. Oh, you should also download Google maps offline just in case you hit a particular place with very limited access to the internet or data…because that happens, especially in remote national parks!

5. Accommodation

There’s a plethora of accommodation types in the US, from hotels to motels, resorts and apartments, vacation homes, lodges, campgrounds and even Airbnb to rent.

To get a general sense of the different types of rates for each, below we break down the typical costs for each type.

6. Other considerations

Santa Barbara, California

Weather

Weather plays a big part in deciding when you want to organise your trip.

Are you travelling in winter to ski? You’ll likely want to look up ski locations and travel from one ski resort to another then.

Season

Are you also travelling during peak travel periods? In general, Christmas and the summer season are popular for both domestic and international travel. If you’re travelling during those periods, you might want to consider booking in advance, getting a CityPass (which offers you access to a plethora of attractions within one city with one ticket) or even hop-on-hop-off passes.

It’s well known that the United States is one of the most popular countries in the world and this means that countless tourists try to visit this country every single year. There are different ways for you to enjoy this wonderful country, from staying connected, finding the perfect accommodation and so much more!

Transport in the US

Flights

Also, since the country is so spread out, it’s also best to find cheap flight options especially if you’re on a bit of a time crunch. There are a lot of low-cost airlines that you can take advantage of.

You can usually check out their rates by going to websites like Skyscanner, Momondo and Google Flights. Bear in mind that these are low-cost airlines and that they charge for every single thing like packed bags, snacks and extra baggage allowance. Hence, it’s better to pack a carry-on if you’re flying domestically in order for you to save on check-in fees.

Ah, you should also avoid the airline Frontier at all costs as they often overbook their flights, they’re infamous for losing people’s luggage and they have really poor customer service.

Rental Cars

If you’re wanting to do a road trip around the US, then it’s better to rent a car. Although, you have to know that the United States always requires car insurance so you have to make sure that the cars you’ll be renting are well insured…or else, you’ve to be prepared to pay a hefty fine!

Oh, and be sure to check the toll fees in every single place that you’ll be driving off to.

Buses

If you don’t have a driver’s license or if you simply prefer not to drive, then buses are always a great idea too. Companies like Greyhound and Peter Pan offer a wide variety of destinations for a cheaper price, so make sure to check them out!

Trains

If you feel like taking a more scenic (albeit slower) route, then trains are probably your best bet! Amtrak will get you to most large cities as they have routes all around the country… even up to Canada!

You can purchase your tickets online or you can simply buy them at the train station of your choice, so buying your tickets is not complicated.

Although if you’ll be travelling during peak season, then it’s probably best to reserve your spots as soon as you possibly can to avoid any delays on your part.

Money in the US

Currency

In the US, they have coins like 1¢ (penny), 5¢ (nickel), 10¢ (dime), 25¢ (quarter) and they sometimes have USD 1 in coins too! They all still use it and sometimes it can get super confusing but you’ll surely get the hang of it after a few days.

They also have larger denominations in notes like USD 5, USD 10, USD 20, USD 50 and USD 100.

Tipping in the US

Another thing to keep in mind if you’re planning on visiting the United States is their tipping system. You’re obligated to tip at least 10% to 20% whenever you’re dining in or engaged in activities that require service, for instance, porters, doormen and cleaning staff. Bear in mind that service workers usually live off tips so please be generous if you can.

If you’re wanting to go to a bar, it’s general practice to tip your bartenders as well. Be sure to leave your bartenders a dollar or two for every single drink that you’ll be purchasing.

As for the tour guides who’ll be showing you around their cities, it’s usually right to give them about 15% of the total tour cost that you’ve purchased.

We know that it can sometimes be confusing, but tipping is a major part of the culture in the United States so it’s always good to respect that.

ATMs in the US

It’s always best to travel with an international credit/ debit card since the United States accepts cards at virtually any establishment now. Most shops and drive-throughs accept debit and credit cards, with the exception of food carts mostly.

I use Transferwise everywhere I go outside of my home country, Singapore. It’s a great card to have everywhere that you go since it’s a multi-currency wallet where you can store multiple currencies in a virtual bank vault and use it to pay in the local currency as long as you have money inside.

Transferwise uses real exchange rates to convert them, with some of the lowest cost fees across the other multi-currency cards.

You can also make local transfers to different bank account holders in their local currency. All in all, really fuss-free when it comes to dealing with multi currencies!

You can also withdraw local cash at ATMs. Depending on where your card was issued, the first 200 GBP, 250 USD, 350 AUD, 350 NZD, or 350 SGD that you withdraw every month is free.

Cost of living in the US

If you’re still wondering how much money you should bring on your trip to the USA, here’s a bit of a run-down of the typical cost of living in the USA. Bear in mind that prices are always subject to change so keep that in mind.

The cost of living in every single state also varies differently in different cities. In particular, if you go to a big, popular city like New York City or Los Angeles, it will cost evidently more.

Accommodation

If you want to go to a fancier hotel, then it’s about USD 250 and upwards depending on the kind of room that you get. We stayed at a 3-star hotel in California that overlooks the sea, and that costs USD499 a night:

Timber Cove Resort, California, USA

If you’re fine with a standard-class hotel, then it’s usually around USD 100 per night.

For a room at a bed and breakfast, it’s usually USD 80 to USD 150 for a double room.

If you want to try staying at an ubiquitous motel, then that’s usually USD 70 to USD 150 for a double room per night.

If you’re a solo traveller who wants to make friends at a hostel, then that’ll cost you about USD 20 to USD 40 per night. It’ll all depend on the city you go to as well. My recent stay at a hostel in Denver, Colorado, cost me USD 40 a night for a 10-bed mixed dorm.

Although, if you’re wanting to ‘rough it’ then a campsite is about USD 12 to USD 30 per tent.

Flights

A one-way domestic flight is about USD 15 and upwards! If you’re looking for a cheap domestic flight to fly to, a good trick is to keep your destination open on Google Flights:

If you do have a destination to fly to and are looking for a cheap date to fly to, keep your date open for Google Flights to source the cheapest date to fly for you:

Buses

A bus ticket to connecting cities is usually around USD 20 to USD 50, although tickets to further cities are usually USD 60 to USD 100.

My Greyhound bus from Denver, Colorado to Grand Junction, Colorado was USD 46 for a 5h 40min bus ride.

Rental Cars

If you’re wanting to rent a car, be prepared to spend anywhere from USD 25 to USD 100 per day depending on the car type, its insurance policy and add ons. Be sure to double check every single document before signing anything as they like to include unnecessary add ons like a GPS tracker, etc.

Airport Shuttles

A ticket to an airport shuttle is about USD 15 to USD 35 depending on how far the airport is to the city centre or to the place you’d want to get dropped off.

Meals

If you’re wondering how much a single meal costs in the United States, here’s a usual breakdown:

• Breakfast meals outside range from USD 8 to USD 15.
• Lunch meals outside range from USD 8 to USD 15.
• Coffee or tea in a cafe costs about USD 3 to USD 6.
• A single main course in a budget restaurant is about USD 8 TO USD 15.
• A single main course in a moderately priced restaurant is about USD 15 to USD 25.
• A single main course in a fine dining restaurant is about USD 25 to USD 35.
• A bottle of wine in a restaurant is about USD 15 USD to USD 50, depending on your wine selection and on the brand.
• A pint of beer at a pub is about USD 4 to USD 7, depending on the pub’s location and on their beer selections.

*Bear in mind that these prices exclude tipping.

Staying connected in the US

As a mostly advanced country, you can find free WiFi in most public places. This includes accommodation rentals, restaurants, shopping malls and popular attractions.

Travel insurance in the US

You don’t need to get a travel insurance to travel the United States, but it’s always great to have one just in case. I never travel without an insurance, and having an insurance has saved my life (and money) many times. You never know when you may fall ill, get hurt (I broke my ACL on a ski trip in Japan once) or experience flight delays.

More so in the US, we all know that the US has exorbitant health costs, so I always advise every traveller to get a travel insurance. I travel with SafetyWing; you can read my review of them here..

Vaccination

There’s also no vaccination required to travel into the United States, so you don’t have to worry about that!

In fact, the USA is a very vast country and because of constraint, what’s mentioned above are only a very few major destinations to include in your next travels to the US.

Take your time and consideration to explore the endless options this land offers and do a very careful consideration of destinations to best match to your tastes, interests, and course, budget.

I’ve been to the US 3 separate times in the past 1 year (until I got deported and had my tourist visa revoked in January 2021, which makes me rethink my impress of the US…). It’s apparent how fond I am of this big country. There’s just so much to see and so many nice people to meet!