Practical Info A–Z

A rental car is indispensable in most US regions — outside of New York, San Francisco, and Chicago, the car is the main mode of transport. The USA has an excellent road network, gas is cheap (about $0.90–1.10/liter), and parking is plentiful almost everywhere.

Booking a Rental Car

• Book early: At least 4–8 weeks in advance, even earlier in high season (summer, Thanksgiving, Christmas)
• Major Providers: Hertz, Avis, Enterprise, Budget, National — book through comparison portals (CHECK24, billiger-mietwagen.de)
• Full Coverage without Deductible: A must! Accident costs in the USA can be astronomical. Either directly with the provider (CDW/LDW) or through the credit card (check beforehand!)
• Prices: From about $35–50/day for a compact car, SUVs from $60–90/day. One-way rentals (e.g., LA → San Francisco) often cost an additional $50–150
• Refueling: Self-service (credit card at the pump, enter ZIP code — as a European: try 99999 or pay inside). Gallon ≈ 3.785 liters

Traffic Rules

• No Right of Way from the Left: At intersections with stop signs, "First come, first served" applies — whoever arrived first goes first
• Overtaking on the Right on Highways: Allowed and common (unlike in Germany!)
• School Buses: When a school bus with flashing lights stops, ALL vehicles in BOTH directions must stop. No exceptions — heavy fines!
• Speed: In miles (mph). In town: 25–35 mph (40–55 km/h), highways: 55–75 mph (90–120 km/h). Speed limits are serious
• Alcohol at the Wheel: 0.8 ‰ (depending on the state). DUI (Driving Under Influence) is punished very harshly — just don't do it
• Toll Roads: Many states have toll roads. Some only accept electronic payment (SunPass in Florida, E-ZPass in the Northeast). Check with your rental car provider if a toll transponder is in the car

German citizens do not need a visa for tourist stays up to 90 days, but they do need an ESTA authorization (Electronic System for Travel Authorization).

Applying for ESTA

• Where: Exclusively on the official website: esta.cbp.dhs.gov — beware of third-party sites charging €50–100!
• Cost: $21 (credit card or PayPal)
• Validity: 2 years or until the passport expires (whichever comes first)
• Processing Time: Usually within minutes to hours, at most 72 hours. Apply at least 3 days before departure!
• Passport: Must be machine-readable and valid at least until the end of the stay (recommended: 6 months beyond)

Upon Entry

• Immigration: Fingerprints and photo are taken. Questions about travel purpose, duration of stay, accommodation — answer friendly and honestly
• Customs Declaration: Food (fruits, meat, dairy products) is prohibited! Even nuts and chocolate can cause issues. When in doubt: declare
• Global Entry: For frequent travelers, the Global Entry program ($100, 5 years) is worthwhile — it bypasses the often long line at immigration

The USA is a credit card country — Visa and Mastercard are practically accepted everywhere, often even for small amounts. You rarely need cash (tips, food trucks, some parking meters).

Credit Cards

• Essential: Without a credit card, you can hardly travel in the USA — hotels, rental cars, and many restaurants require one
• Foreign Fee: Many German credit cards charge a 1.5–2% foreign currency fee. Tip: Travel credit cards without foreign transaction fees (e.g., DKB, Barclays, Hanseatic GenialCard)
• Contactless/Tap: Becoming more widespread, but not everywhere. Chip + PIN or Chip + Signature are standard
• ZIP Code Issue: Some machines (gas stations, ticket machines) ask for a US ZIP code. With a European card: try 99999 or pay inside at the counter

Cash

• ATMs: Available everywhere. Fees: $2–5 per withdrawal by the US bank + possibly a fee from your German bank
• Exchange Rate: 1 € ≈ $1.05–1.15 (as of 2026). Exchange in the USA, not at the airport in Germany
• Denominations: $1, $5, $10, $20, $50, $100. All bills look similar (same size, same color) — look closely!

The medical care in the USA is among the best in the world — but also the most expensive. A doctor's visit can cost $200–500, a hospital stay $5,000–50,000 per day, and an air ambulance $50,000 upwards. Travel health insurance is an absolute must!

Insurance

• Travel Health Insurance: Definitely take out BEFORE the trip. Look for: coverage at least €5 million, repatriation, no deductible. Costs: from €10–15 per year (annual policy) or €1–3 per travel day
• In an Emergency: Call 911. Emergency Rooms (ER) in hospitals treat everyone, regardless of insurance — but the bill comes afterward
• Pharmacies: CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid — available everywhere, also over-the-counter medications (OTC). Buy ibuprofen, paracetamol (called "acetaminophen"/Tylenol in the USA), and sunscreen locally (cheaper)

Wi-Fi is widespread in the USA — hotels, cafes, restaurants, even many public places and parks offer free WiFi. For on-the-go, you need a local SIM or eSIM.

Options

• eSIM (recommended): Airalo, Holafly, or Nomad — from €10–15 for 5 GB/14 days. Activate before the trip, usable immediately after landing
• Prepaid SIM at the Airport: T-Mobile, AT&T, or Mint Mobile — from $30/month for unlimited data. Available at the airport or any Target/Walmart
• Roaming: Expensive with German tariffs (€5–15/MB with some providers). Some tariffs (Telekom MagentaMobil, Vodafone Red) offer USA roaming included — check beforehand!

Tip: Download Google Maps offline — especially in national parks, there is often no network.

The USA spans multiple climate zones — from arctic (Alaska) to tropical (Hawaii, Florida) to desert (Southwest). There is no "best travel time" for the entire USA.

The USA uses the imperial measurement system — initially confusing for Europeans, but you quickly get used to it.

Quick Rules of Thumb: Miles × 1.6 = km. Fahrenheit: 70 = pleasant, 80 = warm, 90 = hot, 100 = brutal. Pounds ÷ 2 ≈ kg (roughly).

The America the Beautiful Pass is the best investment for nature lovers.

• Price: $80 per vehicle (up to 4 adults)
• Validity: 12 months from purchase
• Access to: All 63 national parks + over 2,000 other federal areas (National Forests, BLM land, National Wildlife Refuges)
• Worth it from: 3 park visits (individual parks cost $20–35 entry)
• Purchase: At the entrance of the first park, online at recreation.gov, or in REI stores

Example: Grand Canyon ($35) + Zion ($35) + Bryce Canyon ($35) + Yosemite ($35) = $140 individually vs. $80 with pass.

The USA is a shopping paradise — many brands are significantly cheaper here than in Europe, especially electronics, sportswear, and outdoor gear.

Outlet Malls

Premium Outlets (Simon, Tanger) are found in almost every region. Top locations:

• Woodbury Common (1h north of NYC): 250+ stores, 25–65% off
• Desert Hills (Cabazon, near Palm Springs): Gucci, Prada, Nike
• Sawgrass Mills (Fort Lauderdale): Largest outlet mall in Florida

Taxes (Sales Tax)

Important: Prices in the USA are ALWAYS listed without tax! Sales tax is added at the register and varies by state:

• No Sales Tax: Oregon, Montana, Delaware, New Hampshire
• Low: Colorado (2.9%), Hawaii (4%)
• High: California (7.25% + local up to 10.75%), New York City (8.875%)

The USA is generally a safe travel destination for tourists. Crime is concentrated in certain neighborhoods that tourists usually don't visit.

General Tips

• Neighborhoods: In big cities, there are safe and unsafe areas — often just a few blocks apart. Ask at the hotel
• At Night: Avoid deserted streets and parks after dark
• Car: Don't leave anything visible in the car (trunk!). Car break-ins are a big problem, especially in San Francisco and at trailheads

Police

• During Traffic Stops: Turn off the engine, hands on the steering wheel, window down, DO NOT reach into your pocket (interpreted as a threat). Wait for the officer to approach
• Emergency Number: 911 (police, fire department, ambulance — all through one number)

One of the biggest surprises for European travelers: No price in the USA is the final price. Sales tax, resort fees, tips, and service charges are always added.

• Sales Tax: 0–10.75% (depending on state and city), added at the register
• Hotel Resort Fee: $15–50/night (especially in Las Vegas, Miami, Hawaii). Often only in the fine print!
• Restaurant: Food + tax + 18–20% tip = the true price is often 30% higher than on the menu
• Rental Car: The online price + airport surcharge + taxes + insurance = often 50–80% more expensive than the base price

Rule of Thumb: Always add 30–50% to the displayed price for hotels and rental cars. For restaurants: menu price × 1.3 = the actual price including tax and tip.

The USA uses 110 volts / 60 Hz with plug types A (two flat pins) and B (two flat + one round grounding pin). German plugs do not fit!

• Adapter: Bring a US travel adapter (from €3 at electronics stores). Ideally one with USB ports
• Voltage: Most modern chargers (phone, laptop, camera) are dual-voltage (100–240V) — work fine with an adapter
• Be cautious with: Hairdryers, curling irons, razors with 220V — these do NOT work or only with a voltage converter. Best to buy locally (Walmart, Target from $10)

Tipping in the USA is not a voluntary gesture, but a fixed part of income. Many service workers earn only $2–3/hour base wage and rely on tips. Not tipping is a major faux pas.

Tipping Table

Important Rules

• Fast Food / Self-Service: No tip needed (Starbucks, McDonald's, Chipotle)
• Counter-Service with Tip-Screen: Many cafes turn an iPad to you with 15/20/25% options. Here tipping is optional (but 10–15% is nice)
• Automatic Gratuity: For groups of 6–8 people, 18–20% is often automatically added — stated on the bill
• Credit Card: When paying by card, enter the tip on the bill (line "Tip" or "Gratuity") and calculate the "Total" amount yourself

Apart from rental cars, there are various transportation options in the USA — but the country is vast, and many routes are only practical by car or domestic flight.

Domestic Flights

• Airlines: Southwest (checked baggage included!), JetBlue, Delta, United, American, Spirit/Frontier (cheap, but many extra costs)
• Prices: NYC → LA from $100–200 one-way, NYC → Miami from $60–120, LA → Las Vegas from $40–80
• Tip: Use Google Flights for price comparison. Tuesday/Wednesday are usually the cheapest flight days

Long-Distance Buses

• Greyhound: The largest bus network. Cheap (NYC → Washington from $15–25), but slow
• FlixBus: Now also active in the USA, especially on the West Coast

Trains (Amtrak)

• Acela: High-speed train in the Northeast Corridor (NYC → Washington 3h, NYC → Boston 3.5h). Prices: from $50–100 one-way
• Legendary Routes: Coast Starlight (LA → Seattle), California Zephyr (Chicago → San Francisco)
• USA Rail Pass: 10 rides in 30 days for $499

Ridesharing

Uber and Lyft are available in all major cities. Cheaper than taxis, easy via app.

The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is strict — especially with food and plant products.

Allowed Imports

• 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars (21 years and older)
• 1 liter of alcohol (21 years and older)
• Gifts up to $100 in value
• Medications for personal use (with prescription/package insert)

Prohibited Imports

• Food: Fresh fruits, vegetables, meat, sausages, dairy products — STRICTLY prohibited
• Plants, seeds, soil
• Cuban cigars (even if purchased in third countries)
• Surprise eggs (due to choking hazard — not a joke!)

Return to Germany

Duty-Free Limit: €430 (flight) / €300 (land/sea). Above that: pay customs. Alcohol: 1 liter of spirits or 2 liters of wine + 4 liters of beer. 200 cigarettes.