The United States of America is huge and traveling alone in the country can come with some advantages and disadvantages at the same time. There is no denying that the way people travel is changing, and solo travel is continuously increasing this 2019. It’s a trend nowadays, as people especially the millennials are kind of investing more in experiences and travel than saving for a big house or for their future.
If you are one of those people who tends to travel alone and is thinking of USA as your next travel destination, then this article is for you. Let us list down few things that you need to know before you travel in the United States in solo.
- There are many budget flights in the US. Airlines like the Southwest Airlines offer flights that are cheap within the United States. It is one of the largest low-cost carriers in the world, and if you are traveling alone and thinking of controlling your budget for your travel, then booking for a cheap flight can save you from spending too much by renting a car to go around the USA. Take note though, that getting into flights especially on holidays can come with some hassle as there can be jammed pack of travellers and long lines in the airport. Make sure to check the status of your flight in a flight tracker like flightstatus24 online before leaving from your hotel. It is a great way to check if there is any change in your flight like cancellation or delay. It will be a great help especially for a solo traveller, so be sure to do it before going into the airport.
- America is huge; decide where you want to go. Set your expectation that you will not be able to visit all 50 states of the United States. Setting priorities and making a list of destinations you want to go can save you big time in terms of money and time in your travel. It is also important to distinguish activities that are bucket-list worthy and those that you can do in any normal day in your country, so to maximize activities and places you can visit and do in your trip.
- Healthcare is expensive is the US, invest in travel insurance. Traveling can be very unpredictable sometimes; you’ll never know if you’ll come across some accidents or minor illnesses while you travel. Having travel insurance before you leave for your trip is a smart way to keep yourself from spending too much when accident happens.
- The weather varies in the USA. Weather and climate may differ in the US depending on the regions you are into. Summer could be warm with cool mornings in the Pacific Northwest, while it is hot and humid in the southern states and very hot and dry in the in the southwest.
Winters in the north, northeast and western mountains are cold with heavy snow while it is mild in southern states. Be sure to come prepared in all weather conditions and don’t forget to check the season in the US on your date of travel.
- Thanksgiving to New Year’s time is a very busy time in the US. Try to avoid traveling on this season as it could be the busiest time of the year in the United States. People usually go home for big family gatherings and flights’ prices can go higher than the usual.
- You’ve got to tip in waiter in the restaurant or the driver of the cab. Minimum wage in the US is low and giving a tip is the American way of compensating to the low salary of its workers. You are expected to at least give 15-20% tips when you dine in a restaurant in the US. It’s not mandatory but not giving tips is considered rude in US practice.
- Bus is the cheapest way to go around. Renting a car especially when you are alone can be expensive in the US. Bus on the other hand is the cheapest way to visit destinations in the US. Train is another affordable mode of transportation, though its network is not as extensive as in other places in the world. If you would want to travel from north to south or from east to west in the US, there are still a bunch of budget airlines that can offer you big deals for your flight’s fares.
- There are at least 60 national parks in the US. Your travel wouldn’t be much complete in the US without visiting at least one or two of its national parks. Some of its renowned national parks include the Grand Canyon in Arizona, Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, and the Yosemite National Park in California.
- Sales tax is added in your shopping price. Expect to pay more than what is in the price tag when you shop in the US as sales tax is often added on the goods you purchase in the store. Sales tax varies depending on the state you are on in the US. Expect 10% additional price in maximum just to be safe while shopping.
These are just few of the things that you should know before you travel in the US when you are traveling in solo. It still important to do your own research, as experiences and travel situation may vary from one person and place to another.