United States

The United States is vast, varied, and surprisingly easy to navigate once you understand its scale. Crossing the country from New York to Los Angeles takes about six hours by plane, so it helps to focus your trip on one or two regions rather than trying to see everything at once. The East Coast offers dense cities like New York, Boston, and Washington, D.C., while the West Coast mixes tech hubs and laid-back beach culture in San Francisco, Seattle, and Los Angeles.

Domestic flights are often the fastest way to move between regions, but for shorter hops consider Amtrak trains or long-distance buses. Within cities, expect good public transport in places like New York, Chicago, and Washington, D.C., and more car-dependence in much of the rest of the country.

Distances can be deceptive, so use the Trip planning tools in Hello to map out driving times, connections, and overnight stops before you go. Tipping is customary in many services (restaurants, taxis, bars), usually 15–20% on top of the bill. To avoid unexpected roaming charges as you move between states, set up Hello eSIM connectivity before landing so you can navigate, translate, and ride-share from the moment you arrive.

Many trips in the United States revolve around the open road. Renting a car is often the most flexible way to explore national parks like Yosemite, Zion, or the Grand Canyon, or to enjoy classic drives such as California’s Highway 1 or Florida’s Overseas Highway to Key West. Check that your driver’s license is valid in the U.S. and budget for tolls, fuel, and parking; in big cities, parking can easily reach USD 20–40 per day.

Intercity travel is typically by domestic flights or coach-style buses like Greyhound or Megabus; these can be cost-effective for budget travellers. Trains are most useful in the Northeast Corridor (Boston–New York–Philadelphia–Washington, D.C.). Within cities, you’ll find:

• Subways and metros in New York, Boston, Chicago, Washington, D.C., San Francisco.
• Light rail and buses in many mid-sized cities.
• Ride-hailing services and taxis almost everywhere.

Use Hello eSIM to stay online for real-time transit schedules and rides, especially in areas where station staff or paper maps are limited. Save your routes, passes, and confirmations in Hello’s Trip planning so everything from your New York subway card to your Las Vegas shuttle booking lives in one place.

The United States uses the U.S. dollar (USD), and card payments are widely accepted, including contactless. Still, it is useful to carry some cash for small diners, national park kiosks, and tipping. Prices are often displayed before tax, and an additional sales tax (commonly 6–10%) is added at the register, so your final bill will be higher than the sticker price.

Tipping is a normal part of the service industry. As a guide:

• Restaurants with table service: 15–20% of the pre-tax total.
• Bars: USD 1–2 per drink.
• Taxis/ride-hailing: 10–15%.
• Hotel housekeeping: USD 2–5 per night.

For shared trips, dinners, or road-trip expenses, use Hello’s Expense splitting feature so everyone pays their share without awkward math. Daily budgets vary hugely: a budget traveller might manage on USD 60–100 per day with hostels and simple meals, while a mid-range city break with restaurants and attractions can easily reach USD 150–250. Use Hello’s Budget tracking to log spending in USD and see how your costs change between, say, affordable Austin and pricier San Francisco.

Food in the United States is a journey through many cultures. In one trip you might eat deep-dish pizza in Chicago, tacos in Los Angeles, gumbo in New Orleans, and clam chowder in Boston. Portions are often large, so sharing plates is common; this is where Hello’s Expense splitting makes it easy to divide the bill between your group.

For a taste of regional life, look beyond chains and seek out farmers’ markets, small-town diners, and neighborhood spots. In the South, try fried chicken and biscuits; in Texas, look for smoked brisket; in the Pacific Northwest, sample fresh salmon and craft coffee. Many cities also host food trucks and pop-up markets, ideal for trying several dishes in one place.

Culturally, the U.S. offers everything from Broadway shows in New York to live jazz in New Orleans and indie music venues in Portland or Nashville. Major museums like the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. are free, while others charge entry; book timed tickets in advance for popular sites and store them in Hello’s Trip planning. Stay connected with Hello eSIM to check opening hours, buy last-minute tickets, and find nearby events as you explore.