Holidays to U S A & Tours | Information

Overview

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Holidays to the USA have something to offer everyone; from colossal canyons to giant skyscrapers, amazing national parks to golden sandy beaches, and wonderful wildlife to glittering cities. Whatever your interests, and with so much to squeeze in, all you need to do now is decide which of our amazing American holidays to treat yourself with!

Unmissable Resorts in USA

Illinois
Chicago
Louisiana
New Orleans
Maine
Kennebunkport
Sebasco Harbor
Massachusetts
Boston
Cape Cod
Marthas Vineyard
Nevada
Las Vegas
New Hampshire
Bretton Woods
North Conway
New York
New York

Oregon
Portland OR
Pennsylvania
Philadelphia
Rhode Island
Newport
Tennessee
Memphis
Nashville
Texas
Austin
Bandera
Dallas
Houston
San Antonio
Utah
Bryce Canyon
Zion

Vermont
Plymouth VT
Virginia
Arlington VA
Washington
Seattle
Wyoming
Yellowstone

USA Highlights

City: From short romantic breaks to long action packed weekends and all that's in between, the cities of the US are a shopaholic's shrine, a food critic's haven and the abundant iconic landmarks only amplify the immense variety of this fine country. Head for shopping and sightseeing in New York, experience the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas or chill out in laid back San Francisco.

Culture & History: In what is a relatively short period of time where history is concerned, the United States has created so many historical moments. Native Indian tribes, Presidential events, space exploration, musical roots and beyond; there is so much more to discover than you can possibly imagine. Try Boston, New Orleans and Washington DC and get underneath the skin of this fascinating country.

Beaches: East coast to West and beyond, the US boasts some of the most stunning beaches all with very diverse surroundings. Highlights includes the palm fringed beaches of Oahu and Maui in Hawaii, the glittering promenade of Santa Monica and golden sands of Florida's Gulf Coast - whatever your preference, there's a beach for everyone in the USA!

Natural World: Forested rolling hills, vast deserts and snow capped mountains - all very different backdrops and all within the boundaries of one big and beautiful country. Whatever time of the year you are looking to travel, the wonders of these natural surroundings are sure to take your breathe away - see the awesome Grand Canyon, stunning coastline of Cape Cod and the jaw dropping cliffs along the Central California Coast.

Ranches: America is THE place to experience the real wild west and what better way than to stay on a working cattle ranch! Saddle up and get involved with herding, enjoy wilderness horse rides and moonlit campfire entertainment - Yee Ha! Try some Tex Mex flavour in Bandera, a spectacular backdrop at the Grand Canyon or some desert adventures in Tucson.

USA Factfile

When to go

Temperature Range: -20°C to 40°C

Most popular: May - September and November - February

Best value: March - April and September - October

Best weather: Year Round

Travel Information

Direct flights: British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Continental Airlines, United, American Airlines

Indirect flights: KLM, Delta, Air france

Visa information: Visa Required

Health information: No special vaccines required

Time Difference: Varies from GMT -5 hours (East) to GMT -8 hours (West) to GMT -10 (Hawaii)

When To Go

Best Value

To ensure you miss the high prices and large crowds, avoid travelling during the main summer months. America is a four seasons destination so you will always find a great offer whatever time of the year.

Best Time to Go

A completely year round destination, America is a country of forever changing faces. Covering an area so vast, to say you have visited the USA once before, is to say you have never been at all.
September and October is the best time to see New England at its finest. Experience the spectacular full foliage season, awash with the colours of Indian Summer.
Western USA is engulf by its warm weather for most of the year, although it can get particularly hot during the peak summer months. The spring and autumn months will offer you the best of both worlds with comfortably warm days and cooler nights.

Most Popular

America is very much a year round destination. Depending on when and where you are looking to travel, will very much depend on the popularity of the area. Florida, renown for its theme parks and stunning beaches can become very busy during the summer months. New York and Las Vegas will become busier around Xmas and New Year due to the fantastic shopping opportunities and New Year celebrations so it is advisable to book well in advance as flights and hotels to these destinations can fill up fast!

Climate

The West Coast of America' offer the best year round weather of all the states. California, Hawaii, Texas and Arizona are generally sunny 75% of the year with less than 20 inches of rainfall annually, although it's worth remembering it can get extremely hot during the summer months with Arizona occasionally reaching temperatures of over 40°c.

The East Coast remains generally cooler than the West and you will find this most obvious between the months of May and September.

USA Travel Information

Tipping

Tipping is standard practice across America. In city restaurants, tipping 15% of the bill is expected but less is OK for an informal diner, while top end restaurants expect 20%. Bartenders expect $1 per drink. Taxi drivers and hairdressers expect 10% - 15%. Porters at the airport and nice hotels expect $1 per bag. It's also polite to leave a few dollars for the hotel maid, especially if you spend several nights in the room.

Flight information

There are a number of carriers that provide flights to the USA from the UK:

Direct Carriers: British Airways flies direct daily scheduled services to many American cities including New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Francisco and Orlando from London.

Virgin Atlantic flies direct daily scheduled services to New York, Las Vegas, Orlando and Los Angeles from London.

Regional Airports: Continental Airlines offers direct services to New York and Houston from the UK with a connection network to many other US cities. Regional services from Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol Glasgow and Edinburgh.

British Airways offer connecting flights to the USA via London Heathrow and London Gatwick from many regional airports.

Visa information

All travellers visiting the USA must now ensure they have obtained approval under the Visa Waiver Program before they travel. The Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) is an online process run by the United States government to determine the preliminary eligibility of visitors to travel under the Visa Waiver Program, prior to their arrival to the USA.

You must visit www.cbp.gov/esta and provide basic information about yourself in order to receive authorisation usually takes a matter of minutes, though it's advisable to complete your application as soon as you start planning your trip, or at least three days in advance, to avoid any delays. If you don't hold a valid ESTA by the time you travel you may encounter difficulties in entering the USA. Your ESTA approval will be valid for up to two years and for multiple visits to the USA. You can be refused a Visa Waiver or entry to the USA if you have a criminal record or if you've ever made a false statement on a previous visa application.