guide to America holidays

Guide to America Holidays

America is a huge country to explore, with 50 states to choose from for ideal America Holidays; flanked by two oceans America covers just over three and a half million square miles of incredibly varied terrain. For five centuries, since the 'New World' discoveries of Christopher Columbus, people from every corner of the globe have visited America in search of 'the American Dream'. Between them, they have created the richest, most powerful country on earth; America has become a fascinating melting pot of cultures and traditions.

If while enjoying your America holidays you fancy a bit of celeb spotting and wining and dining in the finest restaurants, then Los Angeles is for you. Visit places such as the Kodak theatre where the famous Oscars are held, walk down Hollywood Boulevard and see what stars you find along the pavements, Drive up Rodeo Drive and admire some of the most beautiful architecture in America or just drive down to the beach and relax or learn to surf whilst enjoying your America holidays.

If you want to put your money where your mouth is, and explore a city full of lights, laughs and is billed as the entertainment capital of the world, then the crazy and mesmerising city of Las Vegas is definitely the place for your America holidays. If you feel like trying your luck at gambling, there are many casinos such as The Golden Nugget, Las Vegas Club and Plaza Casino and Hotel. Or if you want to see some entertainment, then there are always shows and a variety of musical artists to enjoy.

Now if your idea of America holidays is shopping till you drop, then ‘start spreading the news’ as New York is the only place to be. Brash, iconic and fun New York is screaming with many department stores and high street fashion. If you want to see more sights within the city then you are never left short. The Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building and Central Park are just a taster of sights to see on your America holidays.

America holidays have everything to offer the Holiday Maker, so if you are looking for an adventure or a place in the sun, America will suit all your needs if you are the kind of person who needs to be the first in line for all the action, then hire a car to experience your America holidays the way they should be.

Some examples of what America holidays have to offer

• Boston, leafy and historic; first incorporated as a town in 1630, and as a city in 1822, is one of America's oldest cities, with a rich economic and social history. What began as a homesteading community eventually evolved into a centre for social and political change. Boston has since become the economic and cultural hub of New England.
• Washington D.C There is so much to see in the elegant city of Washington D.C., the capital of America. Take the Old Town Trolley that stops at all the major sites - the White House, Lincoln Memorial, the National Gallery of Art and the fascinating Smithsonian Museums.
• San Francisco, stylish and European; who can fail to enjoy San Francisco, the beautiful American 'City by the Bay' You'll want to see the picturesque harbour with the infamous prison island of Alcatraz and the famous Golden Gate Bridge, the street entertainers of Fisherman's Wharf, Lombard Street - the 'Crookedest Street in the World' and colourful Chinatown.
• The captivating colours of New England are particularly lovely in the autumn. New England is well known to people across America, and around the world, as a beautiful and distinctly American region, rich in history, culture, and natural beauty. For visitors and vacationers, the region presents four distinct seasonal personalities: lush summers to explore beaches or to bicycle along shady country lanes; brilliant autumns to drive lazily through mountains blanketed with gold-and-red fall foliage; crystal-sharp winters to ski perfect mountain slopes or poke through antique shops lining a peaceful village green; and verdant spring – the time to explore the museums and shopping of the cities or to get a head start on some cool day hikes in the mountains and countryside.
• America and The Deep South for iconic centres of music, a contagiously laid-back attitude to life and mouth-watering Cajun and Creole cuisine. The southern states of Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee are steeped in music, history, culture, sport and unsurpassable natural beauty. Add to that the area’s wonderful cuisine and hospitality, and the Deep South offers the perfect holiday destination for almost anyone visiting America.
• The awe-inspiring scenery of the national parks of America - The National Parks and Lakes of America offer great contrasts of scenery, beauty, landscape and atmosphere that you will find no where else in the world. Bryce Canyon with its limestone pinnacles, Monument Valley offering wide open spaces, punctuated by towering sandstone monoliths, Yosemite National Park, home to the highest waterfall in North America and of course Death Valley with its sand dunes and salt flats. The most famous of all the parks is the Grand Canyon, one of the eight wonders of the world, over a mile deep and 18 miles wide in places, a must see for all visitors in the west. Zion National Park is home to massive sculptured cliffs which rise 2000 feet up into the sky. Mammoth Lakes, a popular winter ski resort offers great hiking and cycling in summer. Lake Powell is a manmade lake amongst the desert sands and Lake Tahoe is one of the most visited resorts in Nevada and offers a wealth of outdoor activity and adventure. Remote Alaska, a gloriously attractive landscape of roaring rivers, mighty glaciers, sparkling lakes and abundant wildlife.
• The amazing theme parks, elegant resorts and natural wonders of Florida. America's 'Sunshine State'' deserves its popularity with UK holidaymakers, packed with the most amazing theme parks to delight kids and parents alike, natural wonders such as the Everglades National Park, elegant resort towns and the Art Deco glory of Miami, all fringed with breathtaking white sand beaches. It has never been more convenient or better value for money discovering the myriad pleasures of this beautiful peninsula.
• America’s Rocky Mountains offer some of the best skiing in the world. High altitude resorts such as Aspen, Beaver Creek and Vail offer exceptional snow conditions, varied terrain and lively après ski.

Whatever your travel interest, there is a holiday to America perfect for you. Whether you are looking for family fun or romantic seclusion, sun or snow, urban chic or untamed wilderness, simplicity or luxury, this magical, diverse country known as America is the place to go.

Driving Tips for your America holidays

America has a huge network of motorways (Interstate highways), secondary roads and small roads stretching countrywide. Interstate highways run north-south and are marked with an 'I' followed by an odd number, from I-5 on the Pacific to I-95 on the Atlantic. As a consequence, all Interstates running east to west are marked with an even number, from I-8 and I-10 near the Mexican border to I-94 near Canada. Newer highways that have been built to cope with traffic (Turnpikes), incur a toll and mainly the larger cities, but the majority of America's road network remains free.

• Driving in America you need: A valid driving licence, passport/ID and a valid credit card.
• In America you drive on the right so remember to give away traffic from your left when using roundabouts.
• When driving in America be aware that each of the 50 states has its own set of traffic laws and regulations. Fortunately, most of the laws are the same, but some states have slightly different rules. When you rent a car in America, you should ask the agent if there are any special driving rules in that state. When driving in multiple states, check a tour book for any special driving rules in each state.
• One US gallon is 3.8 litres. Service stations are regular on the highways, selling all grades of fuel and open 24 hours. Credit cards are accepted.
• When parking in America use designated 'off street' and car parks as strict laws apply for street parking. Do not park in front of yellow or red road lines or within 10 feet of a fire hydrant.

Travelling Times to America & Time Differences

UK to America – New York: Travelling time 7½ hours – Time difference GMT – 5 hours

UK to America - Boston: Travelling time 7 hours - Time difference GMT -5 hours

UK to America - New Orleans: Travelling time 10 hours - Time difference: GMT -6 hours

UK to America - Miami: Travelling time 9 ½ hours - Time difference: GMT -5 hours

UK to America - Los Angeles: Travelling time 11 ½ hours - Time difference: GMT - 8 hours

UK to America - Las Vegas: Travelling time 11 hours - Time difference: GMT - 8 hours

Facts for Visitors

Passports - All visitors are required to possess a valid passport for entry into the United States of America and Canada.

Visas: Most visitors to the United States of America require a visa. However, Canadians need only proof of citizenship and a reciprocal visa-waiver program allows citizens of the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland to stay up to 90 days without a visa if they have an onward or return travel ticket and no police record.

Travel Restrictions - At certain times, travel restrictions may be put in place for travel to any particular country. Please check with the appropriate government department of your country:

For the UK: http://www.fco.gov.uk/travel/

Health risks: None, but since the tragic attacks that were made in both New York City and Washington on 11th September 2001 along with a high profile anthrax-laced mailing exposures, the entire nation had been on a heightened state of alert. The chances of falling victim to a terrorism attack are rather slim, but one can never be sure, it is highly likely that a variety of very much increased and rather tighter security procedures, particularly when it comes to air travel, to and from as well as within America will be experienced.

Electricity: 110V 2 prong plug

Weights & Measures: Imperial

Time Zones: The United States of America lies across 6 different time zones, most of which have a Daylight Saving Time during the summer period from March/April to October/November where the clocks are put one hour ahead.

Eastern Standard Time (GMT/UTC minus 5 hours)
Central Standard Time (GMT/UTC minus 6 hours)
Mountain Standard Time (GMT/UTC minus 7 hours)
Pacific Standard Time (GMT/UTC minus 8 hours)
Alaska Time (GMT/UTC minus 9 hours)
Hawaii Time (GMT/UTC minus 10 hours)

Climate & Terrain

The climate in the United States of America is mostly temperate, but tropical in Hawaii and Florida, arctic in Alaska, semiarid in the Great Plains west of the Mississippi River, and arid in the Great Basin of the south-west. Low winter temperatures in the north-west are ameliorated occasionally in January and February by warm Chinook winds from the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains.

The terrain varies from the vast central plain, mountains in west, hills and low mountains in east; rugged mountains and broad river valleys in Alaska; rugged, volcanic topography in Hawaii. Natural hazards include tsunamis, volcanoes, and earthquake activity around Pacific Basin; hurricanes along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts (mainly from August through to October); tornadoes in the Midwest and south-east; mud slides in California; forest fires in the west; flooding and permafrost in northern Alaska, which, of course, is a major impediment to its development.

Money & Costs

The currency in America is the US Dollar with US$1 = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of $1, $5, $10, $20, $50, $100 and $1,000 with coins in 1 cent (penny); 5cents (nickel); 10 cents (dime) and 25 cents (quarter)

If you intend to carry your money in the form of traveller's checks, save yourself a lot of hassle and expense by buying them in US dollars from the outset. Restaurants, hotels and most stores accept US dollar traveller's checks as if they were cash, others would have to be changed at a bank.

Major credit cards are widely accepted; and you'll find it hard to perform certain transactions (such as renting a car or reserving tickets over the phone) without one of these handy pieces of plastic. Depending on the sophistication of your home banking network, you should also be able to access your bank account using ATM machines, which are almost everywhere.

Tipping is expected in restaurants and better hotels with the going rate in restaurants at 15% of the bill and never tip in a fast-food or self service environment. Taxi drivers, bartenders and hairdressers depend on similar-sized gratuities. Sales taxes vary from state to state but are typically 5%-8%, though some states have no sales taxes at all.

When to Go

The summer months of June through August are the most popular times for travellers to visit the United States of America, which is also a popular time for Americans to travel within the country themselves too. We therefore recommend that to avoid the crowds, it may be rather easier to travel during the early spring or later summer and into early autumn periods. One of the best times to visit though is the autumn, when the leaves on the trees start to change colour and are at their best at this time, right across the New England states in the north-eastern part of America.

Most of the area east of the Rockies can be rather hot and humid during summer months, especially the further south you go. The southern coastline of California is quite temperate most of the year, but if you want to be sure of being able to get in some sunbathing, then it may well be best to visit between the months of June and September. Between the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevada's running along the eastern edge of California, there are deserts, which, especially in the southwest can be very hot and dry during the summer months.

Events

January Varied Location - Half of the nation comes to a standstill during the Superbowl, which is the American Football Final and is held in a different location each year in January.

February New Orleans (Louisiana) - The New Orleans Mardi Gras is the biggest event of its kind in America and second in size only to the Carnival held during the same period in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Lots of fun can be had with street parades and much more going on in and around the city during this time.

March Chicago (Illinois) & New York City (New York) - St Patrick (who also happens to be the Patron Saint of Ireland) is celebrated on St Patrick's Day in mid-March with large parades, much hurrah and giant pitchers of green beer in both these cities.

May Louisville (Kentucky) - The world famous Kentucky Derby horse race is run in Louisville during the month of May each year.

October Nationwide - Halloween which is on 31st October of each year is a really big deal for kids in America, they get all dressed up and go from door to door in their neighbourhoods to trick-or-treat. In the "gay" areas of the Greenwich Village in New York City, West Hollywood in Los Angeles and San Francisco, the day is synonymous with a variety of fancy dress parties and glam parades.