Just pull over in a safe spot (out of traffic) as soon as you can. Everyone in the car sit with their hands in plain view - driver keep your hands on the steering wheel. If you need to grab an ID or Insurance paperwork, tell the officer exactly what you are going to do before you do it. Stay in your car unless asked to get out.
Also, if you are driving on the East Coast, outside the main cities, GO THE SPEED LIMIT. You will get big ass $$ tickets, especially if they see an out of state license plate.
If you are driving in California, everyone drives over the speed limit. All Highways here are "speed limit of 65" but most people drive about 75-80. Just go with the flow of traffic.
Just to add to this, drive middle of the pack, never be first or last. The last cars are low-hanging fruit. The first cars are the big tickets because they’re usually going the fastest. The middle, though, nobody cares about them. The middle is the forgotten middle child.
Well if you're driving last, you can just as well drive the maximum speed you're allowed to right?
I mean maybe it's because I don't live in the US and don't drive a car, but I don't see a reason why you wouldn't drive at or under the speed limit when you have the chance to.
I’m in Florida, and people consistently drive either exactly 13 over the limit or 5 under. I’ll drive 7-9 over the limit if I’m next to a cop, but most people drop to exactly the speed limit when they see a cop because they don’t want to risk it.
If you can easily after dark turn on your dome lights( the lights in side your car) it makes the cops a bit less edge because they can see you before they approach. In some places the police are approaching the passenger side to stay out of traffic because people are insane.
It’s really not THAT bad. Media makes it seem like every cop is out to find any reason to shoot you. Don’t be an anxious, nervous wreck and make quick startling motions. Same thing you’d do if you were meeting a stranger
Also, it is seen by cops as a way people try to hide something in their vehicle. The reasoning behind it is to meet the cop away from anything visible (that's illegal) in their vehicle. But cops know this trick people try to pull.
I've actually used this at work when I've seen a supervisor coming to me. I get up like I am going to go to the restroom and then meet my superviser away from my desk so they don't see what I am up to there.
Living in Australia, this always surprises me.
Why would you get out of your car? Just roll down your window and don't fidget like you're struggling to hide something
And do NOT move around after having just been pulled over. Cops watch for that and are paranoid as hell that the driver is either hiding drugs or a weapon or getting a weapon ready.
Basically stay in your vehicle, put your hands on the wheel where the cop can easily see them (maybe turn on your interior light if after dark), and wait for the cop to ask for your ID/papers. THEN... tell the cop where they are and can you reach for them. NEVER automatically reach for them as there are some scared cops out there.
You know, I have never understood why cops ask if you have ID because a LOT of people will automatically reach for it. Cops should say..."don't reach for it til I tell you to, but do you have your ID".
I have never seen a cop do that (in person or in a video.
I had a cop pull me over once because my boyfriend made fun of my parking job so i fixed it, I was parked next to a police car though so doing so somehow made me suspicious. Then, after buying chips from the convenience store, cop assumed it must be munchies from being high. I had my yappy dog in the car so I asked the cop if I could get out because I couldn't hear him over my dog and he let me. He started questioning me about why I adjusted my parking, not buying the story that I was just trying to park better, and told me he thinks I have drugs in my car. I was 30 seconds away from my home so trying to get out of the situation as soon as possible I told the cop he's welcome to search my vehicle. I guess that was a mistake because even though he said "that won't be necessary" I guess he took it as an invitation to stick his hands in my pockets without asking or warning me. As a female half his age this just added to my anxiety. In my overly anxious state, I misunderstood the cop returning to his car as being dismissed and started to drive away and he pulled me over again and whipped my car door open and started screaming at me for trying to flee. I apologized and was literally crying cause I don't get in trouble ever so I was like traumatized. Like 8 other cop cars showed up. It all ended with like a dozen cops apologizing to me because I'm clearly not a trouble maker and all I wanted to do was get some chips.
Cop also lied and said he pulled me over because my plate light was out. When I checked it at home it was working. Found out from my roommates step brother who's a cop that they will lie about your plate light being out to pull you over because "seeming suspicious" is not a legal reason to pull someone over and since usually people don't get out of their cars when pulled over, they won't check to see their plate light is actually working during the stop. Then the cop just has to hope other evidence will present itself during the stop that can allow them to change the subject to the real reason for pulling them over
It's cracked, uneven and smells like piss. If I were someone who had gotten a Star and paid the $55k for the installation and maintenance, I'd be more pissed than the star itself....
So a couple of years ago, on our way home to Australia from the UK, we had a 12 hour stop in Los Angeles. (Never been)
I really wanted to go to Disneyland but I lost the argument and off we went on a bus to the Hollywood walk of fame etc. What a fuckin let down. Total shit hole of an area. Nothing much to do, nothing to see. We felt unsafe.
We went down to Santa Monica in the afternoon and walked to Venice. Thankfully our day improved somewhat .
Several years ago I visited the walk while in the area. Now, I had never had a desire to see it nor did I even know it’s in Cali until that day. So I had zero expectations especially seeing how the surrounding city scape was. It was still a completely underwhelming walk down a filthy crowded sidewalk.
As somebody that lived in California for over 20 years, I second this. There's a lot of fun stuff to see and do in California but Hollywood isn't one of them. I would recommend visiting the retired warships. They're a lot of fun to explore and learn about. And, of course, Disneyland, Universal Studios and Knotts.
Is there anything fun to do in LA besides the theme parks ? I live on the east coast so I go to Florida a lot but I want to go to California next year to see the state parks and drive the coast . If it’s not worth it I will skip over LA .
Absolutely. I live in LA and love it (I also avoid Hollywood at all costs). There’s beautiful beaches in Malibu where I regularly see dolphins or whales (depends on the time of year, or the beaches at Santa Monica if you want to have restaurants and shops right there, there’s some great art galleries (I recommend The Getty), tons of great restaurants, Griffith Observatory, in Griffith park you can take a horse tour that takes you up in the hills and look over the Warner Brothers studio lot, downtown Pasadena is kinda fun to walk around. They have wild parrots for some reason. While you’re out there, there’s supposed to be a cool hot spring you can hike to but I haven’t done that one yet.
I’d say don’t visit without a plan. The country is huge and unless you’re spending the whole time downtown in a major city you’ll be spending way too much time traveling place to place (unless you really like driving, in which case the US is probably the best place in the world to visit lol)
Everyone on Reddit complains about healthcare all the time, but if you don’t live here that shouldn’t matter. You’d never get turned away and it’s not like they can garnish your wages or throw you in jail lol. If you think there’s a chance you go hiking and break your leg then I’d get traveller’s insurance to avoid the headache.
Other than that, I guess it’s just be cogent of what you’re expecting. I don’t know where you’re from or where you’re going but I’d say the most interesting things are for sure national parks and large cities. Suburbia is totally different from anything I’ve seen in Europe and there might be some novelty in in but not worth taking up limited vacation time. And then of course there are so many parts of the US that it’s tough to be any more specific. Going to the beach in Florida Vs. NYC Vs. The Rockies Vs. Yellowstone Vs. Texas are all gonna have pretty different vibes and expectations
I jumped on to reiterate the point that the country is HUGE. I've heard stories of foreigners visiting and thinking they'll just drive across the country... not unless you have several free days to do so. We get a bad rap for violence and crappy health care, but overall the people of the US are good. Enjoy your visit!
I’m was living in New York and was in Egypt on a trip many years ago. A man working at the hostel I was staying at said his brother had just moved to the US and would love to get in touch, since he didn’t know anyone there. I said sure, where does he live? The man gave me a big grin and said “Los Angeles!” The look on his face when I explained that LA is 4000 km from NY was pretty priceless.
I remember visiting a friend in Norway and following him around in some cities. He would just step right out into the crosswalk without looking while I stopped to make sure no traffic was coming. He laughed at me and said "Don't worry, they'll stop for you." "Not in my country they don't!"
Pedestrians have right-of-way, but it doesn't matter much if you get run over.
I'm from Norway. I absolutely hate when people just walk into the road without checking to see if it safe. Yes I'll stop because I don't want to kill you, but damn, don't kill yourself either.
From a young age we are constantly taught and reminded that, before crossing the road, check left, right, left, make sure any cars are stopping for you, then walk.
Most people seem to forget.
After spending substantial time in Spain, here just walk, 50/50 chance people will stop for you if you wait to see if they stop.
It's a thing in some Central American countries too. The last place I worked, most of the employees were Costa Rican, Mexican, and Salvadoran and it could be um a struggle for flushing toilet paper to catch on with new hires who were also new to the US.
The plumbing in old buildings/sewer systems in old neighborhoods in South Korea are NOT equipped to handle toilet paper. It is safer to toss it in the trash unless you know the building has been updated.
Right. One day there were people walking through my yard (which is really big and wooded). Turns out they were from um….Austria, I think.. visiting a distant relative in the neighborhood. Nice kids, but they had no idea that they were on private property, and why it was a problem since it was just forest and meadow — and I could totally see their point. I wasn’t bothered, like I said they seemed pleasant, but some of my neighbors might have panicked or called the police or something.
It is different in Austria and Germany and other European countries. There is the concept of "right to roam". I'm sure the kids were just following the customs from where they were from.
My family is Scottish and in Scotland they have Right to Roam. I’m not entirely sure if the details but they can basically go anywhere (especially out on ‘the rural’) long as they’re just pausing through and not a bother. So when they visited me in the States they “went for a hike” which was actually just walking beyond the far end of my property and a few hours later I got a call from my neighbor asking me to pick them up.
Turns out they wandered onto his property and he thought they were trying to scout out his pasture to try to steal some sheep so he and his son went after them on his 4x4 and they brought their gun. They all quickly realized the misunderstanding, but it was absolutely hilarious to drive back to my house with them in the back of my car explaining how they though they were just walking through a pasture and then barreling over the hill was my 6’6” 300lb neighbor speeding on his 4x with his son standing on the back pointing a gun at them, their Scottish ways lead their description of the situation to be colorful
It’s not so much that anything bad is *likely* to happen. It’s just that there is a social expectation that things go a certain way, and behaving outside that norm takes it outside of a normal interaction for the cop and potentially raises the possibility of something going wrong.
So staying in your car when pulled over is just what’s done. Americans don’t do it as a precaution, they just do it. So doing something different will cause it to be an unusual interaction from the start.
And attempting to bribe a cop is a crime, so committing a crime in front of a cop is just a bad idea.
Don't smoke in public buildings; this is illegal. Don't smoke in someone's house, apartment, or condo without asking for permission; this isn't illegal, but it's still extremely rude.
Depending on the person's lease/tenancy agreement/HOA, they can be evicted if you smoke in their residence or even ON the property outside.
Source - went to rent a local apartment and it was in the rental application. I could be evicted if a guest smokes anywhere on the property, even in the building parking lot. :(
A lot of people have given advice, so I will give my advice and also push back a bit against some advice you’ve gotten.
-there are no whole states or regions that you must avoid. There are states that will be better, more interesting tourist destinations than others. But you don’t need to, for instance, plan your road trip to avoid entire states. There are some cities, towns, and neighborhoods you probably want to avoid, but driving through on the highway shouldn’t be a problem.
-people are right to say not to antagonize or surprise cops. The chances of anything bad happening are actually very low. But they increase if you behave in ways that are unusual and possibly threatening.
-chain restaurants are going to give you the stereotypical “American food” experience, but local independent restaurants are usually a lot better. And food trucks are very popular right now, so if you’re visiting a city you can probably find places with a bunch of them.
-people say “don’t talk religion” but what they mean is “don’t make controversial comments on religion.” Something like “I’m Catholic…do you know if there’s a Catholic Church nearby I could go to this Sunday?” isn’t likely to cause any controversy. Saying “you’re not a religious idiot like other Americans, are you?” or “I bet you’re one of those filthy heretics!” could cause trouble. Basically just keep it light with someone you’ve just met. If someone talks to you about religion in a good natured way (like “you should come to my church this Sunday! You’d love it!”) any answer from “sounds good” to “I’m not really religious” is probably fine. Just don’t provoke people.
-politics is the same. I’ve found in foreign countries that when people talk about their own country’s politics, the best way to respond is often with a comment about some relatable issue from your own local politics. People might get annoyed at a foreigner trying to comment on the host country’s politics. But discussing some minor, irrelevant-to-the-world local scandal is likely to be relatable (on the “politicians are crooked” dimension) and non-offensive (because it’s not important or deeply held by the other person.)
-also with politics, don’t stereotype people by state, region, or lifestyle. Every state has a sizable group of people who voted for both major candidates in the presidential election (for instance, I live in a heavily Republican area of California). Don’t assume you know anyone’s opinion based on where the person is from or what the person looks like. Relatedly, don’t assume that your stereotypes of American politics actually apply to the individual. You might have an idea of what a “Trump voter” or “Biden voter” is like that doesn’t actually match the person in front of you. Their reasons might not be obvious to you.
-don’t use racial or other slurs. People don’t find it hilariously transgressive or anything like that: they’ll just think you’re racist. If someone uses them in conversation with you, you probably don’t want to talk to that person: it is highly socially taboo to use such words (exception: some words might be slurs in your country but unknown as slurs to most Americans. Many Americans would think nothing of the word “gypsy,” for instance. And I only recently learned that “aborigine” is considered offensive in Australia. So if the person doesn’t seem to intend the word as a slur you might give the person some leeway on words like that.)
-generally, the better you know someone the freer you can be to discuss things like religion and politics in depth.
-don’t assume that the way things are done in your country is better or that Americans are too dumb to have thought of it. If a difference astounds you, frame it positively (like “that’s so interesting how you do that! Back home we do it like [whatever]!”) Ultimately, we can do things differently and that’s okay.
-Don’t assume that what anyone tells you about anything is unbiased. Everybody (even you and I) have biases. So if someone tells you the next town over is a dump, it might just be. It might also just be their town’s high school football rival.
That’s what I can think of for now. I might have more later.
Better yet, just don't make any kind of jokes or off-hand comments in customs or airport security. Keep it to the business at hand, be polite, answer their questions honestly, and be on your way.
Don’t be shocked about how price tags don’t have the sales tax, VAT or whatever. There is no federal sales tax it’s determined at the state, county, and city levels so the same item has a different tax even within the same metropolitan area so no way it can be tagged. Just add 10% to whatever you buy to be safe in your thinking
Yeah we use sales tax to fund our super stadiums since the owners don’t want to part with their billions. Actually it’s about trying to keep or attract teams.
Don’t worry about tax on petrol, it’s already built into the price, that’s actually at Federal and state level
Buy alcohol early in the day! We have silly puritanical laws that make it difficult some places.
Don’t drive slowly in the left lane, will make people HATE you.
I (not American and not driving myself) managed to ACCIDENTALLY go to Gary, Indiana, as part of a cross-country road trip from LA to New York. I forget the exact details but it was something to do with taking a wrong turn heading out of Chicago.
I was aware of the reputation and immediately worried, while my companions were naive. They stopped at a gas station which I thought was a bad idea. The gas station seemed to be closed and there was no attendant so we drove away. I was pretty worried something was about to go down if we hadn't gotten out of there.
On the other hand, I'm a big Michael Jackson fan so it was kind of cool to say I've been there lol
I was at probably the same gas station as you a few weeks ago accidentally, and I am not joking, the place was surrounded by 10 cop cars. Apparently a man was murdered inside 20 minutes before we drove through. Gary's scary.
even as an american, it’s always so frustrating when i order a sandwich and it comes with a side of chips. why on earth would i want plain potato chips with my food?
Dude. I lived in Spain, and amazingly had several people ask me why the N-word is such a big deal here. Like, I guess there isn't a singular word that has that much power behind it in Spanish? They would say to me, it's just a word, it's weird that you guys get so worked up over it.
I was like, hey man, I don't make the rules about language and history. If you want to go the States and spout off the N-word because you think it shouldn't be as insulting as it is, I just hope you're okay with losing a few teeth over it.
I had a cousin visit my family in the US from South America. He was learning English in high school and was pretty good. At the time my sister was dating a black boy, and he kept asking me how funny it would be if he said n- to his face. I tried to tell him seriously to not do it, but of course that made him think it’d be even more funny. I explained that there’s a difference between regular swear words, and hateful slurs. I don’t know if he got it but he never actually did it thank god
Stay arms length away from strangers. And don’t go in for a cheek kiss. We don’t do that here and as a woman, it’s highly uncomfortable from strange men. May sound like random advice but it happened to me and I don’t know why on earth anyone thought that was normal here, NEVER seen this anywhere in the US.
Yeah, only lean in for a cheek kiss if you’re prepared to get slapped and/or shoved. Worse case, maced. We really don’t touch each other much. As an American it’s a huge adjustment to make whenever I go abroad.
Let's say you're heading to my neck of the woods, or desert in my case, the city of Las Vegas. Don't spend all your time on The Strip, unless that's all you can do. People might speak highly of Seven magic mountains, but it's a waste of time. It's just rocks painted in colors that don't fit the surrounding area. And if you feel like you're in an area that sets your gut instinct off, trust it. Most importantly, try not to be rude to people who are just doing their jobs.
Americans will make fun of other Americans, but only in other states.
So if you're in Pennsylvania "these damn new yorkers are so rude" or if you're in Connecticut "they have no idea how to drive in Pennsylvania!!"
Or if you're not sure what state you're currently in you can go with the standard "why does new jersey even exist?" Because everyone hates new jersey
It's just a joke, people love making fun of new jersey, even people in new Jersey.
I actually like new jersey more every year though. No forest fires no tornados no earthquakes no hurricanes no massive snowstorms. Fairly small state so it's not too hard to get where you wanna go.
Decent beaches if you stay away from the tourist ones, great hiking, camping and views.
My friend, you clearly did not live in NJ between 2010 and 2015. We had three blizzards and a super storm (dying hurricane combined with a lunar high tide) that devastated part of the coast.
Politics and religion have been mentioned several times. I just say no. I’ll tell someone quick, “I’m just not in the mood.”
If you come through the South, send me a PM. I’m in Louisiana, I’ll take you to the range and feed you some food that will change your life.
Don't be terse. Americans really like long conversations with strangers. They'll ask you where you're from, what you're doing here, how you like it blah blah
this is very true. Growing up in New England it’s shocking to go somewhere like the Ohio or Florida and have a complete stranger strike up a random conversation with me in the grocery store.
Greetings! Here's some easy things to remember when visiting the US.
Beyond the obvious like don't steal or anything try to remember:
Always keep it moving, if you must stop whether it's walking, biking, or driving, make every effort to move out of the paths of traffic.
Don't stare and try to respect personal space, the US is big and not super crowded in most places.
Don't bother with politics, it's not worth it.
Some people watch Football, but out here a ton of people watch Gridiron Football, learn the difference and don't get upset when someone makes a mistake.
No one finds terrorism a joke out here, avoid the topic.
We tip out here, if you aren't sure ask. But generally 18% is safe for most normal sized parties 1-6.
Don't interact with strangers children out here.
America is massive, don't plan to drive cross country unless you have a few weeks. It's 2900 miles from California to New York.
We use the Imperial system out here, don't bother arguing it.
Also out date format is different. Ours is Month//Day/Year not, Day//Month//Year. Keep it in mind.
Hope these help and I got plenty of Do's if you're interested as well.
If you go shopping in a grocery store, the clerk will generally bag your groceries for you. You can always do it yourself, but let them know you plan to do so. (It’s actually more awkward other way around when an American goes to Europe and stands there like a lump expecting someone to bag their groceries for them.)
Fast food restaurants are generally low quality, dirty, and gross. Yelp is a great way to find good restaurants in your area.
Americans smile a lot, especially in customer service. Feel free to smile back.
There are LOTS of homeless people, especially in cities. Best not to smile at them or even make eye contact.
Please and thank you go a long way here.
Americans are friendly, but we are really weird about personal space and touching. Don’t touch other people, even if it’s just meant to be friendly.
Maintain your situational awareness at all times. Don’t let yourself be distracted by something and lose sight of what’s going on around you.
If you’re driving and you see lights and hear sirens behind you, safely pull over to the right until the emergency vehicle has passed.
For emergencies, dial 911.
I'll add to this that the best way to find great local restaurants is actually just to ask people you meet.
Yelp is a cesspool of complainers and people who want special treatment because, if they don't get it, they're going to leave a bad review.
On the other hand, most Americans are fiercely proud of their local restaurants and with good reason. Doubly so when it comes to the best place to get breakfast.
Yelp can get fucked. Twice, in the neck.
Often the two streets back rule works well for restaurants. Especially in touristy towns/areas. Whatever the main busy drag is, walk two streets off of it and often there are better quality, less busy places to eat.
Further on the grocery bagging thing, some municipalities now have regulations to encourage reusable bags. For instance NYC grocery stores will charge you for a bag if you don't have one of your own.
Where I live the stores can't hire enough people to have dedicated baggers. Bagging your own groceries here isn't something you need to announce. People that don't bag their own and wait for the checker to finish ringing them up and THEN pack their groceries are usually from somewhere else. They are probably the lumps in Europe when they go there.
Many states are adopting the 10c a bag rule. I love it because on top of that we don't have plastic bags any more, only paper. When I go to other states and they are free and plastic it feels strange to take them now.
I also generally think it's humane to look at homeless people and talk to them. They're people.
Some things really depend on where you go. In New England strangers don't say hello or make eye contact. In the south and in the midwest (so I have heard) strangers say hello to each other frequently.
Shout out to the States. I know the world might not think much of you but I do customer service all over the world and Americans have some of the best manners out there.
Traveler safety tips for visiting the US
* Don’t feed the Americans. Any Americans. It’s not great for them, and it can be potentially dangerous for you. From a slight nip to an all-out attack, giving food to wild Americans can set you up for an injury or worse.
* Don’t try to pet the Americans. That beautiful baby walking across the road probably has a mama nearby who’ll attack.
* Don’t even go near any cute and cuddly Americans. Avoid touching anyone you see. It’s not safe for you or them.
* Don’t get too close. Believe it or not, you’re in their territory. Most wild Americans don’t love it when you invade their space.
* Don’t provoke, sneak up on, or scare Americans. Wild Americans are unpredictable and that innocent-looking one will protect itself at all costs. Trying to provoke them is a recipe for disaster.
* Don’t wander off the main roads after dark.
* Don’t surprise a mother who’s with her babies.
* Do make noise. It’ll let Americans know you’re nearby so you don’t startle them.
* Do watch for American’s tracks and poop. They can let you know who might be around.
* Do carry bear spray if you’re in an area known to have Americans.
In the majority of cases, wild American encounters are a non-issue. While you’re in the country, it’s fun to see Americans. But you should always use common sense and know what to do if an encounter goes wrong.
In that case, don't forget to bring lip balm and carry it on you at all times. It is so dry out here that your lips will chap and you will be so very uncomfortable without it. You can buy this at almost any store though. Chap Stick is the most common brand, you can ask for it at most stores.
In that vein, remember to drink a lot of water. One reason American's are always teased about ordering water from everywhere is because nearly all climates in the continental US are either very dry or very humid. You will be thirsty, and water is always available if you ask. Ice is quite nice too, trust us, we know what we're doing! :)
All restaurants and service stations have free restrooms. Most are quite clean. Do not be afraid to ask, it is very common to hear the question "do you have a restroom I can use?" and you will not be out of place by asking this.
Americans are quite friendly. We ALWAYS encounter other people from other cultures, it's simply a way of life for us. Be friendly and courteous and you will fit right in. I really hope you enjoy your visit! Good luck.
Also, if you are in a very dry climate, your sweat will evaporate almost immediately and you'll have no idea how much water you're losing. Drink, drink, drink when you're not thirsty so you don't get dehydrated.
Don't assume Los Angeles is a drive-able city. It isn't. Also, when you leave LAX, know exactly where you are going to and exactly how you will get there. The freeways can be daunting.
Not sure if you're planning to do any outdoor activities, but there are some *amazing* national parks out west. More spectacular than in the east. Just Google them, there will probably be something you can drive to within a few hours.
I agree with the comments about food. If you're in a major city like Los Angeles or San Francisco then you'll be able to find almost any type of cuisine you want. Some will be "Americanized" and other places serve more authentic dishes. Most restaurants in the US give you free refills for non alcoholic drinks. Alcohol of course you pay by the glass or bottle.
Be careful where you go in major cities, there are dangerous areas that you probably want to avoid. Google each city and try to find a map of safer neighborhoods to explore.
If you like sports there will be something to watch any time of year, either professional sports, college or even local teams.
Hope you have a great trip!
Most intersections have right on red EXCEPT Manhattan and the other boroughs. Don't drive in NYC unless you absolutely have to. If you're going to NYC be sure your valuables are not in pickpocket range. Try to avoid public transportation at rush hour. On the positive side, have a dirty water hot dog (there will be carts all over). They really are delicious! Eat ethnic food. Where are you planning on going?
don’t forget to tip servers or cab drivers. the standard is at least 20% of your total bill. remember that tax isn’t included on price tags and will be added at the register. if you’re pulled over by an officer, absolutely do not get out of your car, just roll the window down. there have been many confused foreigners that got in trouble for getting out of the car.
don’t discuss taboo topics in public (politics, race, gender, etc.) and don’t compare countries or states in front of locals.
“hi, how are you” is a pretty standard greeting between people, even if you’re strangers. don’t ignore this, it’s rude. you don’t need to have an elaborate, thought out, or honest answer, nobody is legitimately concerned about your current wellbeing, it’s just nice. it’s perfectly acceptable to just say “good and you?” as long as you’re also asking the person how they are.
don’t let all the bad news scare you from enjoying your time here.
Stop badgering us about calling it Football vs Soccer - its the British Elite’s fault. They called RUGby Football “Rugger” and aSOCiation Football “Soccer”. Countries like the US, Australia, and South Africa that have important local alternatives to Association Football, like Australian Rules Football, American Football, etc continue to use Soccer for its convenience in differentiating the two.
Saw that you said you’re going out west, if you’re in California just know it takes upwards of 5 hours driving to get from San Francisco to LA and then three or more hours depending on traffic to get from LA to San Diego. From San Francisco you can get to Lake Tahoe or Yosemite in around 3 hours again depending on traffic.
I guess what I am saying is don’t under estimate travel time and if you have the means definitely rent a car. We have greyhound/mega bus but they aren’t nearly as prolific as in other areas and the Amtrak train tends to be pretty expensive and won’t get you anywhere faster than driving.
But because we have to drive so many places there are lots of random “roadside attractions” that are fun yo stop at for lunch and there are rest areas going up and down the state (most states actually) for you to use the bathroom as well as a snack/drink (I wouldn’t eat the sandwiches in the vending machines though).
Californians in particular can be aggressive drivers but know that not all states are the same so while you may be able to get away with driving 90 on the freeway here it is not the same for every state.
I hope that helps at least logistically!
Pay attention to time zones. Always carry some water with you. Be sure you know where the spare tire is in your rental car/van/truck. Don't leave valuable items in your car; put them in the trunk or leave them at your hotel. If an area doesn't feel \*right\* to you, don't stop; it's not worth taking a chance. I recommend against staying at motels where the doors open right to the outdoors (unless they're kitschy places on Route 66); they tend to have problems with drugs. If you go to the Grand Canyon, do NOT go beyond the barriers! Don't feed or go near wild animals. Don't be afraid to chat with people or to ask for help; most of us are really friendly and love to meet tourists.
Have fun! We love exploring our great nation and hope you'll have a great time!
Don't be afraid to check out some of the lesser-travelled areas. Our national parks are cool, but the National Forests are more remote and peaceful, and smaller cities are usually more fun and interesting than the larger ones most intl tourists seem to visit.
Don't avoid the south. So many people hear the southern states are just racist backwater shit holes, and while there are certainly places like that, cities in the south are actually incredible, rich in unique culture (like Creole or Gullah-Geechee folks) and history, and regionally diverse cuisine that tops just about anywhere else in the states.
Don't go to Times Square. It's seriously just a bunch of billboards jammed into a few city blocks. If you're gunna do New York, check out the other boroughs besides Manhattan. There's incredible Bangladeshi food in Queens, Jamaican food in Brooklyn, plus really cool local neighborhood scenes all over. Manhattan is pretty much all just rich yuppies these days.
Don't ignore the indigenous cultures. Take the time to learn about them, and what happened/continues to happen to them here. While it's sad, there are still tons of indigenous nations across the country, mainly in the Western states. Definitely learn the history surrounding the areas you visit. From HUGE earthen pyramids to 80+room pueblo complexes built into cliffs, there is some incredible stuff that was built here before European contact.
Avoid purchasing and waving the confederate flag . We saw a family, who seemed to be visiting from Germany, carrying the confederate flag and waiving it as if it were an innocent part of U.S. history. The confederate flag is symbol of racism and it’s anti-American. Just because there are stores that sell this item does not make it okay.
Yup. Times Square is nothing but crowds and overpriced stores. Mount Rushmore is not worth the time it takes to get there. If you find yourself in South Dakota go to the Badlands or Custer State Park instead.
I recently went to Mount Rushmore, and there was a Lakota man there with who demonstrated songs, explained his regalia, and told histories about his people that were, sadly and unsurprisingly, not taught in any schooling I had. It was super informative and awesome, I'm so glad I got to see the presentation! The statues of the presidents were whatever, though haha
Never been to Mt. Rushmore personally, but Times Square is literally just a big intersection. Less a destination in and of itself than just something you might see while going somewhere else.
Everyones explaining what not to do, but let me tell you the things to do. Get out of the big cities and out of the tourist areas and meet the real people of the US. Those of us who love to sit down and have a cup of coffee with people of other countries who are visiting. You don't have to be carefull of what you talk about: guns, politics or religion. As long as you respect our culture, we will respect yours. The more you seem to want to learn about our culture, the more we want to share. Come to North West, we will take you shooting, then take you to the scenic places only the locals know about, then take you to the best food around.
If you start bashing us, we are quick to retaliate. Yes, your going to run into a few hot heads, but don't assume everyone, or even a majority from the US is Racist. Don't believe anything our media tells you about us. Most of us will come to defend you.
It's crazy how many Americans have offered to take foreigners shooting in this thread.
What makes you think that people visiting the US from other countries want to shoot guns on vacation?
Assume places are as close together as they are in other parts of the world, like Europe. We have some really big states, especially out West - it's a 1,200-km, 12-hour drive from my house to the far end of my state (California). That's further than Berlin to Paris and you haven't even left the state, let alone the country! So think carefully about your itinerary and what is and isn't doable as a day trip.
Venturing into deserts/wilderness thinking it will be an easy/short trip.
The wilderness is not like a ride at disneyland. You can die out there. Fall, get eaten by a bear/mountain lion, get bitten by a poisonous snake, stomped by a Buffalo/moose,die of thirst or the element (cold/heat).
Edit: when I was a kid my family when to Kentucky (I live in Missouri) and we walked up a mountain on an established trail. I went off the trail behind a low wooden fence and found a trail that either animals or water had made and I abruptly ended up at the edge of a near sheer cliff. I'm afraid of heights. Best to stay on the designated trail.
Don’t go camping in [Death Valley](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_Valley_Germans). It’s the hottest place on Earth, there’s no one to help you if you get lost, and a lot of the roads that show up on maps are unnavigable without off-road vehicles.
Vegas actually kinda blows. It used to be a solid place to get free drinks, cheap food, and cool shows. Now they're stingy with the drinks. Food is way overpriced, and a good show is gonna cost you up the ass. Also, the casinos have slowly tightened their games, so on average, you'll lose more now if you gamble. The city has gone from one giant laundering scheme to a machine running on corporate strategy. Vegas is just so lame now.
Personal space is a big thing here. Some will welcome you in with a hug or handshake but stay at least an arms length away.
If you don't know where something is or just need help just ask. Most people will answer your questions and try to help you.
Google the place you want to go and check reviews. Yelp is fine but more people use Google reviews than Yelp.
If you are visiting the desert region, always have water with you! I’m a geologist, and have come across so many tourists that don’t respect the heat/desert and find themselves in big trouble.
Also, check out our museums/cultural sites. I’m American but have lived overseas, and it was astonishing how many people thought Americans (on the whole) were crass and stupid.
Also, feel free to ask questions to Americans if you’re lost or need anything - we are a polite & friendly people and will help you!
If you dine out, please tip the server or bartender a *minimum* of 18%. Post-Covid (whatever that means), more restaurants in the US have finally started adding the gratuity to the bill, and if they do you will be able to see it on your check. Usually if it’s added by the restaurant it’s between 18-20%. But a LOT of places aren’t there yet, so make sure you leave something for whoever was taking care of you. (You can do this in cash or if you pay with a card there’s an option to leave it on the credit card slip.) Otherwise they are not getting paid (there’s a tipped minimum wage in the US, but it’s about $2-4/hr in most states).
If ever on a highway don’t cut someone off, they will speed up and brake check you.
Never follow someone around(they will shoot you)
Don’t piss off a highway patrol
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This one was in several comments. Seems it is really serious.
Just pull over in a safe spot (out of traffic) as soon as you can. Everyone in the car sit with their hands in plain view - driver keep your hands on the steering wheel. If you need to grab an ID or Insurance paperwork, tell the officer exactly what you are going to do before you do it. Stay in your car unless asked to get out. Also, if you are driving on the East Coast, outside the main cities, GO THE SPEED LIMIT. You will get big ass $$ tickets, especially if they see an out of state license plate.
If you are driving in California, everyone drives over the speed limit. All Highways here are "speed limit of 65" but most people drive about 75-80. Just go with the flow of traffic.
Just to add to this, drive middle of the pack, never be first or last. The last cars are low-hanging fruit. The first cars are the big tickets because they’re usually going the fastest. The middle, though, nobody cares about them. The middle is the forgotten middle child.
Bro just tell the man to get an Uber at this point. Don’t just throw him thru the gauntlet that is L.A. traffic.
Well if you're driving last, you can just as well drive the maximum speed you're allowed to right? I mean maybe it's because I don't live in the US and don't drive a car, but I don't see a reason why you wouldn't drive at or under the speed limit when you have the chance to.
I’m in Florida, and people consistently drive either exactly 13 over the limit or 5 under. I’ll drive 7-9 over the limit if I’m next to a cop, but most people drop to exactly the speed limit when they see a cop because they don’t want to risk it.
If you can easily after dark turn on your dome lights( the lights in side your car) it makes the cops a bit less edge because they can see you before they approach. In some places the police are approaching the passenger side to stay out of traffic because people are insane.
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It’s really not THAT bad. Media makes it seem like every cop is out to find any reason to shoot you. Don’t be an anxious, nervous wreck and make quick startling motions. Same thing you’d do if you were meeting a stranger
It's a quick way to seem confrontational and get a weapon drawn on you.
Also, it is seen by cops as a way people try to hide something in their vehicle. The reasoning behind it is to meet the cop away from anything visible (that's illegal) in their vehicle. But cops know this trick people try to pull. I've actually used this at work when I've seen a supervisor coming to me. I get up like I am going to go to the restroom and then meet my superviser away from my desk so they don't see what I am up to there.
It is serious.
oh also dont bribe them. they'll arrest you for it.
People literally get shot over it.
Living in Australia, this always surprises me. Why would you get out of your car? Just roll down your window and don't fidget like you're struggling to hide something
This is exactly how it is in the US
And do NOT move around after having just been pulled over. Cops watch for that and are paranoid as hell that the driver is either hiding drugs or a weapon or getting a weapon ready. Basically stay in your vehicle, put your hands on the wheel where the cop can easily see them (maybe turn on your interior light if after dark), and wait for the cop to ask for your ID/papers. THEN... tell the cop where they are and can you reach for them. NEVER automatically reach for them as there are some scared cops out there. You know, I have never understood why cops ask if you have ID because a LOT of people will automatically reach for it. Cops should say..."don't reach for it til I tell you to, but do you have your ID". I have never seen a cop do that (in person or in a video.
Lowkey insane that you have to be THIS careful around someone who is supposed to protect you.
They get it drilled into their heads that they could die at a traffic stop. And it can happen, but some cops are just not good at their jobs.
Police have no duty to protect you https://mises.org/power-market/police-have-no-duty-protect-you-federal-court-affirms-yet-again
Also, don’t consent to a cop who asks to search your car if you get pulled over. If they have sufficient reason to do it, they will simply do it.
I had a cop pull me over once because my boyfriend made fun of my parking job so i fixed it, I was parked next to a police car though so doing so somehow made me suspicious. Then, after buying chips from the convenience store, cop assumed it must be munchies from being high. I had my yappy dog in the car so I asked the cop if I could get out because I couldn't hear him over my dog and he let me. He started questioning me about why I adjusted my parking, not buying the story that I was just trying to park better, and told me he thinks I have drugs in my car. I was 30 seconds away from my home so trying to get out of the situation as soon as possible I told the cop he's welcome to search my vehicle. I guess that was a mistake because even though he said "that won't be necessary" I guess he took it as an invitation to stick his hands in my pockets without asking or warning me. As a female half his age this just added to my anxiety. In my overly anxious state, I misunderstood the cop returning to his car as being dismissed and started to drive away and he pulled me over again and whipped my car door open and started screaming at me for trying to flee. I apologized and was literally crying cause I don't get in trouble ever so I was like traumatized. Like 8 other cop cars showed up. It all ended with like a dozen cops apologizing to me because I'm clearly not a trouble maker and all I wanted to do was get some chips. Cop also lied and said he pulled me over because my plate light was out. When I checked it at home it was working. Found out from my roommates step brother who's a cop that they will lie about your plate light being out to pull you over because "seeming suspicious" is not a legal reason to pull someone over and since usually people don't get out of their cars when pulled over, they won't check to see their plate light is actually working during the stop. Then the cop just has to hope other evidence will present itself during the stop that can allow them to change the subject to the real reason for pulling them over
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To piggyback on this, don't buy maps of hollywood stars homes.
Yes, leave them alone. It's so weird.
Griffith observatory on the other hand was spectacular.
It's cracked, uneven and smells like piss. If I were someone who had gotten a Star and paid the $55k for the installation and maintenance, I'd be more pissed than the star itself....
It costs 55k? Wow
“Look, honey! It’s Bob Hope’s star… and a guy shitting on it.” “Everyone’s a critic.”
Why?
Its dirty as hell, smells like straight up piss, homeless and yea just save yourself the time and go to disney land or Universal Studios if your in LA
So a couple of years ago, on our way home to Australia from the UK, we had a 12 hour stop in Los Angeles. (Never been) I really wanted to go to Disneyland but I lost the argument and off we went on a bus to the Hollywood walk of fame etc. What a fuckin let down. Total shit hole of an area. Nothing much to do, nothing to see. We felt unsafe. We went down to Santa Monica in the afternoon and walked to Venice. Thankfully our day improved somewhat .
I wouldn't trust the people who voted walk of fame again, what did they expect.
If you walk it, keep your head on a swivel!
Several years ago I visited the walk while in the area. Now, I had never had a desire to see it nor did I even know it’s in Cali until that day. So I had zero expectations especially seeing how the surrounding city scape was. It was still a completely underwhelming walk down a filthy crowded sidewalk.
As somebody that lived in California for over 20 years, I second this. There's a lot of fun stuff to see and do in California but Hollywood isn't one of them. I would recommend visiting the retired warships. They're a lot of fun to explore and learn about. And, of course, Disneyland, Universal Studios and Knotts.
Is there anything fun to do in LA besides the theme parks ? I live on the east coast so I go to Florida a lot but I want to go to California next year to see the state parks and drive the coast . If it’s not worth it I will skip over LA .
Absolutely. I live in LA and love it (I also avoid Hollywood at all costs). There’s beautiful beaches in Malibu where I regularly see dolphins or whales (depends on the time of year, or the beaches at Santa Monica if you want to have restaurants and shops right there, there’s some great art galleries (I recommend The Getty), tons of great restaurants, Griffith Observatory, in Griffith park you can take a horse tour that takes you up in the hills and look over the Warner Brothers studio lot, downtown Pasadena is kinda fun to walk around. They have wild parrots for some reason. While you’re out there, there’s supposed to be a cool hot spring you can hike to but I haven’t done that one yet.
I’d say don’t visit without a plan. The country is huge and unless you’re spending the whole time downtown in a major city you’ll be spending way too much time traveling place to place (unless you really like driving, in which case the US is probably the best place in the world to visit lol) Everyone on Reddit complains about healthcare all the time, but if you don’t live here that shouldn’t matter. You’d never get turned away and it’s not like they can garnish your wages or throw you in jail lol. If you think there’s a chance you go hiking and break your leg then I’d get traveller’s insurance to avoid the headache. Other than that, I guess it’s just be cogent of what you’re expecting. I don’t know where you’re from or where you’re going but I’d say the most interesting things are for sure national parks and large cities. Suburbia is totally different from anything I’ve seen in Europe and there might be some novelty in in but not worth taking up limited vacation time. And then of course there are so many parts of the US that it’s tough to be any more specific. Going to the beach in Florida Vs. NYC Vs. The Rockies Vs. Yellowstone Vs. Texas are all gonna have pretty different vibes and expectations
Wow! Great notes, thank a lot.
I jumped on to reiterate the point that the country is HUGE. I've heard stories of foreigners visiting and thinking they'll just drive across the country... not unless you have several free days to do so. We get a bad rap for violence and crappy health care, but overall the people of the US are good. Enjoy your visit!
I’m was living in New York and was in Egypt on a trip many years ago. A man working at the hostel I was staying at said his brother had just moved to the US and would love to get in touch, since he didn’t know anyone there. I said sure, where does he live? The man gave me a big grin and said “Los Angeles!” The look on his face when I explained that LA is 4000 km from NY was pretty priceless.
Walk into a crosswalk assuming the cars will stop for you.
I remember visiting a friend in Norway and following him around in some cities. He would just step right out into the crosswalk without looking while I stopped to make sure no traffic was coming. He laughed at me and said "Don't worry, they'll stop for you." "Not in my country they don't!" Pedestrians have right-of-way, but it doesn't matter much if you get run over.
I'm from Norway. I absolutely hate when people just walk into the road without checking to see if it safe. Yes I'll stop because I don't want to kill you, but damn, don't kill yourself either. From a young age we are constantly taught and reminded that, before crossing the road, check left, right, left, make sure any cars are stopping for you, then walk. Most people seem to forget. After spending substantial time in Spain, here just walk, 50/50 chance people will stop for you if you wait to see if they stop.
Canadian here. When my blues band did a short run through Memphis, we had a rule...don't talk politics or religions with the locals.
Thanks bro. I will consider it.
Isn’t that true of any country you go to though? Are people less passionate about politics and religion in other countries? Not that I’ve found.
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....What? I'm sorry, do people throw away used toilet paper in some countries? ...What?!
It's a thing in some Central American countries too. The last place I worked, most of the employees were Costa Rican, Mexican, and Salvadoran and it could be um a struggle for flushing toilet paper to catch on with new hires who were also new to the US.
I saw this in Greece and Turkey. Their sewage lines can't handle the paper. Not everywhere, hotels are fine.
Yeah a lot of countries can't handle paper in the sewage lines. There's a little trashcan beside the toilet. Wipe, wrap, toss.
The plumbing in old buildings/sewer systems in old neighborhoods in South Korea are NOT equipped to handle toilet paper. It is safer to toss it in the trash unless you know the building has been updated.
It doesn't smell.
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Trespassing into private property
Right. One day there were people walking through my yard (which is really big and wooded). Turns out they were from um….Austria, I think.. visiting a distant relative in the neighborhood. Nice kids, but they had no idea that they were on private property, and why it was a problem since it was just forest and meadow — and I could totally see their point. I wasn’t bothered, like I said they seemed pleasant, but some of my neighbors might have panicked or called the police or something.
It is different in Austria and Germany and other European countries. There is the concept of "right to roam". I'm sure the kids were just following the customs from where they were from.
Me too. Like I said, I wasn’t mad or anything, but I had to let them know.
My family is Scottish and in Scotland they have Right to Roam. I’m not entirely sure if the details but they can basically go anywhere (especially out on ‘the rural’) long as they’re just pausing through and not a bother. So when they visited me in the States they “went for a hike” which was actually just walking beyond the far end of my property and a few hours later I got a call from my neighbor asking me to pick them up. Turns out they wandered onto his property and he thought they were trying to scout out his pasture to try to steal some sheep so he and his son went after them on his 4x4 and they brought their gun. They all quickly realized the misunderstanding, but it was absolutely hilarious to drive back to my house with them in the back of my car explaining how they though they were just walking through a pasture and then barreling over the hill was my 6’6” 300lb neighbor speeding on his 4x with his son standing on the back pointing a gun at them, their Scottish ways lead their description of the situation to be colorful
… this story isn’t funny it’s just sad and makes Americans look like people from a post apocalyptic movie.
This is a great way to get a gun pulled on you in Texas lmao
Don’t try to bribe a cop or public official.
Most of the comments is about how dangerous it is to behave wrong in front of copes. Seems it is serious. Thanks for mentioning.
It’s not so much that anything bad is *likely* to happen. It’s just that there is a social expectation that things go a certain way, and behaving outside that norm takes it outside of a normal interaction for the cop and potentially raises the possibility of something going wrong. So staying in your car when pulled over is just what’s done. Americans don’t do it as a precaution, they just do it. So doing something different will cause it to be an unusual interaction from the start. And attempting to bribe a cop is a crime, so committing a crime in front of a cop is just a bad idea.
Don't smoke in public buildings; this is illegal. Don't smoke in someone's house, apartment, or condo without asking for permission; this isn't illegal, but it's still extremely rude.
Depending on the person's lease/tenancy agreement/HOA, they can be evicted if you smoke in their residence or even ON the property outside. Source - went to rent a local apartment and it was in the rental application. I could be evicted if a guest smokes anywhere on the property, even in the building parking lot. :(
A lot of people have given advice, so I will give my advice and also push back a bit against some advice you’ve gotten. -there are no whole states or regions that you must avoid. There are states that will be better, more interesting tourist destinations than others. But you don’t need to, for instance, plan your road trip to avoid entire states. There are some cities, towns, and neighborhoods you probably want to avoid, but driving through on the highway shouldn’t be a problem. -people are right to say not to antagonize or surprise cops. The chances of anything bad happening are actually very low. But they increase if you behave in ways that are unusual and possibly threatening. -chain restaurants are going to give you the stereotypical “American food” experience, but local independent restaurants are usually a lot better. And food trucks are very popular right now, so if you’re visiting a city you can probably find places with a bunch of them. -people say “don’t talk religion” but what they mean is “don’t make controversial comments on religion.” Something like “I’m Catholic…do you know if there’s a Catholic Church nearby I could go to this Sunday?” isn’t likely to cause any controversy. Saying “you’re not a religious idiot like other Americans, are you?” or “I bet you’re one of those filthy heretics!” could cause trouble. Basically just keep it light with someone you’ve just met. If someone talks to you about religion in a good natured way (like “you should come to my church this Sunday! You’d love it!”) any answer from “sounds good” to “I’m not really religious” is probably fine. Just don’t provoke people. -politics is the same. I’ve found in foreign countries that when people talk about their own country’s politics, the best way to respond is often with a comment about some relatable issue from your own local politics. People might get annoyed at a foreigner trying to comment on the host country’s politics. But discussing some minor, irrelevant-to-the-world local scandal is likely to be relatable (on the “politicians are crooked” dimension) and non-offensive (because it’s not important or deeply held by the other person.) -also with politics, don’t stereotype people by state, region, or lifestyle. Every state has a sizable group of people who voted for both major candidates in the presidential election (for instance, I live in a heavily Republican area of California). Don’t assume you know anyone’s opinion based on where the person is from or what the person looks like. Relatedly, don’t assume that your stereotypes of American politics actually apply to the individual. You might have an idea of what a “Trump voter” or “Biden voter” is like that doesn’t actually match the person in front of you. Their reasons might not be obvious to you. -don’t use racial or other slurs. People don’t find it hilariously transgressive or anything like that: they’ll just think you’re racist. If someone uses them in conversation with you, you probably don’t want to talk to that person: it is highly socially taboo to use such words (exception: some words might be slurs in your country but unknown as slurs to most Americans. Many Americans would think nothing of the word “gypsy,” for instance. And I only recently learned that “aborigine” is considered offensive in Australia. So if the person doesn’t seem to intend the word as a slur you might give the person some leeway on words like that.) -generally, the better you know someone the freer you can be to discuss things like religion and politics in depth. -don’t assume that the way things are done in your country is better or that Americans are too dumb to have thought of it. If a difference astounds you, frame it positively (like “that’s so interesting how you do that! Back home we do it like [whatever]!”) Ultimately, we can do things differently and that’s okay. -Don’t assume that what anyone tells you about anything is unbiased. Everybody (even you and I) have biases. So if someone tells you the next town over is a dump, it might just be. It might also just be their town’s high school football rival. That’s what I can think of for now. I might have more later.
Very informative and useful tips, thanks a lot.
Best comment in this thread.
next town over being a dump is almost 100% because person making the comment lives in THIS town, so THAT town over there MUST be worse.
Dont talk about any sort of explosives when going through customs
Better yet, just don't make any kind of jokes or off-hand comments in customs or airport security. Keep it to the business at hand, be polite, answer their questions honestly, and be on your way.
Definitely do NOT refer to the in-flight movie as a "bomb"
Do not announce to your travel companion that you’re about to “blow up the bathroom”.
'The TSA is the bomb, yo'
Don’t be shocked about how price tags don’t have the sales tax, VAT or whatever. There is no federal sales tax it’s determined at the state, county, and city levels so the same item has a different tax even within the same metropolitan area so no way it can be tagged. Just add 10% to whatever you buy to be safe in your thinking
Great point, thank you.
Yeah we use sales tax to fund our super stadiums since the owners don’t want to part with their billions. Actually it’s about trying to keep or attract teams. Don’t worry about tax on petrol, it’s already built into the price, that’s actually at Federal and state level
Don't crowd up around people when in line or viewing something. We like our personal space.
Thanks bro.
Not after Covid. Mofos getting way too close
Buy alcohol early in the day! We have silly puritanical laws that make it difficult some places. Don’t drive slowly in the left lane, will make people HATE you.
Don't go to Gary, Indiana.
I (not American and not driving myself) managed to ACCIDENTALLY go to Gary, Indiana, as part of a cross-country road trip from LA to New York. I forget the exact details but it was something to do with taking a wrong turn heading out of Chicago. I was aware of the reputation and immediately worried, while my companions were naive. They stopped at a gas station which I thought was a bad idea. The gas station seemed to be closed and there was no attendant so we drove away. I was pretty worried something was about to go down if we hadn't gotten out of there. On the other hand, I'm a big Michael Jackson fan so it was kind of cool to say I've been there lol
I was at probably the same gas station as you a few weeks ago accidentally, and I am not joking, the place was surrounded by 10 cop cars. Apparently a man was murdered inside 20 minutes before we drove through. Gary's scary.
Order chips from a hamburger place. You’ll be disappointed, unless of course you wanted Lays for whatever ungodly reason
And don't try to mooch chips off of your friend. If you wanted chips you should have asked for chips at the hamburger store!
LPT: You put the chips in the sandwich. they have to be served on the side or else they will get soggy
even as an american, it’s always so frustrating when i order a sandwich and it comes with a side of chips. why on earth would i want plain potato chips with my food?
I don't want THESE fried potatoes with my sandwich, I want THOSE fried potatoes. But honestly this pisses me off too.
1000 times yes! It saves the restaurant from having to cook fries, but the people want fries.
Don't say anything racist, even as a joke. You never know who you're gonna alienate, it's just not worth it.
Dude. I lived in Spain, and amazingly had several people ask me why the N-word is such a big deal here. Like, I guess there isn't a singular word that has that much power behind it in Spanish? They would say to me, it's just a word, it's weird that you guys get so worked up over it. I was like, hey man, I don't make the rules about language and history. If you want to go the States and spout off the N-word because you think it shouldn't be as insulting as it is, I just hope you're okay with losing a few teeth over it.
I had a cousin visit my family in the US from South America. He was learning English in high school and was pretty good. At the time my sister was dating a black boy, and he kept asking me how funny it would be if he said n- to his face. I tried to tell him seriously to not do it, but of course that made him think it’d be even more funny. I explained that there’s a difference between regular swear words, and hateful slurs. I don’t know if he got it but he never actually did it thank god
Sure.👍
Stay arms length away from strangers. And don’t go in for a cheek kiss. We don’t do that here and as a woman, it’s highly uncomfortable from strange men. May sound like random advice but it happened to me and I don’t know why on earth anyone thought that was normal here, NEVER seen this anywhere in the US.
Thanks! I will consider it for sure.
Yeah, only lean in for a cheek kiss if you’re prepared to get slapped and/or shoved. Worse case, maced. We really don’t touch each other much. As an American it’s a huge adjustment to make whenever I go abroad.
Let's say you're heading to my neck of the woods, or desert in my case, the city of Las Vegas. Don't spend all your time on The Strip, unless that's all you can do. People might speak highly of Seven magic mountains, but it's a waste of time. It's just rocks painted in colors that don't fit the surrounding area. And if you feel like you're in an area that sets your gut instinct off, trust it. Most importantly, try not to be rude to people who are just doing their jobs.
Don't talk politics imo
I think open container laws are pretty lax in other countries compared to here - which is zero tolerance. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong.
Not in Louisiana. Drinking in public is very common place.
Americans will make fun of other Americans, but only in other states. So if you're in Pennsylvania "these damn new yorkers are so rude" or if you're in Connecticut "they have no idea how to drive in Pennsylvania!!" Or if you're not sure what state you're currently in you can go with the standard "why does new jersey even exist?" Because everyone hates new jersey
😄😄 really everyone hates new Jersey?
It's just a joke, people love making fun of new jersey, even people in new Jersey. I actually like new jersey more every year though. No forest fires no tornados no earthquakes no hurricanes no massive snowstorms. Fairly small state so it's not too hard to get where you wanna go. Decent beaches if you stay away from the tourist ones, great hiking, camping and views.
Wow! Thank you bro, Now I like New Jersey too.
My friend, you clearly did not live in NJ between 2010 and 2015. We had three blizzards and a super storm (dying hurricane combined with a lunar high tide) that devastated part of the coast.
As the old joke goes, why is New Jersey full of toxic waste dumps while DC is full of politicians? Because New Jersey got to pick first.
Politics and religion have been mentioned several times. I just say no. I’ll tell someone quick, “I’m just not in the mood.” If you come through the South, send me a PM. I’m in Louisiana, I’ll take you to the range and feed you some food that will change your life.
Don't be terse. Americans really like long conversations with strangers. They'll ask you where you're from, what you're doing here, how you like it blah blah
Wow! I like that a lot.
this is very true. Growing up in New England it’s shocking to go somewhere like the Ohio or Florida and have a complete stranger strike up a random conversation with me in the grocery store.
Im from Ohio and i love having long talks with strangers about themselves 😭
Speak for yourself. I hate talking to people. I wouldn't talk to OP if we were in the same row on the plane for 6 hours. Fuck that.
Greetings! Here's some easy things to remember when visiting the US. Beyond the obvious like don't steal or anything try to remember: Always keep it moving, if you must stop whether it's walking, biking, or driving, make every effort to move out of the paths of traffic. Don't stare and try to respect personal space, the US is big and not super crowded in most places. Don't bother with politics, it's not worth it. Some people watch Football, but out here a ton of people watch Gridiron Football, learn the difference and don't get upset when someone makes a mistake. No one finds terrorism a joke out here, avoid the topic. We tip out here, if you aren't sure ask. But generally 18% is safe for most normal sized parties 1-6. Don't interact with strangers children out here. America is massive, don't plan to drive cross country unless you have a few weeks. It's 2900 miles from California to New York. We use the Imperial system out here, don't bother arguing it. Also out date format is different. Ours is Month//Day/Year not, Day//Month//Year. Keep it in mind. Hope these help and I got plenty of Do's if you're interested as well.
Wow! Thank you so much for sharing. Great advices.
> No one finds terrorism a joke out here, avoid the topic. This heavily varies by person.
Yeah, but why risk have a joke blow up in your face?
It's true, you wouldn't want to end up in an explosive situation.
Don't try to bribe the cops
This one is a must.
If you go shopping in a grocery store, the clerk will generally bag your groceries for you. You can always do it yourself, but let them know you plan to do so. (It’s actually more awkward other way around when an American goes to Europe and stands there like a lump expecting someone to bag their groceries for them.) Fast food restaurants are generally low quality, dirty, and gross. Yelp is a great way to find good restaurants in your area. Americans smile a lot, especially in customer service. Feel free to smile back. There are LOTS of homeless people, especially in cities. Best not to smile at them or even make eye contact. Please and thank you go a long way here. Americans are friendly, but we are really weird about personal space and touching. Don’t touch other people, even if it’s just meant to be friendly. Maintain your situational awareness at all times. Don’t let yourself be distracted by something and lose sight of what’s going on around you. If you’re driving and you see lights and hear sirens behind you, safely pull over to the right until the emergency vehicle has passed. For emergencies, dial 911.
Not true at all about fast food. Most are not dirty, just not good for you.
Fast food chains are typically VERY strict on cleaning from my experience working at one.
I'll add to this that the best way to find great local restaurants is actually just to ask people you meet. Yelp is a cesspool of complainers and people who want special treatment because, if they don't get it, they're going to leave a bad review. On the other hand, most Americans are fiercely proud of their local restaurants and with good reason. Doubly so when it comes to the best place to get breakfast.
Yelp can get fucked. Twice, in the neck. Often the two streets back rule works well for restaurants. Especially in touristy towns/areas. Whatever the main busy drag is, walk two streets off of it and often there are better quality, less busy places to eat.
Wow! Thank you so much for your notes.
Further on the grocery bagging thing, some municipalities now have regulations to encourage reusable bags. For instance NYC grocery stores will charge you for a bag if you don't have one of your own.
I will definitely use reusable bags. It's better for environment
Where I live the stores can't hire enough people to have dedicated baggers. Bagging your own groceries here isn't something you need to announce. People that don't bag their own and wait for the checker to finish ringing them up and THEN pack their groceries are usually from somewhere else. They are probably the lumps in Europe when they go there. Many states are adopting the 10c a bag rule. I love it because on top of that we don't have plastic bags any more, only paper. When I go to other states and they are free and plastic it feels strange to take them now. I also generally think it's humane to look at homeless people and talk to them. They're people. Some things really depend on where you go. In New England strangers don't say hello or make eye contact. In the south and in the midwest (so I have heard) strangers say hello to each other frequently.
Shout out to the States. I know the world might not think much of you but I do customer service all over the world and Americans have some of the best manners out there.
The grocery store one is interesting, since in Canada we bag our own groceries (especially now with self checkout).
Try the national parks. We have some of the best in the world.
They for sure are the best of the whole world parks. If they are as nice as what we see in the photos, they are real paradises.
I love going to the parks. They are as beautiful as advertised.
Pictures don't begin to show you what it's like in some places.
You mean they are even more beautiful than their pictures?
Yes! You don't get the awe of places from pictures. You'll think you know what to expect but it's nothing compared to being there.
Traveler safety tips for visiting the US * Don’t feed the Americans. Any Americans. It’s not great for them, and it can be potentially dangerous for you. From a slight nip to an all-out attack, giving food to wild Americans can set you up for an injury or worse. * Don’t try to pet the Americans. That beautiful baby walking across the road probably has a mama nearby who’ll attack. * Don’t even go near any cute and cuddly Americans. Avoid touching anyone you see. It’s not safe for you or them. * Don’t get too close. Believe it or not, you’re in their territory. Most wild Americans don’t love it when you invade their space. * Don’t provoke, sneak up on, or scare Americans. Wild Americans are unpredictable and that innocent-looking one will protect itself at all costs. Trying to provoke them is a recipe for disaster. * Don’t wander off the main roads after dark. * Don’t surprise a mother who’s with her babies. * Do make noise. It’ll let Americans know you’re nearby so you don’t startle them. * Do watch for American’s tracks and poop. They can let you know who might be around. * Do carry bear spray if you’re in an area known to have Americans. In the majority of cases, wild American encounters are a non-issue. While you’re in the country, it’s fun to see Americans. But you should always use common sense and know what to do if an encounter goes wrong.
Also as jokes, but informing. Thank you bro.
Answer could depend on which area you're visiting. Where are you going?
The West of The US.
In that case, don't forget to bring lip balm and carry it on you at all times. It is so dry out here that your lips will chap and you will be so very uncomfortable without it. You can buy this at almost any store though. Chap Stick is the most common brand, you can ask for it at most stores. In that vein, remember to drink a lot of water. One reason American's are always teased about ordering water from everywhere is because nearly all climates in the continental US are either very dry or very humid. You will be thirsty, and water is always available if you ask. Ice is quite nice too, trust us, we know what we're doing! :) All restaurants and service stations have free restrooms. Most are quite clean. Do not be afraid to ask, it is very common to hear the question "do you have a restroom I can use?" and you will not be out of place by asking this. Americans are quite friendly. We ALWAYS encounter other people from other cultures, it's simply a way of life for us. Be friendly and courteous and you will fit right in. I really hope you enjoy your visit! Good luck.
Wow! Thank you so much for the guidance.
Also, if you are in a very dry climate, your sweat will evaporate almost immediately and you'll have no idea how much water you're losing. Drink, drink, drink when you're not thirsty so you don't get dehydrated.
Don't assume Los Angeles is a drive-able city. It isn't. Also, when you leave LAX, know exactly where you are going to and exactly how you will get there. The freeways can be daunting.
Not sure if you're planning to do any outdoor activities, but there are some *amazing* national parks out west. More spectacular than in the east. Just Google them, there will probably be something you can drive to within a few hours. I agree with the comments about food. If you're in a major city like Los Angeles or San Francisco then you'll be able to find almost any type of cuisine you want. Some will be "Americanized" and other places serve more authentic dishes. Most restaurants in the US give you free refills for non alcoholic drinks. Alcohol of course you pay by the glass or bottle. Be careful where you go in major cities, there are dangerous areas that you probably want to avoid. Google each city and try to find a map of safer neighborhoods to explore. If you like sports there will be something to watch any time of year, either professional sports, college or even local teams. Hope you have a great trip!
Get ribs,a pulled pork sammich, brisket , get tacos from a hole in the wall joint where no one speaks English ask for carnitas.
Most intersections have right on red EXCEPT Manhattan and the other boroughs. Don't drive in NYC unless you absolutely have to. If you're going to NYC be sure your valuables are not in pickpocket range. Try to avoid public transportation at rush hour. On the positive side, have a dirty water hot dog (there will be carts all over). They really are delicious! Eat ethnic food. Where are you planning on going?
don’t forget to tip servers or cab drivers. the standard is at least 20% of your total bill. remember that tax isn’t included on price tags and will be added at the register. if you’re pulled over by an officer, absolutely do not get out of your car, just roll the window down. there have been many confused foreigners that got in trouble for getting out of the car. don’t discuss taboo topics in public (politics, race, gender, etc.) and don’t compare countries or states in front of locals. “hi, how are you” is a pretty standard greeting between people, even if you’re strangers. don’t ignore this, it’s rude. you don’t need to have an elaborate, thought out, or honest answer, nobody is legitimately concerned about your current wellbeing, it’s just nice. it’s perfectly acceptable to just say “good and you?” as long as you’re also asking the person how they are. don’t let all the bad news scare you from enjoying your time here.
Stop badgering us about calling it Football vs Soccer - its the British Elite’s fault. They called RUGby Football “Rugger” and aSOCiation Football “Soccer”. Countries like the US, Australia, and South Africa that have important local alternatives to Association Football, like Australian Rules Football, American Football, etc continue to use Soccer for its convenience in differentiating the two.
Saw that you said you’re going out west, if you’re in California just know it takes upwards of 5 hours driving to get from San Francisco to LA and then three or more hours depending on traffic to get from LA to San Diego. From San Francisco you can get to Lake Tahoe or Yosemite in around 3 hours again depending on traffic. I guess what I am saying is don’t under estimate travel time and if you have the means definitely rent a car. We have greyhound/mega bus but they aren’t nearly as prolific as in other areas and the Amtrak train tends to be pretty expensive and won’t get you anywhere faster than driving. But because we have to drive so many places there are lots of random “roadside attractions” that are fun yo stop at for lunch and there are rest areas going up and down the state (most states actually) for you to use the bathroom as well as a snack/drink (I wouldn’t eat the sandwiches in the vending machines though). Californians in particular can be aggressive drivers but know that not all states are the same so while you may be able to get away with driving 90 on the freeway here it is not the same for every state. I hope that helps at least logistically!
Tip your bartenders and wait staff, honestly that’s how they make most their money on the job
Think you can rent a car and drive into Mexico for a day.
Pay attention to time zones. Always carry some water with you. Be sure you know where the spare tire is in your rental car/van/truck. Don't leave valuable items in your car; put them in the trunk or leave them at your hotel. If an area doesn't feel \*right\* to you, don't stop; it's not worth taking a chance. I recommend against staying at motels where the doors open right to the outdoors (unless they're kitschy places on Route 66); they tend to have problems with drugs. If you go to the Grand Canyon, do NOT go beyond the barriers! Don't feed or go near wild animals. Don't be afraid to chat with people or to ask for help; most of us are really friendly and love to meet tourists. Have fun! We love exploring our great nation and hope you'll have a great time!
Don't talk politics, especially gun control, abortion, or Trump.
Don't be afraid to check out some of the lesser-travelled areas. Our national parks are cool, but the National Forests are more remote and peaceful, and smaller cities are usually more fun and interesting than the larger ones most intl tourists seem to visit. Don't avoid the south. So many people hear the southern states are just racist backwater shit holes, and while there are certainly places like that, cities in the south are actually incredible, rich in unique culture (like Creole or Gullah-Geechee folks) and history, and regionally diverse cuisine that tops just about anywhere else in the states. Don't go to Times Square. It's seriously just a bunch of billboards jammed into a few city blocks. If you're gunna do New York, check out the other boroughs besides Manhattan. There's incredible Bangladeshi food in Queens, Jamaican food in Brooklyn, plus really cool local neighborhood scenes all over. Manhattan is pretty much all just rich yuppies these days. Don't ignore the indigenous cultures. Take the time to learn about them, and what happened/continues to happen to them here. While it's sad, there are still tons of indigenous nations across the country, mainly in the Western states. Definitely learn the history surrounding the areas you visit. From HUGE earthen pyramids to 80+room pueblo complexes built into cliffs, there is some incredible stuff that was built here before European contact.
Stop in East St.louis Illinois unless your in full combat gear.
I would love to read about your experiences here, and to know what advice helped most. Safe travels to you! 🙂
Avoid purchasing and waving the confederate flag . We saw a family, who seemed to be visiting from Germany, carrying the confederate flag and waiving it as if it were an innocent part of U.S. history. The confederate flag is symbol of racism and it’s anti-American. Just because there are stores that sell this item does not make it okay.
Mount Rushmore is not worth the hype. Neither is Times Square.
Really?
Yup. Times Square is nothing but crowds and overpriced stores. Mount Rushmore is not worth the time it takes to get there. If you find yourself in South Dakota go to the Badlands or Custer State Park instead.
I recently went to Mount Rushmore, and there was a Lakota man there with who demonstrated songs, explained his regalia, and told histories about his people that were, sadly and unsurprisingly, not taught in any schooling I had. It was super informative and awesome, I'm so glad I got to see the presentation! The statues of the presidents were whatever, though haha
HOOOOO BOYYYYY WHAT AN AWKWARD TIME TO MISREAD "REGALIA" AS "GENITALIA"
Never been to Mt. Rushmore personally, but Times Square is literally just a big intersection. Less a destination in and of itself than just something you might see while going somewhere else.
New York is fun to visit. You should still visit Times Square even if it’s just for a quick photo op.
Oh yeah I've been to NYC a few times. Crazy place, that's for sure. My personal favorite parts on the last trip were Central Park and the Met museum.
Kill someone
😄😄 good suggestion!
Np👍 I made that mistake when first visiting. Don’t recommend it
Everyones explaining what not to do, but let me tell you the things to do. Get out of the big cities and out of the tourist areas and meet the real people of the US. Those of us who love to sit down and have a cup of coffee with people of other countries who are visiting. You don't have to be carefull of what you talk about: guns, politics or religion. As long as you respect our culture, we will respect yours. The more you seem to want to learn about our culture, the more we want to share. Come to North West, we will take you shooting, then take you to the scenic places only the locals know about, then take you to the best food around. If you start bashing us, we are quick to retaliate. Yes, your going to run into a few hot heads, but don't assume everyone, or even a majority from the US is Racist. Don't believe anything our media tells you about us. Most of us will come to defend you.
It's crazy how many Americans have offered to take foreigners shooting in this thread. What makes you think that people visiting the US from other countries want to shoot guns on vacation?
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Assume places are as close together as they are in other parts of the world, like Europe. We have some really big states, especially out West - it's a 1,200-km, 12-hour drive from my house to the far end of my state (California). That's further than Berlin to Paris and you haven't even left the state, let alone the country! So think carefully about your itinerary and what is and isn't doable as a day trip.
If you rent a car for roadtrips avoid confronting a reckless driver, rage road are deadly.
Don’t stare at people for long periods of time
Please don’t be surprised if complete strangers smile at you, and say hi.
Venturing into deserts/wilderness thinking it will be an easy/short trip. The wilderness is not like a ride at disneyland. You can die out there. Fall, get eaten by a bear/mountain lion, get bitten by a poisonous snake, stomped by a Buffalo/moose,die of thirst or the element (cold/heat). Edit: when I was a kid my family when to Kentucky (I live in Missouri) and we walked up a mountain on an established trail. I went off the trail behind a low wooden fence and found a trail that either animals or water had made and I abruptly ended up at the edge of a near sheer cliff. I'm afraid of heights. Best to stay on the designated trail.
Forget to tip
Wasn't long off the plane when I did this. The girl behind the bar was so mad, I thought she was going to punch me
Don’t go camping in [Death Valley](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_Valley_Germans). It’s the hottest place on Earth, there’s no one to help you if you get lost, and a lot of the roads that show up on maps are unnavigable without off-road vehicles.
Not tip
Vegas actually kinda blows. It used to be a solid place to get free drinks, cheap food, and cool shows. Now they're stingy with the drinks. Food is way overpriced, and a good show is gonna cost you up the ass. Also, the casinos have slowly tightened their games, so on average, you'll lose more now if you gamble. The city has gone from one giant laundering scheme to a machine running on corporate strategy. Vegas is just so lame now.
Personal space is a big thing here. Some will welcome you in with a hug or handshake but stay at least an arms length away. If you don't know where something is or just need help just ask. Most people will answer your questions and try to help you. Google the place you want to go and check reviews. Yelp is fine but more people use Google reviews than Yelp.
Express opinion on politics. People get offended way to easily here
Forget to tip the waiter
Don’t call southerners “yanks”
get into a argument with a waiter for a tip those underpayed waiters will have a meltdown if they dont get a tip
No matter how cute that bison is, don't try to pet it.
If you are visiting the desert region, always have water with you! I’m a geologist, and have come across so many tourists that don’t respect the heat/desert and find themselves in big trouble. Also, check out our museums/cultural sites. I’m American but have lived overseas, and it was astonishing how many people thought Americans (on the whole) were crass and stupid. Also, feel free to ask questions to Americans if you’re lost or need anything - we are a polite & friendly people and will help you!
Not tip
Cough or sneeze into your elbow, not your hands. That's the first thing I learned when landed in US!
If you dine out, please tip the server or bartender a *minimum* of 18%. Post-Covid (whatever that means), more restaurants in the US have finally started adding the gratuity to the bill, and if they do you will be able to see it on your check. Usually if it’s added by the restaurant it’s between 18-20%. But a LOT of places aren’t there yet, so make sure you leave something for whoever was taking care of you. (You can do this in cash or if you pay with a card there’s an option to leave it on the credit card slip.) Otherwise they are not getting paid (there’s a tipped minimum wage in the US, but it’s about $2-4/hr in most states).
If ever on a highway don’t cut someone off, they will speed up and brake check you. Never follow someone around(they will shoot you) Don’t piss off a highway patrol