Saturday, August 10, 2013

Tourism 101: What You Should Do and Not Do during Your Stay in the U.S.

You may have a solid knowledge and understanding of American culture through the help of watching dozens of American television series and Hollywood movies, and studying American history. However, this does not assure you that you cannot commit a mistake when you arrive at the United States. Remember, it is a different experience when you are physically there.


If you are visiting the U.S. for the first time, it necessary to know what are the dos and don’ts as a tourist. There are many things you are not supposed to do while in the U.S., and if you don’t want your vacation to end in a bad note, make sure to follow these tips:

Do focus on one particular region – Visiting all the popular tourist destinations in one trip may seem interesting and inviting but it is not advisable. Going coast-to-coast just to visit all the places you want to is not advisable because instead of you enjoying your trip you may just end up being exhausted and dead tired. Hence, it is recommended to focus on particular region or coast. If you want to visit the east coast, you can go to New York City, Washington D.C., and New Jersey. If you are going to the west, you can visit Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Las Vegas.

Don’t forget to tip – If you received good quality service at the restaurant or hotel, be kind enough to give tip to the waiter or hotel service crew. It is an American custom to give tips if one receives good service. Not giving tip to an employee who worked hard to satisfy your needs is considered rude in the U.S.

Do use standard American language – You may be very familiar with American slang terms and language, but don’t consider using them when talking to citizens as they may not understand you. The language being used in Hollywood movies and American TV series may not be totally understood by all Americans; hence, it is advisable to use standard American language to avoid miscommunication and misunderstanding.

Don’t smoke anywhere – There are several states in the U.S. that have very strict laws when it comes to smoking. In Chicago, New York City, Washington, DC, Seattle, and San Francisco smoking in bars, clubs, restaurants, and malls is strictly prohibited. If you are smoking tourist who does not want to have some troubles with the law, only smoke in designated smoking areas.

Be courteous and respectful – Remember that you are a tourist and you should be respectful to others. If you don’t want your vacation to be spoiled and ruined, be courteous to people. Don’t forget to greet people you meet in the street with a smile. If you are greeted by the people you meet, be courteous enough to greet back and smile.

Don’t forget to rent a vehicle – If you want to maximize your vacation time, it is advisable to rent a vehicle. By renting a car, you can explore more places and attractions. You can use websites like Rent Me A Car to see the prices and offerings of leading car rental suppliers in the U.S. Also, by renting a car, you can avoid the expensive fare of public transport like taxicabs.

Do obey the rules – The last thing you would want to happen in your vacation is to end up in prison. Familiarize yourself with the rules and laws so that you can avoid violating any of them. You should remember that American authorities are very particular when it comes to laws. If you rented a vehicle, make sure to follow all traffic laws in order to avoid any setbacks.

The secret to enjoying your U.S. trip is to act like a responsible American. When in the U.S., do what responsible Americans do.


Seja o primeiro a comentar

Beyond My Quiet Zone © 2009. Template by Dicas Blogger. Header design by www.VirtualExecutiveAssistant.com.