Hey Topdeckers! So you just booked your first trip to the USA with Topdeck Travel, huh? Get ready for the trip of a lifetime. America has so much to offer from breathtaking National Parks to vibrant, one-of-a kind cities. With so many iconic stops you’ve only seen in movies- it’s time to experience this incredible country first hand. You’ve heard about the epic adventures at the Grand Canyon, you plan to try an infamous slice of New York pizza and you’ve set a limit on how much you’re willing to gamble in Vegas- you feel like you’re pretty much prepared! But before you pack your bags & board your flight- there are a few things to know before you go.
Two Kinds of Trips: Hostel or Hotel
Before you book your trip, you’ll have to decide which kind of trip you’d like to book. Topdeck offers both hostel and hotel trips. For the hostel trips, be prepared to have a minimum of 4 per room. Some nights might have 6 per room. And in Yosemite National Park, we stay in an “American summer camp” style hostel complete with s’mores around the fire but with big dorms and lots of bunk beds. But don’t worry, even on the budget hostel trips- you’ll still stay in a hotel in Las Vegas and Arizona! It’s a good mix of hostel and hotels for those who still want to travel on a budget.
The other option is to book a hotel trip which means only two people per room. (Although you can pay to upgrade to a single room for the whole trip!) If you’re doing the 25 day road trip across America, there is only the option of hotels because America doesn’t have the same kind of hostel culture as Europe or other places around the world. But don’t worry! It’s a great value for money because Topdeck secures the rooms at a lower rate since they are booked in bulk. That means you’re getting to stay in some awesome hotels for a great price. Did I mention the hotel in Las Vegas has a waterslide through a shark tank? And in New Orleans we stay right on Bourbon Street! You’re going to love this trip.
Drinking Age is 21
Most people who book a Topdeck Travel trip in the USA come from countries where the drinking age is 18 years old. So it can be a bit of a surprise to arrive in America and realize that while you could legally go to the bars at home, you won’t be able to here if you’re not 21 years old. There will often be a few underage people each trip so if you do book the trip before turning 21, don’t worry! You won’t be able to go clubbing in Las Vegas although you can still do the party bus etc. But there will be a few nightlife activities that you won’t be able to attend- i.e. drinks on Bourbon Street in New Orleans.
All our money looks the same
If you’re used to Australian money, you will probably hate that all our money looks the same! Unlike your currency our bills are all the same color & size. Don’t worry, you’ll get the hang of our currency before the trip is out!
Bars “free pour” meaning Alcohol isn’t measured
Most countries will carefully measure out a shot before making a drink. Well, not in the USA! Bartenders are free to make the drinks as strong as they like and often don’t measure how much alcohol is going into the drink. This tends to result in really strong drinks. Especially if you’re used to each drink having the same consistent amount of alcohol. So while you might be able to polish off 3 gin and tonics back home, that might leave you stumbling back to your hotel room. Just pace yourself so it doesn’t catch you off guard. While you might want to party in legendary nightlife stops like Vegas & Miami, no one wants to feel sick the whole next day because they accidentally got way too drunk. Consider this your warning on the free pour!
You’ll need your passport if you want to go out
Speaking of nightlife, if you don’t have an ID issued in the USA then you’ll need your passport to get into bars and clubs. Bouncers and bartenders tend to think Australian ID’s are fake and will deny entry or service. So unfortunately, yes. This means you need to bring your passport out. Plan ahead and have a safe place to store it like a good zipper pocket etc.
Tax & Tip Not Included
If you come from Australia as many Topdeckers do, you’ll find the tipping and tax culture here BAFFLING. For some reason, the USA is one of the only countries to not include tax. So if you look at the price of something in a store or on a menu in a restaurant, it will actually cost MORE than the listed price. This can take some getting used to because the price you see, is not the price you pay. Tipping here is also confusing. Even as an American, I find our tipping culture bizarre because it can seem unclear as to when it is appropriate to tip or not. Generally, at a restaurant you should 15%-20% on your meal. No matter what. In the States, you just about never skip a tip entirely. For bartenders, expect to tip $1 a drink. If your bill is $9.23 just round up to $10 instead of leaving dimes and pennies at the restaurant. It can seem insulting to leave a server a pile of small coins. Always tip and round up. For any tour guides outside of your Topdeck included activities, expect to leave a tip as well.
Mix of Structured Days & Free Days
One thing I love about Topdeck is that has the benefits of a structured tour but still allows you the freedom to do the things YOU want to do. Any stop with 2 nights is a day of activities followed by a free day! Your trip leader can give you lots of suggestions on what to do or see during your free day but it’s a great way to still have some freedom on a group trip. Free days will also have the option of booking additional activities known as “optionals”.
Lots Included Activities and optional extras
The price of your tour includes all sorts of great activities like a party bus on the Las Vegas strip, airboat tours to see alligators in the Florida Everglades and a backroads jeep tour in Monument Valley. But Topdeck also offers some additional add-on activities like a helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon or Disneyland and Universal Studios. These aren’t included in the tour and you can decide once you arrive which ones you’d like to add. Another perk of Topdeck – there is absolutely zero pressure or sales hassling to do added activities. It’s totally up to you. We want you to have the best trip possible!
Long Drive Days
The USA is a huge country. If you plan to do the road trip that goes all the way across, be prepared to spend some time on the coach. But not to worry, your trip leader will play movies and games on the coach to help pass the time. And for several days of the trip, you’ll be driving on Route 66 and the views are breathtaking! However there are a few long stretches in Florida or Texas that you might want to download a Netflix show or have a book to read. The coach does have Wifi but it won’t be fast enough to stream videos and it will drop out near the National Parks.
Breathtaking National Parks, Vibrant Cities & Authentic Experiences..we do it all!
Whether you want to hike to glorious waterfalls in Yosemite National Park, go for a stroll in Central Park or try line dancing at a honky tonk bar in Texas – Topdeck does it all! Authentic and REAL travel moments where you can truly experience our country with local guides, local cuisines, local music & stories to tell long after you’ve returned home.
Each State Is Like A Whole New Country
One of the best thing about traveling across the USA is the incredible amount of variety from state to state. After driving just a few hours you’ll find totally different landscapes, styles of cooking, accents, political beliefs and culture! A Texan cowboy sounds nothing like your average New Yorker! And the food in New Orleans couldn’t be more different than the food in New Mexico. Get ready for a trip of the lifetime full of culture, food, new friends and unforgettable memories.
Hopefully you found this info helpful! Enjoy your time in North America, I’d love to have you on one of my trips!
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