While you are in the United States, you will need some U.S. currency that comes in a range of denominations as follows:

Penny $0.01
Nickel $0.05
Dime $0.10
Quarter $0.25
Half Dollar $0.50
Dollar $1.00
Five Dollars $5.00
Ten Dollars $10.00
Twenty Dollars $20.00
Fifty Dollars $50.00
One Hundred Dollars $100.00

You can exchange foreign currencies at the airport or at a large bank or tourist center, but the exchange rate will often be higher at the airport. The best place to get currency is from an ATM or Automated Teller Machine that can be found just about anywhere although some will charge fees of $1 to $2 per transaction and most will give you twenty dollar bills only. Coins will be used for pay phones, parking meters, buses and subways with quarters being used most often.

Using a credit card to pay for purchases is a standard form of payment and they are accepted in most businesses, restaurants or tourist attractions. Hotels usually require a credit card when making a reservation and credit cards can be used for just about any major purchase especially higher priced items. Save your cash for emergencies and for paying for smaller items like purchases at a convenience store. Besides U. S. currency, many people use traveler’s checks that can also be saved for emergencies or to use as needed.

Any purchases made in the United States will not include sales tax on the price tag as the country does not have a national sales tax like the value-added tax (VAT) or goods and services tax (GST) as other countries often do. For example, if you purchased an item of clothing it will have a price tag of $29.99, but that will not be the final total because sales tax will be added by the clerk that rings up the purchase. In the U.S. each state determines the amount of sales tax with some counties within the states having additional taxes so it can vary from state to state and even city to city within a state.

The sales tax you pay will depend, therefore, on where you are and also what you are buying as it will vary depending on the merchandise. Sales tax on food items in a restaurant or grocery store is often lower than that for clothing or other purchases and yet tax on gas for a car is often higher. It can be confusing but the tax will be clearly marked on your receipt so you will see how much you are paying for it.

Some states like Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon don’t have any sales tax while two other states, Louisiana and Texas, have a limited sales tax refund program and you can find more information about those states at www.louisianataxfree.com or www.taxfreetexas.com. Because sales tax is not collected on a national level, you cannot obtain a refund upon departure. You can often save money though on the sales tax if the merchandise is shipped outside the state, but if you have to pay the postage, it might not save you enough money to be worthwhile.

When traveling to the United States you will discover a very wide range of customs that differ along with the diversity of its geography depending on which state you are in. From the beaches to the mountains to the deserts, you will find that most people are very friendly and welcoming no matter where you are.

With an easygoing spirit, Americans love to see travelers in their country, but as is true anywhere else in the world, it is important to remember your manners and common courtesies and you will have a joyful and rewarding experience. Generally, Americans are casual in their dress especially if they are on holiday so that is generally acceptable in most places, however in a high end restaurant or club, you are better off if your dress is more business casual. When in doubt, it is better to err on the side of being overdressed, rather than too relaxed and underdressed.

If you visit someone’s home, it is customary to bring a small gift or bottle of wine depending on what the occasion is, but generally for a dinner or barbeque that will be acceptable and your hosts will be appreciative as well.  Shaking hands is the generally accepted form of greeting when meeting someone new, although once you have met someone the next time you see them they might greet you with a kiss on the cheek instead of a handshake.

Tipping is customary for service professionals such as waiters, taxi drivers, parking valets or hotel porters or chambermaids and tips are considered a large part of their income. In a restaurant or bar, the customary tip is 15 to 20 percent – with 20 percent for service that is considered exceptional. Chambermaids generally should be tipped $3-5 per day and parking valets $1-$2 and skycaps should be tipped at $1 per bag.

Smoking is becoming less acceptable and many restaurants and public establishments do not allow smoking inside their premises, but might allow smoking outside on a patio area. Some towns and cities though are becoming stricter about this and cities like Seattle are considered smoke free meaning you can only smoke in the privacy of your own home. Some hotels are smoke free as well or only have designated rooms that are for smokers. It is prudent to always ask if you are unsure before lighting up especially if you are with other people who might not smoke. Always look for no smoking signs and you will be safe.

All countries have their cultural differences in the customary ways to do things. Americans dislike anyone cutting in when in a queue. Also, talking on a mobile phone in a restaurant or other establishment is considered rude so you should find a quiet corner or go outside to take your call. Americans are also very fastidious about showers and hygiene in general. In any country it is important to be courteous and always ask if you are unsure about anything. You will find that America is a fascinating place to visit and you will have a lovely visit with lasting memories of a good time.

When visiting the USA from the UK I am always struck by the differences in the English language that we both speak, so thought it would be useful to highlight a few of our differences;

Hope this helps .. will post more later,