America – Guidebook

Bedding
In most US hotel rooms 2 double beds are supplied (often referred to as double double). These can be used for those wanting twin share or double share. Should extra bedding be required then a rollaway can be purchased for an additional fee. Maximum people per room must always be adhered to (rollaways should be prebooked). Triple and quad prices are based on using existing bedding (unless a rollaway is booked and paid for).

Climate
There is no one climate in the USA, however as a general rule late spring (May/ June) and early fall (Sept/ Oct) are the best times to visit most of the country.

Currency & Banking
The US dollar is the preferred currency and the denominations are:
1c = Penny, 5c = Nickel, 10c = Dime, 25c = Quarter.
Bank note denominations are:
$1, $5, $10, $20, $50, $100, $500 & $1000.
Please be careful with bank notes as they are all the same size and colour, so check carefully before handing them over.

Your Australian currency can be exchanged at most hotels, however at very poor transaction rates, with the difference sometimes as high as 10%, so we highly recommend that you take US dollar travellers cheques. We also recommend that you take at least one credit card with you, as all American hotels will require a deposit as a guarantee for incidentals such as meals, telephone calls and laundry. Rental car companies are also very strict and are reluctant to rent a vehicle without a credit card guarantee.
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Electricity
The USA works on a two pin plug of 110-120 volts. Most Australian appliances should work in the USA with an adaptor, available in Australian for around AU$4-AU$10. Don't wait until you arrive to buy your adaptor as you will find it a hard search!

Hotel Rates
Please note some hotel's policy is to charge each night for the season that it falls into, whilst others use the first night to determine the rate for the entire stay. If your accommodation covers two seasons please check which of the above applies to your booking.

National Holidays
In addition to the regular public holidays there are other US holidays i.e. Independence Day (4th July) and Thanksgiving (the last Thursday in November). Accommodation during this time is at a premium and should be booked well in advance. US School holidays vary from state to state, the main summer break is from the last week in June to the first week in September.
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Theme Parks
To avoid long queues we recommend that you plan your theme park sightseeing outside of weekends and public holidays. Disneyland Resort now offers a FastPass system where you take a ticket with a time on it for your ride. This allows you to enjoy the rest of the park knowing that your place in the queue is still being held.

Tipping
Most service employees in the USA are on low retainers, the extra they receive in tips is viewed as part of their salary. As a general rule tipping should be between 10-15% of restaurant bills, and approximately US$1 per bag for porters, US$1 per day for house maids and sightseeing guides. As the US bills can look the same, it is often a good idea to put a few singles (US$1 bills) in a separate compartment in your wallet or purse, therefore making sure you don't hastily grab a US$20!

Visas & Entry
Australian passport holders can travel to the US without a visa under the US Visa waiver programme, however you must make sure that your passport is valid for at least 6 months upon entry into the US, and that you have no criminal record. Please check with your agent to ensure this programme is right for you. For day trips to Tijuana a re-entry visa is not required, however if you are travelling further afield you may need to apply for a re-entry visa before you leave Australia.
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