United States tours & vacations

The best time to travel to the US depends on what you want to experience there. The US is a vast country, with a topography that ranges from volcanic islands to Arctic tundra, red rock deserts to temperate rainforests – and a climate that's equally broad ranging. Fall may be the best time to experience the deciduous forests of New England and the northeast, while early spring is ideal for fun-loving Florida and New Orleans, where Mardi Gras kicks off every February.

Weather in the US ranges from hot and arid in the desert regions around Nevada, California, Utah and Arizona, where it can often exceed 40ºC (100ºF) – to mild and blustery in the coastal areas of the northeast and Pacific northwest. Hawaii is largely warm and humid year-round, while midwestern and northeastern cities like Chicago and New York frequently experience cold winters, with snowstorms a regular occurrence.

The US Dollar.

Tipping is prevalent in almost all service industries in the US. Expect to tip between 15-25% for services including waiters and service staff at restaurants and cafes, bar staff (usually $1-2 per drink is customary), hotel porters and housekeeping, taxi drivers, valets and food delivery workers.

ATM access in the US is very good. You'll find plenty of ATMs and banks in major cities, along main streets of smaller towns, and often within large grocery stores.

The quality of tap water is very high throughout much of the US, and is reliably safe to drink.

Some of the top attractions to visit in the USA include the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building in New York, Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, the Everglades in Florida and the Hollywood sign in Los Angeles.

You can fly direct to the US from London Gatwick and London Heathrow, as well as Birmingham, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Manchester.

For the summer sun in the United States, pack light and breathable clothing like shorts, t-shirts, dresses and comfortable shoes such as sandals and sneakers suitable for sightseeing and outdoor activities on your US trip. Don't forget to take sunglasses, a hat and sunscreen along for sun protection.

Winter in the United States calls for warm, layered clothing. A warm coat or down jacket, sweaters, cardigans, scarves, gloves and a warm hat are winter clothing essentials. For rainy conditions, pack a raincoat, waterproof boots and thermal socks for optimal comfort in snowy and rainy weather.

For spring and autumn in the United States, pack layers to adapt to varying temperatures. A light jumper, long-sleeve shirt and a jacket or lightweight waterproof coat works well for changing weather. Bring light scarves, umbrellas, thermal socks, comfortable walking shoes and boots for cooler days or rain.