The United States is a fantastic holiday destination. This huge country has so much to offer, from impressive national parks to wonderful cities like New York, Los Angeles and Chicago and exciting attractions almost everywhere you go. The USA is also a safe travel destination. There are no dangers specific to the USA that should put you off visiting, but there are still some things that you should remember when you travel here to avoid getting into problems.
Call 911 in an Emergency
The first thing to remember is that if you get into any kind of trouble and need emergency assistance, call 911. This will get you through to the emergency services wherever you are. It is a good idea to carry a mobile phone with you at all times so you can call for help when you need to.
Take Travel Insurance
Healthcare in the United States is expensive. Even a minor injury requiring treatment can be costly, and you don’t want to risk having to remortgage your home for a stay in hospital. Fortunately, this is a risk that is easy to avoid. Just take out travel insurance before you leave home, and make sure it has a good level of medical cover as well as repatriation cover should you need to be flown home.
Know Which Areas to Avoid
Every city in the United States will have bad areas, just like any city in the world. As long as you avoid these areas, you will reduce your chances of getting into any trouble. Find out which areas to avoid when you arrive in a city. You should be able to get advice from your hotel.
Know About Natural Hazards
When you book your trip to the USA, perhaps using a specialist company like My America Holiday, there are many places you can visit. However, some places may present a risk of certain natural hazards, which can range from hurricanes and tornados to earthquakes and forest fires.
Although the chance of getting caught up in a natural disaster or weather event is slim, you should still be aware of the risks. Some of these natural hazards, such as hurricanes, are seasonal, so find out in advance what the risks are and what precautions you should take.
Different States Have Different Laws
Laws sometimes vary from state to state, and what may be legal in one state could be illegal in another. For example, Colorado recently legalised the sale of cannabis, but this is still very much illegal in other states. Pleading ignorance will not help, so just make sure you know what you can and cannot do wherever you travel.
If you plan to rent a car in the United States, make sure you are aware of the rules of the road. Again, the rules can vary between states, so if you cross into any other states, make sure you do a quick check to see if there are any different rules.
Avoid hitchhiking and picking up hitchhikers. Not only can it be dangerous, but it is also illegal in many states and you don’t want to get in trouble with the law.
Enjoy Your Time in the United States
The USA is a safe travel destination, and you will find friendly, warm and welcoming people wherever you go. The best way to stay out of trouble is to use your common sense wherever you go and carry out research for your specific destinations. With that in mind, start planning your trip to the USA and have a fantastic and trouble-free time.
Emily Farrell travels to the states several times a year to see family. When she gets the chance, she enjoys sharing what she has discovered about travelling with others by blogging online.
