Destination: USA
LONELY PLANET'S OFFICIAL GUIDEBOOK INFORMATION
Getting Started
The main thing to keep in mind about traveling in the USA - besides costs - is the continent's immense scale. Texas alone is twice the size of Germany. It's easy to get overambitious. The best strategy is to choose a region and dig into it a little deeper, rather than hopscotch around trying to snag all the USA's highlights in one trip. This guide is organized with that idea in mind. Unless the point is to have a road trip, you don't want to spend all your time on the road.
Which brings up another issue: cars. Unless your budget won't allow it, you'll probably want to rent a car at some point, as it's the easiest, most flexible way to travel outside of the major cities (where, incidentally, you usually don't want a car). If time is short, consider flying between distant destinations. Transportation logistics are all-important, and you should carefully balance cost against travel time and flexibility.
DON'T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT
- Checking the US visa and passport requirements as they continue evolving post-September 11.
- A copy of your travel insurance policy.
- Hotel or camping reservations. Seriously - sometimes everything's booked!
- Your driver's license and adequate liability insurance. The country's big - you'll want to drive.
- A handful of credit cards or a healthy bank account. Figure out your budget, but be prepared in case you need extra.
- Setting up your own blog to keep track of your travels
- An open mind. Americans tend to confound expectations. There are elites in the Ozarks and hicks in Manhattan, and everything in between.
Lonely Planet recommends World Nomads Travel insurance
