Luxury USA Holidays & Tours

Due to its sheer size, the US is a year-round destination where weather patterns can vary at both a national and state level. As a general rule however, spring and autumn are the best times of year to visit due to milder temperatures whilst the summer months can be hot, and sometimes, very humid. In many parts of the country, winter ushers in extremely cold conditions – especially in more mountainous regions.

If you are travelling as a tourist, you will need to apply for a tourist visa. Most UK citizens can apply for the Visa Waiver Programme which allows British Citizen passport holders to visit the US for up to 90 days. You must ensure that your passport is less than 10 years old (even if it has 6 months or more left) and it also needs to have at least 6 months validity left.

We strongly recommend that you and all members of your party are adequately insured when travelling to the USA to provide financial protection against unforeseen circumstances. Such insurance should ensure that you are fully covered against unexpected cancellation charges, medical expenses including pre-existing medical conditions, loss of luggage or money, and personal liability claims.

Direct flights from the UK take between 8 and 12 hours depending on the destination. There are also many indirect flights with stops en-route that link the UK to regional US airports. As an example, the flight between London and New York takes eight hours, and London to Los Angeles takes eleven and a hal

There are a number of ways to travel when in the USA including train, bus and taxi, however, driving is probably the best way when travelling in the USA.

America has a tipping culture and due to low wages in the service industry you will be expected to tip. To make it a little more complicated, the etiquette can vary across the country, however 15% is often the expected ‘standard’ tip and a good starting point. Hotel bellhops, doormen and bartenders usually expect a $1-$2 tip per bag/drink, whereas restaurant servers and taxi drivers expect around 15-20% of the total bill.

Aside from Christmas and New Year's Day, there are eight national holidays in the US. These are Martin Luther King Jr. Day on the third Monday in January; Presidents' Day on the third Monday in February; Memorial Day which is the last Monday in May, Independence Day on 4th July, Labor Day on the first Monday of September, Columbus Day on the second Monday in October, Veterens Day on 11th November and Thanksgiving which falls on the fourth Thursday in November.