Practical information for traveling to the USA
The USA (United States of America) is a popular tourist destination, filled with iconic cities and interesting sights spread across 50 states. The official currency is the US Dollar.The capital of the US is Washington, D.C., which is home to politically important buildings including the Capitol, the Supreme Court, and – of course - the White House. There are numerous large and popular cities across the country; some of the best known international are Los Angeles, Las Vegas and New York City. Offering both domestic and international flights, there are hundreds of primary airports across the country; of these, Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL); Los Angeles International Airport (LAX); and O'Hare International Airport (ORD) are some of the busiest. The country is divided over six time zones, from the Eastern Time Zone on the East coast, to the Pacific Time Zone on the West coast.
Which airlines fly across the USA?
There are a number of domestic carriers which operate flights across the USA, from low cost airlines to regular airlines. Low cost airlines include Spirit Airlines, Southwest Airlines, jetBlue, and Frontier Airlines. Offering affordable flights, these airlines often charge for extras such as baggage and food on board the aircraft. Regular airlines operating domestic US flights include United Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Hawaiian Airlines, which operates flights to and from Hawaii. These airlines operated from a number of major US airports; these include John F. Kennedy International in New York, Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, Las Vegas' McCarran International Airport, Portland International Airport and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport to name just a few.
When is the best time to buy flight tickets in the USA?
The best time to book flights to US destinations will depend on which city you're traveling to. As a general rule, flights tend to be more expensive around holiday times – think Thanksgiving, Labor Day, Independence Day and Christmas. Flights for these busy travel periods should be booked well in advance, no matter your destination (although last minute bargains can sometimes be found). During Summer, when the kids are off school, flights can be a little pricier; travel in the off season to be sure of grabbing the best flight deals. Flights to cities such as New York can be more expensive at popular times such as Christmas. Booking flight tickets in advance is always a good way to obtain cheaper airfare; using flight comparison websites such as liligo.com will help you to be sure of finding the best flight deals.
How long are flights across the US?
Flight length will depend on your departure and arrival destinations. Traveling from Miami to Seattle by air, for example, will take around 6h 35m – one of the longest flights in the US. However, flying from New York to Boston takes just 1h 20m; flying from Orlando to Atlanta takes just 1h 30m. Flights to US states such as Hawaii take significantly longer thanks to its location in the Central Pacific. Flights to Hawaii from New York can take around 10h 45m non-stop; flights from San Francisco take just 5h 25m.
What is there to see and do in the USA
Thanks to its large size, the USA plays host to numerous great tourist destinations, fascinating historic sights, and interesting cities. Los Angeles, with its glamorous reputation and abundance of movie themed attractions (including Hollywood), is a top city in California; meanwhile, on the other side of the country, New York attracts millions of visitors a year with sights such as Times Square, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Statue Of Liberty. Away from urban metropolises, there are National Parks such as the Grand Canyon, Joshua Tree National Park, and the Everglades – to name just a few!