Traveling to the USA: 8 things to know before departure

Are you leaving soon? Here are some practical tips as well as the formalities before traveling to the USA.

Passport

Make sure that your biometric or electronic passport is valid for at least 6 months after the return date. The maximum duration of a classic stay is 90 days.

Copy of important documents

For security reasons, consider making several copies of your important documents and distributing them in several luggage. You can also back them up by sending them via email or storing them in a cloud (Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.).

ESTA visa exemption program

Online form to be completed before traveling to the USA. The authorization must be requested no later than 72 hours before departure, and the ESTA is valid for 2 years. The response is almost immediate (and positive!). The application fee is 14$, and other private companies offer the service but the rates are higher.

Link to Official ESTA website

Suitcase

Be careful not to import prohibited products into the USA (food, etc.). The suitcases must be able to be opened by security or customs officers; to do this, lock your suitcase with a special lock that meets the TSA standards. If you have a code-locked suitcase, be sure it has a special lock for security checks.

Adapter

Don't forget universal adapters for American electrical outlets

Electronic equipment

Before a flight to the USA, make sure you have the necessary accessories to charge your smartphone, tablet or computer with you, as you may be asked by security to turn them on. If this is not possible, access may be denied.

Silver

Analyze the exchange rate as soon as you book your flight ticket for your trip to the USA and buy dollars when the rate is the most advantageous. Compare the banks; some of them even have agreements with American banks so that you do not have to bear bank fees for payments and withdrawals on site. Leave with cash that you distribute in several bags and use your credit card for exceptional and unexpected payments.
Click here to find out Exchange rate EUR/US$

Preparing your itinerary to visit New York 

Although there is certainly a certain amount of freedom and unpredictability when exploring the Big Apple, it is best to plan your trip by identifying the must-see attractions and things to do. 

Check out the information sites for outings, events, and must-see attractions according to the time of year.

GOOD PLAN
I suggest you visit the website www.hellotickets.fr which offers the sale of tourist tickets to enjoy the best of New York. A gospel performance in Harlem, a helicopter tour of the Big Apple, a guided bike tour and many more… There is a choice! You can also book and purchase tickets for many events, such as basketball games or a show in Broadway, for example.

If this is a first in NYC, you can buy the «New York City Pass» on the website, which allows you to save up to 50% on 6 of New York’s top attractions: the Empire State Building, the American Museum of Natural History, the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET), the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), Top Of The Rock (a panoramic terrace at the top of Rockefeller Center) or the Guggenheim Museum, the Statue of Liberty + Ellis Island, or the Circle Line cruise.

You can also visit our friend Alex’s website « The best deals for a trip to New York » which provides a wealth of information about the Big Apple.