Individual USA holidays shaped around your passions

The USA is, in one word, diverse, so in one area you could hike along red-rock canyons and immerse yourself in Indigenous cultures, while in another you could hop from one live music bar to another, sampling classic comfort food as you go. What you see and do on your trip will depend on where you visit.

For example, you could see the sights of Los Angeles in a vintage Cadillac, go wolf tracking in the Rockies, take a cooking class in New Orleans, or experience the crimson foliage of New England in the fall. Our specialists will help you find experiences that speak to your passions, so your USA trip is completely personal to you.

Most people go to either the East or West Coast for their first USA trip, but it’s worth considering heading inland too, from the wildlife-rich Rockies to the music-centric cities of the South. For honeyed sands and sun-ripened vineyards, California is a top contender, or for ancient landscapes and indigenous culture, head to Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico.

It’s impossible to explore everything the US offers in one go, so our specialists will help you narrow down your options and hone in on a specific region for your next trip.

Depending where you go in the USA, you could stay in boutique city hotels, remote wilderness lodges, luxury beach resorts, and historical B&Bs. In many places, our specialists can help you choose a stay to suit your exact needs, but in certain areas, choices are limited to a handful of simple lodges and hotels.

Some of our best-loved USA stays include a traditional clapboard inn on New England’s coastline, a sleek mid-century modern Airstream nestled in Yosemite’s dense forests, a chandelier-adorned 19th-century hotel in New Orleans, and a rustic ranch complete with wildflower meadow horse riding in Montana.

It takes between 7 and 20 hours to fly from the UK to the US, depending on where you’re going. Flying to Hawaii will take the longest, while getting to New York is much quicker.

The time zone in the USA ranges from GMT-5 to GMT-10 depending on where you are. Most of the US states observe daylight saving time, so the clocks may change depending on the time of year you go.

The USA is expansive, so for longer distances, it’s best to take a domestic flight, but if you’re travelling around a state or two, driving is the most popular option. There are also a handful of train routes you can take. These tend to be long, but you can admire the changing scenery along the way.

If you’re looking to do a classic USA road trip — or take a more novel route — our specialists can help arrange your car hire and insurance for you ahead of your trip, so you can pick up the keys and start exploring straight away.

Most UK citizens fall under the Visa Waiver Program, but you’ll still need to complete an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) at least 72 hours before travel. Please visit the ESTA website to fill in the required information. Some exceptions apply to the Visa Waver Program, so take a look at the UK government website for more information.

You’ll also need to provide Advanced Passenger Information (API) and Secure Flight Data (SFD) before travel, but we’ll take care of this for you. Upon arrival to the USA, you’ll be asked to provide fingerprint samples and photographs, too.

You should check with your doctor to see which vaccinations you’ll need for the USA, but we recommend that you’re at least up to date with the vaccinations recommended for your home country. You can take a look at suggested vaccinations for the USA on the Travel Health Pro website.

Your passport should be valid for at least six months beyond the intended dates of your stay in the USA.

To drive in the USA, you’ll need a valid driving license with photographic ID to rent a car. The rental company will ask for a credit card (not a debit card) to authorise the security deposit. We can arrange everything else before you travel.

In the USA, you’ll drive on the right-hand side of the road, but most traffic signs and signals are similar to those in the UK. There are some key differences about driving in the USA, which we’ll let you know before you travel, but we recommend that you also check state-specific websites and driving manuals.

We’ll give you driving directions to all of the main places you’ll be visiting, but we suggest downloading offline maps on your mobile phone while you have Wi-Fi, too.

The USA has no national health care system, so it’s essential to get adequate health cover insurance for any treatments or prescriptions you may need while there. The costs for private treatment can be very expensive, even for a relatively minor treatment.

The standard entry fee for one week to one park typically costs around $25–$40, but you can buy an annual pass for unlimited entry to all parks for around $80. If you’re planning on visiting multiple parks, this pass can be very cost-effective.