🇺🇸 United States travel essentials
Everything you need to plan a trip to United States — climate, currency, packing essentials, public holidays, voltage and plug types, and what locals actually wear.
Top cities in United States
+69 more cities — explore via all destinations.
Local style + dress code
Anything goes daily; downtown + fine dining = smart-casual. Massive walking days — broken-in sneakers.
Dress code: casual
Public holidays in United States
Plan around national holidays — many businesses close, transport gets busier, and prices for flights/hotels can spike.
Money & currency
The US Dollar (USD, symbol $) is the official currency. Live exchange rates are updated daily.
Cost of living & travel — Los Angeles
Estimated daily budgets per person across three travel tiers. Lodging assumes single occupancy or shared dorm; food covers 3 meals + a coffee/drink; transit covers metro and short rides; activities cover one paid attraction per day.
| Per person per day | 🎒 Budget | 🏨 Mid-range | 🥂 Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lodging | $60 | $180 | $500 |
| Food | $30 | $75 | $200 |
| Transit | $15 | $25 | $90 |
| Activities | $20 | $45 | $130 |
| Daily total | $125 | $325 | $920 |
Estimates as of 2025-2026, in USD per person. Actual spend varies with season, neighborhood, and trip style.
Visas & entry rules
Top-passport entry rules for United States — quick reference, but always confirm with the destination's official consulate before booking flights:
| Passport | Rule | Stay | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇬🇧 UK passport | ESTA (online) | up to 90 days | ESTA required online before travel ($21). |
| 🇪🇺 EU passport | ESTA (online) | up to 90 days | ESTA online ($21). |
| 🇨🇦 Canadian passport | Visa-free | up to 180 days | No visa or ESTA required for visits up to 6 months. |
| 🇦🇺 Australian passport | ESTA (online) | up to 90 days | ESTA online ($21). |
Last reviewed 2025-2026. Visa rules change with little notice; this table is informational and not legal advice.
Plan a trip to United States
Use one of our planning tools to figure out exactly when and how to go:
What to pack
Each city has month-by-month packing lists computed from local climate data — temperatures, rainfall, peak hazard seasons, and United States's dress code.