USA

Population: 323.947.000 people
Region: Northern America (Search on Google maps)
Capital: Washington DC
Country Code: US

Money in USA

Currencie(s): United States dollar

1 United States dollar = 0.85 €
1 United States dollar = 0.77 £

Should I exchange money before I travel? Although this depends on many factors, including which currencies you want to convert and which country you are travelling from, generally speaking exchanging your money AFTER you travel will provide you with a more favourable exchange rate.

The rule is simple: the more common the currency is, the cheaper it will be. So, for example, if you are travelling from the UK to USA and want to buy some United States dollar here, you will pay less for it in USA, as this is the currency that you will find everywhere. At the same time your GBP will become rare and valuable, which means that you will get more money for them.

Looking for advice about exchanging United States dollar? Discover our tips in our article about currency exchange.

Tipping: A practiced social custom in the United States. Tipping by definition is voluntary – at the discretion of the customer. In restaurants offering traditional table service, a gratuity of 15–20% of the amount of a customer’s check (before tax) is customary.

Corruption: USA has a corruption score of 29/100.
If your itinerary runs through USA, you're pretty safe. According to Transparency International, USA is one of the least corrupt nations around the world.

USA is concidered to be a relatively dangerous country, with a Global Peace Index of 2.4 out of 4.
This report is the only one of its kind that measures how dangerous or safe a nation is based on 23 different indicators, including political terror, deaths from internal conflict, murder rate, and ease of access to small arms and light weapons.

Language in USA

Language(s): English

Food & Drinks in USA

Experiencing the local culture is a huge part of travelling and trying traditional food is largely connected with that cultural experience. Visitors to the UK always want to eat fish and chips, Vietnamese pho is the big pull for travellers in Vietnam, and here in Belgium it’s all about fries. Supporting the local community is a really important aspect of travel. So please make sure you taste at least 1 of the 3 National dishes: Apple Pie, Hamburger & Brownies

Tap Water: It's safe to drink tap water.

Drinking age: The minimum age for drinking in USA is 21.

Religion in USA

USA is a religious country. According to the Gallup Poll in 2009 research, 69% of the population thinks religion is important in their daily life. More info about this study can be found here. The religous adherents are Protestant 52%, Roman Catholic 24%, Mormon 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim 1%, other 10%, none 10% (2002 est.)

From beautiful cathedrals in Italy to majestic temples in India, the world is filled with holy places that are important to the religions of the world. Maybe you are not religious yourself, or maybe you are visiting places where people celebrate different religions. Learning to look without gawking, see without ogling can be the difference between being accepted as a visitor, and being resented as an intruder. That's why we've written an article about the impact of religion on your travel plans.

This article also mentions how tattoo's, some style of clothing and other religous simbols can be extremely taboo.

Sex & Relationships in USA

Age of Consent: 16 years.
At the age of 16, an individual is considered mature enough in USA to consent to sex. Sexual relations with someone under the Age of Consent are considered statutory rape.

Same-sex marriage (also known as gay marriage) is legalized in USA since 2015.

USA scores a 2/10 on the 'Gay Travel Index'.
Please note: Certain cities, tourist areas and resorts can sometimes be ANTI-LGBTQ+ even when the laws in USA are LGBTQ+ friendly. In all cases, do your research, check official government data for up-to-date news and if you feel apprehensive consider travelling to a more LGBTQ+ friendly country.

National Sports in USA

While travelling through USA you'll be experiencing a foreign culture, rather than looking in from the outside as a temporary visitor. You'll discover new places, come in contact with new religions, explore intriguing destinations and experience culinary delights. You'll be immersed in a totally new culture .. and one aspect we shouldn't forget about is sports!

A lot of countries and cultures have an obsession with sports, almost reaching religious proportions. In this case, Baseball is USA their national sport.

Other practical tips for USA

Timezone: UTC-12:00 to UTC+12:00
TIP: Think about the time difference before planning your trip. Imagine you’re finally in USA – but all you want to do is sleep! Travelling into a different time zone can be a real burden. The only way to truly adjust in 24 hours or less is to prepare before you go, so check out our tips that outline how to quickly adjust to a new time zone.

Driving: Right-hand traffic.

Remember: USA is one of only three countries that have not officially adopted the metric system as the primary means of weights and measures. This means distances, speed, and liquid quantities are based on customary units. Find out how you should convert this unit system.

Power adapters and converters: 120 V (60 Hz), Plug A / B
When travelling to USA, electronic devices might be necessary to document the incredible sights or to stay in contact with friends and family members back home. Most electronics like Phones, laptop computers and hair tools do not come cheap, so it's incredibly important to make sure your device is compatible with this type of outlets - 120 V (60 Hz), Plug A / B. You can read our guide about travel adapters and converters to determine which types you need for your next trip!

Weather: Currently moderate rain, with a temperature between 14 and 17.8°C (57.2 and 64°F)

Pollution (PM2.5 fine dust particles): 7.41 µg/m3
PM2.5 Fine dust particulates can be carried deep into the lungs where they can cause inflammation and a worsening of the condition of people with heart and lung diseases. The smaller the particles the deeper they travel into the lungs, with more potential for harm. Note that the World Health Organisation's guideline value is 20 µg/m3. So you have nothing to worry about when travelling to USA.