Guide – Everything You Need to Know Before Flying to the USA

America is a rare tourist destination in its quality and a powerhouse of shopping, national parks, and particularly modern and vibrant cities. America has an unimaginably large amount of natural sites, giant cities, beaches, mountain ranges, and all the fun of the new world.

On this page, we will bring you some important details that you must know before planning a trip to America and before landing in the land of unlimited possibilities.

 

Visa – Entry Permit to the USA

Entry into the United States for non-American citizens is conditional on obtaining a visa. Until October 2023, Israeli passport holders were also required to have a visa, but now the barriers have been broken, and travel to America is easier and more available than ever.

• Israel, like other Western countries, is now part of the countries that have signed the Visa Waiver Program, allowing entry to the U.S. without a visa for a stay of up to 90 days.
• In order to enter the U.S. without a visa under the program, a biometric passport is required. Before travel, you must enter the ESTA system and register.
• Registration for each application is individual and must be completed separately for each family member traveling.
• The response and approval are received within up to three days, so it is important to complete the process as early as possible and at least four days before the trip
• Keep in mind that there are also cases of refusal in the Visa Waiver Program system, so it is advisable to insure the cancellation of the entire trip in advance
• The registration fee for the Visa Waiver Program is approximately 21 USD (including a component of 4 USD fee). If refused, only the fee is paid
• The validity of the approval is for two years ahead or until the expiration of the passport's validity

For those who want to travel to the USA for more than 90 days or need a work visa, register on the U.S. Embassy in Israel website and schedule an interview for the requested visa.

 

Money and Payments

Who does not know the dollars? The American currency is one of the strongest in the world, and in America, it is still common to pay in cash.

• Payment in the USA is in the American dollar or the US Dollar. The symbol of the dollar is $
• The dollar is divided into one hundred cents Cent (the Roman term for parts of a hundred). The single cent is also called Penny and its symbol is ¢
• In addition to the penny, the nickel (5 cents), the dime (10 cents), and the quarter (25 cents) coins are also common. There are also half-dollar and full-dollar coins that are less used
• It is customary to pay with single dollar bills (George Washington), 5 dollars (Abraham Lincoln), 10 dollars (Alexander Hamilton), 20 dollars (Andrew Jackson), 50 dollars (Ulysses S. Grant), and 100 dollars (Benjamin Franklin), or with international credit of course
• השטרות האמריקאים גוונם ירוק ועל כן הכסף מכונה גם גרין Green, אולם השם הכי נפוץ לדולרים הוא הבאקס Bucks
• חשוב לדעת שלמחיר באמריקה מתווסף גם המס המקומי ה-sales tax rate שמשתנה בכל מדינה (ולעיתים בין מחוזות שונים). בשלוש מדינות אין מס בכלל – אורגון, ניו-המפשייר ומונטנה ויש מדינות עם מס גבוה (לרוב מעל 10 אחוז) כגון לואיזיאנה, קליפורניה, ניו-יורק ועוד. המס מתווסף בקופה וכדאי לחשב מראש את כלל העלות (אצלנו זה 17 אחוז מע”מ, רק לפרופורציות)
• בניגוד לאירופה, בארה”ב אין החזר מע”מ היות וטכנית אין מע”מ, אלא מס מכירות

לכל מה שצריך לדעת על ביטוחי נסיעות לפני שמגיעים לארה”ב, הקליקו כאן…

 

How to get to the USA?

• A direct flight from Israel to New York takes 12 hours one way and ten and a half hours return. Flights to the West Coast (there are direct flights to Los Angeles) take 15 hours
• There are direct flights from Israel (usually) also to Miami, Toronto, Montreal, Washington, and Philadelphia, but the main entry points are the airports of New York – Kennedy and Newark
• Every day, several direct flights from Israel to the USA take off
• You can easily reach the USA on transfer flights through all major European airports
• There are almost 500 airports considered international across the US and Canada. With transfers in Europe, you can reach almost any airport across the US, to destinations such as Denver, Las Vegas, Seattle, Vancouver (Canada), and more.

For all information on flights to the USA, click here…

 

Sockets And Electricity

The sockets and household electricity system in the United States are completely different from the system in Israel. In Israel, a voltage level of 220-240 volts is used, whereas in America a voltage level of 110-127 volts is used.

The socket used in Israel is unique to the country (Type H), and anyone who has traveled in Europe or the US has noticed the difference. The sockets in the US are types A or B.

In conclusion, the differences in voltage create mismatches between electrical devices and power supplies and can cause damage to devices. Although most personal computers are already pre-configured to work on different power supplies, adapters must still be purchased for personal computers, for example, which allow connection to electricity in the US and also control the amount of current to avoid endangering the device.

Even in the opposite case, adjustments must be made. When purchasing electrical devices in the US, adapters must also be purchased for electricity in the home country.

 

השכרת רכב

• אם מטיילים מחוץ לניו-יורק סיטי, חייבים לשכור רכב על מנת לטייל בחלקיה השונים של ארץ הענק. 
• עדיף לא לשכור רכב במהלך שהותכם בניו-יורק, אלא לאסוף את הרכב רק ביציאה מהעיר ולהחזירו לפני שאתם נכנסים שוב למנהטן.
• כשאתם משווים בין הצעות שונות – השוו את המחיר של כלל החבילה  – גם הרכב עצמו, אבל גם עם כל התוספות כמו ביטוחים, נהג נוסף, ק”מ לא מוגבל וכד'.
• בעת ההזמנה  אם ובמקרה אתם מתכוונים לצאת מגבולות יוון עם הרכב, עדכנו את חברת ההשכרה. גם אם אתם לא בטוחים – עדיין תציינו גם את קנדה ומקסיקו (בהתאם למגבלות חברת הרכב).
• רישיון נהיגה בינלאומי – הכינו מראש גם רישיון נהיגה בינלאומי מודפס. ניתן להוציא באחד מסניפי ממסי ובחנויות אופטיקה מורשות.
• International Credit Card – The designated driver of the rented vehicle must also carry an international credit card (which means it's available for use abroad), preferably one in their name. This is really critical for rental, and quite a few travelers have been stuck without the possibility to pick up the vehicle because they did not follow this instruction! (The reservation itself can also be made with a different credit card, but it's better to use the driver's name to avoid complications).
• Comfort Tip – Take a larger vehicle than you think you need, both because sometimes they offer something smaller than what you ordered on site, and also because you'll have a lot of luggage.
• Download navigation apps from your home country to your phone (or GPS device) – but only those that allow navigation without a constant internet connection (Here are some recommendations…), this will save you hours of mistakes and searching maps. If you don't have the option, you can rent a GPS from the rental company, but it is very expensive and not always available, and most often it already comes built-in in the car at no cost.
  If relying on a private device – remember to install the map of the USA + neighboring countries before the flight, and in any case, it's recommended to buy a good paper road map as a backup.

For all information on car rentals in the USA + helpful tips and significant discounts, click here…

 

Spoken Languages

The language spoken in the USA is English. There are almost no places in the USA and Canada where you cannot get by with basic English.

• There are quite a few Spanish speakers in the southern states of the USA, mainly in California, Louisiana, and New Mexico (mostly immigrants from Mexico and all of Central and South America) and in Florida (mostly Cuban and Caribbean immigrants)
• In Louisiana, there are some French speakers
• The trip to the USA often includes a visit to neighboring Canada. Additionally, just as there are many Mexicans in the USA, there are also many Canadians. All of Canada is considered bilingual, both English and French. The province of Quebec is French-speaking, but one can easily get along there with English. Quite noticeably, Canadian English differs from American English.
• Throughout the USA, there are millions of immigrants from all over the world, including hundreds of thousands of Hebrew speakers from Israel.

For the complete guide on communication and surfing while traveling in the USA, click here…

 

Map of Regions/States of the United States

 

American Culture

The USA is a vast country, and along with time zones and climate zones, across the nation there are cultural regions each with a unique character. Each American cultural region has a center or capital that characterizes it in the best way, and the culture is an integral part of the city's attractions.

The most unique cultural areas in the USA are:

• The Wild West and Cowboys – The Wild West spans across the frontier from the Midwest to the Rocky Mountains. This culture is characterized by American cowboys, rodeo, and a direct connection with the land. It is very prevalent in Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota, and of course, Texas.
• ארץ ההאמיש – לב הפנסילבניה דאץ' קאנטרי היא העיר לנקסטר בפנסילבניה, לא רחוק מפילדלפיה. האמיש הם דת שדוחה את הקדמה ואת המילטריזם ונחשבת לעוף מוזר (ולכן גם חתיכת אטרקציה תיירותית)
• ארץ הקאנטרי – תרבות מוזיקלית חשובה שבסיסה בטנסי, בערים נאשוויל ובממפיס. מוזיקת הקאנטרי היא ייחודית למורדות המערביים של רכס האפלאצ'יים, למדינות של צפון “הדרום”. למוזיקה צלילים מיוחדים ומזוהה עם אייקונים אמריקאים כגון אלוויס פרסלי, דולי פרטון, וילי נלסון ועוד
• ארץ המורמונים – המורמונים הם כת מרצועת התנ”ך (פנסילבניה ואפ סטייט ניו-יורק) שעברה מערבה במאה ה-19 והתיישבה במדינת יוטה. הבסיס של המורמונים היא העיר סולט לייק סיטי
• ניו-אינגלנד – שש מדינות ניו-אינגלנד הן יעד תרבותי ייחודי באמריקה. זהו איזור של יופי בלתי נתפס, שלכת משכרת והמון פירות ים ולובסטרים
• טקסס – טקסס והמערב הפרוע די חופפים, אבל טקסס היא יעד עצמאי לחלוטין עם אוכל ותרבות טקסניים עם מבטא מתגלגל (וסטייקים!!!!)
• The Deep South – The American South is a vast area stretching north from West Palm Beach in Florida to Virginia, comprising the territory of the Confederate States. The highlight of the Deep South is the states of Mississippi and Alabama. Southern culture includes unique food and an entire culture surrounding American rednecks.
• Creole Culture – New Orleans is a unique cultural destination where the Creole culture (originally from Quebec) or Cajun is prevalent. It is also the city of the jazz world.
• California Dreaming – California is a global fashion trendsetter since the mid-20th century. Its main strength is the film industry of Hollywood in Los Angeles. The state is identified with the Beatnik and Hippie cultures, which peaked during the Summer of Love in San Francisco. To this day, California is a separate culture from the rest of the USA with its own sounds and ideology
• Land of Tornadoes – The extreme events of tornadoes are associated with what is known as Tornado Alley, a stretch of land that includes much of the Great Plains. Kansas is known for Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, but the entire American heartland also includes (from the spring months) the frightening thunderstorms that can turn into a tornado vortex (as opposed to the hurricanes of Florida and the Gulf of Mexico).

To plan a travel itinerary in the USA and for professional advice, click here…

 

6 Time Zones

The USA is divided into six time zones, four of which are in what is referred to as the continental USA:

• אזור זמן מזרחי (החוף האטלנטי מניו-יורק וניו-איגלנד עד לפלורידה, כולל מישיגן ואינדיאנה) – חמש שעות פחות מ-GMT (זמן גריניץ') או 7 שעות הפרש מישראל
• אזור זמן מרכזי (המידווסט והמשטחים הגדולים – שיקגו, לואיזיאנה, טקסס ועוד) – שש שעות פחות מ-GMT או 8 שעות הפרש מישראל
• אזור זמן הרי הרוקי (רכס הרוקי ורמת הקולורדו – קולורדו, מונטנה, אריזונה ועוד) – שבע שעות פחות מ-GMT או 9 שעות הפרש מישראל
• אזור זמן פסיפי (החוף הפסיפי – קליפורניה, אורגון, וושינגטון, וגם נוואדה ולאס וגאס) – שמונה שעות פחות מ-GMT או 10 שעות הפרש מישראל

שני זמנים נפרדים קיימים גם לאלסקה (11 שעות פחות מישראל) ולהוואי (12 שעות פחות מישראל).

Note that sometimes the Israeli daylight saving time is not fully synchronized with that of the United States, and therefore there may be a one-hour deviation from the estimates listed here, depending on the time of year.

 

Climate Zones (Where and When to Travel in the USA?)

The climate in America is critical for trip planning, and almost every destination in the USA has a season where it is nearly impossible to travel (except for California, which always has perfect weather).

• Summer is the perfect season to travel in the north and winter is particularly enjoyable in the southern USA
• Generally, the north is freezing in winter and the south is unbearably hot and sweaty in summer

The main tourist seasons are divided by geography and climate:

• Florida and the Southern USA – Fall to spring (summers are hot and humid, yet people keep visiting)
• California – Perfect weather year-round
• The national parks of the Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevada (Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Yosemite, Crater Lake, etc.) – Spring to fall (winter is freezing and harsh)
• The national parks of the Colorado Plateau (Grand Canyon, Arches, Zion, Bryce Canyon, etc.) – Fall and spring (summers are extremely hot, and winters can be cold to freezing)
• New York City and the entire Northeast – Spring to fall (winter is freezing)
• New England – The fall foliage is dreamy, you can visit from spring (winters are freezing and very harsh)
• Hawaii – All year round (vacationing from spring to fall)
• Alaska – summer only

Important tips on when to travel to the USA

The winter trip to New York, Canada, Chicago, Seattle, the Rocky Mountains and more is almost impossible in winter and includes snow and very low temperatures.

The national parks of the Colorado Plateau, Florida, Louisiana, and more are boiling in the summer days. In the deserts, average temperatures rise above 40 degrees, and in Florida and Louisiana, the humidity touches one hundred. Although everywhere is air-conditioned, it is still possible to enjoy traveling, but know that it is extremely hot outside (hurricane and tornado season is from spring to fall, so stay alert!).

Autumn in the USA is dreamy in certain places, especially New England and Canada. The red-yellow foliage is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Spring in America is wonderful almost everywhere. Most of the temperatures are quite comfortable almost all over America, nature is in full bloom, and it is really nice to go out and breathe fresh air.

 

Food in American Culture

America is an empire of food, both from the fast food that is inherently American and from a very high standard of local food at a particularly fair price. The nationwide chains are divided into quick ready-to-eat food, whose nutritional values are usually not great, and really good but rather banal restaurants. The advantage of the nationwide chains is the uniform standard, something that is very popular with tourists who don't want surprises.

American fast food is based on huge American international chains that specialize in a certain type of food:

• Burgers – McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's and more
• Pizza – Domino's, Papa John's and more
• Chicken – KFC, Popeyes, Chick-fil-A and more
• Sandwiches – Subway, Quiznos, Arby's and more
• Mexican – Taco Bell, Chipotle and more
• Chinese – Panda Express and more
• Coffee – Starbucks and more
• Donuts – Dunkin' Donuts, Krispy Kreme and more
• Ice Cream – Baskin Robbins, Dairy Queen and more

In America, there are also large chains of restaurants such as Olive Garden, Denny's, Applebee's, Red Lobster, Outback Steakhouse, Chili's, and more. These are full-service restaurants with table service and strict standards that allow for consistent quality across the USA.

There are also quite a few chains that are characteristic of partial geographic regions such as Carl's Jr., In-N-Out Burger, Steak ‘n Shake, Papa Murphy's, and more. These fast food chains are a bit more unique and give a feeling of something special, but you don't meet them on every corner.

There's also excellent prepared food at the giant supermarket chains like Trader Joe's, Walmart, Costco, etc.

 

Holidays, Dates, and Special Events

In America, there is a variety of holidays or special days that are nationwide (there are also quite a few important regional events). The special events are divided into two main religious holidays:

• Christmas – December 24th (Christmas Eve) to December 26th (Boxing Day)
• פסחא – תאריכי החג נקבעים לפי יום ראשון הראשון אחרי הירח המלא שלאחר יום השוויון של האביב (21 למרס)

ימים מיוחדים על בסיס דתי או מסורתי:

• ערב השנה החדשה – היום האחרון של השנה ה-31 לדצמבר
• יום האהבה – ה-14 לפברואר
• יום פטריק הקדוש – ה-17 למרץ
• יום הזיכרון – יום שני בין ה-25 ל-31 לחודש מאי
• יום העצמאות – ה-4 ליולי
• יום העובד – יום שני בין ה-1 ל-7 לספטמבר
• חג ההודיה – יום חמישי בין ה-22 ל-28 לנובמבר
• ליל כל הקדושים – 31 באוקטובר

בימים אלו לרוב יש חופש מהעבודה ונערכים אירועים מיוחדים בכל רחבי ארה”ב.

Sundays are often also free days (our equivalent to Saturday), only that everything is open (opening hours vary).

 

Personal Safety and Tips for a Relaxed Trip

America is a country of order and chaos all in one. The American attempt is to regulate chaos with a series of laws, sometimes it succeeds and sometimes it completely fails, creating areas that are quite dangerous.

In general, America is not the safest country in the world and there are quite a few areas to avoid, and they can sometimes be adjacent to popular tourist destinations (large parts of New York and even Harlem in Manhattan, parts of the downtown of almost every big city, etc.).

בשנים האחרונות, המצב בכמה ערים בארה”ב הדרדר, גם בעקבות הקורונה וגם בעקבות המהומות של 2020. מרכזי הערים שהיו ידידותיים הפכו קודרים במידה מסוימת, במיוחד בערים הליברליות יותר. מרכז העיר של סן-פרנסיסקו, פורטלנד, סיאטל ואפילו מנהטן הפך לפחות בטוח עם ריבוי חסרי בית ברחובות ולא מעט פשע שנובע גם ממערך החוקים המקלים כלפי אוכלוסיות מסוימות על בסיס אפליה מתקנת.

ישנם כמה כללים שכדאי לפעול לפיהם על מנת להימנע מצרות:

• לדעת בדיוק לאן מתכוונים להגיע ולתכנן את הטיול מראש, בעיקר בביקור בערים הגדולות
• להפעיל שכל ישר וקצת אינטואיציה ולא להגיע למקומות שנראים ומרגישים מאיימים או לא בטוחים
• If you're unsure, ask at the hotel where (and when) it's advisable or not to wander
• Stay on busy streets. Walk where other tourists are walking
• Avoid interacting with those who seem suspicious to you

 

The Legal System

The USA is a country of extremes when it comes to the law. As Israelis, we sometimes find it hard to understand the rigidity of American rules, but America operates by the book, so it's very important to obey the laws.

Most encounters Israelis have with the law in America are related to traffic laws. If a police officer stops you for a traffic violation, accept the fine as the chances of getting out of it are quite low.

• When driving in the USA, it's very important to adhere to speed limits and traffic laws
• חשוב גם לנהוג עם הרשיונות המתאימים ולא להיות מופתעים מול השוטרים
• המרובעות האמריקאית יכולה להוביל גם לתחנת משטרה על כל מיני זוטות, אז בבקשה להיות מסודרים עם מסמכים ולא לעבור על חוקי התעבורה

אם נעצרתם בארה”ב מגיע לכם ייצוג של עורך דין וגם לשמור על זכות השתיקה (יש לזה מחיר אבל כדאי לחכות לייעוץ משפטי לפני שמדברים בחקירה). כולנו מכירים את הנוסח של הזהרת מירנדה Miranda warning (“יש לך זכות לשמור על שתיקה. כל מה שתגיד יכול לשמש נגדך בבית משפט…” You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can be used against you in court…) שכל שוטר מחוייב לומר בעת מעצר. כל הפרוטוקול מעוגן בזכויות העצורים.

 

מהי בעצם ארה”ב?

The United States of America is a federal union of 50 states that operate autonomously. The federal capital of the USA is Washington D.C.. Each state has an independent judiciary system, local police (sheriff at the settlement level, state police at the state level, and the FBI at the federal level).

The federal level is based on the American Constitution, and each state that ratified it and became part of the union essentially surrendered some of its powers.

The United States was founded by the 13 original states that rebelled against British rule in 1776. The first president of the United States was George Washington, who was inaugurated in New York and sat in the first capital, Philadelphia. About twenty years after the declaration of independence, Washington, the federal capital, was built on the Virginia-Maryland border, in the District of Columbia.

Over the years, more territories that were under Spanish (and Mexican) and French control joined until the union solidified from the Atlantic coast to the Pacific coast. In 1861, the Civil War erupted, almost tearing apart the union between the Yankees (North) and the Confederacy (South). In 1959, the states of Hawaii and Alaska joined the union, completing the 50 states.