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Portland Head Light, Maine
The USA your way

Tailor-made USA holidays shaped around your passions

Portland Head Light, Maine

Oversized objects and other Americana along Route 66, the beaches and glitzy cities of California’s coast, steaming geysers in Yellowstone National Park… on a tailor-made holiday to the USA with Audley, you’ll see the highlights — and much more — your way. We’ll design your ideal trip with you, paying close attention to your interests, your travel style and your budget. Our USA specialists know the country inside out and can lead you to experiences you won’t find in a guidebook.

Soar over the Grand Canyon by helicopter, or hike inside it with a ranger. Surf Hawaii’s waves and visit Jurassic Park film locations on an ATV tour. Ride on horseback through rolling countryside on a traditional Montana ranch. See an intimate live jazz concert in New Orleans, or explore backstage of Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry.

New England’s crimson, yellow and orange fall foliage. After-hours art gallery tours in New York. Utah’s red-rock landscapes. Wild West towns and abandoned Puebloan cliff dwellings… What excites you? Travel at your own pace, in your own style, with the confidence that we’ll show you the best options, wherever you go.

Creating tailor-made tours for over 25 years

Suggested tours for the USA

Whether you want to drive along California’s Pacific Coast Highway, sample cutting-edge cuisine on the Las Vegas Strip, or explore the mountains and beaches of New England, our suggested itineraries are a great starting point as you begin to plan your trip to the USA.

Suggested activities for the USA

Track wolves with an expert through the wilds of Yellowstone, explore the partially submerged volcanic crater of Molokini, and ride a cog-wheel train up the slopes of Mount Washington. Whatever interests you, our specialists will suggest experiences designed to enhance your trip to the USA.

  • Graceland Platinum Tour
    Graceland Mansion, Memphis

    Graceland Platinum Tour

    Memphis

    Graceland Platinum Tour

    Walk in the footsteps of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll at Elvis Presley’s home, Graceland Mansion.

    View details
  • Grand Canyon Helicopter & Jeep Tour
    Helicopter landing at the Grand Canyon

    Grand Canyon Helicopter & Jeep Tour

    Grand Canyon National Park

    Grand Canyon Helicopter & Jeep Tour

    This helicopter and jeep sunset safari puts the Grand Canyon just under your feet and shows its lively skyline before night fall.

    View details
  • Hollywood Hills 2.5 hour Sunset Hike
    The Griffith Observatory and Los Angeles city skyline

    Hollywood Hills 2.5 hour Sunset Hike

    Los Angeles

    Hollywood Hills 2.5 hour Sunset Hike

    On this guided tour, you’ll learn about the history of Los Angeles, hike to the top of Mount Hollywood to watch the sunset over the city below and visit the Griffith Observatory.

    View details

Why travel with Audley?

  • 100% tailor-made tours
  • Fully protected travel
  • Established for over 25 years
  • 98% of our clients would recommend us

Best time to visit

Our specialists advise on the best months to visit the USA, including information about climate, events and festivals.

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Covering all seven continents, The World Your Way shows you how you can see the world with us. It features trip ideas from our specialists alongside hand-picked stays and experiences, and introduces our approach to creating meaningful travel experiences.

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Useful information for planning your holiday in the USA

What's the currency of the USA?

The official currency of the USA is the US dollar (USD, $), which is divided into 100 cents. Notes come in denominations of $1, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100, while you’ll find coins in denominations of 1¢, 5¢, 10¢, and 25¢.

You can withdraw currency from ATMs across the country and all major credit cards are widely accepted. Just note that a sales tax is applied to most purchases, including food and beverages, throughout the country and is added on to the advertised price. The actual rate varies from state to state, with some states offering tax-free shopping.

What food and drink should I try in the USA?

We recommend trying tender lobster rolls in New England, spiced pulled pork in Tennessee, fresh sourdough in California, and so much more. The USA is often branded the fast-food capital of the world, and it does have a lot of that. But the country also boasts a wealth of vastly different regional specialities and perhaps the widest range of international cuisine anywhere on the planet.

There are also many specialist breweries and wineries across the country, but you must be at least 21 to buy or drink alcohol in the USA, and you’ll need to show ID in bars regardless of how old you might look.

Our specialists can arrange food tours, cooking classes, and wine tastings with local experts so you can dig deeper into the USA’s culinary heritage.

How much should I tip in the USA?

Tipping is very common in the USA and you should tip between 20-25% in bars and restaurants, as well as taxi drivers. If you pay by card but leave a cash tip, be sure to write ‘cash tip’ in the tipping section of your receipt. In many sit-down restaurants, tipping is the only wage that food servers receive.

You should also tip guides and hotel porters, but the amount depends on various factors. We can recommend how much you should tip before you travel.

Where can I find the latest travel advice for the USA?

For the latest travel advice for the USA, including entry requirements, health information, and the safety and security situation, please refer to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office website.

What can I experience in the USA?

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.

Where should I go in the USA?

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.

Where can I stay in the USA?

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.

How long does it take to fly to the USA from the UK?

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.

What's the time zone in the USA?

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.

What's the best way of getting around in the USA?

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.

Do I need a visa to visit the USA, and what do I need to check with my passport?

Use our travel tool to find up-to-date visa and passport requirements for the USA. Enter where you’re travelling to and from (including any stopover destinations en route or flight layovers), along with your intended travel dates and passport details, for a full list of requirements.

Do I need vaccinations to visit the USA?

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.

What do I need to know about driving 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.

Do I need health insurance when visiting the USA?

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.

How much does it cost to visit the USA’s national parks?

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.

USA by region

If you’re planning to focus your time in the USA around a particular area, you can jump into the region you're most interested in to find detailed itinerary ideas together with accommodation choices and a taster of the experiences we can offer.

Other popular destinations

Still looking for ideas? If the USA has captured your interest, we think you might also like these destinations.