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Great Tips for Russian Travelers in the U.S.A. Are you still just "dreaming" of a trip to the U.S.A.? More and more Russian travelers are finding the United States accessible as a tourism destination, making their dreams come true! Journeys to America are now within the reach of Russians earning the equivalent of $1000 USD a month. While New York City is the most popular point of entry (not only for the fame of the city, but most competitive airfares from Moscow and St. Petersburg are to New York), repeat visitors are realizing that there are many places to visit here, each with very different characteristics, foods, climates and great sites to see. Many are finding their way to other gateway cities such as Atlanta, Miami, San Francisco, Dallas, Boston, Seattle, Los Angeles and Chicago. From any of these gateways, you can often use "Visit USA Coupons" for reduced rate travel to other parts of the country. U.S. carriers such as Delta and US Airways offer these reduced-rate coupons in conjunction with their transatlantic tickets. Ask your travel agent before buying your transatlantic ticket to investigate which U.S. domestic carriers have cooperative arrangements that might help your trip. Of course, we suggest that visitors avoid peak-season travel whenever possible, and if tourism is your main intent, book hotels in the major cities on weekends, when rates are lower and the pace of life is a bit slower. Often, weekend hotel packages will include breakfast and other "perks." During the week, it is better to book accommodations at resorts or in smaller cities which also give more opportunities to see American lifestyles up close. Car rentals are relatively inexpensive in the U.S.A. and road signs are easy to read. You can download maps and driving directions from the Internet at sites such as mapquest.com which makes it even easier to explore the country on your own. However, you must have a valid driver's license and a major credit card to rent a car, as well as meet the minimum age requirements - usually 25 years of age. Credit cards issued by Russian banks are now accepted in most places if they are connected with VISA, MasterCard, Eurocard-MasterCard, etc. You might want to contact some of the major agencies, such as Hertz, Avis, Budget, and Alamo for reservations before you arrive to find out about weekend or weekly specials in the areas you plan to visit. It is nice to use a rental car to make side trips from some of the major cities or to drive between some major gateways. For example, from Miami, drive south through the Florida Keys and experience a different view and history. On the West Coast, drive the Coastal Highway between San Francisco and Los Angeles for views of the Pacific as well as mountains and canyons. Or from New York, drive to Philadelphia, Baltimore (with its major aquarium) and then to Washington, DC. You can even select a route including several major shopping outlets. Shopping is always a part of an American visit, and the malls and outlets offer a seemingly endless choice of goods. These large malls also make it easier to concentrate major shopping trips into one place - and only one day! The seasonal sales are also very good, even in the more high-end and boutique shops. For Russians who love nature, the fall is a terrific time to explore New England, as well as other areas of Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and upstate New York. Just be prepared to join hordes of others out to enjoy the colorful fall leaves! There are state parks as well as national and regional parks that offer safe and beautiful walking and hiking trails for all ages and skill levels. Fall in the northeastern United States is not like fall in Russia. There can be beautiful sunny days, and cool, crisp nights as well as some rain or fog. But the colors are spectacular! And the smaller towns and villages often are very busy with special festivals on fall weekends, another great way to experience American life - including local foods and handicrafts. Arts and music are also major attractions for visitors to the U.S.A. Keep in mind that this is the birthplace of jazz, so while New Orleans is always exciting, Chicago also is home to many jazz venues, and most major cities will have several good jazz clubs. Those in the 30- to 40-year-old age group will be especially interested in the many styles of jazz offered in a wide variety of settings in Chicago and New Orleans. And, in the South, be sure to check out The Blues, another American music original! Art museums are found in every city, but the multitude of museums and exhibits found at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. can take days to explore! From fine art to sculpture, natural history to American history and the air and space museum, admissions are free. There are, however, a limited number of catalogues and information available in Russian. A few guidebooks are now available in Russia for major world cities, so we suggest you investigate these before your departure. While travel to the U.S.A. is now much more affordable, through some advance planning, you can still stretch your travel dollars. The wide variety of restaurants and eating-places make it easy to save money in this area. There are chain restaurants like McDonald's, KFC chicken, Pizza Hut, and many other fast-food places and food courts in major shopping areas that provide good selections of moderately priced food. It is also fun to go into the local supermarkets and buy some breads, cheeses and fruits for picnics. Then, with the money you save, you can splurge on fine restaurants on some evenings. In major cities, try the ethnic neighborhoods where you can eat Chinese, Japanese, European, or other local foods in smaller, more localized and family oriented restaurants. One must remember that gratuities (tips) are not included in U.S. prices. This means that you must add at least 15% to the total meal cost for the servers. It is also customary to tip taxi drivers - about 10-15%, as well as coat check people, and hotel bellmen when they arrange a taxi for you. Airport and hotel porters generally expect $1 per bag. Local taxes vary greatly and may be applied to food, beverages, services, clothing, and other purchases. In addition to state taxes, you will find city, county and regional taxes applied in some areas. These taxes are added to the cost shown for the item, unless marked as included (such as for theatre tickets). Resorts and theme parks offer a variety of vacations for everyone. Some places may be seasonal - such as skiing, while others will feature special events for all seasons. Be sure to check what is included in the total price! Sometimes meals are included, other times not. If you are going to Disney World (Florida) or Disneyland (California), compare packages at hotels outside the park area as well as those inside the parks. Florida is an extremely popular destination year-round, but it is not always comfortable for swimming in the ocean. Be cautious about visiting during hurricane season (June 1 - November 30), with its frequent severe afternoon thunderstorms and lightning. California is better to visit in the spring and fall. The Rocky Mountain regions - Utah, Colorado, Idaho - offer skiing in winter, and climbing, camping and horseback riding in the summer. There is something for everyone in the U.S.A., and we encourage you to get beyond the usual major cities if you have time on your first visit, or to make a return visit to other regions. Just like Russia, there is more than just New York and Miami, or Moscow and St. Petersburg! Marylou Foley is the owner and president of Tour Designs, Inc. She is a Certified Travel Consultant with more than 25 years experience, specializing in travel for individuals, couples and groups between Russia and the U.S.A. For more information, contact her at:  |
