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United States holidays



Nothing that you say about the whole country is going to be true.

Alistair Cooke, Alistair Cooke’s America


United States holiday experts at WEXAS will tailor-make all aspects of your itinerary to create a United States holiday, personal to you.

Welcome to America, the land of the free. Based on an idea, millions of immigrants have now shaped this still young country, this ’New World’, into the world’s dominant power – both politically and culturally.

Every visitor has some idea of what to expect, but the thrill, comes not from spotting the differences between expectation and reality, but the shock of seeing the familiar. Big yellow taxis, engines throbbing, wait in line at Times Square, cable cars heave their passengers over San Francisco’s hills, Monument Valley is only missing John Wayne, roads head straight to the horizon through desert and the Statue of Liberty stands proud surveying Manhattan’s skyline.

Its possible to think of the US as a series of urban centres – with New York, New Orleans, San Francisco and Las Vegas being by far the most interesting culturally, for very different reasons – however, it is the astounding landscapes outside the cities that truly astonish and reveal the real America.

Make time to visit the glacial splendour of Yellowstone, the deep canyons – not just the Grand Canyon – of Arizona and Utah, the geysers at Yellowstone, the towering redwoods on the north-west coast, the Rocky Mountains and Montana’s open plains.


United States tailor-made holiday highlights

New York
The Big Apple, with that instantly recognisable skyline, and street names from the movies, is a must see. Visit Staten Island for the best views of Manhatten Island, rollerskate in Central Park, and be sure to have a big New York breakfast.

Grand Canyon
Visit the South Rim at dawn for a sense of the enormity of nature. Spend a day trekking in the canyon, or get a permit and camp on the canyon floor. Or, for the less energetic, take to the air in a helicopter and watch the ground drop away.

California
Home to two major but very different US cities: Los Angeles and San Francisco. The former is all gas-guzzling cars stuck in a concrete and glass jungle, home to the rich and vain. The latter is eco-friendly, gay-friendly, boho chic, home to great food, an eclectic nightlife and a weird white fog disguising one of America’s best views, of the Golden Gate Bridge.

National Parks
The USA has a great geological diversity and stunning parks – from the lush Yosemite to the dusty, arid landscapes of Badlands, Bryce and Monument Valley. Yellowstone, the home of the Old Faithful geyser, is another highlight. Up in Alaska, bears and wolves roam freely amid the tundra and glaciers of Denali National Park, also home to North America’s highest peak, Mount McKinley.

Southern States
Known as a land of frontiers and rebellion, ‘dixie country’ is vast and varied. A cultural heritage of Native Americans, European settlers and slaves from Africa means the South has an eclectic mix of cuisines, music styles and customs. A good example of this is New Orleans – on the banks of the mighty Mississippi River – the birthplace of jazz and famous for its Mardi Gras and French culture. Meanwhile, the Lone Star State of Texas is a contrast of urban skyscrapers and cowboy country.

People & place

United States facts

Capital: Washington
Language: English.
People: European descent: White (69%), Hispanic (13%), Black American/ African descent (13%), Asian (4%) Native American (1%).
Religion: Protestant (52%), Roman Catholic (25%), Muslim, Jewish and other faiths.
Size (sq km): 9,809,155.
Population: 301,140,000.
Population density/sq km: 31.

Etiquette

Open friendly people of different cultures and origins. Normal courtesies apply. Smoking increasingly unpopular, ask permission first. Dress generally casual.

Shopping

Clothes, electrical items, traditional artefacts from the different peoples and regions, sports goods.

Food & drink

American breakfasts are legendary. Fast food, from hamburgers to hotdogs, is available everywhere, and international cuisine is available in every city. There are numerous regional specialities, from Spanish flavours in the south-west to Creole or French, and also fried chicken, in the deep south. Many different kinds of bar, with varying ‘happy hours’. Californian wines are good.

International Airports

Numerous. Busiest 10 are: Atlanta (ATL), Chicago (ORD), Los Angeles (LAX), Dallas/Fort Worth(DFW), San Francisco (SFO), Denver (DEN), Miami (MIA), Newark (EWR), Phoenix (PHX), Detroit (DTW).

Internal travel

Excellent air, rail and road networks. Buses, taxis, and different types of car-hire available.

Red tape

Visas

Not required up to 90 days.

Vaccinations

Not currently required.

Driving requirements

National driving licence accepted for a year. International Driving Permit recommended, not required.

Reps in UK/US

US: 24 Grosvenor Square, London W1A 1AE, tel (020) 7499 9000, fax (020) 7495 5012.

UK/US reps in United States

UK: 3100 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008, tel (202) 588 6500, fax (202) 588 7866, email washi@fco.gov.uk.

Currency

Dollar ($) = 100 cents.

Finance

Credit cards widely accepted, cheques less so.

Business hours

0900-1730 Mon-Friday.

Safety & life expectancy

Safety information

Safe, despite high levels of violent crime and murder.

Life expectancy

Life expectancy: M 75.0, F 80.70.

Useful websites for travel

www.usembassy.org.uk, www.britainusa.com, www.tia.org, www.london.usembassy.gov, www.usatourism.com, www.areaguides.net, www.us-national-parks.net, www.visitusa.org.uk.

Local media

Many, including, Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and the Washingon Post. Bulky Sunday papers, especially in The NewYork Times. Many state/regional papers.

Tourist boards

Various states have their own tourist boards, but n/a for whole.

Below is a selection of some ideas for holidays to United States. This is simply a taste of what we can offer. If you're interested in a specific United States itinerary then please call one of our consultants on 0845 643 6548.


Pacific Coast Highway self-drive tour

Pacific Coast Highway self-drive tour

Also known as California Highway 1, the Pacific Coast Highway is America’s dream drive and one of our most popular self-drive itineraries in the USA. Travel south from San Francisco to Los Angeles through mile upon mile of mountain and ocean views, accla...

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Bermuda and USA twin centres

Bermuda and USA twin centres

A stay in Bermuda combines beautifully with a city break or longer tour of the mainland USA. With direct BA flights from London to Bermuda taking less than seven hours and connections to New York and Boston taking just over 2 hours, it's easier than you mi...

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Alaska’s Northern Lights

Alaska’s Northern Lights

Located within a ring-shaped region around the North Pole called the auroral oval and less than 200km south of the Arctic Circle, Fairbanks in Alaska is among some of the best places on earth to experience the mysterious Northern Lights....

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Gems of the Rockies Tour & Alaska

Gems of the Rockies Tour & Alaska

This comprehensive escorted touring program from APT takes you to all the highlights Canada and Alaska have to offer....

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Great Divide Lodge, Breckenridge

Great Divide Lodge, Breckenridge

Great Divide Lodge is one of Breckenridge’s premier hotels. It’s perfectly located close to historic Main Street and the base of Peak 9, with the Quicksilver high-speed lift just across the road from the front entrance....

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Mayan Ranch, Bandera, Texas

Mayan Ranch, Bandera, Texas

Mayan Dude Ranch is located in the beautiful hill country of Texas, 47 miles north west of San Antonio in Bandera - an area often referred to as the "Cowboy Capital of the World"....

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Wildcatter Ranch, Dallas, Texas

Wildcatter Ranch, Dallas, Texas

One of the newest guest ranches in Texas, Wildcatter offers over 4,000 acres of Texan countryside from rolling hills to the historic Brazos River....

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Maverick Helicopters - Las Vegas

Maverick Helicopters - Las Vegas

Flying you further and deeper to the the bottom of the Grand Canyon, Maverick are our preferred helicopter sightseeing partner in Las Vegas. They are highly recommended by members who have flown with them....

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Miami & Florida self-drive tour

Miami & Florida self-drive tour

This self-drive tour showcases the best of south Florida and what’s more it’s pleasantly theme park free. Start with a few days in Miami Beach and then drive on down to the Keys. The drive alone is spectacular with beautiful glistening water either...

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Florida Explorer

Florida Explorer

Welcome to Florida and a journey through the Sunshine State that draws so many visitors each year. This self-drive itinerary starts with a chance to explore the many cultures of Miami, sample the beach town atmosphere of Naples on the Gulf Coast and award winn...

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The Best of Cape Cod & The Islands

The Best of Cape Cod & The IslandsFeaturing stays in Boston, Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard this excellent 10-day self-drive itinerary includes an exciting whale watching cruise and a day on the island of Nantucket. ...

Please call 0845 643 6548 for price details.

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Virgin Atlantic Offer

Virgin Atlantic OfferA special offer with Virgin Atlantic to the USA. Fly in Economy to Boston from £472 or in Premium Economy to New York from only £857....

Please call 0845 643 6548 for price details.

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Best of the Carolinas Self-Drive

Best of the Carolinas Self-DriveSee why people say that The Carolina’s are a land of contrasts. They will provide you with a heady mix of scenery from misty mountain peaks to pristine beaches that are long, flat and deserted plus stacks of heritage....

Please call 0845 643 6548 for price details.

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Pacific Northwest self-drive

Pacific Northwest self-driveThe ‘outdoor state’ of Washington and the coastal stretch of Oregon are no less magnificent than the Californian coast south of them, yet these states remain unspoilt by mass tourism. This two-week roundtrip tour from Seattle takes in their highlig...

Please call 0845 643 6548 for price details.

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Alaska, Glacier Bay & the Yukon

Alaska, Glacier Bay & the YukonFew places in the world can match the grandeur and beauty of Alaska, though Canada's Yukon gives it a run for its money. So imagine the sights on this 15-day self-drive, which guides you through both regions, from gold rush towns to towering mountains and ...

Please call 0845 643 6548 for price details.

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Rhythms of the Deep South self-drive

Rhythms of the Deep South self-driveDiscover a rich and innovative culture, history and heritage on this self-drive tour of the five Deep South states of Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Alabama....

Please call 0845 643 6548 for price details.

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Member testimonials


Mexican Mix-up - Vista Winter 2009

Dear Valerie [Vasquez],

We would like to give you a big thank you for arranging our holiday to America so well. Everything you booked worked like clockwork and the car, a Toyota Rav4, was the perfect size for our group of four. Our only disaster was booking our Durango [Colorado] hotel and Narrow Gauge Railroad experience on the internet through a separate company. After a 450-mile drive, none of the three Best Westerns in Durango could find our booking. When I showed the receptionist the hotel name, Best Western Plaza Vizcaya, she found out it was in Durango, Mexico. We are still trying to sort out where the error occurred and whether we can get a refund.If it had been left to me and the internet I can’t imagine what other disasters might have occurred.

So again, thank you.

Anthony Hughes


United States news

North America United States expert Chris Gardner
United States holiday map

Testimonials



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Weather

Climate varies hugely, check with individual states.

Time difference

GMT Spans six time zones, from -5 (east coast) to -10 (Hawaii).

Currency

Dollar ($) = 100 cents.

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Publications



Destinations
Canada, United States,

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