1. Portion sizes are huge. Go big or go homeGluttons rejoice; you’ve arrived at the land of plenty with its “all you can eat” buffets, sky-high burgers, and supersize meals. America’s relatively cheap food production gives restaurants an easy way to lure in more customers by serving up ever-bigger dishes plus generous-sized appetizers and desserts. It’s not uncommon to see plate-hogging 12 oz steaks being served, though that might be considered stingy in Texas. You’re also guaranteed not to go thirsty here, with free soda refills being pretty much the norm at many US dining spots.
2. Tips are expected
Keep small bills on hand for easier payment; there's no requirement to give tips to service staff in the US, but you’ll look like a real Scrooge if you don’t. Service workers, like waiters, housekeepers, and taxi drivers, count on tips to boost their income, so any extra you could throw their way will be appreciated. Unless you’ve had truly dreadful service, be prepared to pay 15 to 20% on top of the dining bill as a tip, and you could add an extra dollar or two for the bartender when paying for a drink.
3. Tax is not included in prices. Tax rates vary from state to state you think you’ve got just enough money to buy that cute souvenir or T-shirt, you might be in for a surprise when the cashier rings up the bill. At many places where goods or services are sold, the prices displayed on the tag or sign don’t include taxes, which could add 7% or more to your bill. Most states have sales taxes, and there might be local government taxes levied as well, so make sure you factor that into your shopping budget.
4. people are extremely talkative
Get ready for some friendly chit-chat America; being open and outgoing are celebrated traits, and as such, you might have all sorts of people striking up a conversation with you. It's especially noticeable if you're out dining or shopping, where you'll be asked "How are you?" by the waiter or shop attendant, and possibly more questions about where you're from, what you’re up to, or how your day is going. Such exchanges are usually light-hearted and limited to small talk – strong political views or other thoughts that might offend are usually kept under wraps.
5. Don’t be afraid to visit lesser-known places; it's easy to avoid the tourist crowds. With so many iconic sights like the Statue of Liberty, Las Vegas Strip, and Disneyland, it would be easy to make a USA trip that ticks off all the bucket-list places you hope to see in your lifetime. But with a bit of research, you can find alternative places that are well off the tourist trail but no less spectacular. Instead of Niagara Falls, try visiting Ruby Falls, a 45-meter-tall underground waterfall in Tennessee, or skip the Grand Canyon in favor of the lesser-visited Zion Canyon in Utah. Stray off the beaten track and see what you’ll discover.
I hope you like my article; ,follow me and share this with your friend family if you like my article. Suppose you see any mistake there, so the comment section is yours.
Thanks.
You must be logged in to post a comment.