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Budget Travel to USA

esta — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 18:36:12 +0000

Traveling in the United States can be both a fascinating and rewarding experience, but living and traveling in the USA can be expensive. However, with the right knowledge and a certain bit of travel savvy you can make your way across the USA on a tight budget.

Many of the popular tourist attractions in the USA have accummulated arrays of tourist businesses around them. Some of those businesses sell inferior merchandise at inflated prices. We call them “tourist traps”. At any popular attraction, you will find gift shops, street vendors and restaurants surrounding it. Often, it is best to avoid such establishments including the restaurants and shops in most airports. When you visit a tourist sight, it is usually wiser to buy your food and souvenirs a bit further away from the attraction.

Flying is the most common means of traveling long distances in the USA. Nearly every US airline offers tickets at reduced prices on most flights, but you must know how to find the bargains. The lowest fares are normally offered on advance-purchase, round-trip tickets that include a Saturday night stay. Always try to purchase your ticket at least three weeks in advance and always include a Saturday night in your round trip itinerary. Even if you only need a one-way ticket, it can often be cheaper to purchase a round trip ticket that includes a weekend stay. You can always throw away the unused portion of the ticket.

I suggest you check more than one source for any airline ticket. If you have some flexibility in your itinerary, test a few different options for dates of travel to find the lowest rate.

Bus travel is the cheapest means of transportation across the USA and bus stations are more common than airports. However, the bus may not be the most economical alternative when you consider that cross-country bus travel takes several days and that you must provide your own meals and lodging. Greyhound Bus Company operates the only truly transcontinental bus service in the USA. They offer unlimited-travel passes in seven to sixty-day increments. Special reduced fares are available for students and international travelers. You should carefully consider the trade-off between bus and air travel. Airplanes are much faster, but the bus lets you see the country as you travel.

As a rule, rail travel in America is expensive, unreliable and inconvenient. You should not consider it as a primary travel option. However, if you plan a lot of travel between major cities, trains can be an economical means of transportation. Amtrak, the only major American passenger rail line, offers a thirty day pass for unlimited rail travel in any part of the United States. Depending on the season, USA Rail passes costs between three hundred and five hundred fifty dollars. This may seem expensive, but if you plan on a lot of travel in a short time, it can be much cheaper than multiple airplane or bus tickets. Remember that trains tend to travel mostly between larger cities!

Hitchhiking can be dangerous, and it is illegal in most states. You should avoid hitchhiking in the USA as you could end up in trouble with the local police.

Finding an inexpensive place to stay can be a challenge, however here are some economical alternatives to a cheap motel or to overstuffing a hotel room.

If you are travelling through the more rural parts of America, almost all of the larger state and national parks have campsites which can be rented for extremely low rates, sometimes as low as five dollars a night. Usually this includes a grill for cooking, space for tents, a communal toilet and a shower area. Private campgrounds cost a little more but usually include some added amenities like hot water, swimming pool, Laundromat and grocery store.

Many large universities rent out their dormitory rooms during the summer. In almost any major US city, there is at least one university engaged in such a program. Typically you get a room and a shower for a modest price. Unfortunately, most universities only have open dormitory space in the summer, between the end of June and the beginning of September. You must call the housing office of the given university to obtain information about this type of economical lodging.

All major cities have branches of the YMCA and YWCA that offers inexpensive lodging. The room prices usually include showers, a place to sleep and sometimes a hot meal. The YM/YWCA are a bit more expensive than other forms of low-cost housing, but they are also more reliable and more comfortable.

Youth Hostels are not as common in the USA as they are in most European countries, but hostels are gaining in popularity throughout the USA. Often, they are the least expensive accommodations. For a modest fee, you get a bed for the night with a hot shower and often a free breakfast. Some hostels require you to provide your own linen, but many of them will provide linen free or for a small additional fee.

If you are planning a travel to USA don’t forget your ESTA Travel Authorisation. ESTA Visa application can be made online at http://www.estavisaapplication.co.uk/

US Top Destinations – Yellowstone

esta — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 16:20:05 +0000

In 1807, when John Colter (a scout for explorers Lewis and Clark) first described the wonders of what is now Yellowstone National Park, everyone suspected that he was embellishing. But there is no doubt now that the park is indeed extraordinarily beautiful. If you’re looking for the ultimate outdoorsy getaway, this would be it. Hundreds of miles of hiking trails meander through forests, along streams and up mountains. But be prepared to share the road with Yellowstone’s more permanent residents like buffalo, elk and sometimes even grizzlies. Steaming geysers, bubbling mud pits and multicolored pools are sure to renew your interest in geology, while more than 3,000 square miles of mountains, canyons, geysers and waterfalls are sure to inspire the nature-lover in you.

Although Yellowstone attracts about three million visitors every year, chances are — unless you spend your entire trip at Old Faithful — you won’t see much of them. Yellowstone’s 2,221,766 acres sweep from the northwest corner of Wyoming onto the edges of Idaho and Montana, offering plenty of untouched territory to explore. And while that may seem daunting at first, just remember that you can always come back.

If you are planning a travel to USA don’t forget your ESTA Travel Authorisation. ESTA Visa application can be made online at http://www.estavisaapplication.co.uk/

Travel to USA – Hotels

esta — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 17:45:20 +0000

There are many good accomodations including a majority of modern national and international hotel and motel chains, often with standard prices. In general, the quality of accommodation is high, with standard amenities such as television, telephone and very often broadband or Wi-Fi in each room. Hotels expect payment in advance and reservations are held until around 1800, unless late arrival is requested.

Several hospitality companies offer a pre-paid voucher programme for use at various hotel and motel chains throughout the USA.

Grading: Basic categories fall into Super, Deluxe, Standard, Moderate and Economy. Prices vary according to standards.

If you are planning a travel to United States don’t forget your ESTA Visa application. You can get ESTA Visa online at http://www.estavisaapplication.co.uk/ ESTA USA – your key to United States.

US Travel Advice – Entry Requirements

esta — Mon, 30 May 2011 14:11:29 +0000

The US Visa Waiver Programme (VWP) allows most British Citizen passport holders to visit the US for up to 90 days. The types of journeys that are permissible under the VWP include general travel/tourism, certain types of business and when transiting to another country.

The US requires all those travelling under the Visa Waiver Programme to provide details online at least 72 hours prior to travel. This is known as an Electronic Travel System Authorisation or ESTA. This is mandatory. If you do not have an ESTA you will be refused travel to the USA.

Obtaining an ESTA should not be confused with the separate requirement, which will continue to apply, for you to provide your airline or carrier with details of your passport, country of residence and address of your first night’s accommodation in the US.

UK Emergency Travel Documents (ETD) are not valid for entry into the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Holders of an ETD must apply for the appropriate US visa.

The British Consulate General in Toronto have reported some cases of British nationals being denied re-entry into the USA under the VWP after a previous stay in the US. Travellers who have been admitted to the USA under the Visa Waiver Programme and who make a short trip to Canada generally can be readmitted to the United States under the VWP as long as they still meet the requirements of the VWP. Granting entry under the VWP is a matter for the US authorities and travellers are advised to check they meet the entry requirements.

Applicants arriving in the United States with a non-compliant passport may be required to undergo further processing and/or be denied admission. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) may exercise discretion at the ports of entry in cases of medical or other emergency travel. You should consult the office issuing the temporary passport for further advice.

The Department of State has removed HIV Infection from the list of communicable diseases of public health significance. This means that HIV infection will no longer be an inadmissible condition. Applicants who are travelling to the United States on or after 4 January 2010 who are otherwise qualified may travel visa free under the Visa Waiver Program.

If you are planning a travel to United States don’t forget your ESTA Visa application. You can get ESTA Visa online at http://www.estavisaapplication.co.uk/ ESTA USA – your key to United States.

US Government closure would hurt visa services to US

esta — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 10:24:25 +0000

WASHINGTON: The US State Department said Wednesday that visa services for foreigners seeking to visit the United States would be affected if the US government shuts down over a budget row.

State Department spokesman Mark Toner told reporters that “we continue to believe a shutdown can be avoided” but added that “prudent planning” was being made to keep the State Department and US missions overseas running.

“We will continue to implement our mission with reduced staff,” Toner said, adding that visa services are “likely to be affected” because of the reduced personnel.

He advised foreign nationals to consult the relevant embassy website if they have visa appointments for next week at a US consular office overseas.

Toner also said the US embassies and consulates abroad will continue to ensure “emergency services” for US citizens, who for example might need to replace lost or stolen passports.

“We will continue to do that no matter what,” he said.

read full article on http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/services/travel/visa-power/us-government-closure-would-hurt-visa-services-to-us-official/articleshow/7889923.cms

Travelling to the United States?

esta — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 12:02:44 +0000

Travel to United States of America for business or pleasure can be an exciting experience. If you want it to be as pleasant and hassle-free as possible, let others defeat the red tape for you. Applying for ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) online is quick and convenient. To find out more and apply today simply go to ESTA Visa Application.