What budget to travel aux États-Unis? Money and currency

Crossing the Atlantic already implies a flight that often exceeds 1 000 €. On the spot, the bulk of your expenses concern accommodation. Generally, plan to rent a car. To minimize costs, you can stay in a youth hostel, in town, eat on the go in the street, choose a stay outside the high tourist season. You should also know that even to go hiking in the parks, you will have to pay an entrance fee. Count on about 90 € per day and per person, all included.

What budget for activities and outings aux États-Unis?

Some museums are free every day (such as the Smithsonian Museums in Washington, D.C. or the Museum of the American Indian in Manhattan), while others offer free admission only on specific days or times, often the first Saturday of the month.

Americans are sporty. You have Pilates classes in the morning at 6am, joggers, cyclists, rollerbladers along the San Francisco waterfront, on the Berkeley campus, in the green spaces of Silicon Valley or in Central Park all day long, with crowds in the early morning, at lunchtime and at the end of the day... The National Parks are also very popular with hikers and climbers, as well as the beaches on the spots for surfing, the rivers for kayaking, the streams for rafting... To lie down on the well-mown grass of the public parks or along the banks, or to sit on the benches of the squares while watching the walkers passing by, it is free! There are also often free dance classes in Manhattan or San Francisco.

The prices displayed in the stores are always exclusive of tax, so you have to do the mental calculation to know the real amount of your purchase. Concept stores, flag stores and other stores dedicated to this or that brand, even floors dedicated to M&M's, Disney, costumes, etc., turn the heads of collectors and fans.

Discounts are often given to students at venues and girls are often exempt from paying admission fees. You can pay for your tickets in advance on the Internet.

In New York City, for those who are broke and want to see The Lion King on Broadway, there are options. The first is to line up at one of the three TKTS kiosks (in Times Square, South Street Seaport and Lincoln Center) that offer discounts of 25% to 75% on all Broadway and off-Broadway shows, depending on availability. It's a known good deal, so plan to arrive before the kiosks open, and expect to wait in line for at least an hour!

What budget to eat aux États-Unis?

You have to add to the prices on the cards 6 to 11% tax and, of course, the tip which amounts to 15 to 20%. Thedoggy bag is almost systematic, many Americans use it to make up their evening meal when they eat out at noon.

In the city, especially in the trendy areas of San Francisco, Berkeley or New York, it is common to sit down with a coffee or a soda with your computer and work (or not) for an hour or two while taking advantage of the establishment's free Wifi.

What is the budget for accommodation aux États-Unis?

To stay in New York you need to plan ahead and know that your accommodation will have a big impact on your budget. Sometimes it is better to opt for a flight with a hotel if you plan to stay for a week in the same city. Unpleasant surprises are not uncommon in large cities. Look carefully at the customer reviews before booking your nights. Sometimes you will get a room of 7 or 8^m2 with a shared bathroom and no breakfast, an uncomfortable bed and a tiny window, or even no window at all, for more than 100 € per night... Homestay with the same reservations is a good choice. Similarly, an apartment, studio or aparthotel for stays in the same place. Youth hostels, especially in San Francisco, are sometimes very nice

While roaming, you will quickly learn to find the right places and you will be able to book at the last minute on your tablet or directly in rural areas. And if by any chance you were forced to settle for a dingy motel on the side of the highway, you would probably be able to console yourself by telling yourself that you are in the middle of a Hollywood road movie!

But if you don't have a budget limit, there are plenty of luxury hotels and charming addresses for several hundred euros a night!

Travel budget aux États-Unis and cost of living

Tips: don't forget it! You should always give at least 15% of the bill in restaurants, and US$1 or US$2 to cab drivers, parking valets (when returning the car) or luggage porters in a hotel (US$1 per suitcase). If you pay with a credit card, don't forget to fill in the tip box on the bill yourself and add it up. Tipping is very much a part of American culture, rewarding value and quality of work, and therefore merit. You will be given bad looks if, like many French people, you don't give anything. It is important to keep in mind that bar or restaurant waiters rely heavily on their tip to live, as their salary is relatively low. At the bar, you put the tip, at least 1 US$ per glass, in front of the waiter at the counter, not when you leave but as soon as you pay.

Haggling: American consumers have a new tactic to save money: haggling. Like in the souk, they negotiate the price. Not just for cars and jewelry, but also for digital audio-visual technology, sofas, rugs and even clothing. This practice has been implemented in department stores. It is a consequence of the American economic crisis. Salesmen and managers have more freedom on the price, in order to retain customers. In these negotiations, the customer often has the upper hand and the seller quickly lowers his price. In addition, selling on the Internet gives consumers the power to challenge store prices and causes competition for the lowest prices. For tourists, negotiation is possible out of season and/or in low-traffic areas. In many mid-range hotels (such as Best Western), prices are negotiable. Hoteliers would rather lower the price of a room by 10-20% to get a good occupancy rate than to leave rooms unoccupied.

Taxes: There is no generalized VAT in the United States. Therefore, a local sales tax must always be added to the price in stores and restaurants. This tax varies by county - for example, it is 8.75% in San Francisco - and by product. No label, advertisement or brochure ever shows the final price: you have to calculate it. However, the price of gasoline at the pump includes taxes. Prices for hotels and restaurants are given excluding VAT.