What budget to travel Texas? Money and currency

What budget for activities and outings Texas?

Some museums offer special opening hours or days with free admission, often during the week, usually on Thursdays. Find out more on their websites. Some museums are free every day, including the Mesnil Collection in Houston, the Rothko Chapel and the Cy Twombly Gallery. Otherwise, expect to pay around US$15-22 for adult admission to an art or history museum, and less than US$10 for smaller museums in smaller towns. Visitor passes are also available, giving you entry to more than one museum, valid for several days. These can be purchased online or from tourist offices.

All public parks offer opportunities for jogging, outdoor yoga, martial arts or simply a stroll. In and around Austin, during the winter and autumn months, you can access Barton Springs free of charge, as well as other natural spring watering holes open to the public. It's a great way to do some swimming without having to pay anything, in a peaceful atmosphere.

You can also go horseback riding, accompanied by local professionals. Expect to pay between US$65-100 for a one-and-a-half or two-hour ride.

For treks and hikes through national parks, all you have to do is pay your entrance fee, which can cost between US$5 and US$20 per person, depending on the park. The entrance fee may also vary according to your mode of transport (with or without vehicle).

Bear in mind that tax is always added at the end. So the price you see on the label is not the final price. In general, the tax is 6%. For those with the patience, we recommend going to American thrift stores like Salvation Army, where you'll often find unusual items at unbeatable prices. A great idea for those looking for gifts without having to pay too much.

Depending on the location, prices vary enormously. For a normal bar, beers run between US$4 and US$6, and cocktails around US$8. At more upscale addresses, cocktails start at US$15, and beers at around US$8. Gratuities are mandatory and add 20% to the bill. In more and more establishments, you'll be asked to pay by credit card only.

When you pay for your first order at the bar, you may be asked"do you want to open a tab? You'll be asked if you'd like to open an account that you'll pay for at the end of the evening. They register your bank card and you collect the bill, paying the final sum only when you leave. This means you don't pay a tip for every drink you buy! Sometimes, they'll even keep your credit card. So don't forget to pay at the end, or risk forgetting it at the bar. If they give you your credit card back and you've opened atab, if you forget to pay the bill at the end, they'll charge you anyway, with an automatic tip.

What budget to eat Texas?

Given that Europeans are used to eating much smaller portions than we do here, we recommend sharing dishes between two people, which is really easy to do, or taking leftovers home to finish off. The restaurants where this tip is most easily applied are Tex-Mexes, but also American diners or chain restaurants. Plates are very large and hard to finish, so why not simply share a plate between two people?

A low price range means spending around US$10 to US$20 per person for the main course, to which you add a drink (often unlimited). Count on around US$40 for a more upscale restaurant, and US$100 per person for a luxury restaurant.

Generally speaking, tex-mex and diners are among the cheapest restaurants, as are food-trucks. But beware: some food-trucks are trendy hipster addresses where you can pay exorbitant prices for a tiny vegan sandwich. Some restaurants also offerbring-your-own-bottle (BYOB) service, often in Asian restaurants.

A coffee can cost between 3 and 6 US$. You'll always be asked for a tip (as in a restaurant) of at least 15 or 20%. It has become common practice to pay with a contactless card, where you add the tip on a touch screen or in pen on the receipt. A little trick is to ask for a filter cafe, which most coffee shops can refill as often as you like. So you get unlimited coffees for the price of one (but they're not necessarily very good).

As for bars, you can get good deals on a shot of booze and a beer of your choice. The cheapest beers are Bud Light or Budweiser.

What is the budget for accommodation Texas?

Texas doesn't offer many hostels for small budgets. You're more likely to find cheap rooms, under US$90 a night, in roadside motels, or in simple, comfortable bed & breakfasts.

Ranches are a popular destination for those looking for quaint, traditional accommodation, immersing you in the heart of the local culture. Some offer rooms for US$80 a night, while others offer luxury rooms for US$500 a night. Ranches are usually complexes offering on-site activities such as horseback riding.

For those who want to be in touch with nature and the great outdoors, there are different types of camping. There are campsites run by chains like KOA, which don't have much charm but are often good bargains. Otherwise, national and state parks often offer camping sites with or without amenities (electricity, water, toilets, etc.). Backcountry camping is the name given to authorized campsites with no amenities. You pitch your tent and that's it. To camp in the parks, you often need a permit, which can vary from US$10 to US$25. This is certainly the cheapest accommodation option available. Otherwise, the glamping option is also popular. It's often very expensive (between US$200 and US$450 a night), but it's a great way of keeping a maximum of comfort while being in the middle of nature.

Boutique hotels can be found in every historic town, located in important and picturesque buildings. Their price range can vary, but generally a double room costs at least US$140 a night and more.

For most accommodations, whether ranch, hotel or bed & breakfast, you'll be asked to book a minimum of two nights. Motels, on the other hand, allow a minimum of one night, as do camping areas. Most of the time, it's easier to book online by credit card. In the case of hotels, your credit card details may be recorded together with a deposit for the room.

Travel budget Texas and cost of living

In terms of spending, you should be aware that inflation has been affecting the United States very strongly since autumn 2022, and prices for supermarket shopping, among other things, have risen sharply. However, your gas expenses will remain very low compared with the price of gas in France (which is handy for a roadtrip). Supermarkets like Whole Foods are among the most expensive, and supermarkets like Trader Joe's offer much more affordable (and good-quality) prices. Compared to major destinations like New York or San Francisco, however, Texas is much less expensive.

For a low budget: US$80 per person per day, with few paid activities, including accommodation.

For a medium budget: between US$100 and US$200 per person per day, for a certain level of comfort, the possibility of discovering good restaurants, etc.

For a high budget : from US$ 250-300 per person per day, for comfort and the flexibility to try out everything.