Oversized objects and other Americana along Route 66, the beaches and glitzy cities of California’s coast, steaming geysers in Yellowstone National Park… on a tailor-made holiday to the USA with Audley, you’ll see the highlights — and much more — your way. We’ll design your ideal trip with you, paying close attention to your interests, your travel style and your budget. Our USA specialists know the country inside out and can lead you to experiences you won’t find in a guidebook.
Soar over the Grand Canyon by helicopter, or hike inside it with a ranger. Surf Hawaii’s waves and visit Jurassic Park film locations on an ATV tour. Ride on horseback through rolling countryside on a traditional Montana ranch. See an intimate live jazz concert in New Orleans, or explore backstage of Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry.
New England’s crimson, yellow and orange fall foliage. After-hours art gallery tours in New York. Utah’s red-rock landscapes. Wild West towns and abandoned Puebloan cliff dwellings… What excites you? Travel at your own pace, in your own style, with the confidence that we’ll show you the best options, wherever you go.
Suggested tours for the USA
Whether you want to drive along California’s Pacific Coast Highway, sample cutting-edge cuisine on the Las Vegas Strip, or explore the mountains and beaches of New England, our suggested itineraries are a great starting point as you begin to plan your trip to the USA.
Suggested activities for the USA
Track wolves with an expert through the wilds of Yellowstone, explore the partially submerged volcanic crater of Molokini, and ride a cog-wheel train up the slopes of Mount Washington. Whatever interests you, our specialists will suggest experiences designed to enhance your trip to the USA.
-
Graceland Platinum Tour Graceland Platinum Tour
MemphisGraceland Platinum Tour
Walk in the footsteps of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll at Elvis Presley’s home, Graceland Mansion.
View details -
Grand Canyon Helicopter & Jeep Tour Grand Canyon Helicopter & Jeep Tour
Grand Canyon National ParkGrand Canyon Helicopter & Jeep Tour
This helicopter and jeep sunset safari puts the Grand Canyon just under your feet and shows its lively skyline before night fall.
View details -
Hollywood Hills 2.5 hour Sunset Hike Hollywood Hills 2.5 hour Sunset Hike
Los AngelesHollywood Hills 2.5 hour Sunset Hike
On this guided tour, you’ll learn about the history of Los Angeles, hike to the top of Mount Hollywood to watch the sunset over the city below and visit the Griffith Observatory.
View details
Why travel with Audley?
- 100% tailor-made tours
- Fully protected travel
- Established for over 25 years
- 98% of our clients would recommend us
Best time to visit
Our specialists advise on the best months to visit the USA, including information about climate, events and festivals.
Request our brochure
Covering all seven continents, The World Your Way shows you how you can see the world with us. It features trip ideas from our specialists alongside hand-picked stays and experiences, and introduces our approach to creating meaningful travel experiences.
Useful information for planning your holiday in the USA
The official currency of the USA is the US dollar (USD, $), which is divided into 100 cents. Notes come in denominations of $1, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100, while you’ll find coins in denominations of 1¢, 5¢, 10¢, and 25¢.
You can withdraw currency from ATMs across the country and all major credit cards are widely accepted. Just note that a sales tax is applied to most purchases, including food and beverages, throughout the country and is added on to the advertised price. The actual rate varies from state to state, with some states offering tax-free shopping.
We recommend trying tender lobster rolls in New England, spiced pulled pork in Tennessee, fresh sourdough in California, and so much more. The USA is often branded the fast-food capital of the world, and it does have a lot of that. But the country also boasts a wealth of vastly different regional specialities and perhaps the widest range of international cuisine anywhere on the planet.
There are also many specialist breweries and wineries across the country, but you must be at least 21 to buy or drink alcohol in the USA, and you’ll need to show ID in bars regardless of how old you might look.
Our specialists can arrange food tours, cooking classes, and wine tastings with local experts so you can dig deeper into the USA’s culinary heritage.
Tipping is very common in the USA and you should tip between 20-25% in bars and restaurants, as well as taxi drivers. If you pay by card but leave a cash tip, be sure to write ‘cash tip’ in the tipping section of your receipt. In many sit-down restaurants, tipping is the only wage that food servers receive.
You should also tip guides and hotel porters, but the amount depends on various factors. We can recommend how much you should tip before you travel.
For the latest travel advice for the USA, including entry requirements, health information, and the safety and security situation, please refer to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office website.
The USA is, in one word, diverse, so in one area you could hike along red-rock canyons and immerse yourself in Indigenous cultures, while in another you could hop from one live music bar to another, sampling classic comfort food as you go. What you see and do on your trip will depend on where you visit.
For example, you could see the sights of Los Angeles in a vintage Cadillac, go wolf tracking in the Rockies, take a cooking class in New Orleans, or experience the crimson foliage of New England in the fall. Our specialists will help you find experiences that speak to your passions, so your USA trip is completely personal to you.
Most people go to either the East or West Coast for their first USA trip, but it’s worth considering heading inland too, from the wildlife-rich Rockies to the music-centric cities of the South. For honeyed sands and sun-ripened vineyards, California is a top contender, or for ancient landscapes and indigenous culture, head to Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico.
It’s impossible to explore everything the US offers in one go, so our specialists will help you narrow down your options and hone in on a specific region for your next trip.
Depending where you go in the USA, you could stay in boutique city hotels, remote wilderness lodges, luxury beach resorts, and historical B&Bs. In many places, our specialists can help you choose a stay to suit your exact needs, but in certain areas, choices are limited to a handful of simple lodges and hotels.
Some of our best-loved USA stays include a traditional clapboard inn on New England’s coastline, a sleek mid-century modern Airstream nestled in Yosemite’s dense forests, a chandelier-adorned 19th-century hotel in New Orleans, and a rustic ranch complete with wildflower meadow horse riding in Montana.
It takes between 7 and 20 hours to fly from the UK to the US, depending on where you’re going. Flying to Hawaii will take the longest, while getting to New York is much quicker.
The time zone in the USA ranges from GMT-5 to GMT-10 depending on where you are. Most of the US states observe daylight saving time, so the clocks may change depending on the time of year you go.
The USA is expansive, so for longer distances, it’s best to take a domestic flight, but if you’re travelling around a state or two, driving is the most popular option. There are also a handful of train routes you can take. These tend to be long, but you can admire the changing scenery along the way.
If you’re looking to do a classic USA road trip — or take a more novel route — our specialists can help arrange your car hire and insurance for you ahead of your trip, so you can pick up the keys and start exploring straight away.
Most UK citizens fall under the Visa Waiver Program, but you’ll still need to complete an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) at least 72 hours before travel. Please visit the ESTA website to fill in the required information. Some exceptions apply to the Visa Waver Program, so take a look at the UK government website for more information.
You’ll also need to provide Advanced Passenger Information (API) and Secure Flight Data (SFD) before travel, but we’ll take care of this for you. Upon arrival to the USA, you’ll be asked to provide fingerprint samples and photographs, too.
You should check with your doctor to see which vaccinations you’ll need for the USA, but we recommend that you’re at least up to date with the vaccinations recommended for your home country. You can take a look at suggested vaccinations for the USA on the Travel Health Pro website.
Your passport should be valid for at least six months beyond the intended dates of your stay in the USA.
To drive in the USA, you’ll need a valid driving license with photographic ID to rent a car. The rental company will ask for a credit card (not a debit card) to authorise the security deposit. We can arrange everything else before you travel.
In the USA, you’ll drive on the right-hand side of the road, but most traffic signs and signals are similar to those in the UK. There are some key differences about driving in the USA, which we’ll let you know before you travel, but we recommend that you also check state-specific websites and driving manuals.
We’ll give you driving directions to all of the main places you’ll be visiting, but we suggest downloading offline maps on your mobile phone while you have Wi-Fi, too.
The USA has no national health care system, so it’s essential to get adequate health cover insurance for any treatments or prescriptions you may need while there. The costs for private treatment can be very expensive, even for a relatively minor treatment.
The standard entry fee for one week to one park typically costs around $25–$40, but you can buy an annual pass for unlimited entry to all parks for around $80. If you’re planning on visiting multiple parks, this pass can be very cost-effective.
USA by region
If you’re planning to focus your time in the USA around a particular area, you can jump into the region you're most interested in to find detailed itinerary ideas together with accommodation choices and a taster of the experiences we can offer.
The USA in pictures
Our expert guides to travelling in the USA
Written by our specialists from the viewpoint of their own travels, these guides will help you decide on the shape of your own trip to the USA. Aiming to inspire and inform, we share our recommendations for how to appreciate the USA at its best.
-
USA: the Audley way
Get to know the USA beyond what you’ve seen in the films, whether you want to go wolf spotting with an expert tracker in Yellowstone or experience an authentic lūʻau on a lush hillside in O‘ahu. Discover how you can explore the USA the Audley way.
-
Self-drive holidays in the United States Self-drive holidays in the United States
Self-drive holidays in the United States
Discover the best road trip ideas in the USA, hand-picked by our specialists, from island-hopping trips in Hawaii to red-rock vistas in the Southwest. We also share some of the experiences you can have as you stop along the way.
Read this guide -
Touring New England in fall Touring New England in fall
Touring New England in fall
Fall unfurls across New England like a patchwork quilt of scarlet, ochre, russet and gold. Specialist Alice suggests a route that will let you take in the region’s sleepy shore towns, granite mountains, clapboard villages and, of course, the vibrant foliage.
Read this guide -
What to do in Hawaii: our highlights guide What to do in Hawaii: our highlights guide
What to do in Hawaii: our highlights guide
There’s more to Hawaii than just beaches, according to USA specialist Gillian. With six main islands to discover, you can spend your days exploring ever-changing volcanic landscapes, snorkeling with manta rays, taking a helicopter flight over cliffs, and soaking up the Polynesian culture.
Read this guide -
Music culture of the American South Music culture of the American South
Music culture of the American South
Jazz in New Orleans, soul in Memphis, and country in Nashville — USA specialist Carl takes you on a musical journey through the American South. En route, he delves into some of the best music tours and experiences you can enjoy during your own trip.
Read this guide -
Where to go in the USA Where to go in the USA
Where to go in the USA
The USA is so huge that it can be hard to narrow down your options when you’re planning a trip. We’ve drawn up a guide to helping you decide which regions to visit, depending on your individual interests.
Read this guide -
Exploring the American South: Georgia and the Carolinas Exploring the American South: Georgia and the Carolinas
Exploring the American South: Georgia and the Carolinas
There’s more to the American South than the food, music and culture of Louisiana and Tennessee. USA specialist Molly ventured farther east to the less-visited states of Georgia, and North and South Carolina. Here, you can balance historical cities with beach relaxation and mountain scenery.
Read this guide -
Family holidays in the USA Family holidays in the USA
Family holidays in the USA
Ranch stays, glamping in national parks, Hawaiian feasts and Yellowstone’s steaming geysers: the USA is packed with enough experiences to fill several family photo albums. USA specialist Shannon shares her pick of things to see and do on your next family trip.
Read this guide -
Visiting the Grand Canyon: how to get the best experience Visiting the Grand Canyon: how to get the best experience
Visiting the Grand Canyon: how to get the best experience
Everyone has heard of the Grand Canyon, but how can you get the most out of your visit? USA specialist Ross provides advice and answers common questions about exploring the canyon, as well as sharing his own experiences.
Read this guide
Other popular destinations
Still looking for ideas? If the USA has captured your interest, we think you might also like these destinations.