The USA is a country that needs no introduction - it’s so well-known that even first time visitors feel like they’ve been there before! The USA has everything a traveller might need or want! Accommodations range from free campsites to luxury suites and the eating options run from fast food takeout to gourmet to restaurants with celebrity chefs.

Every state has it’s own historical sites and museums, as well as natural wonders catering to every conceivable outdoor pursuit. The cities have nightclubs, comedy clubs, dance clubs and every luxury or frivolity that can be imagined. You’re never far from a shopping mall and on the level of popular culture, the USA is at it’s best. It’s diversity is also the greatest fascination for the visitor!

CLICK HERE FOR THE MAP OF THE USA

ALAMO CAR HIRE
Car rental is becoming increasingly popular with the New Zealand market and price is just one of the reasons why. With car hire and petrol being so economical in the USA, you can discover places and sights at your leisure and make the journey part of the adventure.
CLICK HERE FOR FURTHER DETAILS

VISIT USA (VUSA) AIR PASS
If you want to explore the USA, Canada and Mexico in an affordable and flexible manner, then America West Visit the USA (VUSA) Air Pass Programme is for you.
There are two great Air Pass Programmes to choose from.
The System Pass
For travel throughout the entire network.
The Tri-State Pass
For travel within California, Nevada and Arizona.
Features include:

• The date of the first flight determines which fare is applicable (low/ high season).
• Travel valid for 90 days from first original VUSA Air Pass travel date.
• One-way and new non-stop coast to coast fares available.
• Child and infant fares available.
• Valid in conjunction with any scheduled air carrier.
• Reservations are recommended but not required, except for first flight coupon.
• One coupon per segment (flight number).
• Add-ons are available to Mexico and Alaska.
• Any connection over 4 hours will constitute a stopover.
• Changes of dates and/or flights allowed at any time without penalty.
• Co-terminals permitted on all coupons without a reissue fee.
• All tickets are subject to applicable taxes.
• Refund is available for unused tickets within one year. No refund for partially used, lost or stolen tickets.
  Fares are subject to change without notice. For detailed booking conditions please contact your Travel Agen

AMTRAK RAIL PASSES
Discover America by rail with over 500 destinations including America’s most popular attractions. Amtrak is the easiest way to see more of the Real USA, with the USA Rail® Pass, you can visit National Parks, Hollywood, the Wild West, New York, New Orleans, Walt Disney World® , Grand Canyon and more.

Boundaries:
West Pass: From Pacific coast to Chicago (Illinois), Memphis (Tennessee) & New Orleans (Louisiana).
East Pass: From Atlantic coast to Wolf Point (Montana), Denver (Colorado), Albuquerque (New Mexico) & El Paso (Texas).
North East Pass: From the Virginia Coast to Montreal and Niagara Falls.
USA rail passes are not valid for travel on the Acela Express, Metroliner, Auto Trains, some thruway services & VIA rail Canadian portions of trains jointly operated with Amtrak.

The North America Pass is available for unlimited travel throughout the USA & Canada on most Amtrak & VIA rail services North America Rail passes are not valid for travel on the Acela Express, Metroliner, Auto trains, 7000-series thruway services or any interline service.

*For full booking conditions please ask your travel agent

CLIMATE
There is no one climate in the USA, however as a general rule late spring (May/June) and early fall (Sept/Oct) are the best times to visit most of the country.

NATIONAL HOLIDAYS
In addition to the regular public holidays there are other US holidays ie Independence Day (4th July) and Thanksgiving (the last Thursday in November). Accommodation during this time is at a premium and should be booked well in advance. US School holidays vary from state to state, the main summer break is from the last week in June to the
first week in September.

IMMIGRATION
New Zealand passport holders can travel to the US without a visa under the US Visa waiver programme, however you must make sure that your passport is valid for at least 6 months upon entry into the US, and that you have no criminal record. Please check with your agent to ensure this programme is right for you. For day trips to Tijuana a re-entry visa is not required, however if you are travelling further afield you may need to apply for a re-entry visa before you leave New Zealand.

BEDDING
In most US hotel rooms 2 double beds are supplied (often referred to as double double). These can be used for those wanting twin share or double share. Should extra bedding be required then a rollaway can be purchased for an additional fee. Maximum people per room must always be adhered to (rollaways should be prebooked). Triple and quad prices are based on using existing bedding (unless a rollaway is booked and paid for).

CHILDREN
Unless otherwise stated children in this brochure are from 3 - 11 years inclusive. Many attractions and transfers offer children under 3 free, however some attractions charge adult prices when children reach 4 feet in height! Child costs are based on sharing with 2 adults using existing bedding (ie 2 double beds). However due to strict fire rules the maximum capacity for the room must always be adhered to.

VOLTAGE
The USA works on a two pin plug of 110 - 120 volts. Most NZ appliances should work in the USA with an adaptor, available in New Zealand for around NZ$5-NZ$10. *Don’t wait until you arrive to buy your adaptor as you will find it a hard search!

TIPPING
Most service employees in the USA are on low retainers, the extra they receive in tips is viewed as part of their salary. As a general rule tipping should be between 15 - 20% of restaurant bills, and approximately US$1 per bag for porters, US$1 per day for house maids and sightseeing guides. As the US bills can look the same, it is often a good idea to put a few singles (US$1 bills) in a separate compartment in your wallet or purse, therefore making sure you don’t hastily grab a US$20!

HOTEL RATES
Please note some hotel’s policy is to charge each night for the season that it falls into, whilst others use the first night to determine the rate for the entire stay. If your accommodation covers two seasons please check which of the above applies to your booking.

CURRENCY, TRAVELLERS CHEQUES & CREDIT CARDS
The US dollar is the preferred currency and the denominations are: 1c = Penny, 5c = Nickel, 10c = Dime, 25c = Quarter. Bank note denominations are: $1, $5, $10, $20, $50, $100, $500 & $1000. Please be careful with bank notes as they are all the same size and colour, so check carefully before handing them over. Your New Zealand currency can be exchanged at most hotels, however at very poor transaction rates, with the difference sometimes as high as 10%, so we highly recommend that you take US dollar travellers cheques. We also recommend that you take at least one credit card with you, as all American hotels will require a deposit as a guarantee for incidentals such as meals, telephone calls and laundry. Rental car companies are also very strict and are reluctant to rent a vehicle without a credit card guarantee.

THEME PARKS
To avoid long queues we recommend that you plan your theme park sightseeing outside of weekends and public holidays. Disneyland Resort now offers a FastPass system where you take a ticket with a time on it for your ride. This allows you to enjoy the rest of the park knowing that your place in the queue is still being held.
Where facilities are an additional cost we have noted this with $, however this is subject to change and should be checked at time of check-in with the hotel.

• Los Angeles
• San Diego
• San Francisco
• California Coast/National Parks
• Las Vegas
• Seattle
• Chicago
• New York
• Washington DC
• Boston
• New Orleans
• Orlando
• Miami