YOUR TAILOR-MADE TRIP TO THE UNITED STATES
- Complete Assistance
- Customized Itineraries
- Destination Experts
Planning a trip to the USA?
We make it simple.
From Route 66 to the parks of the West: live your American dream.
- Fly & Drive
- Group Tour
- Honeymoons
- Sports, Nature & Adventure
- Short Stays
- Luxury Travel
- Food and Wine Experiences
- Special Requests
- Without Barriers
- Combined Trips
- Sea Extension
- Visa Support
- Insurance and Info
- Italian Guides
Hi! We're Antonella and Ludovico.
Every trip we plan is designed to make the soul vibrateWhether you want to relax, explore, immerse yourself in culture, or embark on an intense adventure, our goal is for you to return home with deep emotions, lasting memories, and authentic connections with the places and people you encounter.
Our approach
Every itinerary starts from one careful study of the territory and a tailored attention to detail. We collaborate with selected local partners and agencies to guarantee genuine experiences, respectful of the culture, nature and traditions of the places visited.
Thanks to the collaboration with Evolution Travel and our associated page almavivaviaggi.com, we offer:
- Personalized consultancy, built on listening to the wishes of each traveler;
- Trips of all types, from the simplest to the most exclusive;
- Constant and discreet assistance before, during and after departure.
Some useful information for traveling to the United States
Do I need a US visa? What is ESTA?
Not exactly, for a tourist trip (less than 90 days) you don't need a visa, but ESTA is mandatory (Electronic System for Travel Authorization).
The ESTA is part of the Visa Waiver Program and must be applied for online. exclusively on the official US government website (costs $40$). Beware of online agencies that charge much more for the same service.
Important subtlety: ESTA is mandatory even if you only have one to do technical stopover to the United States without leaving the airport. It must be requested at least 72 hours before departure and with a valid electronic passport.
Is health insurance really necessary?
Yes, it is absolutely essential. Unlike Italy, where the National Health Service is in force, healthcare in the United States is private and among the most expensive in the world.
A simple injury (e.g., a broken leg) or a medical emergency can cost tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. Leaving without insurance with a very high maximum (We recommend a minimum of €500,000, but ideally unlimited for medical expenses) is a huge risk.
All our itineraries include or offer top-level insurance coverage for this very reason.
Are the prices I see (hotels, restaurants) gone?
This is the biggest difference with Italy. The prices displayed in the USA are almost always excluding taxes. Let's distinguish between two costs that create confusion:
Sales Tax (VAT): It's the sales tax. It's added only at the checkout (both in stores and restaurants) and varies from state to state (in New York it is about 8.8%, in California it varies by county, in Delaware it is 0%).
Resort Fee: Very common in cities like Las Vegas, Miami, New York, and Hawaii. It's a tax. mandatory that the hotel charges per room, per night, and you pay on site. It covers services such as Wi-Fi, pool or gym access, etc. It is not an optional tourist tax, but a fixed cost that must be added to the price of the room.
When we prepare a quote, we always indicate which costs are included (including resort fees where possible) and which are to be paid locally, to avoid surprises.
How does tipping work? Is it mandatory?
In Italy, tipping is an optional courtesy gesture. In the United States, it is a almost obligatory social convention, as it constitutes a fundamental part of the salary of service staff (waiters, bartenders, porters).
Restaurants (with table service): A tip of between 15% and 20% of the total (excluding tax) is expected. Failure to leave a tip is considered very rude.
Bar: 1-2$ for each drink.
Hotel (Housekeeping): 2-5$ per day, left on your pillow or bedside table.
Taxi/Uber: 10-15%.
In fast food restaurants or cafes (like Starbucks) where there is no table service, it is optional but appreciated (there is often a tip jar).
How do I use the internet on my phone? Does European roaming not apply?
That's right, roaming "just like at home" is valid in the European Union. does not apply in the United States. Using your Italian SIM (TIM, Vodafone, Wind, etc.) for standard data roaming in the US is prohibitively expensive.
The best solutions are:
eSIM (Recommended): If you have a modern smartphone, this is the most convenient solution. You purchase a data plan online (with apps like Airalo, Holafly, etc.) before departure and activate it upon landing, keeping your Italian number for calls.
Local SIM: You buy a prepaid SIM card upon arrival at the airport or in a store (T-Mobile, AT&T).
Your operator's package: Check if your Italian operator offers a “pass” for the USA (they are often less convenient than eSIMs).
Wi-Fi is free in almost all hotels and coffee chains, but for a trip on the road (e.g., to use Google Maps), a data plan is essential. Remember to download Google Maps Offline Maps when you have a network connection, so you can use them even without an internet connection.
How many time zones are there? Should I be careful?
Italy has only one time zone. The continental United States has one. four main ones:
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Eastern Time (ET) (e.g. New York, Miami)
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Central Time (CT) (e.g. Chicago, New Orleans)
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Mountain Time (MT) (e.g. Denver, Arizona/Utah Parks)
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Pacific Time (PT) (e.g. California, Las Vegas)
During a trip on the road You have to be careful: moving from east to west you "gain" an hour, while moving from west to east you "lose" it. For example, there's a one-hour difference between California (PT) and Arizona (MT) (except in the summer, because Arizona doesn't observe daylight saving time, except for the Navajo Nation... complicated!). Pay attention to flight schedules.
Don't worry, our customized itineraries always take time zone changes into account when calculating driving times and reservations.
Do I need to bring an adapter? Will my hair dryer work?
Yes, two things are needed.
Adapter: US plugs are different (two flat prongs, Type A and B). You'll need a simple universal or US-specific adapter.
Voltage: This is the “subtlety.” In Italy we use 230V, in the USA 110V.
What does this mean? Almost all modern chargers (smartphones, PCs, cameras) are dual voltage (check the label; if it says 100-240V, you're good to go) and will work with just the adapter.
Attention: Your Italian hair dryer, hair straightener or electric razor, if they are not “dual voltage”, they will work very poorly (very weak) or not at all. There's no need to bring them. Always use the hairdryer provided by the hotel.
How do payments work? Cash, debit card, credit card?
In the United States the credit card is the undisputed queen and it is indispensable.
Credit Card (Recommended): It's essential not only for payments, but also for pre-authorizations. Hotels and car rental companies will block an amount (a deposit) on your card as a guarantee. You need a "real" credit card (with embossed numbers or at least from the credit, Not debt or prepaid).
Debit Card (Bancomat): It works for payments in shops and restaurants (if enabled for international circuits such as Maestro, Visa Debit, etc.) and for withdrawing cash (ATMs). However, is not recommended (and often not accepted) for hotels and car rentals, since the pre-authorization “freezes” the amount directly from your current account, instead of blocking it only on the card's credit limit.
Cash: Rarely used. They're used for small purchases, tips (if you don't add them to your bill), or at kiosks. Traveling with large sums of money is not recommended.
Fundamental Subtlety: Before you leave, contact your bank and Enable your cards (credit and debit) for use in the United States. Let them know of your trip to prevent fraud prevention systems from blocking your card on the first payment. Also check your spending and withdrawal limits.
What do I need for car rental? What should I look out for?
Renting a car in the US is simple if you follow a few strict rules, which are very different from those in Italy.
The Driver's Credit Card: This is the most critical point. To collect the car it is a traditional credit card is required (not prepaid, not debit/debit card) registered to main driver (The person who signs the contract). This is used for the security deposit, and there are no exceptions. If you have multiple drivers, the card must belong to the one registered as the "primary" driver.
Driver's Age: The minimum age to rent is 21 years. However, all drivers aged 21 and over are required to between 21 and 24 years old They pay a hefty daily surcharge (the "Young Driver Surcharge"). Rental costs are only standardized for drivers aged 25 and over.
Insurance: The rates you find online often do not include essential insurance. The most important are: CDW/LDW (which covers damage to the car you rent) and the LIS/SLI (which covers damage to third parties, essential given the high cost of legal fees in the US). We always include primary insurance packages in our proposals.
One-Way Tax: If you pick up your car in Los Angeles and return it to San Francisco (or worse, another state), you almost always pay a one-way return fee, which can be quite expensive (hundreds of dollars). We always include this fee in our quotes to avoid any surprises.
Is an Italian driving license enough to drive?
Yes, to rent a car and to drive in most states you only need the Italian driving licence B (the “pink driving licence” or the card).
However, it is International Driving Permit highly recommended (Geneva model 1949). It's not required by the rental company, but it's an official translation of your license that a police officer may request in the event of a stop or accident in some more tax-sensitive states. It's easily obtained from your city's Department of Motor Vehicles before you leave.
- Fly & Drive
- Group Tour
- Honeymoons
- Sports, Nature & Adventure
- Short Stays
- Luxury Travel
- Food and Wine Experiences
- Special Requests
- Without Barriers
- Combined Trips
- Sea Extension
- Visa Support
- Insurance and Info
- Italian Guides
Hi! We're Antonella and Ludovico.
Every trip we plan is designed to make the soul vibrateWhether you want to relax, explore, immerse yourself in culture, or embark on an intense adventure, our goal is for you to return home with deep emotions, lasting memories, and authentic connections with the places and people you encounter.
Our approach
Every itinerary starts from one careful study of the territory and a tailored attention to detail. We collaborate with selected local partners and agencies to guarantee genuine experiences, respectful of the culture, nature and traditions of the places visited.
Thanks to the collaboration with Evolution Travel and our associated page almavivaviaggi.com, we offer:
- Personalized consultancy, built on listening to the wishes of each traveler;
- Trips of all types, from the simplest to the most exclusive;
- Constant and discreet assistance before, during and after departure.
