U.S. tips

[tails]

Hey guys,

me and the girlfirend are travelling to germany and then on to the US in Jan/Feb next year.
We are both 21

we were wondering if you guys have any tips for us that we wont pick up from travel guides like the lonely planet etc. Tips you would only really 'learn' while travelling. what to do/not to do, where to go/not to go, food etc and just general tips.

We are going to:
Munich
New York
Breckenridge
Vegas
LA
San Francisco
Portland (to see a friend)
Hawaii

thanks guys, really appreciate it [img]smile.gif[/img]

[snowman]

Hawaii go to Dukes and the royal Hawaiian hotel (big pink building) they both have great arvo cocktail bars

[Polaris]

Munich......Don't mention the war
New York....Don't wear a cowboy hat down near Harlem
Breckenridge... Go skiing
Vegas.......Don't mention your Dad's looking to get a higher rank in the Mafia
LA......Don't go and call the guys lifting weights on Venice Beach "pussies"
San Francisco Don't go around wearing a "I hate Gays" shirt
Portland.......Don't mention saving the forests
Hawaii....Don't go surfing on the North Shore and ley everyone know your an Ossie

[skichic]

Looks like Polaris has either had a liquid lunch or made it out of Tibet

[chunky]

[img]graemlins/big_laugh.gif[/img]

[skijacski]

If you are going to the USA and at any time in your life, you were booked by police, even for a naughty driving event, apply for a non-immigration visa! And when you have the interview and are asked how long, get a 5 year visa, (60 month) like Yeti has applied for!

You then don't have to register when you are 3 days from arriving in the USA and saves you heaps of time with immigration. When you arrive you must have the address and phone number of the place you are staying otherwise you will be held up for further interviews.

Yeti has the links I sent him and can advise you further.

When entering the USA, always say you are on holidays and going skiing, unless you are a public servant and have an Australian Government Passport and you are travelling for work, etc.

http://canberra.usembassy.gov/consular/visas/

Watch the video and it explains everything, but ask Yeti about it.

[Snow Yeti]

And the music on the video, you hear it everywhere at the consulate. It's played on every TV there

[BlueHue]

I got asked if I was a pro skier once by customs when entering the US when I said I was there for a ski holiday. Must have had the right look going, shame about the lack of pro skiing technique to go with it.

Sounds like an awesome trip tails. Only been to a couple of those places briefly so not got much to add though unfortunately, although Pols advice seems pretty good to me [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[Polaris]

Originally posted by skijacski:
If you are going to the USA and at any time in your life, you were booked by police, even for a naughty driving event, apply for a non-immigration visa! And when you have the interview and are asked how long, get a 5 year visa, (60 month) like Yeti has applied for!

You then don't have to register when you are 3 days from arriving in the USA and saves you heaps of time with immigration. When you arrive you must have the address and phone number of the place you are staying otherwise you will be held up for further interviews.

Yeti has the links I sent him and can advise you further.

When entering the USA, always say you are on holidays and going skiing, unless you are a public servant and have an Australian Government Passport and you are travelling for work, etc.

http://canberra.usembassy.gov/consular/visas/

Watch the video and it explains everything, but ask Yeti about it.

I just rocked up at LAX with the form ticked for a 14 day ski holiday, they took the thumb print thing and of I went.......

Has it changed?

[skichic]

yes Pol, you must do it online now before you go, so they can check you out properly. Can probably dig up the linky.....