Visiting USA (for 8weeks) Car Hire? Currency Exchange? SimCard? Questions ?

Meganjones

Visiting USA (for 8weeks) Car Hire? Currency Exchange? SimCard? Questions ?
Have some questions for a family member who is from UK and will be visiting the USA for a 9 weeks, as a visitor,
Fully UK Passport, and just going for a long break (Not to work or anything else)

= North Carolina

They Going for the first time.




Here are some questions,

CAR HIRE QUESTIONS

a) When hiring a car (budget.com), what UK Documents are needed to be taken with them, to show them?

b) How easy is it, to get used to driving on the 'Right hand side' of the road? (as we drive on the left here) - is it confusing?

c) (how about the roundabouts - do you drive Anticlockwise on them ?)

d) Do you recommend other Car hire companies, in North Carolina USA?


SIM CARD - MOBILE PHONE QUESTIONS
e) Sim card in the USA, for Uk communications?
-They ot a Samsung galaxy S5, but can also take a Nokia basic phone too.

f) Sim card in the USA, for USA communications? (USA Friends) ?
-They ot a Samsung galaxy S5, but can also take a Nokia basic phone too.


MONEY CONVERSION QUESTIONS (Pounds to Dollars)
g) Where in the UK can pounds be converted to USA Dollars?

h) Currency conversion - in USA?
- Does it work out cheaper to convert the currency in the UK,
from Pounds to Dollars, and then take this over there?

i) If converting money in the USA, where is this usually done?
(eg, Western Union?)

j)
- and What proof do these shops need? - do they take photocopies?
(Do they need to take a photocopy of your passport?)

HAVE YOU BEEN TO USA FOR A STAY?
k) Have you been to the USA, and stayed there over 1 month?
How was your experience?

L) Any other advice you can give? for while being there?
(eg, you should be prepared to tip $$$ in he coffee shops lol)

Can you answer 'as many' questions as you can please,

giving your answers in a) b) c) d) e)...i) j) k) format please
(so they are easy to follow)

Thank you very much x

PeacefulWaters

Meganjones wrote: »

CAR HIRE QUESTIONS

a) When hiring a car (budget.com), what UK Documents are needed to be taken with them, to show them?
Full UK licence should cover it. But check direct. Buying independent CDW cover would be wise.
https://www.carhireexcess.com/?AgencyId=1149

b) How easy is it, to get used to driving on the 'Right hand side' of the road? (as we drive on the left here) - is it confusing?
Very easy to adjust. Just take it easy. Getting used to an automatic car may be a minor challenge but will be sorted within an hour.

c) (how about the roundabouts - do you drive Anticlockwise on them ?)
There aren't many. But yes.

d) Do you recommend other Car hire companies, in North Carolina USA?
I usually end up with Avis. Others swear by Alamo Brits.


SIM CARD - MOBILE PHONE QUESTIONS
e) Sim card in the USA, for Uk communications?
-They ot a Samsung galaxy S5, but can also take a Nokia basic phone too.

f) Sim card in the USA, for USA communications? (USA Friends) ?
-They ot a Samsung galaxy S5, but can also take a Nokia basic phone too.
A 3 sim only deal with all you can eat data c£20pcm might be perfect.
http://www.three.co.uk/Store/SIM/Plans_for_phones

MONEY CONVERSION QUESTIONS (Pounds to Dollars)
g) Where in the UK can pounds be converted to USA Dollars?
Travel agents, banks, post office, pawn brokers. Beware poor value. Take enough currency for taxi and the first couple of days. Use a suitable card overseas that you can manage online.

h) Currency conversion - in USA?
- Does it work out cheaper to convert the currency in the UK,
from Pounds to Dollars, and then take this over there?

i) If converting money in the USA, where is this usually done?
(eg, Western Union?)
Get a Halifax Clarity credit card or Revolut prepaid card. Use for purchases and cash withdrawals as you would at home. Always transact in dollars. Most ATMs will charge a flat fee so many small withdrawals will be expensive compared to one large withdrawal. Most places accept credit cards.
http://www.halifax.co.uk/creditcards/clarity-card/
https://revolut.com


L) [/B]Any other advice you can give? for while being there?
(eg, you should be prepared to tip $$$ in he coffee shops lol)
Tipping is the cultural norm. 15% in restaurants and $1 in bars seemed OK. Nothing in Starbucks or McDonalds. Google for your state.
http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2012/08/21/how-much-to-tip-and-to-whom/

Can you answer 'as many' questions as you can please,

giving your answers in a) b) c) d) e)...i) j) k) format please
(so they are easy to follow)

Thank you very much x

I hope that helps a bit.

torbrex

b) I found it very easy, every time I have been the change was instant and I never even had to think about it. Freeway driving takes getting used to as far as the signage is concerned.

c) I have driven in all 50 states and have yet to see a roundabout, I believe there are some (someplace)

g) if you are going to carry cash with you, you'd be as well converting it to dollars before you go to save the hassle, better to take travellers cheques.

h) conversion rates are at their best when using a credit card with no exchange fees, get one and use it for as near everything as you can.

k) Just like living at home, you find a supermarket, do your shopping, cook at home, save on dining out. Be warned though while some things are cheaper you will get a shock at the price of some staples such as bread & milk.

L) get a wad of 1 dollar notes early on for tips but they are included in some bills so watch you are not paying twice.

John259

Good advice and information in previous posts, no point in repeating it except that it's probably worth doing the new DVLA driving licence online code thing just in case the car rental company wants it.

There are lots of videos on YouTube showing driving in the USA. This one, although in the west, has a good variety of open roads, small towns and cities:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLaXIzbcZgE

If you get the chance while you're in North Carolina, I'd very highly recommend the Blue Ridge Parkway:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UExeCMJ1RuQ

jackieblack

torbrex wrote: »

I have driven in all 50 states and have yet to see a roundabout, I believe there are some (someplace)

I have only visited 21 states (so far) and have only driven in 17 of them, but have encountered at least one roundabout in every one

While there are undoubtedly far fewer, they definitely exist

zagfles

jackieblack wrote: »

I have only visited 21 states (so far) and have only driven in 17 of them, but have encountered at least one roundabout in every one

While there are undoubtedly far fewer, they definitely exist

The Americans seem to panic about them though - I remember being given directions to somewhere by an American which involved a roundabout and she was very concerned that I understood how to use one of these weird rare things!

More concerning for a Brit should be these 4-way stop type junctions, they had some strange rule which i can't remember...

But other than that, driving is easy. Signs are usually in words rather than symbols. Some other odd rules (check for the relevant state), is don't overtake a stopped school bus, U-turns are usually illegal, traffic lights are usually overhead are per lane, eg one lane may have a red light and the next lane a green light, if you transport alcohol it has to be in the boot, you can usually turn right on a red light treating it as a give way both to cars and crossing pedestrians.

EssexExile

zagfles wrote: »

More concerning for a Brit should be these 4-way stop type junctions, they had some strange rule which i can't remember...

Stop, take it in turns to go. In general just do what others.

FreeBear

Don't go speeding - The cops carry guns and some have a "shoot and ask questions later" policy.

Take some evidence of employment and home ownership with you. US Immigration do not understand how anyone can get time off work to spend more than three weeks in their country, let alone eight. If you can demonstrate good reason to leave the USA, you have a better chance of getting in without a nine hour interrogation - Even with a visa, the final decision for admission is still down to the immigration officer.

Try the boiled peanuts often sold at the roadside, and you must have grits for breakfast at least once while you are there.



Oh, and watch out for the lunatics driving on the wrong side of the road.