United States Tours

Getting to the United States from the UK has never been easier. Daily flights are offered direct to most of the country’s major cities. There is also a huge availability of domestic flights, which means you can fly to a town nearest the start of your adventure tour. Some low-cost airlines like Norwegian Air for example have started flying direct to many of the bigger cities where you can find deals from the UK for as low as £260 (at the time of writing.) Try to book as far as you can in advance as ticket prices can rise significantly.

Just as the nature varies from one state to the next, so does the climate. The best time to visit is completely dependant on where you are going but we can almost guarantee that the United States has a state ideal to visit for every month of the year. The best time to go also depends on the activity you plan on doing.

If you’re not sure when the best time is to go for the trip you have in mind, please do not hesitate to contact us.

To enter the United States as a tourist you may not need a visa if you’re a UK or EU citizen and intend to stay for less than 90 days, however you do need to apply for the Visa Waiver Program. To find out more visit https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/

You may also need to show your return ticket upon arrival and / or complete a landing card upon arrival. UK citizens if you’re staying longer than 90 days then you’ll need to apply for a visa before travelling. If you over stay you may be fined and / or detained so it’s not worth the risk!

As always we recommend checking the latest country entry requirements with your national foreign travel office, for UK citizens this is the Foreign Travel Advice section of www.gov.uk, please click here to view to USA page.

The United States uses the U.S dollar as their currency. Cities are generally more expensive (food, accommodation, shopping) than smaller towns. 

Food and drinks are usually quite a bit cheaper than in the UK but it’s very important to remember that tipping is mandatory and not leaving a 15-20% tip in bars and restaurants can be seen as insulting. Other places where tips are expected are taxis, salons, hotels (porters), but if you’re unsure, check with your local guide. 

Another thing to remember while shopping is that sales tax is added afterwards. So the number on the price tag is not the final price you will have to pay. ATMs are very common and most places accept credit and debit cards.

Most of our trips are completely incident free, but of course there is crime taking place in this massive country, with most crimes reported taking place in the bigger cities. Just take your normal travel precautions and use common sense. If you’re unsure if an area you’d like to venture off to is more unsafe, it’s best to check with your local guide. 

Having noted this we should highlight that the vast majority of trips are incident free and you need not worry but it’s better to be aware and informed than not. 

The emergency number is 911.

Some vaccinations may be required pending where you are going, when and what you’re doing. Standard and correct advice is to check with your GP before travelling as they’ll have the up to date information.

Travel insurance is mandatory on all our trips so please ensure you take out a policy before travelling. 

Our guided adventures will take you to places well off the beaten track and provide experiences that most people just won’t get, with that in mind we encourage you to check out our growing selection! We have a lot of trips and you may find something you like but if not, please do make contact and we can always tailor make a trip for you.

We recommend trying ALL THE FOOD you can!

We try to ensure we work with the BEST local companies but remember, if you’re on a trip and don’t feel like an activity or continuing, you can stop. You don’t need to do anything you don’t want to!

How do I get there?

Getting to California & the surrounding states has never been easier. There are many direct and indirect flight options, and some are even offered by low cost airlines. LA is a great place to start your trip and often yields the lowest fares due to the huge amount of competition from airlines. 

If you are going to do a full loop of the coast inland and finish in LA then a straightforward return ticket will work well. If you plan to end your trip in Las Vegas or San Francisco, then an open-jaw ticket into one city and out of another will be ideal. 

Often you can add free stopovers to your flights as well - New York, anyone?!

When should I go?

Spring and summer are ideal seasons for camping tours and road trips. From March the  temperatures start to warm up, wildflowers bloom and wildlife thrives. Summer is peak time to be sure to make any accommodation or campervan bookings well ahead of time to ensure you get your first choice. This is also peak time for hiking the National Parks and hitting Las Vegas’s pool parties.

Come September, the temperatures start to drop and the crowds disappear a little. Snow can be seen in the most northern parts, but the weather is still mild in the south.

And how do I get around?

Forget public transport - it really isn’t convenient. Buses are expensive and time consuming, particularly in LA. The Greyhound has a bit of a downmarket reputation and they no longer offer tourists pre-paid passes. Amtrak (the train) is a fun way to travel but their route network is not very extensive, and you won’t find any train stations in the National Parks! The Coast Starlight train (running from LA to San Francisco and vice versa) is a cool experience - it has sleeper beds, a dining cart and viewing carriages. But if you want true freedom or to see lots as you travel overland, there are better alternatives.

A tour is a great choice if you are a solo traveller or on a budget. We have many West Coast options, from budget friendly camping trips, to small group hotel & lodging itineraries. 

Another popular alternative is to hire a car and plan a self-drive itinerary. The West Coast of the USA is the ultimate road trip! Upgrade to a convertible for the full summertime experience, cruising down Sunset Boulevard. Car hire in the US is cheap and the roads are in good condition. I would recommend a Sat Nav though, some of the freeways in LA have up to 14 lanes which can be extremely confusing!

Campervans or RVs (recreational vehicles) are a really popular way to travel as well. They are especially good if you are heading into the National Parks, as your home is on wheels. Lodging can be expensive and book up well in advance in the summer, so if you don’t want to plan ahead too much, hiring one of these is a good idea. Just be aware that you will need to look into campsite membership / passes, so factor these into your budgeting, and the cost is very season dependent. Another big advantage is that you don’t have to keep packing and unpacking, wasting valuable holiday time. 

Highlights of the West Coast

Los Angeles - LA, the City of Angels, is a sprawling metropolis surrounded by vast mountain ranges, valleys, forests, Instagram-worthy beaches along the Pacific Ocean and nearby desert. It is home to Hollywood stars, high fashion shopping and quirky places like Venice Beach. Whether you want to hit up the theme parks, relax and take in the cafe culture in Santa Monica or go whale watching, LA is an exciting city that has it all. 

San Diego - Often overlooked, this is one of my favourite cities along the West Coast. It is a two hour drive south of LA and you will drive through familiar sounding places such as Laguna Beach, Redondo Beach and the OC. San Diego boasts 70 miles of pristine beaches and is a great option for families due to its many child-friendly attractions including the famous zoo.

It is one of the best places to go out on a paddle board or kayak, and you will have a good chance of spotting whales and dolphins.

The Gaslamp Quarter in downtown San Diego has a real buzz to it, and is full of lively eateries and nightlife. You can also visit Chinatown and Little Italy and upmarket La Jolla is a smart seaside area with posh boutiques and waterfront restaurants.

Palm Springs - Two hours north east from San Diego lies the desert resort city of Palm Springs. This is a kooky addition to any road trip itinerary and has the added bonus of being the gateway to the Joshua Tree National Park. The Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival takes place in Indio, just east of Palm Springs each year - this pulls in huge crowds every April.

Palm Springs is probably most famous for its mid-century modern architecture with its palette of pastel coloured doors and buildings. Very photogenic!

Las Vegas - Sin City is a must when doing a West Coast road trip! Famous for its neon lights, marriage chapels, gambling, fine dining and nightlife, there is nowhere else quite like it. The Strip is dotted with glitzy hotels, resorts and casinos. As well as travelling the world in a day via the themed hotels (ancient Greece, Paris, Egypt, Venice are just some of them!), you can go on rollercoasters, dig into the world’s most expensive ice cream sundae, hit up a pool party and see some of the world’s most famous shows, including a multitude of Cirque du Soleil performances, Elton John and Cher.

Las Vegas also offers easy access to some of the most stunning scenery in western USA. The Grand Canyon can be visited in a day, either by bus or helicopter, or we can offer many tours that will encompass the surrounding areas over a couple of days.

Valley of Fire, Red Rock Canyon, Bryce Canyon, the Zion NP, Hoover Dam and Monument Valley are also within visiting distance.

Yosemite National Park - Closing the popular loop from Las Vegas to San Francisco can mean a really long drive. Many travellers will include Yosemite as a place to visit even though it means a slight diversion - it breaks up the long journey and is definitely worth experiencing. It offers something completely different to anything you will have seen along the West Coast route so far.

Yosemite consists of 1200 square miles of protected area in California//s Sierra Nevada Mountains. It is a haven for the outdoorsy traveller - you can go on hikes, rock climbing, horse riding and even skiing and snowboarding in the winter months.

This west coast national park is well known for its giant sequoia trees, waterfalls and towering granite monoliths.

San Francisco - Another major highlight of any west coast itinerary, San Francisco is a foodie’s paradise. The City by the Bay is probably best known for its sweeping views of Golden Gate Bridge and Alzatraz, but there are so many more sides to it. Visit bohemian Haight Street, check out the street art and wander around the Japanese Gardens. San Francisco is home to the world’s biggest Chinatown and you can even visit a fortune cookie factory! This offbeat city is easily navigated via its tram and underground system - see how many of the 131 heart-shaped installations dotted around the streets you can spot on your travels!

Santa Barbara - You will probably want to break up the journey from San Francisco to LA, as it is a six hour drive. Santa Barbara is a great place to stop overnight or just for a couple of hours to stretch your legs. It is well known for its broad sandy beaches, and is backed by huge mountain ranges. Downtown, Mediterranean-style white stucco buildings with red tile roofs reflect the city’s Spanish colonial heritage. There are plenty of upscale boutiques and restaurants to choose from - it is known as the American Riviera after all!

Most Instagrammable Spots!

• You must see the Urban Light ! 202 streetlights form this art installation outside the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. The street lights are real ones that used to line the streets in the 1920s and 1930s. The flicker on at dusk and back off at dawn.

• Santa Monica Pier - This boardwalk is probably the most famous image of LA, second only to the Hollywood Sign. As well as Pacific Park consisting of a rollercoaster, carousel and colourful ferris wheel, the sunsets behind it are pretty awe inspiring. The pier also looks very cool lit up at night with neon lights radiating from the theme park.

• The Saguaro Hotel, Palm Springs is an iconic boutique hotel in the middle of the desert. What makes it special, and very Instagram-worthy, are the colourful cubes and trapezoids that it is made from, its gorgeous pool area and retro rooms. It is literally a rainbow in the desert, designed for fun in the sun!

• The Neon Boneyard in Las Vegas is a must-see for keen photographers. It is an outdoor museum / junkyard dedicated to preserving the city’s most iconic art form - the neon sign! Visitors can pose in front of faded vintage signs and it makes for an amazing wedding backdrop should you be so inclined while in Sin City!

• Bryce Canyon National Park is one of the best places to head for mesmerizing photos outside of the city. Best shot at sunrise, the entire park is east facing, giving you amazing light to take the best pictures. The twisted ponderosa pines and soft clay cliffs are a unique combination so when hiking above or below the rim, make sure you have your camera close to hand.

• The 16th Avenue Steps in San Francisco are sure to brighten up your social media feed. There are eight different mosaic staircases in San Francisco but this one is the most popular. You will find scenes of the sea and sky tiles across 163 steps - pretty amazing!

• Heading back down to LA, you will find many scenic spots along the Big Sur Coast. Bixby Bridge is the most famous photo opportunity - both the bridge itself and the views around it are breath taking.

Tours of the West Coast USA - Some Suggestions!

• Wild Western USA - 11 Days - LA to San Francisco, age range 15 - 99

• Pacific & Parks Family Holiday - 12 Days - family only tour, age range 9 - 100

• Western USA National Parks Explorer - 17 Days - age range 14 - 79

• LA to Las Vegas Adventure - 5 Days - age range 15 - 99

• The Real LA to San Francisco - 11 Days - age range 18 - 29

Why should I go there?

The east coast of the USA is packed with amazing places to visit. Vibrant cities, miles of sandy beaches, and historic sights abound. Take a bite out of the Big Apple, say hi to Mickey Mouse in the plethora of theme parks to be found in Orlando and saunter along Ocean Avenue in Miami, admiring the sea views. You can even catch some Cuban vibes if you head to the most southerly point of the US, which can be found in Key West. 

How do I get there? And how do I get around?

Flights from the UK are in abundance - sometimes as low as £299 return to New York City if you can get a really good deal! To connect from place to place, you can hire a car for the ultimate road trip, or fly really cheaply between. Amtrak also covers the east coast, but you may wish to have your own vehicle for travelling in Florida, especially if you have children with you.

Unlike the west coast, there isn’t a well travelled loop, so you may want to consider flying into one city and out of another. I would recommend starting your journey in New York, then cruising south along the Atlantic Coast, ending among the beaches and little islets of Miami & the Keys.

Highlights of the East Coast

New York City - This is the ultimate city break on its own, so even if you only have a very short time in the US, this is the jewel in the crown. The Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, Times Square and the Rockerfeller Centre are all must do sights. Make time for a wander through Central Park (or take a cheesy horse and carriage ride!) and check out the High Line - an elevated park running through west Manhattan. Shop til you drop, revisit the famous Sex & the City film locations and enjoy the street food - bagels and hot dogs are for sale on almost every street corner! Open top buses are a really popular way to get a feel of the Big Apple in a short amount of time. There is also an efficient subway system or you could splash out and treat yourself to a helicopter ride - especially impressive at night time!

Philadelphia - Philadelphia is often overshadowed by its bigger and glitzier neighbours - NYC to the north and Washington DC to the south. But Philly boasts just as much history, shopping, culture and nightlife! Where else in the world can you recreate your very own Rocky moment, running the steps of the Museum of Art? And make sure you enjoy a cheesesteak before you leave!

Washington DC - This iconic city is actually surprisingly compact. Well known for its imposing neoclassical monuments and buildings, it is of course home to the famous White House and the Capitol Building.

The National Mall is always good for a scenic stroll, but especially so during the months of March and April when the Cherry Blossom Festival is in full swing. 

Charleston - Travellers adore Charleston for its eclectic art scene, its buzzing restaurants and bars, its close proximity to the water and its general curb appeal.

Most of its picturesque attractions are rich in history and free! Famous landmarks include the Ravanel Bridge, its lighthouse and the old Slave Mart Museum.

Orlando - Heading slightly inland, this former orange grove area is now famous for its multitude of theme parks. This is a really popular family destination for obvious reasons! There are plenty of water parks, wild nature experiences, outlet malls and giant resorts to please the most hard to impress traveller, and state of the art roller coasters and thrill rides will entertain adrenaline lovers. Orland has on average 233 sunny days a year and was recently named the most visited city in the US. International Drive offers a huge amount of dining choices, from Greek to Egyptian to Brazilian! There is always something new to discover.

Miami & the Keys - Miami is a melting pot of culture, glitzy resorts, beaches and pastel coloured art deco buildings. Its subtropical climate and pristine beaches are a big drawcard for tourists all year round. Its nightlife is world renowned, yet it is also quite a charming city. Little Havana is a different side that should be seen - you can soak up Latino art , culture and food, and visit a tobacco factory.

If you have a rental car, then the drive from Miami to Key West is absolutely incredible. The tiny islands off the coast are connected by vast bridges. It takes about 4 hours to drive right down to the southernmost tip of the USA. Stop along the way at Robbie’s, treat yourself to a slushie and feed the pelicans and tarpon.

Key West itself is a great snorkelling destination with an easily accessible coral reef. It is actually closer to Cuba than Miami, and the island has a laid back party vibe, especially at Mallory Square during its nighty arts festival leading up to the sunset.