🇬🇧BRIT Reacts To THE DONTS OF VISITING THE USA!

[@DebiQ1830]

When going to a fast food restaurant, remember that each party gets its own table. In other words, if a single person is sitting at a 4top table, don't sit with them. Get your own table.

[@dsvance1]

I have sometimes, when alone and when the place was very crowded, sat with a stranger single person at a 4top; I asked first and was ready to walk away if the answer was no. We didn't talk -- we ignored each other. The other person finishes eating, gets up quietly, and leaves.

[@cpavan17]

YES! That's a HUGE difference between the U.S. and Europe!

[@maturinthecosmicturtle6783]

@@dsvance1 I guarantee you anyone who said yes was just being polite, nobody wants to sit with a stranger

[@danward1106]

That is true all over Canada too EXCEPT in Quebec.

[@nightsidebeats4719]

Dang, I’m from America and I thought this was world wide

[@Peg__]

Also, many of us measure distance in time. "How far?" About 10 minutes down the road. Or, 3hrs by plane. That sort of thing.

[@Austintwo3]

this is lowkey VERY IMPORTANT

[@breautyandgoodness4118]

Yeah, we are more likely to give you the travel time rather than miles.

[@suzanneyoung8011]

@@breautyandgoodness4118 absolutely. I'm from Texas, so I measure every place as to how long it takes to drive there. If it's three hours or less, that's a short trip without stopping. Except if you're driving an hour in rush hour traffic just to go 15-20 miles across town, then that's a very long and uncomfortable trip!

[@its_mooseskins7216]

I was like omg yes we do this

[@tanyasmith2173]

Very true. It's 13.5 hour drive from my house in Wi. to my gold claim in Wy. NO IDEA how many miles...

[@jasonhilliker492]

The luxury hotel thing is spot on. The expensive hotels have fewer free things. You will get better service, but you will pay for everything. Also, the cheapest hotel is not usually a good option either. Mid range is best

[@carolinerose4316]

and the staff at luxury hotels will expect to be tipped for everything, except checking in.

[@kristynrains6214]

Always ALWAYS check for bedbugs!!! Avoid the small town hotels as much as possible... Especially when in the Midwest (I'm looking at you Kansas). Oh, and if it seems to good to be true, it normally is.

[@Co-opSource]

The “free food” at cheap hotels is usually just crap food. Lots of carbs/sugar, cereals, oatmeal, waffles, etc. Maybe fruit and eggs but quality is meh.

[@barbarafranklin6886]

Expensive hotels have lovely, large rooms and bathrooms. That's what you are paying for.

[@simoneanne01]

My rule is usually to go for a 3* hotel. It's usually comfy and has good free amenities.

[@dwoktheraynejonsohn4849]

Here's a big don't cos I've had people I know do this without knowing: DON'T walk out of your car to the police when you get pulled over. They take that as an aggressive act! They are not shy to use tazers if you don't listen to their "get on the ground" commands

[@citrustaco]

This is so true. I was pulled over once and I was cordial to the cop the entire time. Of course, he gave me a ticket and I couldn't read all the numbers with his writing. He was getting in his car and I got out to approach him to get clarity on the ticket. I had the ticket in hand and was completely non aggressive. The guy reached for his hip and pointed his loaded weapon at me. I was like WHOA MAN! I just can't read the writing on this (stupid) ticket you gave me. Stupid traffic cops.

[@keithcaserta]

Always, always keep both hands on top of the wheel where the officer can easily see them. There's always a chance she/he is having a bad day, and are feeling a hair trigger ...

[@nancyaylward1176]

Also, if you get pulled over for a traffic stop, be courteous and turn your car off. I had a Police Officer tell me Thank You. He said it put his mind to rest that I wasn’t going to take off.

[@dablah4253]

Police wanna feel safe don't BS them respect their authority

[@gregpetridis3762]

Or at least put it in park. @@nancyaylward1176

[@lordfunnybone4092]

One of the best "don'ts" for the U. S. is from a similar video, and it's one I never thought of, but it's true: in the U.S., don't try to bribe the police. It is NOT an accepted part of the culture and will get you in trouble.

[@joyceneville9214]

It will get you arrested! Also, if you are pulled over be mindful that the cop is very uptight that you might have a gun hidden somewhere in your reach. Roll down all the windows and tell the cop “my registration/rental paperwork is in the console or in the glove box. Only then do you open it. Ease the fear and feed the ego. Don’t say “I’ll see you in court” because all that means is the cop will write down every blessed thing about the pullover, right down to the color of your eyes and the weather conditions of the day. The cop knows exactly what to write down and you’ll look like a fool in court. Also be aware that cops have a considerable attitude. They have to be IN CHARGE! If you challenge them it will go badly for you. This isn’t right, it’s a huge problem, and it’s worse if you are not Caucasian. Be careful! Do you best not to draw their attention to you! Also DO NOT DRINK and DRIVE! This is very serious business! The legal headache that will ensue will blow your MIND!

[@Poiuytrew.Q]

LOL 😂

[@andreastudebaker3722]

@@joyceneville9214 Very good advice. There is no reason to tempt fate by annoying or scaring the cop. If you pass the "attitude test" you will likely have a better outcome than if you challenge him or her. Keep your hands in view on top of the steering wheel and remember "yes sir," "no sir" etc. There are far too many guns in this country. It's no wonder the cops are jumpy. Better yet, set your cruise control, obey the signs, and never get pulled over.

[@andreastudebaker3722]

@Lord Funnybone, this is true. I used to work in a kind of law enforcement-related field for many years. On a few occasions, a person from another country tried to bribe me. On one occasion, an American tried to. They were lucky that we weren't allowed by our company to charge them with bribery. I don't know if they later tried that with the DA. It's just not acceptable in this country.

[@Geneva8181]

@@andreastudebaker3722 Bribing police is not acceptable in any first world country, and neither is a massive gun culture, which is where the US fails miserably with unnecessary deaths.

[@kristi1189]

Brits think a 100 miles is long distance, americans think 100 years is a long time. 😂

[@justinwhitley775]

Haha so true

[@channahnoyb4803]

Good one!

[@siegpasta]

LMFAO so true.

[@patricialiedel5659]

So true! 😁

[@Miami7]

@@nicknir07 when they’re trying to get to work it’s light years away!

[@odemusvonkilhausen]

When you visit the US, I would take Wolter's advice and go to a specific region and rent a car. Sure flying is quicker, but if you fly everywhere you're only going to see the main tourist attractions. Driving is the only way to see the "real" America.

[@kathyp1563]

I concur. Pick a region and immerse yourself in their culture. As a sports fan he should visit college games

[@azurephoenix9546]

when my husband and I got married, we had a classic car so we decided why not go on honeymoon along rte 66. It was so fantastic! we had been to Barbados and the Virgin Islands and all that before but never played the tourist in the US. We met so many people, learned so much about the variation of cultures. It really hit home the concept that each state is basically its own country, loosely associated with each other and often with some pretty intense football type rivalries. and omg THE FOOD! a plate of fries in Nashville, TN is a completely different animal than a plate of fries in Winslow, AZ. there's potatoes in both and that's pretty much where the similarities end.

[@ryanknight7202]

@@azurephoenix9546 Lol hope you enjoyed! sounds great

[@GMAMEC]

I concur, especially if he is visiting for an extended period of time. Hopefully he’ll work with an agent or someone knowledgeable.

[@jenniferrada1099]

@@azurephoenix9546 exactly! That's why we're so divided ideologically, too. I'm a West Coast girl through and through. I feel like I'm in a different country when I've gone to the South. Unfortunately the rest of the world sees us as all one big monolith and we're SO different from each other.

[@shelbymanners6729]

The vast majority of Americans own cars so I agree that public transport is unreliable in many places. And yes - the Grand Canyon is breathtaking. No photo can capture it so please go in person if at all possible.

[@sophiewelsh8619]

Arizonan here! Northern Arizona has not only the Grand Canyon but other breathtaking views like Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon (be sure to reserve this one in advance), and part of Monument Valley. Then as you come farther south, we have Sedona, which is kind of touristy... but for good reason. It's stunning. And much of the rest of the state is the Western-film type of desert, which is also really cool. Definitely come and see it! It's amazing how much diversity you have in a single state - the mountainous areas get snow in winter, while the southern parts have t-shirt weather 😎

[@Slayr.]

It's cool but when I went there I wasn't filled with aw or anything. It was just very interesting and massive.

[@oliviatankinganimation7732]

Waiters are paid terribly here in the US. Anytime someone questions “hey why is wait staff payed so little.” The employers will always answer “oh it’s because they make their living on tips.” It’s a ridiculous system and trust me, we wish it was different.

[@mister_dave1184]

We don't care, they chose to wait on tables

[@Queenofswords111]

So, yall want $100.00 plus a day AND an hourly wage? Wow You want to trade those daily tips for minimum wage? I bet you won't.

[@wenfin7048]

And to those who say , ' they chose this job' . Economic pressure is real and few servers make $100 a shift ( which is not much given the cost of living) the same ignorance caused a queen to say to the starving peasants in France: ' let them eat cake!'

[@mister_dave1184]

@@wenfin7048 I said that, so what. I choose my job. I tip people for doing jobs for me that I can't do. Anyone get my order wrong and never refill my drink, why tip them.

[@HoLeeFuk317]

A good waiter can make damn good money on tips. If you suck at waiting, look for a different job, like everyone else that chose to improved their life had to do

[@megg.4538]

"Don't touch the Americans." Lol! Best piece of advice in the whole video, it's funny cause it's true. It makes us sound like angry little badgers in a zoo. You probably shouldn't feed us either...just take pictures from a safe distance.

[@bodyofhope]

Lol, we're just spoiled from having so much space 😅

[@sierra53507]

🤣🤣🤣

[@gisca5752]

That's one of the reasons I don't fit in the country I live (and was born) in . Most Brazilians do not have a sense of personal space. People here get too close to one another, even when there's a lot of space. I find it really annoying. Feel like screaming "respect my 1 meter of space" all the time. And it's even worse if you work attending customers. People will lean towards you (if you're shorter, sometimes they'll tower over you) , or poke you, or touch you as if it's completely normal. I'm completely in favor of the "not touching" rule.

[@RobertaS127]

😆

[@TrimansWife]

I prefer, you are breathing in my airspace! MOVE AWAY!

[@lewisgrace7777]

Wolter is spot on about the hotels. When he recommends the "Cheaper" hotels, he means those designed for business travelers that are mid range like Spring Hill Suites and Courtyard (Marriott brand) or Hampton or Hilton Garden Inn (Hilton brand). Those will offer the free breakfast and free wifi. Not only will you pay for food and wifi at the high end hotels, but in the city or beach, parking fees will be really high.

[@kabirconsiders]

Its really surprising, when i holiday with my family if we stay at a higher-end hotel you usually get everything included in the room price. This hasn't been in America though.

[@rebeccahanson6941]

@@kabirconsiders WiFi is free at all hotels. I’ve stayed at both and I have never paid for WiFi. But there could be a resort fee at a nice resort. Yes you get free breakfast at medium priced hotels a lot. What you pay for at the fancy places is the space, the cleanliness, the amenities in the room, and most of all the service at a luxury place is usually amazing.

[@liveorletdie101]

Our tipping is high because servers/ bar tenders usually get paid $2-6/hr. Most places don't pay minimum wage. It is really ridiculous but these companies are more concerned about profits than their employees

[@dragonsbarinttv]

With the luxury stuff (hotels, cars, experiences, etc) They have the mindset that if you can afford this $350 room, you can pay for more. So they will try to squeeze every bit of money out of you. Stay at the low to midrange hotels if you want things like breakfast and wifi without paying for extras.

[@SpearM3064]

@@liveorletdie101 Keep in mind that if a server makes less than minimum wage even _with_ tips, the employer is _supposed_ to make up the difference. Let's say they work a typical 8-hour shift. They are paid $2.13 an hour, because it is assumed they're going to make at least $5.12 an hour in tips (and most of them do). But even the best servers can have a slow day or a run of bad tippers. So let's say they make an average of just $3 an hour in tips. Well, the employer is _supposed_ to pay an extra $2.12 an hour (this is called "Tip credit"), to bring them up to minimum wage. Of course, I'm sure some employers feign ignorance of that law... Some restaurants have decided to just add a mandatory 15% gratuity to your tab. Some restaurants have ditched tipping entirely and pay their servers a livable wage in the first place. Some states have a higher minimum wage... Alaska, for example, has a minimum wage of $10.34 per hour for _everybody,_ whether you're a tipped employee or not. A few other states also require employers to pay their servers full minimum wage (e.g. Oregon $12.75 per hour and Washington $13.69 per hour)

[@visionsofpromise]

I'm an American and I also believe the employer should be responsible for paying the waiters not the customer

[@donnalichtfuss7527]

Almost all Americans agree with this, I think. Tipping is not tipping any more. And how about Starbucks putting the tip jar out??? $10.00 cup of watered down drink and then you have to pay their employees.

[@Arms2]

@@donnalichtfuss7527 As a former Starbucks barista of 3 years, most of us didn't care about tips. I never expected any kind of tip, it was always a nice surprise when someone put a dollar in the tip jar.

[@Uptight_2]

Loved when you said "anyone who thinks anyone in the US has no culture" is an imbecile! That's when I subscribed! 😊

[@oof649]

Agreed. Americans are all the same! Americans have no culture. Hm...

[@sandrad2597]

Facts, we are groups of all cultures slogging through together, tge smart people pick up things from everyone! We have nothing but culture. Most of the world wants to treat us and act like we don't . Our mixing pot is one of a kind. 🥰

[@AmberUnabridged]

"Shouldn't the cost of the employee be covered by the cost of the employer?" Yes. Yes it should. Of you have *children* with you, they won't try to card them, but if you have someone who looks old enough to try to sneak alcohol, they might not sell to you.

[@77mpickett]

He's like this will start a massive debate in tipping. Like nah most of us agree they should be paid better and not forced to rely on gratuity

[@kaileeessmann4254]

I feel like he's expecting Americans to argue the tipping but we think it's stupid too

[@fiiredark]

You must be 21 to even enter a liquor store (and it actually does say that on the door behind the man in the video), so yeah, they can card anyone there because of that.

[@bryanfykes8670]

You as the customer ARE the employer. The restaurant owner is the provider of the product, not the service.

[@AmberUnabridged]

@@bryanfykes8670 the entire history of tipping is BS, and your input is BS too 🙃

[@juliebiggerbear7300]

The hotel thing is 100% accurate. Having been to a fairly good range of hotels, once you hit over a certain dollar amount per night, you start paying extra for every little thing. I think that the only universal thing regarding hotels here is that if there is anything in your mini bar, using it will cost you extra, so bring your own snacks!

[@abefromansausagekingofchic6480]

Most hotels here just value loyalty and status. Hilton Honors/Marriott Bonvoy/etc. memberships and credit card access typically all include complimentary happy hours, breakfasts, club level access, wifi, room upgrades, etc.

[@dittohead7044]

Especially if you have teenagers who don’t know that lol

[@denimadept]

I've had hotels empty the mini bar before I enter the room, for my safety.

[@lisacurtis6993]

Don’t eat or drink anything from the mini bar unless you want to pay big $$$. Most Midsize chain hotels offer free WiFi. Some even have complimentary breakfast. On tipping, you asked about what to do if the service was bad. I would suggest less than 10% if you are dissatisfied, not tipping at all is EXTREMELY rude. Examples of why you may tip less are extremely slow service, mixed up orders, sometimes rude waitstaff, but this can be tricky because what is rude in the South is not rude in the Northeast. The Northeast is notorious for for being rude. The South is famous for its hospitality. The Midwest and West are known for being more laidback. The culture really shifts from region to region.

[@justsomesleddog]

One major reason for this is that most people staying in "nice" hotels in the US are business travelers that aren't actually footing the bill themselves. And the hotels know that so they charge accordingly. What does it matter if the breakfast is an extra $15 and that Snickers in the mini-bar is $6 if the company is paying for it?

[@blake7587]

Just to clarify since Kabir asked: The people selling alcohol will only ID everyone if it looks like you’re buying for everyone. If you walk in with 2 friends (or kids!) underage and buy a 6 pack of beer no problem. But if you walk in with a crowd of 19-20 year olds and are buying 5x 18 packs they’re going to ID everyone.

[@heyharlie4013]

In the south it is more frowned upon/ prohibited for anyone under 18 to enter a liquor store and you can’t buy alcohol after certain times or more common, on Sunday’s

[@blake7587]

@@heyharlie4013 I understand that but sometimes that’s pretty difficult. A single mom might want to buy a bottle of wine and need to bring her kids in the store with her even if obviously they have no intention of buying or drinking anything.

[@cam6202]

@@blake7587 kids are different and you can buy wine at a gas station

[@mblackwl]

In many places, if you're under 30 or 40-looking, you get carded. No exceptions. Better safe than sorry.

[@tonygreene3941]

Yes, but in some states liquor stores, they will not sell to you and don’t want underage in the store. Go next door and get a six pack at the convenience store, no problem, but no way in the state run liquor store.

[@nataliesawyer1029]

Also LOVE how you said, “Shouldn’t it be the employers responsibility to make sure their employees are making a livable wage, instead of the customers’ responsibility?” YES, yes it should be. The tips also get taxed, so the paychecks end up being close to nothing. I once got a $0 paycheck, not exaggerating. Luckily the tips were good where I worked at the time. Lol.

[@Shayrh2007]

And I recently learned at a Razzoo’s that they split the tips between everyone. So if you make the most in tips and someone has a bad attitude and doesn’t get anything….they still get a part of those tips!!! I was shocked and I am from the US!!!

[@cjthompson420]

@@Shayrh2007 WHAT? See I knew that were funky. I’ll stick to Cajun Stop.

[@catw6998]

Zero paycheck? That’s horrendous! Were they on the verge of declaring bankruptcy?

[@signalfire15]

I disagree with him about the “how are you” thing. I did an experiment once where I said something negative in response to “how are you” like telling them I was not well or I had a migraine or my day sucked and every single person inquired more about my situation, started a conversation with me, and I had one person even follow up with me later in the day to see if I was feeling better. It is a greeting but people generally do care about how you are. So here’s my pro-tip of DON’Ts in America - DON’T start or invite a conversation with a stranger unless you are actually prepared to have a lengthy conversation with a stranger. Americans are super friendly and chatty!!

[@travisstoll3582]

I have conducted a similar experiment (in Texas). People generally do care if you aren't well and follow up.

[@signalfire15]

@@travisstoll3582 Yay! I’m glad to hear that. My experiment was conducted throughout the day in Connecticut. Hopefully we can get a few more people to conduct the experiment in other states to add to our data lol.

[@lenelenore]

@@signalfire15 I’m in the Midwest, and people here definitely would be interested/concerned, and would ask if there’s anything they could do to help. And even if your answer is that you’re doing great, you’re likely to get a positive response and a conversation about what a nice day it is. We tend to be a chatty bunch around here.

[@miskaffon]

Yes. It generally can mean an inquiry! So if you are fine, all is well. If something has happened to you and you find the right person to say the answer to "How are you?" And you say, "well it was great until I got rear-ended a few minutes ago", you might end up with someone offering help. I have no idea how we got this way as a culture, but we try to look out for each other. Many friendships are made that way also!

[@JaxLittles]

As an introvert... I will also engage in conversation, but I will be internally bitter

[@Jarhead6322]

I would double down on the regional thing, and I would add the following don't: Don't presume that by visiting a city you're seeing the culture of that state. Life in the city is wildly different than outside the city. It'd be like saying all of England is like London, or all of France is Paris, etc. To get the real American experience, you need to drive around in the countryside and see the small towns as well as the big cities. Also, states are so vast that there are wild cultural differences within them. Coastal South Carolina isn't the same as western SC. The Florida panhandle is vastly different than Central Florida, and even more different from Miami. Upstate NY is almost a different country from NYC. Memphis is different from the rural parts of West Tennessee, which is different from the hills of East TN or the rolling plains of Central TN. Whole books could be and have been written on Texas. The list goes on and on. If all you do is fly from city to city, you'll never experience America.

[@jeremyjones7056]

I agree about seeing things by region. For example, I live in California, but NorCal (Northern California) and SoCal (Southern California) are different culturally. I live in NorCal and even NorCal many different regions with different cultures in between Bay Area, Sacramento, gold country, wine country, Lake Tahoe, etc.

[@KathleenDenly_Author]

Yes! This goes double for California and Texas. These states are so large that just visiting a city or two in them wouldn't give the true experience. As someone who has lived in California nearly all my life, I can tell you that Los Angeles County (while holding many lovely museums and interesting places to visit (like Hollywood and the garment district)) is often referred to as the eyesore of the state. Of all the cities here, Los Angeles is the most cemented over and has some of the poorest urban areas (graffiti and run down buildings). And don't get me started on Los Angeles traffic. It's a nightmare for us and we're used to traffic. You're far better off seeing the museums and tourist spots in the major cities, but then traveling to smaller, more rural areas like Julian, California, Columbia State Historic Park, Yosemite State Park, Sequoia National Park, Coultervile, Ca, Sutter Creek, Ca, Death Valley, Joshua Tree National Park, Lassen Volcanic National Park, and Moaning Cavern near Murphy, Ca.

[@AppalachianAllegory]

Pittsburgh and Philly. Completely different.

[@rachelsherrod6704]

@@jeremyjones7056 yes! And same goes for northern Nevada vs southern i.e. “Vegas” lol

[@UltimateTrekkie1]

That’s so true!

[@ImaSteamer]

Don't forget, depending on where you travel, not only is the food different but so are the people, the accent, the speed of life, the things of value, the attire, etc... while you're trekking around the US, don't forget about Texas and Louisiana !! 🤠

[@jodiecarlson6955]

The hotel thing is true! Luxury types of hotels will charge a "resort fee" just to have the use of the pool. They will have a sit-down restaurant where you can buy breakfast. The cheaper chain hotels, if they have a pool, don't charge for it. And they often have a small continental breakfast bar for free.

[@isaaczaragoza4198]

if you're with children, like family members, generally they'll sell you alcohol. however if you're with older teenagers, they can refuse service if they suspect you're buying the alcohol for the minors.

[@kolestutler580]

Weird concept, I know. If the "teenagers" had a collective brain cell wouldn't they just wait outside? I think all it does is ruin people's days when they are following the rules. I also once got yelled at as a child for loading my parent's alcohol onto the pay counter at a Walmart. The clerk made a huge deal of it, leaving me feeling bad for trying to help. Seriously, why are people like that?

[@ExtreemDreemer]

@@kolestutler580 we are like that because we can get fired, go to jail, or the business gets shut down/lose their liquor license because of it. Seen it happen so many times. Can't fault people for doing their jobs trying to feed their own family.

[@gardenguster5271]

@@kolestutler580 because teenagers are stupid you can't assume the best of them.

[@jlwbc4158]

Unless you are in Oklahoma. It is illegal there to ENTER a liquor store when underage. If you bring a child in, you will be asked to leave. There are also parts of restaurants blocked off near the bar where children are not allowed.

[@scottdelinger1]

@@jlwbc4158 Indiana as well, at least awhile ago.

[@metropolis-vq4ml]

I liked the comment about "extras" at restaurants. I had friends who came here from Australia for the first time, first time in the South. We went to a well-reputed restaurant with Southern food and when the server found out that they were first time there, first time in the town, first time in the South, they were very generous. They were curious about what "creamed corn" was so they brought them each a serving "on the house." Also, another of the local specialties. At the end, they were considering a dessert and she brought them each a large serving of peach pie, on the house, plus a box with more for them to take to the hotel, along with a bunch more of the dinner rolls. They were astounded at the kindness and generosity of the staff there, who were just delighted to have someone from so far away visiting for their first time.

[@ashlieneevel9671]

That's really nice to hear. I'm glad they were given such a good experience. It's a memory they'll have forever.

[@rockleesmile]

That’s lovely. I love when people are so kind.

[@dstone1701]

That is true hospitality, and classic southern charm and generosity. Just don't expect that everywhere you go. You are much more likely to experience this at a Mom & Pop motel or restaurant than at a big chain outlet. But your experience will vary.

[@AndreasAntics]

I had a friend from Australia visit us in the south. We took him to the best BBQ restaurant in town. The waiter said, “You’re from Australia?!? Just like Crocodile Dundee!” He retorted with, “Oh yes, back in Australia we think you Yanks are all just like Forrest Gump.” Oh boy. 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@ashlieneevel9671]

@@AndreasAntics oof that's a rough one

[@dougspidermanhappy]

I lived in San Francisco, California, and a LOT of people don’t realize how cold it is there. Not all of California is warm and sunny, the northern parts can be very windy and cold.

[@UltimateTrekkie1]

Wow, really? Truly, I didn’t know that.

[@alliefoster4942]

@Rebekah Artman yes! It can get really cold up here! But especially in San Francisco has A LOT of wind since its right on the coast.

[@mcherylyn]

Yes...writing this 5 months later on June 28 during a heatwave out west...the entirety of Cali, Nevada, Idaho, and Utah are in the triple digits...it's 68 degrees in San Francisco

[@Kat-lk9lb]

Exactly. I live in Oakland and it does get chilly in the winter. It's funny seeing all these tourists in shorts and sandals.

[@BadgersInTheAttic]

Mark Twain once said that the coldest winter he ever experienced was summer in San Francisco. 😄 Also, one thing people don't think about is that, in a very dry climate like CA, the air doesn't hold the heat for long, once the sun goes down. It might be 100°F in the afternoon, but drop down to 40°F at night. Even in the heat of Summer, you want to bring a jacket.

[@fourlittlebirds6166]

Traveling in a plane in the US takes ALL DAY LONG. and with jet lag it would take even the next couple days after getting off the plane for your body to adjust. Walter is right. Having lived in California with family all over the Unites states, I’d say pick a region (specific area) and stay there. Trying to fly all over across the US is just not realistic. And flights are cancelled ALL THE TIME. transportation here is not reliable unless you are in control of your own vehicle.

[@nataliesawyer1029]

True. It takes hours from getting to the airport to actually getting on the plane and lifting off. The process is much more strict since 9/11. I imagine much more strict than other countries, but I’ve never been out of the US so don’t know myself.

[@PaxPixie]

@@nataliesawyer1029 it's definitely more strict here. There are literally shows dedicated to airport security in places like Australia & Britain. One of the biggest things is the US is the only place you have to take your shoes off. That alone adds a ton of time to going through the airport and getting to your flight.

[@paigestock3556]

Depending on how long your flight is and how long it takes you to get to and from the airport to your destinations and which airport you go to (some are busier than others) and what date and time of day you fly (some dates and times are busier), it can take all day, especially if you have 1 or more layovers! But if you only live 30 minutes from the airport and you don’t travel at busy times and your airport is not a jam packed busy airport and you’re only going a few states over (not all the way from east to west coast) and your destination is not that far from the airport and you have a direct flight, it’s only half a day travel. People fly for business all the time and they’ll fly there one day and fly back the next (it’s a whirlwind though).

[@PaxPixie]

@@paigestock3556 lol. So what you're saying is, IF 5 factors are all met, then it's only 1/2 a day. Boy, aren't you the optimist. :)

[@Sherry-jn5zn]

Plus flying around the US is expensive 😑

[@michaelrobinson3543]

Re: the lack of public transit, you need to understand the American obsession with cars. We grow up with the notion of owning our own mode of transportation as part of the process of becoming an adult. In fact, most of our infrastructure, particularly cities that were settled/incorporated after the advent of our national highway system, is built with the underlying assumption of car ownership in mind.

[@elliebellie7816]

It's not necessarily an obsession with cars. Except for the East Coast, most of America is spread out and far away and public transportation is NIL. You have to have a car, it's a necessity.

[@cliftonmcnalley8469]

@@elliebellie7816 I agree completely. Most of the U.S. is just too spread out to support major amounts of public transport. An automobile is a necessity for most Americans.

[@jamescolern8276]

It's also down to many automobile companies in the 40s and 50s working hard to shutdown bus companies and prevent railways from being built for local public transport.

[@myopiniondoesntmatterh9073]

I don't think it really has anything to do with an obsession with cars. The fact is that most of the US is too spread out for public transportation to be practical or financially sustainable. Even in relatively small towns, it would take at most15-20 minutes to drive somewhere, and people generally don't go out to just one place at a time. So if you're running a few errands (grocery, post office, pharmacy, etc.), it's going to be faster and a more efficient use of time (something most people have trouble managing as it is) to drive than to wait for a bus after each stop. Add in the fact that you might have too many bags of groceries to manage on a bus and that the closest bus stop to your home may require another 20-30 minutes of walking, and of course people would choose to drive rather than take a bus. In many communities, the majority of the population live in the suburbs or out in the country and commute in for work, shopping, etc., so there's no way busses would run out that far. With so few people using busses, would there be enough funding to make it worthwhile? In the majority (geographically) of the US, the answer would be no. The obsession/love affair with cars grew out of the design of the US, not the other way around.

[@andrewharper1609]

I used to mostly use the train instead, it's quicker most of the time and more spacious.

[@ArchimGregorios]

Regarding tipping: in the US we don't only tip restaurant staff, but also your barber/hairdresser.

[@JV-pu8kx]

Any service job: bartender, hotel housekeeping (maid, etc.), taxis, etc. There are rule books, charts, mobile apps, to help with calculations. E.g. wait staff get a percentage of the check while the tip for barbers is one dollar. The thinking behind the tipping culture is to ensure quality service: the better the service, the better the pay. I can see a second benefit: since the restaurants can get away with paying their wait staff so much less, they can get get you in the door by advertising lower prices for the food. Also, restaurants that automatically include a gratuity for large groups still include a line on the receipt for tips! Double tipping?

[@joylox]

Basically, if you're paying with a card, and the machine has a screen asking how much you want to tip, it's expected. Although in Canada, where sales tax is usually around 15%, most people are fine with a 10% tip, or just a couple dollars depending on the thing. I have allergies, so I tip more when someone is very good at accommodating that, but usually I go 10%-15%, especially where you pay after you get the item or service.

[@andreanicodemus898]

Massage therapists, nail salons!

[@sarahgiggles9444]

@@joylox The exception to this is that some smaller restaurants and fast food places now use various ipad-based payment apps even for to-go orders. You can still tip if you want to, but tips aren't really expected if you're just paying for a piece of pizza (or whatever) to go and no server will be waiting on you.

[@morningmorgan6341]

Basically tip anyone in the service industry that focuses on just your needs at a time.

[@courtneywitherspoon8584]

I love hearing Brits talk about the US...it's just as ridiculous to us as it is to you. We're just used to it. Yes---going to a restaurant is a GAME. lol

[@dalemoore8582]

England is pretty ridiculous too. Rules about how you eat a scone, or make your tea. Thinking peas mushy up is good food. Getting pissy about calling it soccer when they invented the word soccer. Bowing to people because they saying they are better than you. Ridiculous.

[@c0baltl1ghtn1ng]

Another thing, regarding the restaurants and food: You may end up getting way more than you can comfortably eat in one sitting. That's perfectly fine and normal, and it's okay if you wanna take the leftovers and eat them later.

[@njchenault]

Or, split a plate with another. Also, can order appetizers as meal, if light eater.

[@Bobrogers99]

I was about to say the same thing. Restaurants often put too much on your plate, which contributes to our obesity problem. As a "senior', I try to eat early and order from the lunch menu, which usually has smaller portions. If you aren't going directly home afterwards, a "doggie bag" (takeout box) for the leftovers is awkward, so it goes to waste.

[@lordfunnybone4092]

For those wondering why portions are large in the U.S., it's because the cost of the food itself is one of the lowest costs for the business. It's better to provide a little too much than have the reputation of not providing enough.

[@Bobrogers99]

@@lordfunnybone4092 I recall one of the food-related shows saying that if the cost of the food products in a dinner is more than one-third of the menu price, they're not charging enough - or they need to find a less expensive supplier.

[@icarusbinns3156]

Sadly, a lot of food service workers rely on tips to not be homeless. I used to work in food, and because it was considered fast food, a lot of people didn’t tip. We were making well under minimum wage… I remember being hungry a lot One of my friends ended up developing severe health problems because she was unable to afford rent, groceries and life-sustaining medicines. She collapsed at work, when her body just gave up in several ways on her. She was treated for malnutrition, and was placed in therapy to try and ‘fix the anorexic issue’. Which was only an issue because there just wasn’t enough money to cover things

[@wizardray2089]

American here from the “south” • “ shouldn’t the restaurant pay the server?” Absolutely yes. Unfortunately a series of events allowed servers to be paid only $2 per hour and push the rest to tips • fancy hotel logic: if you can afford to pay a lot for your room, you can also afford to pay for the extras that should be included. (my reaction is the same as yours- that is ridiculous)

[@petitesayo4542]

I get paid more by watching cats. If you get paid 2/h, it's the restaurant that tips you, while the customer is paying you. 2.- is actually the amount of a TIP for me. It's really strange that getting paid such a little amount seems acceptable for so many people. It's basically modern slavery for me.

[@awright119021]

@@petitesayo4542 it's not acceptable to anyone, but no one in a position of power cares. The server can't make them change it and that might be the job they are good at or the only job they can get. Its actually disgusting for many reasons because it is demoralizing when you do your job really well and then realize you didn't get paid for it because there wasn't a tip. And guess how often and how much the really pretty servers get tipped compared to less attractive servers? And yes there is a law that says the employer has to make up the difference to minimum wage, but many will fire you instead because it definitely must be your fault that customers refused to pay your wages that week. And then even if they do, $7/hr is not a livable wage anyway. You are at the mercy of the customer and just have to hope and pray that you make enough to pay your bills. The US is so far behind other countries in many many ways.

[@elizabethgrogan8553]

@@petitesayo4542 I was advised to give at least 20% of the bill total. That's $20 for every $100 spent. I was also told to tip the servers in cash. If I included it in the bill put, there was a good chance the restaurant owner would not pass it on. I've visited the US a few times now but won't be going back. It's just become too violent In many places. I saw people open-carrying guns in some states. That's very unsettling for me.

[@andrewm3210]

Meanwhile some people have been waiting fathfully for 40+ years for those "trickle-down economics" to reach down to them... Of course there is no trickle, it was a lie.

[@andersoncrowley4553]

@@elizabethgrogan8553 oh yeah open carry is our thing in the us! 🇺🇸

[@sl2115]

in the midwest we actually answer when asked , “How are you?”. This actually can lead to long conversations.

[@C.M.30337]

I'm in San Diego and we always answer to "how are you or how are you doing" cause we truly want to know how they are. If we say "How's it goin"?, that's usually a one or two word answer question like "OK", "great", "alright", "good" or "pretty good".

[@paulkneipp6376]

Yea I think with how are you doing is just another one of those throw off comments that you say to anybody. Like somebody walks up to the cashier and she says hey how are you today they can answer or not it’s not look down upon if they don’t answer, it’s like I don’t think everybody in the whole country says you’re welcome if someone says thanks. It could go either way. Like if you say hey what’s up, doesn’t insist on a reply

[@garylangley4502]

Sometimes I have fun by replying with something like, "Not bad for an old man with a used pickup." Another one that I haven't used in a long time was "Just laughin' and scratchin'." Hey, why not have fun?

[@joymelton8426]

Same for the South

[@hotjupiter3395]

In the Northeast we are just being polite. Keep it moving.

[@The54321to]

Also, anyone visiting Florida in general, don't expect the current weather to stay that weather for the rest of the day or even for the rest of the hour. I see a lot of people visiting Disney and Univeral Studios and they GO HOME because it starts raining. Every Floridian knows it will stop(and maybe start again) eventually. Just stay and wait tbh. 😂

[@aff77141]

Probably within the next 5 minutes-

[@stevieschenk7955]

You gave away the secret! After rain hours are known as “local only hours” 😂

[@roscoeswetsuit1218]

I'm from Philly but factss. Every time I go to Disney it POURS to a couple inches high, everyone takes their shoes off and runs home, we hide out in a restaurant, and it returns to a bright sunny day. 😂

[@The54321to]

@@stevieschenk7955 eh, only to the lucky few who saw this comment 😂😉

[@ToyAddict]

I'm from Oregon. We just stay out in the rain and keep enjoying the day with no one else around. Last time we went to WDW, we got on all the rides, etc really quick because it was raining and a little cold for FL. Even the Floridians go home if it gets under 60 degrees.

[@Midnightpeapod]

In the Midwest do not expect the answer to “how far away is that” to be a distance, it will be a time. Like if you’re in my town and you say “how far to Detroit?” I would say “oh about an hour and a half.” Our topography and average traffic patterns make that a more likely answer.

[@ShortiWatta82]

Yep I'm in Kentucky and we do that as well lol best way to think if you want to make that drive or not 🤷🏾‍♀️

[@kaylakurgun332]

That’s true anywhere in the US

[@rachaelstout4994]

100% agree. We do the same thing in Pennsylvania. If you ask how far something is the answer will be how long it takes to drive there.

[@Iris_Collins]

"How far to downtown?" "Between twenty minutes and an hour, depending on what bus you take."

[@gloriaflores6775]

In Chicago, no matter what or where, we’re always 15 minutes away.

[@JusNoBS420]

Americans love our cars and the independence that comes with it. Go anywhere and whenever we want kind of attitude 😀

[@heathermartinez2954]

In Texas we don't say "it's 60 miles south" we say "it's about an hour south" we measure in the amount of time it takes you to get somewhere. And yes fancy hotels make you pay for Extras

[@laverdadbuscador]

I think that's most of the US. I've lived in NY, Oregon, and Midwest. Traveled all over the US. People only say "miles" in certain situations, but you're right. It's mostly "time to get there".

[@Rhaenarys]

I don't think we even use south. Usually it's more like, "an hr away, near Orlando area." (I'm from Florida, so lol)

[@chloemonette7427]

Same thing in Canada. I think it might be because of our driving culture lol

[@richlaue]

Time sometimes makes more sense, when it might take an hour plus to go 15 miles during rush hour.

[@hiddentidesgaming]

In wv we measure by how much time and how many mountains you have to cross to get there.

[@amymiller1866]

One of the best things about America is how the many different cultures have influenced each other to create uniquely American cultural phenomena that still have recognizably "old world" ties.

[@MaryLou913]

This is what makes America so beautiful and unique. The American experiment is having its challenges but overall, yes, we have a beautiful culture. It’s such a young country and still filled with so much promise. ❤️🇺🇸

[@cq8822]

Just know that in America, with your British accent, many, many people are going to want to speak with you. Be prepared for spontaneous questions and conversations. So many Americans are absolutely obsessed with the British accent. In fact the GPS on my phone is in a British accent 😁

[@edithdlp8045]

My family is from Spain and have an accent. Everyone wants to speak to them in Spanish to listen to their accent.

[@jessicaaudate]

Yes. We always ready for something new🤣 I was on a Zoom meeting with a group from Guernsey and one said "Oh I just love your accent". I'm like "Is she mocking me? What accent?" Ahhh now I know how others feel

[@Lindamorena]

Same

[@stellaluceat7335]

@@jessicaaudate We have an English friend who lives here in the States. He loves living here because he can get away with things one typically wouldn't, or is automatically treated better, because of his British accent. Americans are gaga for that accent (myself included)!

[@jessicaaudate]

@@stellaluceat7335 🤭🤣. Glad you told me. Now I can say "Dont try it. You have been living here for X number of years!" 🤣

[@romemedina4712]

The cheaper hotels usually give more common things for free, they even advertise it on their signs. Now the expensive places just know the richer people will always pay extra for it without a second thought. Always check for free TV and internet connection before staying anywhere.

[@azurephoenix9546]

I would actually recommend motel 6, generally. free Wi-Fi, free breakfast and a suite is relatively cheap.

[@Trifler500]

Yeah. One thing to watch out for in the fancy hotels is if there are bags of chips or anything on the counter or in the fridge, the maid keeps a record of what had to be replaced, and that is added to your bill. They also charge a lot more than if you went to a store and bought your own. Mainly what you get at a fancy hotel is nicer furniture.

[@sassytbc7923]

A moderate priced chains like la Quinta or other choice brand hotel will consistently have free tv and internet. Actually almost everyone does now, hoewever, in mom and pop establishments it might not be very strong anywhere but next to the office. Also tax is not included in the price except Montana which has no sales tax

[@aletmartins6940]

Visiting the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in DC requires silence and respect. The soldiers are not shy to demand silence from rowdy visitors.

[@noneofurbusiness5223]

Good, because when I visited Pearl Harbor - very loud. No one said anything about SOME people talking!

[@kolestutler580]

It's odd how seemingly random things are given such high esteem, but it's pretty cool. I wish other memorials were more like the tomb of the unknown soldier or the palace guard. Mostly, in the U.S., the level of respect is self determined although it can be inferred from a reasonable crowd

[@byronwilliams6334]

You could spend a week in Washington DC, the Air and space museum, Smithsonian, eating near the embassies (any food type you can think of) monuments.

[@reinadezorro]

@@noneofurbusiness5223 With Pearl Harbor though, I always found the visitor’s center to be loud but the actual memorial to be very solemn and (mostly) quiet. This includes all the field trips I took as a student growing up in HI. Then again it depends on who is there anyways - some people just can’t take a hint or have no sense of self-awareness.

[@susanmccormick6022]

Alert Martin's: As it should b,there r far too many disrespectful idiots around.

[@angelat.8997]

I live in AZ. I love how your eyes popped out when you saw the photo of the Grand Canyon. I’ve been numerous times, since I live relatively close to it - and that feeling of amazement happens every single time! I’ve overheard many travelers saying, “Oh my gosh... I’ve seen so many photos, but NOTHING compares to this!” My point is, when you visit America, you MUST SEE the Canyon. 😍

[@GooshawnXD]

When my Dad was a kid his dad was in the service and he lived all over the US. He said Arizona was his favorite. We adopted a kid at 16 and he lived all over too ... Once again, Arizona was his favorite. I've never traveled far from my home (Pennsylvania) but would absolutely love to get out to Arizona and see what all the hype is

[@jartstopsign]

He's actually pretty spot on about the hotel pricing. At top level hotels they figure you already have enough cash to pay for anything so you get nickel and dimed to no end. I used to work at a mid level hotel and the breakfast was included and the wifi was free. If you come here just don't stay at complete dumps like motel 6 lol unless you want lice and drugs

[@joyhildebrecht6670]

? ? ? That is Not Our Personal Experience with Motel 6 in Southern Ohio and Loved Their Swimming Pool Sooooo where the Hey - that is - In what State Did You Received that Type of Motel 6 ? ? ? 'cause Now You've got me Most curious 🥰

[@jartstopsign]

@@joyhildebrecht6670 I guess good for them doing proper maintenance but around where I live all the pools are permanently emptied, constant drug deals and prostitution every night with people smoking whatever they want in rooms. If you're smart you throw a few extra bucks for something like a Holiday inn or Hampton inn, it's worth it. They're mid level and if you're chucking 10x that at a Four seasons you're making a huge mistake.

[@joyhildebrecht6670]

@@jartstopsign How Sad 🤷‍♀️ You Are Always Welcome to Move to Southern Ohio 💖💖💖

[@kristinewenrich2779]

Yes, he's right. I think it might be that way because the lower priced hotels want to encourage you to stay with them , so they give you all the freebee's they can. Sometimes the breakfast isn't a lot. It might be something simple like drinks , bagels, muffins and fruit. edit: And regarding tipping bartenders, you dont have to tip them a lot, every time, but slipping a dollar (depending on how many drinks you order) or two doesn't hurt, they're more likely to spend more time at your end of the bar. Oh, and, 15-20% isn't such a huge amount. On a $30 bill, it would be 4.50 -$6.

[@SpearM3064]

@@jartstopsign I think the thing to remember here is, do your research before booking a motel. Check out a few reviews on Yelp or TripAdvisor or something. The problem is that Motel 6 is a _franchise,_ which means there are always going to be a few sketchy owners who let the hotel turn into a dump. I've never had a problem with any of the Motel 6's I've stayed at, but I make sure to do my research first. If enough reviews make it sound sketchy, then it probably is, and I stay away.

[@spaceshiplewis]

Tip your hotel housekeepers too, usually I throw a $20 on the nightstand before I leave. I put up the "Do not disturb" sign permanently on my door during my stay so they don't enter (except for the pulse check) until the end, but if you do want daily cleaning a $5 each day is a good practice. Housekeepers are good people who work hard cleaning the same looking room over and over and over for basically starvation wages.

[@SpearM3064]

Indeed. Or, for that matter, leave them a snack like an apple, or a bag of chips and a bottle of water (with a note saying that it's for the housekeeper, otherwise he/she might not know). Better yet, do both. All of a sudden, you're their favorite customer, and when they do clean, your room will be as spotless as they can make it.

[@rosegarden7256]

@@SpearM3064 Don't leave un-packaged food; it will just end up in the trash. Money is best, but $20. is a lot unless you're staying for more than a week. I have worked as a motel maid, and I guarantee that if you leave a five-spot you will make the housekeepers day; unfortunately most people don't tip in hotels.

[@mindyschocolate]

We’re expecting to tip for every little thing, omg. I travel a lot. I’m not tipping $20 a night on top of restaurants. My budget is not infinite. If housekeepers are making minimum wage I won’t tip. I never got tipped making minimum wage at Taco Bell, because I knew better.

[@authorcassandrastarling]

We actually used to have a huge network of trains but then the car biz got ahold of it and wished to make their mode of transportation the dominant by out performing trains. Now a lot of our tracks are abandoned.

[@lorihanlon2525]

Was hoping someone mentioned this. The train system has been slowly dismantled and abandoned. In favor of big business...more cars and 18 wheelers on the road equals more car insurance, gasoline, tires and maintenance. Even more hotels and fast food.

[@goobergelslady]

Good news. Infrastructure passed. It includes money to help rebuild bridges and roads, but get our trains and tracks rebuilt too!!! So excited about this political taboo, can't talk to Americans about ordeal. Of course almost everything in United States is a political taboo topic. Seriously though.

[@tomhalla426]

Trains were never dense enough to be a “last mile” transit system. The US as a whole is much less dense than Europe

[@goobergelslady]

@@tomhalla426 would make a lot more sense having trains take more cargo to more towns, like they use to. Creating central hubs that already exists and more trucks more of a local job. Saves a lot on fuel and infrastructure costs (trucks tear up roads) pulling only one box car worth of cargo across country.

[@tomhalla426]

@@goobergelslady as far as I know, it is a matter of switchyard efficiency , of running small trains to isolated locations.Running one boxcar to East Jesus a week should be more expensive than using a heavy truck for that run.

[@ta038]

To clarify about the alcohol question, it really depends where you are. Some cities/states are stricter than others (although legally they're all supposed to be the same). Near me, if I walk into a liquor store (I'm way over 21) and have anyone with me who isn't 21 I can't buy alcohol. It happened to me a few years ago. I went to pay, had my nephew with me who was about 14 or 15 at the time and when they asked how old he was and he said his age they told me I couldn't buy anything because he was under 21 and with me. I had to go to a different liquor store and leave him in the car. 😩😕 Oh, and the part about asking about guns/politics is so true lol. If someone asks you your opinion on either, they WANT to tell you THEIR viewpoint and will go on and on and on about it. RUN!🤣

[@Razorslash312]

In my experience the 3 star hotels are the perfect balance of price, comfort, and amenities.

[@BlueDebut]

I once got sick at my work and couldn't get a ride home so I just rented a room at the hotel that was next to my work. The place was so comfortable I had the best sleep in weeks 😂😂😂😂

[@archerfire77]

3.5-4 ⭐ too. Those Holiday Inn & Red Lion's with thd free buffet, wifi, water, coffee, movies, and parking are the way to go for sure. 4 stars can be just as cheap as cheap as 3 sometimes too, including in Canada & Mexico!

[@hrussell9677]

We stopped staying at hotels as we find AirBnBs more comfortable and interesting. Hotel,walls are notoriously thin and you can usually hear the people next to you, fancy or not.

[@MsXlr8urself]

@@hrussell9677 ironically hotels are making a comeback

[@Good_Hot_Chocolate]

@@MsXlr8urself probably due to the laxing of travel restrictions

[@katphifer3172]

The thing about driving 3-4 hours no big deal is so true lol also the "isn't the employee's wage the responsibility of an employer?" YEAH YOUD THINK. most Americans think tipping culture is bonkers tbh

[@jessicaaudate]

🙌🏽

[@TheGreeneBead]

Yes! Our closest family members live 2 hours away, lol. Its nothing for us to make a weekend trip. When my partner and I started dating, we lived 4 hours apart from each other! We had opposite days off though (his "weekend" was Monday & Tuesday, and mine was Friday and Saturday), so he'd spend the first half of the week at my apartment and I'd spend the last half of the week at his. It did get to be a LOT in gas though, and after a year when both of our leases were up (we literally met like 2 weeks after we both moved into our places) we decided to move in together. Now I live 3 hours away from where I was living previously, and thats still only from the south central part of the state to the far southeast corner! I used to laugh at people when I lived in Delaware, because they'd complain about how driving from Bethany Beach to Rehoboth (a whopping 20 minutes) was "too far".... I was like, "b*itch I gotta drive 20 min just to go to a grocery store" 🤣

[@lizbita6412]

If there is an All-American culture it’s a driving culture. Tipping used to make sense but it’s gotten way out of hand. Counter service restaurants all have tip lines even though there is no extra service.

[@nilaphi-Living_Phi_Nomad]

100% on the tipping! I’ve been a server in the US and will always tip 20% when I’m there but for realz, employers should pay living wages and the tipping thing is ridiculous.

[@urusaigirl]

It all depends where you are from… in Hawaii a two hour drive is really far… we are on an island with lots of traffic. It’s crazy…

[@skylar2173]

The hotel thing is absolutely accurate. You really want to go for medium priced hotels. The really low and the really high priced hotels don’t include anything but a place to lay your head. Think more along the lines of a holiday inn or Hampton inn.

[@redshed2020]

Yes, he's dead right on the hotel thing. Expensive hotels usually have expensive restaurants in them, and they want you to spend money there, so no breakfast provided. Mid range hotels are where it's at.

[@beatrizromero7146]

This is true. Very expensive suites want you to order food and pay an insane price while common hotels like Holiday Inn and Best Western offer amenities such as wifi, breakfast, swimming pool, and a gym.

[@saraborthwick2051]

I'll also add that expensive hotels are either boutique hotels which charge for the ambiance and access to rooftop bars and nightclubs or celebrity chef restaurants, or are business traveler hotels which cater to travelers on expense accounts who prioritize efficiency and consistency over "extras" like a free breakfast or wifi.

[@lovejorita]

The hotel thing is only half right. No, you're not getting free breakfast, but money talks in California, and the more you're willing to pay, the more you get.

[@nonsequitur5057]

Yes! I was stunned when I got the chance (with a friend) to stay in a 5 star Hotel. There was water and wine bottles displayed out on a table in our room, like it was a Welcome Gift . . . but no, there was a card on the table which listed the prices. I went to a local grocery store that evening and bought a 5 gallon jug of water, which I kept in the closet because the tap water was awful and the water they were selling was so expensive. Also, the wine in the room was priced 3-5 times what it would cost you in a store. Where as every B&B (Bed & Breakfast - I highly recommend) we've stayed at have had things like tea, coffee, cheese & fruit in the room free (included in the price of the room which cost FAR LESS than a hotel) plus a "Continental Breakfast" (various teas, coffee, juices, pastries, etc. which you help yourself to) in the mornings.

[@113dmg9]

Listening to you mentioned "wealth" and "public transportation"... Most people, I guess, have their own car/vehicle and don't need public transportation. And that's probably why our traffic is SO horrendous.

[@Iceify_]

The reason why the u.s. doesn’t have good public transport is simply because of what happened during the car boom. Everything now is built around cars. It’s hard to add public transport.

[@miskaffon]

Yes. It is easier to say everything in the US is based on personal vehicle travel. It is rare for a family or individual to not have access to a vehicle here. I know it isn't as common in other parts of the world.

[@studiohq]

Also out side of cities your talking about farms and large spaces for land... For instance I know that when kids live out in the "country" busing them to school can take a couple of hours because of the space between houses.. Public transportation like a bus taking up space on a two lane road would be a serious issue ... And could you imagine telling someone that your going to take property away for a train? It's hard enough to take property for roads...

[@anonygent]

There was plenty of mass private transport before cars came along, but it all went out of business because Americans would rather drive than take a bus or train. Only the freight trains survived. The passenger trains were consolidated in to Amtrak, which is federally supported and hasn't made a profit in 50 years. The busses and trains that run now are all government owned and operated, at a loss.

[@filianablanxart8305]

In order for public mass transit to work , it requires a critical mass of population , densely packed into a compact area , to be viable to support the infrastructure . I haven't see your other videos , but with a tag of London , I will presume that would be frame of reference for you . In downtown NY City , Boston , Chicago , Washington DC , etc you can do reasonably well using bus and subway . Get farther out into the respective surrounding Metropolitan Areas , and the transport network is more focused on carrying commuters from inner suburbs to & from downtown for 9 to 5 workday . Outside of downtown business/ tourist areas , mid day or afterhours public transit is spotty , and can lead to lots of time wasting . Think hour to hour and half of transfers and waiting to get to where would be 10 or 15 minutes of driving .

[@mindyschocolate]

Exactly. And we’re spoiled. We don’t want to give up our car and ride with strangers.

[@roastedscorpion]

The thing with tipping is I used to be a waitress and while everybody else was making $7 an hour at a regular job, I was making $2.13 an hour, plus whatever tips I got. I agree it should be based on the service, and it's more an easy way for servers to glide under the radar and claim less money than they actually earn that night, off the books, so to speak, but those wages haven't gone up much from the early 2000's, and those servers STRONGLY DEPEND on tips.

[@seawrightstudios]

I made 2.15 an hour as a waitress. Ridiculous.

[@maryannturton9830]

Waitresses unite!😜

[@sgtprestonoftheyukon2423]

I've worked in restaurants as a delivery driver and the waitresses were really resentful that we got paid min wage plus a commission, plus tips. But we also had to get it there on Time , maintain our vehicles , and risk being ROBBED . One of my pet peeves is when I'm dining alone in a restaurant ( I had a job traveling for a living) waitresses just assumed I wasn't going to tip !!!? I ALWAYS TIP !!! but they would give me really crappy service. One of the reasons I enjoyed going to strip clubs when I was on the road was because of how appreciative those girls were of the ONE BUCK I was putting in their G-String !!!!. Geez !!! Waitresses could learn a lot from these girls would it kill you to smile and be a little friendly ????

[@roastedscorpion]

@@sgtprestonoftheyukon2423 no, I TOTALLY agree with you! I HATED being a server... Only did it for 2 years. It's total bs how wages and tips work in the states. And because tips are "expected," I'd say MOST service is sub-par at best; it's nonsense!! If my service isn't decent, I have no problem with tipping accordingly...... I DON'T adhere to standard 15-20% for someone with an attitude of entitlement, or less-than the best they've got.... I do empathize: I get it.... Wait staff get the shaft... But I work hard for my money too, and I'm not dining out to deal with your crap. You have one job, and if you hate it..... Quit! Otherwise, take care of whoever you're serving that day; the job description is in the title. I get it.

[@milesbrown7345]

My mum had lots of tip related jobs I was raised on it so I reciprocate and take care of those people if a tip is involved you can expect a good one from me and if for some reason I'm unprepared and don't have money for a tip expect a Neverending apology. And I'm from New England specifically mass so I debunk that mass hole comment if I'm being a mass hole it's a funny version

[@siouxempirecoyote8174]

I would add don’t litter. There are trash cans everywhere, in my state even recycling, some states not so much for the recycling. Depending on where you are some places can have up to $300 fine for littering(national parks). But like I said there’s trash cans everywhere in front of businesses. This can include cigarette butts. There are generally the containers for them in smoking areas.

[@ariannamae6114]

Overkill, nice

[@kavami11jams30]

Where I live in Oregon there's no littering anywhere. Everyone recycles and there are absolutely NO TRASH CANS! I have no idea why this is or where people put their trash! I think people here are cold and rude for west coast vibe. But Washington and California especially Northern Cali everyone is nice and kind. Utah is gorgeous and the Mormons are the kindest people I've ever met!

[@gaylebynumcardosa7034]

@@kavami11jams30 A lot of people in rural Oregon are tight knit. They don't trust anyone from "outside". If you haven't been there for generations then you're an outsider. Don't know what part of Oregon you live in but I grew up on the beach in southern Oregon. I moved there when I was four, moved away at 22. People are like clans in those communities.

[@kolestutler580]

I feel like Americans litter more than people from Europe, but I have never been across the pond so I couldn't say. Oklahoma is nice and green because of the grass and the trees, but the people act like they don't know what a trash can is. Don't expect pretty roadways here

[@treesart6914]

In Minneapolis people open their car door, throw their empty fast food cups and bags on the lot, then drive off. I've seen it several times.

[@theabstracthour178]

Here in America we actually have train lines that pretty much connect every single town and city in the entire country, it’s just that for whatever reason in like the 70s they closed down a lot of the public trains just leaving only transport for companies

[@OwnedByAGrey]

Watching your reaction makes me excited to have you visit us. I wish I could see your reactions to our beautiful country. My family came here from Germany in 1736. We’re still German in this pocket of Pennsylvania today (PA Dutch and Amish) in our foods, traditions, and, for some of us, we still speak German. Listen … Enjoy yourself, ask questions. We’re thrilled to have you. ❤️✌🏻 Edit to add: WE LOVE ACCENTS! Don’t get mad; you’re going to be asked A LOT about your gorgeous accent, your country, and your family. We actually love to learn about others’ countries. Don’t believe everything you hear on the news.

[@NathanWind99]

LA is probably worth a visit just to see the disconnect between image and reality. The glamour and glitz and landmarks are all there but the poverty, the insane homeless situation and the general filth and graffiti are jarring. Come to San Diego, it’s much more mellow and pleasant and we have lots of great attractions and a beautiful ballpark with an exciting team.

[@beesnort3163]

Is that where you live? I have always wanted to go! It looks so so beautiful!

[@specialopssoldier1]

LA is Dogshit lol...

[@rocksjoshua]

LA is the most overrated city in America and it’s not close, it has some cool places to visit, but the vast majority is mediocre or just bad.

[@azurephoenix9546]

LA was such a waste of a trip way back in 1996. whatever is the opposite if having culture. LA is that. unless snobbery is a culture.

[@Kunn0ichiL3g3nd]

I agree! I went to San Diego on a band trip back in 2009 for school and it was great! A bit gray and overcast, but I had a blast. I highly recommend. :)

[@rhinestoned_lunatic]

I’d add 1. don’t be late (for Americans, time=money), 2. watch your language (it’s a lot more common to get thrown out of businesses and attractions if you’re cursing loudly in the US than in Europe), and 3. if in doubt about whether or not a certain service member is tipped, just tip - it’s almost always customary to tip and it’s better to be generous than to seem stingy (servers and bartenders are obvious, but Americans also tip for food delivery, hair cuts, bringing your luggage up, car services like Uber, tattoos, piercings, massages, spa and nail treatments, hotel maid service etc)

[@rosemarielee7775]

The rule seems to be "if it moves tip it". It adds a lot to the cost of your trip.

[@TheCanadianGuy56]

@@rosemarielee7775 yea but it's all a different amount. Like baggage or food delivery? Pop em a 5, massage or something over the top? 20$ or a % tip (%tipping is really commom here, like hit 10-15%)

[@filianablanxart8305]

Oversimplified - If you walk up to a counter to order your food , generally no tipping . Definitely not for chain fast food places . Independent local carryouts might occasionally have a tip jar on the counter , but strictly optional , and not more than the coins from your change , unless they particularly go out of their way with excellent service , or fixing something out of their ordinary fare . Anything delivered , tip is customary .

[@rhinestoned_lunatic]

@@filianablanxart8305 hate to tell ya this but tipping IS customary for takeout orders (someone has boxed it all up so it’s ready for you) and for restaurants/cafes where you order at the bar. It’s only a couple bucks but still. You’re right about no tipping in fast food. The point of my oversimplified rule (“when in doubt tip”) was so visitors err on the side of caution rather than accidentally offending

[@filianablanxart8305]

@@rhinestoned_lunatic Opps . I was thinking of straight up carryout joints . A take out order , ordered from a bar would fall under bar protocols .

[@hollykinslow5193]

#1 applies if you're NOT in the SOUTH!! We may hug you. 🥰🤗 I like your idea of flying to different places, if you want to have different experiences, that's definitely a good option. Just make sure you're not hitting JUST major cities. Driving through small towns, is the grass roots. Also, definitely add Nashville/Franklin, Tennessee to your list. Soooo much to do!!

[@kentgrady9226]

Other don'ts of visiting America: In the Deep South, don't criticize the local college football team, or anything associated with it. Doing so is an invitation to fight. I'm not kidding. They will throw knuckles at the drop of a hat. Unless your host is a europhile, don't call football, football. Call it soccer. To most Americans, the American game is football, end of discussion. You don't have to like it. But, it is what it is. The presenter touched on it, but don't be surprised if your host or people you encounter own guns, or carry a gun on their person in public. Sorry if that makes you uncomfortable. Nothing is going to change it. Don't assume that a general lack of world sophistication equates to a lack of insight or intellect. Conversely, don't assume that deference to your accent equates to deference to you in general. This applies specifically to Brits. Many Americans have a tiny inferiority complex about Brits. But, it will only go so far. Assume a Yank is more perceptive than he may appear or sound. Don't be taken aback by what you may consider excessive or superficial courtesy. It's a cultural quirk. We are not naturally kinder than other people. There are simply social mores which are frequently ingrained from a young age. Holding doors open, smiling at strangers, use of "Sir" and "Ma'am".... all very, very common practices, even in casual circumstances.

[@goatedfilms8262]

Yeah for real. We love our college football and sports. Everyone is very friendly down here tho

[@colemcdowell1362]

I don’t think inferiority complex is quite it lmao

[@kentgrady9226]

@@colemcdowell1362 Certainly not in everyone's case. But certainly often enough to be a recognizable phenomenon. If one uses enough properly conjugated verbs and anglicisms with which Americans are generally unfamiliar, the average Yank becomes very insecure, very quickly. The Brits have, in general, a much stronger command of language than we.

[@kentgrady9226]

@@goatedfilms8262 I got sucker punched in the face in a Mobile, Alabama watering hole for wearing an Auburn ballcap in what I came to discover was a Bama bar.... After a brief scuffle, I was escorted from the premises and informed that I was no longer welcome.... in perpetuity.

[@charlottedrolet9000]

@@kentgrady9226 ... Yeah, when my son was a baby, I bought him a cute Auburn outfit to go to his doctor's visit. His doctor would not talk to me, but told the baby "to tell Mommie to get some UGA outfits and never bring you back wearing anything Auburn." And that is how I learned. Better than a punch! LMFAO!

[@anniemorin6731]

I once had a friend from Scotland visit me in the US. I live in NC. When we were planning stuff, I asked her what she wanted to do. She suggested a day trip to NYC. I said, “That sounds fun, although if we drive it will take 10 hours to get there. That would take 3 days if we just stayed for a day!” Her next suggestion was a trip to Disney, I told her it was a 12 hour drive. She was very disappointed but was thrilled when I took her to see the One Tree Hill filming locations in Wilmington!

[@bluestarlight2237]

Yeah, I was watching this and sitting there thinking "why on earth would you drive from NYC to Miami to LA in a single trip"?!?!? That would eat your entire trip, pick one. Road trips are nice but really don't recommend that ambitious of a trip unless it is a road trip and you aren't looking to spend 2 to 3 days in each location to take in the culture and sights...

[@tcrpgfan]

@@bluestarlight2237 It's mostly because most people outside the US don't get how BIG the US is. For instance, I'd laugh at someone planning a theme park extravaganza thinking they could hit All the disney parks, all the universal parks, and maybe some of the six flags and cedar point parks in two weeks. Mainly because I'm from SoCal where we have at least one of each of those within a 1-3 hour drive from each other. And that's just California. Because then you'd have to go to Florida and maybe Texas to hit up the others.

[@bluestarlight2237]

@@tcrpgfan True. That makes sense. I was really suprised when he said that some of these European countries were a lot smaller. All in the lens from which you view the world... 🙂

[@dacksonflux]

@@bluestarlight2237 yes! The length of California (770miles) is half the entire width of Europe (1340miles).

[@analoucks222]

A tip about the hotels not having free stuff: sometimes there will be bottles of water and snacks left for you in the hotel room. Those are not free! If you eat/drink it, they will charge you for it when you leave. I also have a story that has to do with buying alcohol. When I was 20 and my stepsister was in her 30’s, we went shopping at Walmart. They would not let her buy any alcohol because I was with her and was under 21 years old. It was so dumb.

[@Ateez_gottaWork]

Actually it's something that has to be done because there are people who will give alcohol to minors and buy alcohol for minors. For a business selling alcohol is more about not breaking the law as they could lose their liquor license which is expensive. Then there could be legal consequences if a minor got drunk and caused a problem. That store selling to a minor would be dishing out money for legal fees so they will card for looking too young or the buyer is of age but having a person with them who isn't a young child .

[@jeremyjones7056]

Yes, don’t touch anything in the mini fridge in the hotel room. Always but food and drinks from a grocery or convience store (convience store will be more expensive then the grocery store).

[@80HD8]

Yes, I agree with you about the whole tipping thing. It shuld fall on the company, not its customers.

[@Jeddybear99]

The hotel thing is so so true. Especially in Las Vegas, omg. So many hidden fees. What they advertise is like 1/3 of the actual cost in nice hotels. They charge for services you won’t use, and you CANNOT opt out of those services either. The cheap places give good deals like free WiFi and breakfast, swimming pools, etc cuz they want business, and people like deals

[@Jeddybear99]

Forgot to mention that a big chunk of that money is refundable cuz it’s a big deposit. But still when you see your full bill ONLY at the check in desk in person, it just seems ridiculously expensive compared to the price you saw on Groupon.

[@andreastudebaker3722]

Jed, you are so right about Las Vegas. I was shocked the first time I went there. However, this isn't a universal rule. Definitely, there are certain hotels that want to charge you for every breath you take, but many others are reasonable. It varies from region to region and varies by whether you are in a popular tourist area. I think the key is to be very clear before booking that you want to know all the charges and whether they are compulsory. That gives you a better basis for comparison. Also, it is a good idea to seek out less popular places to spend the night. For example, if you are going to Disneyland you may very well find a great hotel for a good price some 60 miles away. You might save a good bit by putting off that last 60 miles of driving until the next morning.

[@shaunacorrigan9372]

I wouldn't say stay at the *cheap* places, but at midrange hotels like Marriot, Holiday Inn, etc. If you just want a room with a bed, maybe a mini fridge and microwave, try to find a Motel 6 or something *in a good area*

[@Jeddybear99]

@@andreastudebaker3722 yea definitely not universal or even every American motel/hotel. Mostly speaking for Vegas and the big resort hotels there. I stayed at a much lesser known place just off the strip and got a free alcoholic drink, a mini fridge, microwave, counter space, etc. to use while I stayed there. You wouldn’t find that in one of the bigger tourist hotels like the Mandalay Bay, Excalibur, Luxor, etc without paying an arm and a leg for a luxury suite. I live in Salt Lake City, Utah, so I go to Vegas once or twice a year since it’s only about a 6-7 hour drive. In Utah, the motels and hotels I’ve stayed at usually include free breakfast tho, which is like, unheard of in Vegas

[@bonniekeyworth3123]

As a former liquor store clerk (in Florida) we always frown at children coming in but it is OK to bring them in. However if that kid points to a bottle or picks one up I was required to ID. Yes even if you are just getting that kid to help put items on the counter if they touch its considered interest and must be checked. I hated this because it would really be a problem when a parent is denied. However I am glad we had this rule when a group of tourist from Germany came in and I over heard a parent ask his son what kind of beer he wanted. Oh lord they speak German why oh why didn't he ask his son in their native language then all heck wouldn't have broken loose when they where denied a sale.

[@requiescantenpace]

That's perfectly fine in Texas. Like if you go to a bar, the parent can order a drink for the kid (teenager)

[@jetfowl]

A good rule of thumb for hotels is to look for a 'business' hotel if you want the 'luxury' experience... but with all the expected 'free' accompaniments (ie: wifi, breakfast, etc). Because the business traveller needs good wifi to work on their company laptop... and won't want to hunt for a place for breakfast before heading to whatever meetings they must attend.

[@afklolwtfbbq]

I'm a business traveller and this is sound advice. Marriott and Hyatt are both solid chains.

[@sarawoodland7907]

The distance thing is definitely something I found tourists don't realize with the US; I grew up in Pennsylvania and even people living in other states don't realize how far Philly is to Pittsburgh; it's about a 6hr drive and that's just 2 major cities in 1 state. Also we have cities that everyone in the world knows and they're great but there's so many smaller cities or less known areas that are in my opinion better to see.

[@dannyreynolds2751]

If you visit a local, state, or national park or scenic area don't take souvenir rocks, plants, or things that are just laying on the ground. Also, stay on designated walkways and trails. If you park your car, be sure it isn't a designated no parking area, especially on busy streets or narrow streets and commercial parking lots. Finally, the US is huge, and most rural areas have little to no cell phone service, especially in the western US and mountains

[@margaretkearney3525]

I would clarify that taking rocks or other items from National Parks is actually prohibited and you could be subject to criminal penalties.

[@milesbrown7345]

@@margaretkearney3525 I was gonna comment on this comment but I'm responding to you. I'm from America but granted I haven't been to thses areas. Anyway, is it really prohibited to take a rock from a national park? That's absolutely the craziest thing ever I don't get it. I'm sure/I hope I get a good explanation. Is that how the grand canyon was dug? Every tourist Andy Dufraned it a couple pocketfulls at a time.

[@saraborthwick2051]

We're very proud of our national parks. They are destinations in and of themselves, and are purposefully protected with minimal facilities to maintain their natural state. Don't wander off the trails. People stepping off trail to take selfies get fined and sometimes die. Pack-out whatever you take into a national park. Don't leave trash behind. Don't take anything from the parks. This includes rocks, pine cones, shells, etc. Don't expect great facilities in the parks. There may be outhouse style bathrooms and a small gift shop to buy water, but don't count on those. Bring your own food & water, and be prepared to go behind a tree (far away from water) if you need a toilet.

[@Mpearl8084]

@@milesbrown7345 yes. It is actually illegal to take anything from a protected wildlife area in the US including state and national parks without a permit. It's because everything there is part of the ecosystem we're protecting. That pebble you think won't make a difference is probably some insects shelter, or maybe it's the perfect growing conditions for a certain type of moss. Basically, any living or non living thing in that environment plays a beneficial role to the ecosystem and promotes biodiversity, so it shouldn't be messed with.

[@milesbrown7345]

@@Mpearl8084 thank you I just was very surprised. Just never thought of it I figured it was something along of people would do, but then again so do the parks and in such big numbers it makes a difference.

[@davidhaggard6812]

"How are you?" Is a general greeting but if you are confused about something or need answers, do not hesitate to inform your greeter with your current feelings. Example: I am doing well but I am not from here and I am a bit sad with... Response is usually why, where are you from? Americans really do want travelers to have the best experience while visiting because we are proud of our country and want to be the best at everything. Most will engage in conversations to help improve your experience or offer advice to navigate the American ways.

[@JamesBond-zd5jx]

Every visitor to the US should immediately visit: the nice grocery store. They’re always shocked at all the stuff.

[@abbydietz22]

Wegmans!! The best!

[@nancycampbell8671]

@JamesBond really? Are our grocery stores that different?

[@latinaalma1947]

I dont know Sainburys the one my mother used outside of Farham, looked just like an American grocery store including a parking lot huge and the store was stand alone...not like the older scruffier one in downtown Farnham.Set up.just like ours in the USA.

[@quiddityocean]

Products you find in a grocery stores are different in each country. When abroad, a trip to the grocery store can teach you a lot about cultural diffrencies. I live in France and I went grâce shopping in many different European countries and I was always, always surprised.

[@latinaalma1947]

@@quiddityocean This is my husbands favorite pasttime when abroad viditing food stores and shops or marlets Martine. I thought it odd when I met him the first thing he wanted to do was visit food stores but he loves seeing new foods. Paris was a delight amd Nice where we stayed in Airbnbs eith small kitchens so he could actually buy things.Pates were his favorites and cheeses mine. We did the same all over Spain and Italy. We do it near home in Central America up into Mexico...so fascinating everywhere.Eac h region of Mexico has its own cuisine, which many tourists there do not realize.

[@erickgroo9866]

Just a small point on tipping, the reason we tip so much in American is that the people who cook and serve our food don’t usually make a real living wage. It’s been that way throughout our entire history. So to help compensate the ridiculously low wages we tend to tip more and more often. My mom was a bartender most of my childhood and we depended on her tips to help make it through the week.

[@LeslieLanagan]

Here's a quote I read recently that I think is apt in this situation: "To the Americans, 100 years is a long time. To the British, 100 miles is a long way." Diana Gabaldon put it in her most recent novel, but it sounds like something that's been around a while.

[@jessecollier2628]

Everything in his video is VERY accurate. I'm from a smaller town in Alabama and we have underfunded public transit, I have been refused at an liquor store b/c my partner didn't have their ID immediately available, tipping is basically required (shady company practices). Also, America is extremely "branded". You will be bombarded with adverts no matter what kind of town or city. Regarding hotels, sometimes there are extra fees instead of just the initial nightly amount. They use this as a holding fee "in case you damage some of their property". Truthfully, America can be fun, but it is very very expensive to live and visit here.

[@floridanews8786]

Even more so now that Lets go brandon is president. When will you learn.

[@jessecollier2628]

@@floridanews8786 all my experiences were before the Biden admin

[@Em_Powell_KC]

Use a credit card in hotels to avoid an actual holding of money and never use a prepaid card. You can then use your debit card at checkout. It is usually a minimum of $50 per night, since you don’t actually need money to charge something on a credit card, nothing will be held.

[@amandulagarcia2666]

About public transportation-absolutely Accurate for most cities, except the larger, well known cities ie Boston, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and LA. These are somewhat punctual, but depending on which city, don't use the subway!!! I'm from Indianapolis, and they only have a bus system which is never punctual. Sorry Atlanta and Miami- I don't know what your public transport is like.

[@paulhunter9613]

@jesse You should leave the States immediately, third world countries are so much better to live in

[@ilianacatspawn8848]

He's absolutely correct about the differences in Hotel amenities. Mid-level hotel chains cater to the business class of Travelers. They offer free Wi-Fi and breakfast in competition with each other. The high-class 5-star hotels cater to a different clientele. They figure, if you can afford to stay in a $450 a night room you can afford the extra cash for Wi-Fi and paying for your own breakfast. As for tipping at the bar, when you buy your first drink lay down a $20 bill. The bartender will take that and put your change down where the 20 was. Leave the change on the bar. Next round the bartender will take out some more money and leave the change. If you need to add more money, add another 10 or 20 to the pile. When you are done drinking, leave maybe five bucks and the coins. We generally don't buy rounds for each other, but it's the same idea if you do. 5 or $10 per person depending on how many drinks and how long you have been at the bar is a pretty good standard to go by.

[@gloamingforest]

I don't know if it has previously been mentioned, but I will add that if you are travelling to a lot of different regions across the US, be aware of the time zone differences (especially if you are flying). Also be sure to research the weather conditions for the places you are planning to visit.

[@JohnnyDoesntCare]

You don't have to tip every drink you buy at the bar - just a couple of bucks here and there. Alternately, you may be able to run a tab and just pay for all your drinks at once and leave a 15% tip.

[@animelives2000]

Most of the times you are not allowed to run a tab if it is your first time at said bar. Or it is like that where I live. Its cash for couple of times till you established that you will not run out on your tab. Which you would be surprised happens more than you would think. So bars around me its 3 to 5 times you have to go to the bar with cash before you can have a tab.

[@snikerz5886]

I've never tipped bartenders. Most of them are shitheads that barely deserve a paycheck.

[@StephJournals]

@@animelives2000 normally you give your card and “leave it open” because they physically have your card. So in order to leave you have to close out. I’ve only been a place once where I opened a tab without giving my card and that was because we were eating at the bar.

[@BetrayaloftheBody]

@@animelives2000 every bar I've been to hold on to your credit card for a tab so you cant run out on the tab

[@sunshinegorman3218]

Flying from the East Coast to the West Coast of the USA can take a whole day, plus. You have to consider layovers, delays, and weather. I’ve seen flights from Miami to Madrid that are cheaper than Miami Florida to Los Angeles California.

[@helloheyo4ever]

Also keep in mind our weather patterns when you travel . You mentioned coming in a couple of months and possibly flying around - winter is getting crazy up north so if you plan on visiting northern states be prepared for snow or possible snowstorms which can delay travel plans. With that in mind summers in the south are horrendous if you’re planning to be out and about be prepared for 100 degree plus heat nowadays (you can still visit just make sure you have ac wherever you go) ! Also, plan for humidity as well - humidity can make an 80 degree day feel like 90-100 and it’s like walking through a sauna when you venture outside so keep that in mind.

[@Trainwreck_Art]

Yes, and Spring in the Midwest is one heck of a ride. Basically from Oklahoma and Kansas eastward to about Georgia and South Carolina there's a high potential for supercell thunderstorms, which bring hail, extreme winds, and the possibility of very large tornadoes. If you visit anywhere in the Midwest in the Spring, make sure to find out what the local weather channels are on the TV and radio, and pay attention to them when there's any potential for storms. There is also a second, usually less severe, tornado season, from September through early November, though this year has had a record number of 30+ tornadoes in October alone where I live in Oklahoma, so in general, when in the Midwest, be weather-aware. Locals in most cities will also be happy to tell you what day and time the tornado sirens in the area are tested. Where I am, they go off every Saturday at noon UNLESS the weather is bad. That way, they know they work, but they don't test them on bad weather days so they don't actually confuse people into thinking they need to take shelter given the weather conditions.

[@byronwilliams6334]

You may have to fly through regional hubs to reach some destinations. To fly to Miami you may have to go through Atlanta.

[@jonathinfellnerah4021]

@@byronwilliams6334 I would skip the lay over as they're generally a burden although one would have to calculate the down time during the lay over and it was definitely less of a burden during the lay over pre 9/11.

[@america1403]

Harsh winters aren't just in the Northern States... I live right in the middle of America (take a guess where that is??) We get 30 or more inches of snow each winter along with horrible blizzards that shut schools and some workplaces down for a day or 2 We also have many tornados in the spring and summer along with horrible heat and humidity in June, July and August.

[@takocos]

I just want to add, "and the bugs" in the south because the UK has NO bugs compared to the southern US. Again, don't be scared just be prepared, we sell bug spray and stuff. But you can get stung or bit, by things like wasps, fire ants, or mosquitos, so just know it going in. I had a couple of friends who got really tripped up by this. Apparently if you live in a city in the UK you can go for years at a time without seeing a dangerous insect?? Y'all really living the dream over there.

[@elphi4321]

I actually found a (Russian) restaurant near me that had a 'no tipping' policy. I liked that system. You still pay for the 'meal,' but on one bill. No surprises, no bad feelings.

[@shawnasings]

I’m Southern California we don’t say how many miles it is from one point to another, we tell you how long it will take to get there. Something might be 20 miles away, but it could take you 45 minutes to get there.

[@kirsty8]

Definitely I say a time vs a distance. Living in major cities or areas with lots of traffic time is more important than distance

[@ariannamae6114]

I think it’s like that almost everywhere.

[@Enterprise6126]

Same in Georgia

[@Lelexlexie]

100% SPOT ON. Im from San Diego so if I'm on the I-5 @ 2 p.m. and 3 exits away I'll see you in 5 min. If it's 4:30 I'll see you in 30...ish..

[@shelbycrowder]

As an American, yes, it should be the employers responsibility to make sure the employee is paid. But America runs like a business. 😤

[@charlestonian9724]

I’ve started saying recently, the United States isn’t a country, it’s a business.

[@davidmcguire6043]

So you're an American but you don't understand how tipping and restaurant pay works? The Tipping system allows servers to make much more money than an hourly wage a server can make two or three hundred dollars a night in tips that's way more than they would make making $15 an hour

[@rekietabeatslc9980]

@@davidmcguire6043 sure, Denny's night shift is raking in the dough 🙄 Also, has to be HORRIBLE service for no tip (like you're debating not even paying the bill bad). Competent=15%, should really tip at least 20% (25-30% even if service is really good).

[@mikhail114]

Great video!

[@dianadavis1369]

Truer words have never been spoken!

[@williamlucas4656]

Please don’t confuse with don’t have with can’t have. The US has over 100k miles of train tracks but long distance passenger service lost out to airlines and private vehicles on large, well maintained, ( relative to the rest of the world) highways in the early sixties. The Automobile and car companies bought out the private bus and street car companies in the forties with the acquiescence of state and local government and yes its a big country where a two hour drive is not much worse than a commute - especially with $3 a gallon gas.

[@ChrsLee78]

But most of the rail in the US is owned by rail freight companies, and so Amtrak has to pay a relatively small fee to the rail freight company that owns the particular rail line they’re using. Also, because Amtrak doesn’t own most of the rails they use, they have low priority when it comes to right of way. So if there’s a freight train going one way on the same rail as an Amtrak train going the other way, the freight train has priority because the freight company owns the rail.

[@SE-gs6gd]

Well most of rail is privately owned so its more of a logistics thing. Also tipping culture is just greed the restaurant owners dont want to pay their waitstaff a living wage or a salary.

[@garyoverman4393]

He’s right about hotel extra fees. In cities it can cost $40 per day just to park your car at the hotel that you’re paying to stay at.

[@picmajik]

Only $40? That's cheap for some hotels.

[@garyoverman4393]

@@picmajik True… I’ve had to pay $100+ per day , valet only, and tip on top of that. but was being conservative because many wouldn’t belief me or you . I had someone once say that they’ve never paid to park at a hotel. I say , yeah well the Motel 6 in Birmingham at the end of the interstate off-ramp doesn’t count lol

[@amybrock2592]

Yes, the employer should pay for the cost of the employee, but the US Food Service industry is notoriously awful. They aren't required to even pay minimum wage in many States. That's one of the issues we're dealing with with labor shortages. People don't want to work for minimum wage or worse and no benefits- go figure! The lack of public transport is frankly embarrassing. Nobody wants to pay the big bucks to make a national rail system. That being said, you can count on public transit in Boston. I lived there for 23 years and never needed a car- unless I had to travel outside the immediate area to visit my folks in the suburbs. Your idea to fly to various regions and then travel locally is a good one. It all depends on getting good deals on the flights!

[@abigailburt7446]

I think part of the reason for lack if public transport in America is partly because Americans like their space and own private vehicles. I think the fact that the average American owns their own vehicle is just another sign of wealth... idk just a thought.

[@Hundredacredaycare]

I live there for 27 years. I live in the south now and really miss it

[@lyndaster46]

@@abigailburt7446 it is partly wealth but it is also because the way we build ( which i HATE) our cities and towns to be car dependent. UGH.

[@dubiousspacehamster3833]

@@abigailburt7446 a lot of it has to do with extensive lobbying from the automotive industry in the early part of the 20th century leading to bad infrastructure planning all over the country, and making it almost a necessity for families to own their own private vehicles. There was a pretty great Adam Ruins Everything episode on it a few years ago.

[@copperfoil8373]

+

[@LoveAndSnapple]

Also, if you’re getting alcohol and have a minor tagging along with you, it’s best to either tell them to stand far away from the store or to just stay in the car. The store owner might think you’re distributing alcohol to a minor and that’s a BIG deal over here. 😆😆

[@dkail08]

I remember back when I first in the service we had a buddy that was turning 21. All the stored closed at midnight however so we went in at 11:45 to buy some beer. Lady cards all of us and then wouldn't let us buy the beer because it wasn't after midnight. Honestly ridiculous.

[@Rennies-World]

Which is weird. If we had lost drinking ages and harsher drunk driving laws, kids could be taught to handle alcohol more responsibly.

[@LoveAndSnapple]

@@dkail08 She was being hella petty. 😡

[@LoveAndSnapple]

@@Rennies-World I think the best thing to do is allow younger people to form a mature understanding of alcohol before they’re allowed to drink. Complete restriction to the substance until they turn 21, or in a lot of instances, until they go to college where they’ll definitely get their hands on it at 18, creates a glorification of ingesting alcohol, the good times that you “should” have, and one’s assumed tolerance and control to different drinks. Two more major things we have to do as a society is to reduce drinking from every single form of social gatherings, celebrations, and media. Everyone in a college movie looks like they’re having a great time drinking except for that one guy that drank too much but he’ll just “sleep it off” until tomorrow and he’ll be just fine. Or the girl who drank too much and she’s flopped over on the couch, probably unresponsive, but don’t worry she’s “fine” too. Corporate work culture and socializing with peers includes happy hour and any kind of celebration is met with “Where’s the alcohol? “There’s hardly any event here in America that isn’t accompanied by alcohol, so much that events without it is called “dry events.” I also think it’s really sad that our American society is consumed with drinking and sometimes even glorifying functional alcoholics. But if your alcoholism starts to get the better of you people scorn you telling you to get your shit together. I hate it here.

[@stefanhoimes]

@@dkail08 I had a friend in college that's only a few hours younger than me and born a few minutes after midnight on the next calendar day. We were even born in the same hospital and grew up only a few minutes apart but had never met until college in a completely different county. He wasn't allowed in most bars the night of my birthday, but some bars sympathized when we jokingly showed our birth certificates and the bouncers realized that I'm only about 2 or 3 hours older and it was kinda silly to deny him entry for another 24 hours.

[@sbyerley]

I’m speaking from experience: waiters, bartenders etc. are not generally paid a living wage, e.g. my pay would be $1.75/hour. it’s nearly volunteer work, your paycheck cannot pay for your food, gas, or rent or childcare. It’s pocket change or A bit in the bank. You live from your from t i p s. Not necessary to tip each drink, just run a tab. You can pay your bar bill or have it included in your meal. True too, is that your waiter tips the bartender and busboy FROM their tips at the end of the shift. Please note: if a tip is written on a credit card, the waiter pays state/federal taxes on that tip. So, do use a card for the meal, leave a cash tip.

[@georginamannor4373]

I got one, never cut in line.

[@kimyona9746]

California is the only state that pays minimum wage for waiters. So there it CAN be a career

[@PriestessOfNothing]

Yeah, you may have a base pay of $2 from the employer (if you're lucky). I worked at a tiny bar with just myself and a bartender. All tips went into a jar and it was split at the end of the night. You're screwed on a slow night. Definitely tip. It's actually kind of barbaric that we do things that way, but that's how it is.

[@darcistephenson5359]

Depending on what state you live in, you can actually be paid minimum or more. I live in Oregon, the minimum in my area is 13 or so. I still tip 15 to 20 percent and get a lot of crap from my friends for doing so, but waiting tables sucks!

[@PriestessOfNothing]

@@darcistephenson5359 jeezus! 13?? Montana's not that generous lol Yeah, I never understood tips until I waitressesd. (That's not a word, I know) Now I tip 20% every time, waiting is a thankless job, for sure.

[@amorning2878]

Giving space is an excellent tip. When you queue, leave enough room for another person to stand between you and the person in front of you, or people will become quickly uncomfortable and possibly angry. In England, it took me a while to get used to feeling a person’s breath on the back of my head, but seriously, don’t get that close to strangers. I hope you have a wonderful trip! Please allow for some time out of cities when you’re here. Small towns and the countryside in general will give you a feel for regular daily life. People might seem stand-off-ish at first, but I’m sure you’ll win them over, you seem so kind and open.

[@inherbeautytresses3699]

About everyone possibly needing ID when buying alcohol at a liquor store: This can happen to help avoid the possibility of someone buying alcohol on behalf of an underaged person in the group.

[@pauleasley6488]

this is only untrue if you have a minor you are the legal guardian of... if its your child/your responsibility you CAN bring them in, for safety reasons where leaving them in the car is not a possibility.... they are not going to card you, for your toddler coming in with you... now if you have a 17 year old with you and you guys are looking fishy, they will by their own discretion choose to sell to you or not. but technically/legally they cant refuse you service if that is your legal charge, with you

[@jasondroninaround]

I would say whether everyone need an ID or not depends on where you're buying the alcohol. If you're buying it from a convenience store, it's just like any other grocery store and only the person buying alcohol needs an ID. If you are going to a restaurant that serves food and alcohol, still only the person consuming the alcohol will need an ID. Probably the only situation to where everybody needs an ID will be a establishment that strictly serves alcohol for consumption inside the building.

[@katehall2027]

@@jasondroninaround I agree but if you are 25 and go in a liquor store or convenience store with a friend who looks like they're about 20, they might think you're buying booze for your friend & ask you both for your ID. On the other hand, if you're 45 and buying wine at the grocery store and your 18 year old kid is with you, you should be fine.

[@jasondroninaround]

@@katehall2027 I have never encountered that or heard of that here in California. I think I've been lucky for it's not the rules here in this state.

[@O2life]

@@jasondroninaround It happened to my group at a grocery store in Arizona, years ago. No idea if it's still the case. In Utah, you have to be 21 just to enter the liquor stores. Grocery stores only sell 4% alcohol beer. I don't know if they card everyone in the group, but I wouldn't put it past them.

[@jmbrownell9]

An excellent video! Don’t be afraid to say hello to friendly acting people. In the UK people seem to be more reserved. Americans in the South and rural communities throughout the US tend to be very friendly, especially in Texas and Tennessee.

[@dawnoheee9524]

The same applies to the Intermountain states like Montana as well. We are friendly and will chat with you like we've been pals for ages. Then we'll go our merry way never to see you again. This friendliness can weird out foreign tourists.

[@genekillingsworth8994]

Something else you may find strange if you encounter it: The random-act-of-kindness thing at a fast food drive thru (No clue why it's often spelled that way). Occasionally you will get to the window to pay only to find the person in front of you payed for your food. It's customary if this occurs to pay for the person behind you (only if this isn't a hardship for you). It's kind of a "Pay-It Forward" type thing. I don't know what the record is for this kind of thing but I know of at least one case of it exceeding 900+ vehicles.

[@genekillingsworth8994]

@araparseghian2 It happens to me several times a year. Maybe a regional difference. I expect it's more common in smaller towns as well.

[@TCrob]

That's when you tell them to keep it and leave.

[@thisbeem2714]

The only time it has ever happened to me it was my friend in front of me.

[@chrismorin1318]

I don't have a lot of extra money since I'm on disability. But, I do pay it forward from time to time. Usually in a fast food drive thru, but sometimes at restaurants if I see 1st responders of any sort or a military member. I'm more than willing to give up the few extras that I can afford some months to pay it forward. It's just a good feeling.

[@filianablanxart8305]

Probably happens more often at toll booths , when a carload of young single guys maneuver to be ahead of a carload of young women . Picking up the check for another table happens more often at a sit down restraunt than a fast food .

[@UltimateTrekkie1]

Hey! I really enjoy your reaction videos, and as an American (US), I thank you for your beautiful words about the country of my birth. For the record, I’d love to visit England. I’ve always wanted to experience Great Britain as a whole. About this video, I can definitely say that this guy knows exactly what he’s talking about, including the hotel thing. Yep, the smaller, cheaper motels/hotels will often include things like WiFi, breakfast, etc, whereas the big fancy ones won’t. I totally agree with you that if you’re paying more, you should be able to expect better and more service. Unfortunately, that’s not the way it is.

[@AlakaxamM]

Idk about the, "how are you?" thing. In large cities, everyone is busy and while this is a general greeting, if your response is negative, we'll intervene even if it makes us uncomfortable. For example, if you reply, "my cat just died😭😭", it'll make us super uncomfortable because we were expecting the generic/standard reply. But just about everyone will try to offer words of encouragement. Then we'll bitch to our friends about how uncomfortable you made us but also that we hope you pulled through 🤷‍♀️

[@UltimateTrekkie1]

That’s true

[@michellegardenier2174]

I think it’s referring to NJ because we say that here How are you and just say the same back

[@lisahirschlozano823]

Okay so I have another comment, yes it's kind of crazy that in a more expensive hotel, you get less. When we first started traveling with our daughter, we stayed at the more upscale 4+ star hotels that we stayed at pre-kids. And at one, I took my daughter downstairs to try to find a banana or a muffin for her to have for breakfast and had to pay $40 for the one adult and a 2-year-old for the buffet (which wasn't very good). Meanwhile, when we stayed at a more basic 2-star "family" hotel, they often serve a full breakfast for free. So we started only staying at family hotels with breakfast.

[@aksez2u]

Yes, it's not about better "service" though. A high end hotel will treat you like a king and assume you have the money of a king and charge you for everything. A mid-range hotel chain will often provide the extras, but in more of a self-serve manner.

[@wcstephens908]

To add to this comment further...if you are staying at a high-end hotel, don't forget to tip your check-in clerk before they get you settled. Sounds ludicrous, but I have a roommate who works the front desk at a very large high-end hotel/resort/convention center. They get a commission on any upsales they make...but it's usually fractional. If you slip them a 20(or more) and ask if there are any available free upgrades; you can wind up in a room that would've cost you 1 or 2 hundred more a night(also, be super polite, they deal with enough shit from guests that a little kindness will go a LONG way). Don't misunderstand, sometimes they are told they aren't allowed to comp upgrades at certain times...but often the tip is more than what their fractional commission would have been, so they gladly comp upgrades. ...This is all depending on if you already booked a high-end hotel to begin with...in my experience, it's better to go mid-grade hotel and spend your money on fun stuff outside the hotel.

[@awritersheart]

Honestly I hadn’t thought about it until watching this video but it is true. Roach motel-style places will definitely nickel and dime you but the high end hotels do as well because 1) everything is top notch product and 2) they assume you have the money to lavish. Mid-range hotels know you’re looking for a deal so they’ll often have free breakfast, WiFi, etc. Think Holiday Inns, Courtyard, Drury, etc

[@williamshanks8959]

I like Wolters world. He offers great travel advice. Im going to France soon and I’ll use his tips.

[@kabirconsiders]

He seems super knowledgable

[@shadowcaster537]

You don't have to give your ID with every drink at a bar. That is usually for restaurants that offer alcohol as well. Most bars have a bouncer or door greeter that checks your ID right outside. If you're in the building, you're of legal age.

[@ketinq8]

I’ve rarely been to a bar with a bouncer outside.

[@racciacrack7579]

Yeah, a 4-6 hour round trip isn't anything crazy.

[@michellej7734]

You have to consider time differences EST, PST Central, jet lag, layovers etc. Flying across the US is faster than driving but it is expensive and very tiresome and draining.

[@leahunfeigned5955]

You're absolutely right, no debate needed. I love my country but the tipping culture is horrible period. When I was a waitress I made less than $3 an hour. The work was difficult and we certainly should have been paid a living wage.

[@kathleengeorge-bol5012]

That's literally illegal to not pay a minimum wage to a wait staff person.

[@chloemonette7427]

@@kathleengeorge-bol5012 no it’s not illegal. It’s the same thing in Canada. Waiters are paid less than minimum wage and it’s expected that the tips will make up for it. Thats why you HAVE to tip in North America. It’s a messed up system but it’s the way it is.

[@kathleengeorge-bol5012]

@@chloemonette7427 According to the US Department of Labor, it is Federal Law that "if the employee's tips combined with the employer's direct wages of $2.13 per hour do not equal the federal minimum wage, the employer MUST make up the difference". Therefore, it's illegal for a US server to make less than $7.25 an hour.

[@kathleengeorge-bol5012]

I ALWAYS tip exceedingly well wherever I go as I've been blessed to have the means to do so. I'm also always going to stand up for workers and let them know what their rights are.

[@Rhayvenloft]

I work in the US food service industry. I busted my ass as a server making 2.13/hr which is used for tax purposes on the tips you make. Servers are required to claim all cash tips they make which, unfortunately, is our income. When business is slow servers dont make that much. I remember working an 8 hr day only making $13.00 in tips that day. I eventually became a manager (my current job) but only make $12.00/hr and i work up to 60 hrs a week now. Im greatful to be able to say im stable but my refrigerator has been empty for months due to the fact i live by myself and make just enough to cover my bills. I wish the US gov. Would step in and force food service establishments to pay their staff a wage worth having. Welcome to Capitalism..

[@jocelynncampana8084]

The first one is so accurate!! I was working retail once and these two ladies (who were clearly tourists) walked up behind me and tapped me pretty hard on my shoulder to get my attention.. I turned around, helped them and told them to avoid touching people because that behavior is not welcome in the states. Internally I was boiling. Hahaha

[@user-bx4ti6ig3i]

That's super rude anywhere tho.

[@TheCRAZYAunt128]

As someone who works at a convenience store I can tell you that the thing about buying tobacco or alcohol is true. If we think you might share with someone under age (which is now 21 for both) we have the right to see the id's of everyone in your group and even refuse to sell the products. And if someone asks for your id and you don't have it, we can't sell it.

[@bryanbrett8943]

The thing I can't stand is when the cashier at the grocery store hassles the 93 year old man with a walker to show ID for his six pack and cigars! That is absolutely infuriating! He is obviously old enough....leave him alone. I see this in every state now more and more and it serves no purpose other than slowdown the line and keep customers there longer so they spend more money on the crap at the register. Unbelievably irritating. Oh , and pointless.

[@bethgramkow5225]

@@bryanbrett8943 the reason this happens is because the employer is having them do it. Some employers tell you to card every one that way you don't forget when you have younger people coming in.

[@_kim123]

@@bethgramkow5225 Yep. And they watch the employees like hawks to catch them slip up. And the threat of secret shoppers is always looming 👀👀

[@quentinfairchild2263]

And the BATF is watching, entrapping and can put the clerk in jail and shut down the business. And buying for someone under age hasn't been mentioned.

[@MannMan86]

I am an American and I like watching videos like this because it gives me a perspective of what people from other countries think of us. And it gives me an idea of what their country is like. I have some clarifications about the things in this video you were watching: if you get bad service, dont tip. If the service could have been better, give 5-10%. Tip $1 per beer you buy. $2 for a mixed drink. A luxury hotel is priced to keep out cheap/poor people. If you go to a liquor store with kids then they will look at you funny UNLESS you are buying them snacks. You mught still get looks but they may realize that you need a drink to deal with kids lol jk. If you bring an older teenaged person, then they may ID the both of you. These are just a few things i noticed

[@jenniferharris1280]

I disagree with zero tipping for poor service. Did they bring you your food? They deserve to be paid. Withhold tips only for extremely poor service. And an extra dollar or two means a lot more to your server than it does for you. It's ok to tip more.

[@Kathleen5429]

I like to think that a luxury hotel is not to keep the “poor” out as you said, but because higher end hotels are in nicer and usually safer areas of a city and the rooms are newer, better furniture/mattress/bedding and service. If I get bad service at a restaurant, I still tip 10%, otherwise I always tip at least 20%.

[@MannMan86]

@@jenniferharris1280 i have only ever left 0 tip 3 times in my life. Each time was the worst service i had ever had

[@carolyncoppola974]

Tipping is very personal to me. I was a waitress so I respect the position. I ALWAYS tip 20% of the pre-taxed amount. If you cannot afford a tip - STAY AT HOME!!! Waiting tables is not a desired profession people!!!! They’re doing it because they have to!!! Usually college students or its a second job for someone. Bad service is no excuse not to tip!!!!! Perhaps the had a loved one die, or the are having medical problems themselves, or going through a divorce or trying to earn extra income to go see family, new to a town - whatever! You DON’T know what they’re going through!!! Be kind. Remember - what goes around, comes around! Karma! God bless you! Great video!

[@kelleygirl6884]

The other factor in paying more at full service/luxury hotels is the staffing ratio. Higher staff to guestroom ratio equals better guest service experiences. While it is annoying to pay for WiFi in 24 hour increments, it is often waived if you are a member of the hotel brand's frequent user club. One huge benefit we have in the U.S. that I desperately miss when I travel is, WATER! It's the first thing they bring to your table and it's free. Plus we have public water fountains and we don't charge people to use our toilets.

[@sarahgiggles9444]

The thing he was saying about high-end hotels is totally true. I think the expectation is that you're willing to pay the money to stay at a high-end hotel, you're likely in the category of people who aren't on a strict budget and won't be bothered little extra chages for breakfast, parking, etc.

[@JessiFayS]

Also, there is more competition between the budget / middle priced hotels, so they offer freebies to draw customers.

[@laurenquinn4716]

So basically for hotels, the more you pay for your room, the more everything else costs. It doesn’t mean that a less expensive hotel includes the things you’d expect from a luxury hotel, it just means you still pay for them, but they cost less. Basically the prices in the hotel rise and fall with how expensive the rooms in the hotel are in general.