- Currency
- The US Dollar (USD, symbol $) is used everywhere, and it's still a bit of a cash-and-card hybrid economy — contactless and Apple/Google Pay are widely accepted in cities, but it's smart to carry a few small bills for tips, farmers markets, or the odd food truck. Skip the currency exchange booth at the airport; your bank card will almost always get you a better rate at an ATM once you land.
- Language
- English is the de facto national language everywhere you'll travel, even though the US has no official language at the federal level. Depending on where you go you'll hear plenty of Spanish too, especially in the Southwest, Florida, and big cities, and virtually all tourist-facing staff speak English fluently.
- Visa
- As a Swedish or EU passport holder, you don't need a traditional visa for tourist trips of 90 days or less — you'll travel under the Visa Waiver Program instead. That means applying online for an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) before you fly; it's quick, but do it a few days ahead rather than at the gate, and you'll need a valid Swedish e-passport (chip included, standard on current passports). The ESTA fee has climbed recently and now sits somewhere around $40, paid by card during the application. Entry rules and fees for the US shift more often than most countries, so double-check current requirements on the official site (esta.cbp.dhs.gov) close to your travel date.
- Power
- The US uses Type A (two flat parallel prongs) and Type B (the same, plus a round grounding pin) outlets, shared with Canada and much of Central America. Since Swedish plugs are the round two-pin Type C/F, you'll need a simple adapter — pick one up before you fly rather than hunting for it at a US pharmacy. · Standard voltage is 120V at 60Hz, notably lower than Sweden's 230V/50Hz. Most modern electronics — phone chargers, laptops, camera batteries — are dual-voltage and handle this fine (check the plug for "100-240V" in the fine print), but heat-based appliances like hairdryers or straighteners often need a proper voltage converter, not just a plug adapter, or they won't work right.
- Best time
- Late spring (April–June) and fall (September–October) hit the sweet spot for most of the country: mild weather, thinner crowds, and prices a notch below summer peak. Fall is especially lovely if you're chasing New England's foliage, while summer (June–August) remains the classic choice for national parks and road trips — just expect bigger crowds and serious heat across the South and Southwest.
- Safety
- The US is, on the whole, a safe and welcoming place to travel, and the vast majority of trips go off without a hitch — ordinary city-smart habits (mind your bag, avoid wandering unfamiliar areas alone late at night, keep valuables out of sight in parked cars) go a long way. It's a huge, decentralized country, so safety has much more to do with the specific city or neighborhood than the country as a whole, and a quick look at local advice for wherever you're headed is worth five minutes before you go.
Tipping isn't optional the way it can feel back home — 18-20% at sit-down restaurants and bars is the norm and genuinely makes up a big share of service workers' income, so don't skip it. Sales tax gets added at the register rather than baked into the sticker price, and it varies by state and city, so your total at checkout is always a bit higher than what's on the shelf. If you're renting a car, remember distances are deceptively vast — what looks like a short hop on the map can easily be a four-hour drive.
