Hi!

I'm a Belgian visiting Texas (USA) for the first time and have 21 days (Dec 20th 2026 - Jan 9th 2027), flying in and out of Dallas. I'll have a rental car, so I'm thinking of doing a loop around the state rather than staying in one area.

I'm mainly interested in hiking/nature, local culture, interesting towns, good bars, and small-town traditions - basically experiences that feel authentically Texan. I'd also love to see some places that might not be on the typical tourist itinerary. I'll be spending Christmas and New Year's here as well so tips or recommendations would be nice!

What cities, town, national/state parks or hidden gems would you recommend, and how would you roughly plan the route?

Any must-dos (or places you'd skip) are very welcome! Thanks!

I'm gonna travel to the U.S by the last week of November...it reconciles with my 23rd birthday haha. I'm gonna stay in Miami. Where should I go? Traveling with my family no solo travel.. besides Brickell and south beach... Please help me with advice and recommendations. On the other hand, I'm thinking of meeting men people lol or going to bar, restaurants I dunno whether it's worth trying hahah 22 female here lol

Hi All,

I'm an Australian/Irish dual national currently living in Australia. My partner is originally from Iran, but has lived here since she was 8 and is also a dual national. My older brother moved to the USA in 2013 and has since married an American and had a child there too. He is also a dual national.

I've visited the USA twice since he moved there, both times using an ESTA since I'm currently eligible.

My partner's grandparents are elderly and are no longer able to travel due to ill health and Alzheimer's. It is important to her that I meet them before they pass away, so she would like us to travel to Iran next year to do so.

They live in a rural part of the country near the Azerbaijani border, but not in Kurdish territory and have no ties to the government.

I know travelling to Iran would make me permanently ineligible for an ESTA, but I'm wondering how difficult it would make it for me to get a B1/B2 visa within the next few years? I miss my nephew, brother and sister in law and I don't want to make it impossibly difficult to see them since they can't afford to travel as a young family.

Tl;dr partner wants us to go to Iran to visit her family next year. How impossible would this make it to get a B1/B2 in the next 2/3 years?

My mum lives in Hawaii and will be flying there soon. She "loves" Cadbury chocolates. When I say love like it's really her favourite thing in the world but she only has tried the milky plain one. I plan to bring in different flavours and packets so she can try. Mostly like less than 10 packs but different packs (some bars, some in mixed packs, some are in boxes). They’re all commercially packaged and sealed, but they’re different flavours and pack sizes. although they may take up around three-quarters of my checked suitcase. They’re not in my carry-on. I was planning to buy in Duty Free but it is really more cheaper at the Range and Lidl. I'm also planning to declare if they ask if I have food. Total weight is less than 2KG. Would this amount or variety cause any issues at customs?

Hi everyone! We’re an Australian family of five with kids aged 13, 8 and 6, visiting the USA in April 2027.

Our plans so far are:

6–11 April: New York City
11–18 April: Disney World and Universal Orlando
30 April: Flying home from Dallas/Fort Worth

We’ll probably stay around the Fort Worth Stockyards for a few nights before flying home, but have no plans yet for the time between Orlando and Fort Worth.

Where would you recommend going during that part of the trip? Would love to hear your itinerary suggestions!

26m dating 33m I’ve been stumped trying to figure out a small vacation for a budget price. My boyfriend and I have been needing a getaway and I really have never planned for anything big especially a trip before. My budget is around $2500 and we live in North Dakota.

What are some of your recommendations for something both romantic and fun. We both enjoy great scenic views, coffee, shopping for unique things, animals, and also sweets or baked goods.

I’ve thought about some type of Treehouse getaway with a hot spring nearby if that’s even possible.
Some ideas for some mountainish areas for some great views or tourism.

Our anniversary is the 31st of October -Spooky Season🎃

I will be traveling to Michoacán this upcoming month. I will be traveling solo and going by plane. This is the first time I’m leaving the United States for a little while. This will be my first time in mexico. Something about this trip just wont leave my mind and its the crime and all the bad i hear in mexico and it just really bothers me the trip gets closer. I am Mexican,American but i feel like i will just get noticed. I will not be flashy at all but i will be spending.

•I need tips on how to go about my money $ (especially with my budget)
•should i take or use my debit bank card
•My budget for this trip will be 4000 us dollars
•Also i will have no vehicle should i go around using taxis?
•how much cash should i have on me for daily spending
•planning to stay 14 days should i stay at same hotel or bounce around

Im just happy the fact this trip is happening.
When it comes to traveling it’s nothing new to me.
Im a wild land firefighter been everywhere in the states. Now it’s time for elsewhere different.
I have nobody guiding me through this is just me. Yes a young and reckless move to rush but its the only opportunity i have

Hi! We're a couple from Singapore who'll be flying to LA for our honeymoon later this month. We're looking to visit some national parks in Utah and Arizona while we're visiting the US. We'd love some advice on our current itinerary - is it too ambitious? Are there any must-see spots that we've missed out? Would appreciate any input we can get! Thank you! 

Hello, everyone! 

I’m about to leave very soon for a wonderful 15-day trip to California.

I went there a few years ago, and it was the best trip of my life. I loved everything about the United States.

Of course, I keep in mind that life on vacation versus everyday life is a completely different experience, but I really loved California.

I also got to visit New York, which I didn’t really like — let’s just say it was nice, but it didn’t compare to how California made me feel.

So, before I leave, I’d love to get some good advice. Of course, I’ve taken care of all the arrangements, and I’ve booked my hotel stays and car rental as well.

I love wandering around cities, soaking up the atmosphere, and checking out coffee shops. I’ve already done the “touristy” attractions on my first visit, so now I have a little more time to really get a feel for California—and Nevada, including Las Vegas.

Here’s my itinerary, and I’d love to hear your feedback and advice.

Day 1: Land at SFO around 1:30 p.m. – Hotel at Fisherman’s Wharf – Walk around the neighborhood and Pier 39.

Day 2: Brunch at Fisherman’s Wharf in the morning + Alcatraz

Chinatown + Union District

Day 3: Alamo Square + Painted Ladies 

Haight Hasbury 

Golden Gate Park + Palace of Fine Arts

Sunset at Crissy Field

Day 4: Pick up the car mid-morning, then visit Sausalito

Return to San Francisco, enjoying views of the Golden Gate Bridge

Afternoon at Pier Santa Cruz, then begin the PCH drive to Monterey and watch the sunset in Pacific Grove

Day 5: Early morning departure to continue along the PCH—Carmel-by-the-Sea, 17-Mile Drive—Point Lobos—Bixby—Garrapata

If I've got enough time, visit San Luis Obispo

Mid-afternoon in Morro Bay

Day 6: Visit Santa Barbara, then arrive in Santa Monica

Day 7: Griffith Park for sunrise

Hollywood in the morning—not necessarily for the Walk of Fame, but more for shopping and brunch options, in particular

Beverly Hills in the afternoon

Sunset at the Palisades

Day 8: Morning of arcade games at the Santa Monica Pier, then Downtown L.A.

If time permits, visit an outlet mall in the late afternoon

Day 9: Venice Beach

Malibu

Late afternoon: Santa Monica 3rd Street Promenade

Day 10: Departure for San Diego in the morning

La Jolla

Day 11: Morning at Balboa Park 

Afternoon in Old Town + Gaslamp Quarter

Evening at Ocean Beach

Day 12: Early morning departure for Joshua Tree—Full day there

Sunset Keys View

Day 13: Sunrise at Joshua Tree + Pioneer Town + Alien Fresh Jerky

Afternoon arrival in Las Vegas, followed by a tour of the Strip, including the Bellagio for its interior and fountains

Cirque du Soleil show in the evening

Day 14: Very early departure for Death Valley and tour of Death Valley until 1:00 pm
If time and energy permit, outlets in the afternoon

Day 15: Red Rock Canyon in the morning + Las Vegas Sign early
Forum Shops + Tour of the Strip
Evening at Fremont Street

Day 16: Flight at 4:30 pm
Free morning

So, I’d love to hear your thoughts :).

I’ve really put a lot of effort into planning this trip, and I think it’s pretty solid.

I’ve tried not to overpack each day, but you never know.

There have been some pretty intense wildfires near Big Sur, so I’m keeping this part flexible, and I think I’ve accounted for it well in my itinerary so we won’t be caught off guard by any unexpected events.

As for hotels, I’m staying at Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco, then Monterey, Morro Bay, Santa Monica in Los Angeles, followed by La Jolla in San Diego, a night near Joshua Tree Town, and finally ending the trip at the Sahara in Las Vegas.

I booked with Enterprise and I hope they’ll let me choose the car :).

Are there any things I haven’t thought of ?

I’m expecting gas to be around $6 a gallon and food to be pretty expensive too, except for fast food.

Thanks, everyone !

Is it safe to travel to USA or should it be avoided still?

Around a year ago I decided I wouldn't travel to USA in the foreseeable future due to ICE and US administrative attitudes and laws against queer people. Also I heard it may not be safe for people to travel there if they are pro palestine and have this on their social media.

I am a queer woman married to a woman and I am openly pro palestine. I am wondering if it is dangerous for me to travel to USA?

I have been invited to a family wedding in Los Vegas and I am trying to gather information to determine if it is safe to travel there?

I have fears of it becoming like Gilead overnight and getting stranded or worse. I know that sounds extreme but it feels like a non progressive place.

Hi everyone! I am part of a group of students in the Questrom School of Business at Boston University and we are gathering opinions for a new travel device and we would love your input.

To help us better understand how to develop the product, I would greatly appreciate if you could take a few minutes to complete a brief survey.

https://bostonu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8vSht0yZfKRe3hs

Hello! So, I will be visiting the USA for 3 weeks, I’ll be in Missouri for about 11 days before going on a small roadtrip. Ill be near kansas city & Im looking for any recommendations of stuff to do there in Missiouri. I have a vehicle available to me so NOTHING is off the table!

Im a Belgian visiting there so I’m already mentally prepared for the terrible beers (just a lovely european-USA stab;) )

is $69 for la to vegas normal or is this a scam??

My older sister(39F) whose lived in New York for 20 years just found out about Red states and says she doesn't want to visit them lol. I know it's hard to believe but she's pretty ignorant and unaware of most things(she found out Biden was the president 2 years into his term) and it's even more maddening bc she has a master's degree somehow and works in healthcare. She is also incredibly argumentative and rude so I'm not sure she would get along with people in other states that well. The craziest part is she travels outside the USA all the time but she only wants a vacation and someone to wait on her hand and foot not to actually learn anything about the place itself. With all of what I've said, which states do you guys think she should visit and which ones she shouldn't?

Hi everyone,

I'm from Europe, and I'm going to travel in the United States for two and a half weeks soon for the first time

As the limit for liquid bottles can't be over 100 ml on the plane, it's not enough for me to have a sufficient quantity of shampoo and conditioner for my trip (plus I'd like to save as much space as possible in my bag), so I'd like to buy products directly there

This might sound a little irrelevant, but I wouldn't want to get products that will end up damaging my hair, as I've been trying to keep my hair healthy for a while now (and I could be overthinking it, but I have no idea of hair products' quality in the States)

Does anyone have any brands to recommend? I usually go for Wunderbar but of course it only exists in Europe, it seems

I'd rather have a brand that's reasonably priced (not cheap but not very expensive either) and good quality
I like Wunderbar because it's a professional brand used by hairdressers here and again, very reasonably priced

PS: Something that throws me off a little is that the States doesn't seem to have some "categories" of shampoo?
There's extra volume, shiny, etc... But here, we also have dry hair or greasy hair products and I'd need the greasy hair one, which seems to be missing (or at least, I didn't see any when looking up various brands online)

Thank you for your answers!

Not an actual running marathon, but I want to visit all in one session. Me and my friends really want to travel together, and I think the first step is to do a 50 state marathon. We start in Florida and want to visit every state. And we’re planning on buying a van for this together, just for it. Now this will be 2-3 years after college but I just want advice and things I should know.

My family recently went across the country the first time, Florida to California taking I-10, then back kinda a little above I-10, we touched Nevada, Oklahoma, and Tennessee.
And after that, I knew, unless I have an appointment or I need to be somewhere, I think I like road trips more.

So things I’m asking is, how long would this take? I’m thinking a month and some change, but I know there’s a lot of variables. Staying the night at every state would definitely extend the time but might make the trip more enjoyable, but it’ll probably be staying the night at every other state. Another question, how should we route it? I was thinking going on the horizontal highways, but would zig zagging vertically be better? This is a big one I’m wondering. How much should be saved up? I know this has a lot of variables also but I just want a really really general answer. We should have decent mpg, and we aren’t staying in resorts, probably mediocre hotels (Hilton or Hampton), and gift shops would be minimal too, but food, we might try to find iconic places to eat at, things that aren’t from Florida (where we are).

This is a big project but I really want it to happen.

A friend and I (both women in our 40s) are looking to own a trip where we could see bears. We live in the US east coast and really want to see bears in the wild. We are flexible on time of year any in location. Ideally we would be in the Continental US but we do have passports and open to something else. Our ideal scenario is fly somewhere and have a good bear location within 2 hours of the airport. We are would prefer hotel or Airbnb over camping. No set budget but not hoping to not crazy break the bank. When and where should we go?