Visiting America

[Speedy1995]

My family are considering visiting america (Florida and Disney world to be specific). I was wondering how does america compare to another country lets say Turkey, Spain, France etc . What are the people, food, hotels like . Are the airports strict on security what procedures are there ? .

[Matt Harper]

The people are similar to this:



The food is like this:



The hotels are like this:



...and the airports - you should see the airports, they look like this:



Just let me know if you need advice on what the trees are like.

[Rosscow]

[5potTurbo]

Rosscow said:

OP: as for Airport security, you're aware that this week was the 11th anniversary of "9/11"?
U.S. Airports now have VERY good security. Better than ever before, albeit too late to save those who perished. However, and unsurprisingly, they're really very strict on all aspects now.

[Puggit]

Some of the residents of Florida do actually speak English though - although sadly not those employed by Miami airport...

[mikR]

You will need a visa.

HTH

[Ynox]

Nope. Don't need a visa for visiting the US (as a British citizen tourist assuming no criminal record).

You need an ESTA which is essentially an online version of the old green forms you'd fill in on the plane. Then you use the visa waiver scheme.

[davepoth]

Ynox said:

Nope. Don't need a visa for visiting the US (as a British citizen tourist assuming no criminal record).

You need an ESTA which is essentially an online version of the old green forms you'd fill in on the plane. Then you use the visa waiver scheme.

The situation is more complex than "no criminal record", but if you've not had any run ins with the police at all (even arrests) then you definitely don't need a visa.

[FiF]

Trying to be more helpful to the OP The Bible

There is a link lower down the page to the 2012 version if that is more appropriate, I've forgotten when you said you wanted to go.

However poster No 2 did make me

[Crafty_]

Speedy1995 said:

My family are considering visiting america (Florida and Disney world to be specific). I was wondering how does america compare to another country lets say Turkey, Spain, France etc . What are the people, food, hotels like . Are the airports strict on security what procedures are there ? .

Matts reply is superb

Airports - When you arrive you'll be fingerprinted and photographed, takes about 5 minutes tops. Make sure you've done your ESTA for all travellers - https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/

Food and hotels will vary massively on location and price. Where exactly are you looking to go ?

On the whole I've found the vast majority of Americans to be polite and helpful - tourist areas or otherwise.

[yellowbentines]

Crafty_ said:

Airports - When you arrive you'll be fingerprinted and photographed, takes about 5 minutes tops.

Worth mentioning however that you'll probably wait an hour or two in a queue before you get to that point, only to be met with an unfriendly grim-faced jobsworth at a desk.

[Speedy1995]

Why photographed and fingerprinted ? Obviously for safety but other airports ive been to e.g east mids, Manchester, Larnaca, Paphos, Barcelona and Charles de gall or whatever it is called seem to manage fine without photos and prints .

[Pothole]

davepoth said:

Ynox said:

Nope. Don't need a visa for visiting the US (as a British citizen tourist assuming no criminal record).

You need an ESTA which is essentially an online version of the old green forms you'd fill in on the plane. Then you use the visa waiver scheme.

The situation is more complex than "no criminal record", but if you've not had any run ins with the police at all (even arrests) then you definitely don't need a visa.

Not this old st again. Have you ever met anyone who has been turned back at the border because they have been arrested? Not 'convicted of moral turpitude', just arrested.

[FloppyRaccoon]

yellowbentines said:

Crafty_ said:

Airports - When you arrive you'll be fingerprinted and photographed, takes about 5 minutes tops.

Worth mentioning however that you'll probably wait an hour or two in a queue before you get to that point, only to be met with an unfriendly grim-faced jobsworth at a desk.

It'll be more like 30 mins. I'm there at least twice a year and I don't recall it ever being more than that. I also never find the border security officials to be rude, just doing their job. Takes 30 seconds to get through, just answer the questions. They'll ask you how long you're there for, where you'll be staying etc etc.

If for some reason you don't want your photo taken, and don't want to give your fingerprints, don't bother going. I always enjoy my trips, many people don't though, and that's fine. You really should visit at least once though OP, even if it's just to form your own opinion.

[Nickyboy]

Speedy1995 said:

Why photographed and fingerprinted ? Obviously for safety but other airports ive been to e.g east mids, Manchester, Larnaca, Paphos, Barcelona and Charles de gall or whatever it is called seem to manage fine without photos and prints .

Travelling in Europe is a little different to flying to the USA

[Puggit]

FloppyRaccoon said:

yellowbentines said:

Crafty_ said:

Airports - When you arrive you'll be fingerprinted and photographed, takes about 5 minutes tops.

Worth mentioning however that you'll probably wait an hour or two in a queue before you get to that point, only to be met with an unfriendly grim-faced jobsworth at a desk.

It'll be more like 30 mins. I'm there at least twice a year and I don't recall it ever being more than that. I also never find the border security officials to be rude, just doing their job. Takes 30 seconds to get through, just answer the questions. They'll ask you how long you're there for, where you'll be staying etc etc.

Try Miami late on Saturday afternoon...

[Mandat]

Puggit said:

Try Miami late on Saturday afternoon...

bks! I'm flying to Miami in two weeks, ariving at 5.00pm on Saturday.

[Puggit]

Mandat said:

Puggit said:

Try Miami late on Saturday afternoon...

bks! I'm flying to Miami in two weeks, ariving at 5.00pm on Saturday.

BA?

Good luck with that - lands just after Air France and a few others!

[Ross1988]

I'm In America currently. The people are pretty much all really polite, helpful and friendly. The hotels vary, even the chain motels vary, we've only had a one or two bad ones out of a new one everyday.

Miami airport is a massive pain, make sure you take some bottled water with you and that as it can get hot.

I've not been to Disney, are you planning on hiring a car at all? Also, Busch Gardens is not far from Disney, neither is the Kennedy Space centre or The Everglades.

[FloppyRaccoon]

Puggit said:

Try Miami late on Saturday afternoon...

Admittedly I've never flown into Miami....