Puerto Rico is a state but it’s part of THE UNTED STATES but it’s not a state they can’t vote for the PRESIDENT they can only vote in the primaries elections
The colors of the flag are symbolic as well; red symbolizes hardiness and valor, white symbolizes purity and innocence, and blue represents vigilance, perseverance and justice.
I think there are 2 main reasons that foreigners might think that there are 52. First, they believe that the lower 48 or contiguous states are 50 plus Alaska and Hawaii equals 52. Or, they believe that territories like Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, not to mention Washington D.C., are states.
@@krisschobelock4973 the colours meant the same as they did for King George`s subjects who they were once one of...maybe you got that blank out of a DeSantis bill signing
Tipping: I was a server for 14 years and the entire time my pay was $2.13 so I depended on tips to live. I didn't get angry when someone didn't tip, especially when it was a foreigner, but when it was a high bill and there was no tip, I had to pay to wait on them because out of our money a percentage goes to the bartender, the seating host and others. I loved meeting all of the people and having regulars. I also stayed in shape when I had that job because I was constantly running around and doing what we called side work (carrying large buckets of ice up to the front where would all scoop ice from or making huge and heavy containers of sweet tea)
@@sleepyheadluke That's what servers all over the country are paid, you don't get raises, hence being dependent on tips. If you're not from the U.S. I understand you not getting that, but otherwise...
What he's referring to with the high end hotels is that they assume if you have the money to stay at their hotel, then you obviously have the money to purchase everything you want and they will gladly take your money.
No backlash, but yeah, you do have to tip. If you need to do things as inexpensively as possible, try to order directly at a counter, or at a drive through.
As far as Culture is concerned, there's no country on earth with a more diversified culture. People from all over the world here, even in smaller towns. You will commonly see Mexican, Chinese, Italian, Polish, Thai and a veriety of other cultural restaurants right next to each other in a given city. Then you toss in the differences between Northern and Southern as well as Eastern and Western States in the country. Everyone has an accent noticably different to those from any given area. When y'all come to America I suggest focusing of attractions of interest to you. Amusement parks, Water parks, Museum or even musical interests you have... It's all here. Cultural diversity really becomes apparent in larger cities because you can have entire areas of a city dedicated to a particular culture. Little Italy, Grenich Village, China Town, German Town, etc. The festivals for these areas are AMAZING.
The longest drive I have ever taken was from my home in Georgia to El Paso Texas. I drove straight through and it took me 27 and a half hours. It's crazy how big Texas is, but I love it out there. My second favorite place on earth, Georgia being #1.
@@stephaniemccracken1324 There are more countries in North America than the US. Canada and Mexico are North America as well. It includes Caribbean countries like the Bahamas, Bermuda, etc. Last time I was in the Bahamas there was tipping as well.
In a cheeper hotel you probably will get more bang for your buck. Besides a bed and a bathroom you’ll get WiFi, a buffet style breakfast, access to the gym in some cases, a coin laundry, the pool (if available), a safe for your valuables and passports,and a mini fridge. I don’t think a fancy hotel is worth it when the only purpose the hotel serves is a place to lay your head down at the end of the day.
You need to look up more about minimum wages with and without tips for food service workers in the US. It'll vary by state, but in many places tips are factored into wages. Tips make up a huge part of your server's pay. Protesting by refusing to tip doesn't change the system. It only hurts your server. Public transportation is generally pretty good within population centers, but it gets tricky between them. Here are some comparisons for you. The UK is just a touch smaller than Oregon, which is kind of a mid-sized state. While the UK has a population density of 270 per km2, Oregon's is 17 per km2. There are only five states (plus DC) with a population density similar to or greater than the UK's and twenty states for which it's 10% of the UK's or less. There are thirty-nine states that each have fewer people than London. Given all this, it's easy to see why transport between population centers is sparse. *People* between population centers are sparse. 83% of us live in cities. There are small towns with good transit systems, but those systems are really expensive per rider because there are so few riders. For many less populated areas, it's just not worth it. So you'll see a really good transit system in a big city surrounded by hundreds of miles of very sparsely populated land with no transit at all. Yes, you'll need to rent a car.
Forcing stranger to pay strangers wages instead of doing the time and work to change the companies' policies that let them get away with it is what hurts everyone, "yes let's force the poor to pay for the poor even if the rich are doing it because that will change things" as Spock would say it seems highly illogical. It is not my responsibility to make up for a lack in someone wages there are billions of people on the planet it is unsustainable to force others to cover wages that should be coming from companies who's CEO's make 14 million dollar bonuses above and over their pay each year. Strong arming and guilting everyone but the people making the problem to try to fix the problem is why wages are still a problem after all this time.
I live in Connecticut, the state that he recorded this video in. Central CT is a 2 hour drive to both New York City & Boston. Food for thought it you'd like to see both of them from a convenient location. Also, New Haven, Connecticut is known for being one of the pizza capitals of the world (Sally's Apizza [pronounced Ahh-beets] & Pepe's are my 2 favorites. Even better, they're literally about 100 meters away from each other). And also is the city of the (disputed by some) birthplace of the hamburger, Louis' Lunch. This area (New England as a whole) is known for it's seafood, if you guys are fans. Oh yeah, please do more food reaction videos! I saw the Terry Black's BBQ video, and you guys reactions were great!
@@katyareads221 As of the last time I was there, it was. It's been sold since the last original owner (besides the sons) passed away, so that may have changed.
I am from canada and recently a friend of mine was in england i cant remember where but he went into a store and the employee said hello to him so my friend says hey hows it going?...and he said the employee sounded offended and asked why?
The upside is we are very friendly here. You'll meet all kinds of crazy nice people. We are very helpful too. I drove a stranger around my town for two hours looking for her lost dog. No good deed goes unpunished 😂
yes, the stars on the flag in the blue represent the 50 states. There are 50 stars there. The red and white stripes on the flag represent the 13 original colonies.
Sales Tax: I live in East Central Kansas in a city of about 24,000 people. If I go to Walmart and buy a pair of shoes, I will pay 8.5% tax. If I buy prepackaged food, I will pay 4% tax. If I buy shoes at the Mall just South of Walmart, I will pay 9.5% tax. If I buy shoes at the Mall just North of Walmart, I will pay 10.5% tax. If I go to the lumber yard and buy anything for my home and take it out to my pickup, I will pay 9.5% tax. If I can't take out whatever because it won't fit in my car, the lumber yard will deliver to my home. The sales tax goes back to 8.5% and they will charge me $30 for delivery. A lot of people qualify for sales tax exemption. If a teacher at a school needs eggs for her Home Economics class, that teacher through Board of Education members can apply for a tax exempt card because the eggs are for students in a school that is tax exempt. Those are some reasons we just do not have products that have taxes applied to those products on the shelves. The bottom line, few people care about tax rates.
the U.S. flag, consists of thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white, with a blue rectangle in the canton, referred to as the union and bearing fifty small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows, where rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternate with rows of five stars. The 50 stars on the flag represent the 50 U.S. states, and the 13 stripes represent the thirteen British colonies that declared independence from Great Britain, which they went on to secure by their victory in the American Revolutionary War.
The reason why there's only public transport in major cities and some mid size cities. Because the country is so big and it wouldn't be cost-effective to put it everywhere. People enjoy their cars we are a car culture. We do have a national train system, called amtrak. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH MILITARY SPENDING.
If you disagree with the way tipping culture is structured and "don't believe in tips" you certainly aren't going to fix or change things by shortchanging the waitress or waiter making *below* minimum wage who relies on tips and works long hours. Bad service is one thing but refusing on "principle" only harms the blue collar workers.
Right. And for the folks who say they don’t have money to tip, they probably need to make better choices. You can either choose not to eat out, or choose less expensive options. Choosing to short change a retiree, single parent or college student is quite inconsiderate.
I used to work my ass off every day in the kitchen while wait staff counted their tips at the end of the day. To this day I resent that. There's more to this discussion.
The minimum wage for tipped employees is $8.98 per hour unless it is considered a small business in which case the minimum wage drops to $4.00 an hour. The living wage here in Florida is $15.76 per hour for a single adult with no children, and $28.88 per hour for a family of two adults and two children. They depend on tips because you can't really survive on minimum wage.
One of my favorite says: in the US we think 100 years is a long time, in the UK you think a 100 miles is a far distance. 😆 Your VAT is hidden with the cost of goods and I’m (jokingly) convinced so you have no idea how much you are actually paying in tax. I could go off on why we pay separately, but we pay much less, even in what we consider high tax areas. Most hotels are chains, so services are controlled by the chain. The state doesn’t control the costs or services. The joys of a free economy. I like really fancy hotels too. Most of the US was settled as the industrial age was kicking in. Public transport is more common in the east because it’s considerably older than other sections of the country. Most larger cities have it, as he says, but the farther west you go, the newer, and cars were already developed. You can go across the country on trains or buses, but mostly big city to big city. Only smaller cities if they are on the way.
Your best car is a small vehicle. They are very economical on gas. The vehicles you mentioned are vintage vehicles and are not rented out. Those vehicles are the kind you own. They are 50 states. The stars represent the states and the stripes represent the original colonies.
You should check out Amtrak train service. Most trains are slooow, but service between Washington, DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia, NYC and Boston is very good. Catch the Acela (sp?) train which is faster than others.
Cigarettes are 21 now; the age was raised in 2019. The tobacco companies lied about the dangers of smoking for decades. It eventually caught up with them. We have ads against smoking or vaping. I'm not sure if that's still the case, but when I was a teen you could get full driving privileges at 16. It was a social expectation to do so. Laws about driving are done at the state level so different states have different laws. So if you're in there U.S. people's driver licenses will say which state it was issued in, rather than United States of America. In the late 1980s or early 1990s GM used to run an ad that said "it's not just a car, it's your freedom".
I was in Farnborough UK for work once and a coworker and me drove to Southampton after work (52 miles each way.) When we shared this with the local people the next day, you would have thought we drove to the moon 😂😂😂 In Texas, 52 miles is the other side of the Metroplex.
This guy never mentioned Texas but has done a whole video on the Lone Star State. It is 3 times bigger than the UK, has great BBQ, Tex-Mex food and Buc-ee's! Great highway system to zoom around in your Mustang! Hispanic culture in San Antonio, Cowboy culture in Ft. Worth, and Cajun culture not far away in Louisiana. Sales tax in Texas is 6% but an extra 2.5% more in large cities to fund things like public transportation. Have you seen all the other videos by Brits who decide to come to Texas? They did their homework, came, and had a good time!
I live 50 miles from Dallas and you'd be surprised how many people in my town of 32,000 people commute there for work or to other larger cities than mine within a 15 mile radius of Dallas
Most of the cities in the US grew after WWII, Car culture was growing and people were moving to the suburbs. Accelerated by the Interstate Highway System.
From what I have heard, the service at American stores and restaurants is far better than in many other countries. I've heard stories that in some countries where tipping is not "expected", the server will essentially take your order, put the food on the table when it's ready and you won't see them again until it's time to pay the bill. In the US, service a restaurants is usually pretty good. The servers are normally quite attentive. They are usually working other tables in your area and are willing to get you something if you need it. You can even ask a server that is not working your table to get you something like a condiment or new napkin. They often won't tell you that you have to talk to your server. They are "working" for those tips. If you feel that the service was not very good, don't feel obligated to tip them very much. Not saying don't tip if you have an issue with the way the food was prepared as that is generally out of the control of the wait staff. All of this is fairly subjective as service varies from restaurant to restaurant and the prices you are paying for the food. A restaurant where the meals are all under $20, the service generally won't be as good as restaurants where you are paying more than that. Then again, there are always exceptions. Sometimes you will get amazing service at a diner where you are only ordering breakfast.
Not entirely due to tipping though. Customer service is considered part of the job even in stores where there’s no incentive from tipping or commissions.
Not sure what else people have said but I recommend, depending on the time of year getting a hybrid car or small SUV type vehicle, gas prices vary across the country and depending on the time of year. So a hybrid vehicle is sometimes a better option also a minivan or SUV gives you more room for stretching and baggage.
Sometimes iive left $0 tip because the service was terrible - But generally, servers are trying to make you happy so that you feel that the standard tipping rate is fair. There have also been times where i've left a massive tip because the service was excellent . Whenever I stress out the serving staff anywhere with my business Ill usually give them a big tip if they do their best to accommodate. Best example of this was when 3 friends and I went out for AYCE sushi - we ordered tons of food and were eating it at an alarming rate because we saved up 15 hours of appetite. Had the waiter literally running back and forth for an hour trying to keep up with us because we were so hungry. Tipped him $80 because we really made him sweat. That and we ate $200 worth of sushi for like $26 per person.
Tips make up for cheaper food prices so you dont lose a ton there. Sales tax does vary by state but it's somewhere around .06 on the dollar. 10 dollars is 10.70 ...somewhere in that ball park. I live in Wisconsin and if i want to spend 1k on a tv, its around 1100. Every state is different
My family and I travel 1:30-1:45 on Sunday to go to church. We spend the rest of the day with my wife's parents and then drive home. Public transportation is lacking because cars are cool ! Go where you want, when you want, stop for a meal if you want, completely change your mind on where you're going if you want. None of those are convenient on public transportation. When you rent a car, the cooler the car - the higher the rent. Mustangs, Chargers, Corvettes and big Cadillacs are available but you're going to pay for it ! If you want to blend in, rent a pickup truck.
I was born and raised in a small town in Colorado. Rough town. But I hung out with a female from Boston. So fun! She really liked me as a friend because she said I’d fit in, in Boston. Because I was cynical. One morning I told her good morning how are you, she was like the fuck, your writing a book? We laughed and I said something crafty. Different people from different areas have different attitudes. Loved it tho.
Red Lobsters brings hot garlic bisquits to snack on while you are waiting for your food. BBQ restsurants will bring you hot hush puppies, etc. Each restaurant has its own.
He's Correct but do get discouraged please 🙏 just come here if you want too, there's a lot of states in the US and they're all Great with many things to look at just pick your place or places you want to see and make your vacation wonderful and if you like it we will be happy to welcome you ♥
The reason people are pissed if you don't tip or under tip is they get paid a minimum wage then they get the tips. The IRS takes taxes based on the tips you should have. So it is easy to go backwards monetarily if the tips drop. Also you don't want to feed a GT Mustang.. gas is high and the distances are stupid far. When was the last time you drove to Budapest???
I drive far a lot, 2 to 4 hours here and there, and there is no problem if u want to take a 15 or 30 minute breaks. In fact I time my drives in the morning so that half my drive ends up to be 12pm, so we can stop for lunch, it makes the trip feel a lot shorter to me,. same reason I like layover over direct
At 19:43 yes the stars in the flag represent a state also another thing alot of foreigners forget is the USA is a country but we are one that's considered a union each state is it's own country in it's own way another topic for another time
An exception to the greeting warning is Memphis Tennessee. If you ask someone how they are on the street they will stop and talk to you for a long while.
The Country is SO large that the cost of putting in widespread Public Transport would be prohibitive. In compacted large cities, we have public transport. Slow long range rail but the time factor for rail is too long for normal travel. It is best suited for leisure travel only... That is why we have a huge car culture... Cheap fuel and personal transport makes sense here.
Consider tipping as a cost when compared to the free drink refills at most places (typically coffee, tea, soft drinks but not alcohol) and also including (depending on location) the mentioned salsa and chips at Mexican/Tex-Mex or rolls/bread at other, etc. and most usually bottomless. It’s nothing for me to go into a Tex-Mex location with a friend and we might have two baskets of chips with salsa before our meals come out… then a couple of soft drink refills each before we leave. At some places that I frequent, they will give you a drink in a styrofoam cup to go, on the house. For a $40 total check we would probably leave $10 on the tip. Considering what we would pay if we had to pay for those free appetizers of chips and a few extra drinks…. it all comes out in the end. If a basket of chips was $2 and drink refills maybe $2 like in some countries, we might end up spending less on the tip than if we had to purchase each item. Certainly location matters! If I have a $100 check at the end, I can’t drink 12 refills of Dr Pepper or eat 8 baskets of chips to make up for the tip…. 🤣🤣
I think when people say 52 states they're referring to Puerto Rico and Guam (or the virgin Islands) since they're US territories. They aren't officially states though.
On the extra charges for the fancier hotels, no that doesn't apply in every area. The hotel I used to work at was one of the nicer ones and we had free wi-fi. There are plenty of nicer hotels that do offer free wi-fi and maybe a continental if not a full breakfast. Just do your research and you'll be fine. There are plenty of options to get your money's worth when staying here. The "how are you" being a statement isn't really how he should've said it. It is like saying hi but it can still be the question of how are you doing? What he means is that some will give you their LIFE STORY if you ask how they are doing when a simple "I'm doing good" or "I could be better but I'm making it" will suffice. It's all in the delivery and what setting you find yourself in. You'll have a LOT of strangers smiling/nodding a hello or saying good morning/afternoon/evening to you all the time because it's just us being courteous and friendly so don't let that put you off
One easy thing to remember about Tax is for every 10 dollars you spend add 1 dollar for tax. That will cover you for most tax. Except for electronics that's usually a little more in tax. The average sells tax in the U.S. is about 8-9 percent depending on what you are buying it might be a little higher or lower.
Just happen across your channel. A new Mustang rental will cost you about $800 USD per week. I know this as I happened to check prices a few days ago for a trip I am taking to Las Vegas (which should be on your list if you come here). I am also a Mustang owner ( a classic 84 Mustang GT convertible that I restored). A great way to visit the USA is with the top down!
Just a little tidbit on renting a car, Hertz rent-a-car has a partnership with Shelby so you can rent a Shelby Mustang, but only in Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Fort Myers, Phoenix, and Las Vegas.
The thing with tipping is, its alot more casual than alot of people make it out to be, like if its just the 2 of you and yall eat out its ok to just slap down and automatic 5 on the table and head out, if your at a fancy place then its time to do the calculations but just about everywhere if its 2 to 3 dont matter the price slap a 5 down if yall werent too demanding and youre set
I refuse to drive any longer than 15 hours, after that train or plane for me. Re the taxes, the amount can change from state to state, but think of it this way, your VAT (between 0%-20% depending on product) is added up front, our sales tax is added at point of sale (between 0%-8.5% depending on the State) so both countries are adding tax the only difference is when you're actually paying it.
I travel for work all the time & it is reasonable for me to consider max driving 6-7 hrs. I worked in Seattle past week (I’m in the Dallas area) it’s an hour Uber ride to the airport for me. That’s an hour just in the metroplex (Dallas) alone
Most mid or lower hotel chain, have what they call a "continental breakfast" and its usually free. Also most everything is 4 star. if a hotel is rated 2 star, run, you don't want to say there
For public transport, imagine having 100 houses in a 1 square mile area. You could put in paved streets connecting those houses for a certain amount of money. Now, instead have those 100 houses in a 40 square mile area. Now if you want to have paved streets connecting them, it's going to cost MASSIVELY more. America is so huge, connecting all the towns and cities with a comprehensive public transport system would be outrageously expensive. But also, though some Americans like the idea of taking public transport, most prefer the freedom to hop in their car, when they want, go where they want at any time they want.
I’m new to your channel. I’m subscribed. I find you both to be genuine and so adorably likable. I really hope you do get to come to America. Just like he said, don’t book an expensive hotel but stay away from the super cheap ones as well. The middle of the road is where you want to be. Also, think midsize car/SUV for a rental vehicle. Affordable and comfortable. Unless you are extremely wealthy, a Shelby Mustang is going to cost a small fortune to rent and insure. It would be cool but I would suggest spending the extra money on activities and of course… because you’re foodies… food. This is an older video and since Covid, food prices in America skyrocketed and never went back down. So food isn’t as inexpensive as it was during the filming of the video. A suggestion if I may… ask the locals where they eat and what they recommend. Try to find the local mom and pop restaurants and shops. Nothing wrong with trying the chain restaurants you’ve heard about but there’s so many little gems out there too. In another video, you mentioned Terry Black’s (I want to go there) and Buckees. Buckees is regional. I went to one on a road trip last week. First time. It is overwhelming in a good way. Just reading all of the signs leading to B’s is entertaining. I’ll keep watching and hope one day you’ll be making several videos of your American vacation/road trip. Wishing you the best.
Just a small note… our middle of the road hotels are usually very very nice. And a stranger asking “How are you?” can be followed up with a, “Fine , thanks. How are you?” You just don’t go into detail about your day or your personal situation. It’s more of a pleasantry than a conversation starter.
I moved from Texas to Oklahoma last year and it was very surprising to me that food was taxed here in Oklahoma. In Texas there is no sales tax on food.
YES, you need to tip in the USA. Please realize that in most places in the USA servers get less than minimum wage because it is assumed they will actually make a living from their tips. Here in Louisiana, the server "minimum wage" from their employer is $2/hour, so the tips are crucial.
Where I live sales tax is .09 or .10 depending on what side of town I'm on. I just round every price up to the next $1 and I always do fine. So $4.50 I count as $5. I do that on everything. you see there is no tax on groceries. Food items. so If that $4.50 was something to eat I'm now .50 in the black. Be aware that a lot of states have recycle taxes. So if you bought a case of Coke (taxable) for $4.50 and chips for $3.99 and dip for $4.99, how much will you actually spend? depends on the state. Here in Cali Recycle tax is .05 per can. So, $4.50 + (24x.05) + 10% + $3.99 + $4.99 total = $15.13. Easy peasy. Now you will be charged what seems like a sales tax on food that has been prepared for you. As far as tipping goes, well Both my sisters were waitresses so I understand why it's so important, that being said, if your server isn't making sure your needs are taken care of while you are dining in their restaurant (with a smile) don't feel guilty about skipping the tip. Exception being they might be under staffed and girls are covering extra tables, so she might not be around checking your coffee cup or overall experience as often as should be. I would still tip her reasonably well. Any server with an attitude, forget it no tip. What are they going to do? You will never see them again. Tipping is still YOUR discretion.
While sales tax is different everywhere you go here, it's never as high as your 20% VAT. You don't really have to know precisely what it is everywhere you go -- we certainly don't when *we* travel from state to state! Just assume that it will be somewhere between 0% (Oregon, New Hampshire, and a couple of other states have no sales tax at all) and 10% (some west coast cities where city sales tax is added onto state sales tax), and you'll be just fine. Servers are in fact *not* "still paid to do their job" here. Restaurants are allowed to pay servers far below minimum wage. So if you don't tip, they might be getting paid like $3 an hour. Those aren't even starvation wages here.
He is right on the hotels. You can get a get a great hotel cheaper than a lavish hotel. The expensive hotels are expensive, and they charge for Wi-Fi, exercise rooms and pool time. I know this by experience.
Its like this, most wait staff rely on tips to make a living. Most of them will provide excellent service because they depend on the tip because they assume if they do good you'll tip good. So bare in mind, if they did good but you didn't tip, tip good, they will remember you so, don't expect good service next time.
USA is a huge country so growing up to explore your state you need an auto. Also in big cities the crime on the trains/subways is bad, another reason to rent a car. As with all big cities talk with the locals what areas to avoid. Sit down meals you usually tip as the service people make minimum wage. It was good advice to stay in the region your visiting as it easily takes 2 weeks at least to 'explore" the area.
The tradition of tipping started during prohibition which didn't happen in other countries. And the tradition still goes on long after prohibition ended. It's a complicated situation for everyone.
I grew up in Southern California… in high school me and about six friends would go to a Mexican restaurant where they had free chips and salsa. One of my friends would order a quesadilla and the rest of us would just eat chips and salsa lol. Until someone working there was like, enough of this. Lol
sooo i grew up in the coachella desert (yes that coachella) but now live close to bakersfield and it can take me 4 hours or 6 if my mom is driving or heavy traffic to go see family in coachella. and thats reg, thats regulation mind you. thats 6 hours of driving, and never leaving the state of california
Tipping allows the restaurant to give you quality and larger portions at a lower price. Most servers make less than $3 an hour. The person serving you is practically working for free if you don't tip. So for those who don't like tipping culture, it's best to go to fast food places where it's not required.
You don’t need to figure out sales tax. The store computes it automatically and prints it on the receipt with the pre tax amount and the total. Overall total sales taxes (state city local whatever all together) range from zero to at most maybe fifteen percent. For comparison your VAT is twenty percent or so. If you need an estimate to figure out if you have enough money just round everything up, add it together and add ten or fifteen percent. As to why sales tax, advertising. Mass media markets are large compared to areas applying the taxes. All gasoline and diesel are sold at the advertised price, taxes already included. $X.999 per US gallon just like it says on the sign and the pump. And yes that nine tenths of a cent is really part of the price as far as how they calculate the total before rounding it.
There are places that rent sports cars but if you plan to do a lot of driving I'd recommend a smaller car. Gas prices are kind of high right now, you'll save a bunch of money.
About 70% of hotels have a breakfast buffet, free Wi-Fi n fool (inside or outside) especially in Florida and California and smaller areas but New York you might get breakfast and Wi-Fi but don’t count on pools unless it’s rooftop! Holiday Inn , is actually a nice hotel very inexpensive you’ll get free breakfast Wi-Fi and a pool And spend less than $100 a night or go with my idea about the van! Research it! Good luck
@@JEREMY99218 I spent 25 years traveling for work if you are tipping 15% you are a stingy person. I always tipped 20% and up to 25% for excellent service.
Yeah Pretty much in every state. The overprice hotels you will. You let the pay You won't get breakfast and you have to pay for Wi-Fi. In the cheaper hotels you get free Wi-Fi and breakfast. They usually pretty nice clean. William s
Most places do have free wifi, but not all. There are public places you can go to use free wifi. Check out the place you're considering online before you pay. If wifi is included, it will tell you.
I would suggest the channel 'The Military Show' and the video 'How the U.S. became a Super Power. It has a bit of history you may not have learned yet.
Another thing on sales taxes is there are 2 states that don’t have sales taxes. I went to graduate school in Oregon and the no sales tax was weird but cool. But they make up for that money in other ways like higher state taxes. And then you have Texas that doesn’t have any state income tax. Also whatever the number of guns an “expert” tells you, just double it. In Texas we don’t have to register are guns so if you buy one from a friend you don’t have to take it and get it registered under your name meaning many of us own double the amount of guns the government thinks we do.
50 stars on the flag, one for each state, 13 stripes on the flag, one for each of the original 13 colonies.
Puerto Rico is a state but it’s part of THE UNTED STATES but it’s not a state they can’t vote for the PRESIDENT they can only vote in the primaries elections
The colors of the flag are symbolic as well; red symbolizes hardiness and valor, white symbolizes purity and innocence, and blue represents vigilance, perseverance and justice.
I think there are 2 main reasons that foreigners might think that there are 52. First, they believe that the lower 48 or contiguous states are 50 plus Alaska and Hawaii equals 52. Or, they believe that territories like Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, not to mention Washington D.C., are states.
@@krisschobelock4973 the colours meant the same as they did for King George`s subjects who they were once one of...maybe you got that blank out of a DeSantis bill signing
Even the dork, president Obama once thought there were 52. 🤔 I wonder where he was really born?
Tipping: I was a server for 14 years and the entire time my pay was $2.13 so I depended on tips to live. I didn't get angry when someone didn't tip, especially when it was a foreigner, but when it was a high bill and there was no tip, I had to pay to wait on them because out of our money a percentage goes to the bartender, the seating host and others. I loved meeting all of the people and having regulars. I also stayed in shape when I had that job because I was constantly running around and doing what we called side work (carrying large buckets of ice up to the front where would all scoop ice from or making huge and heavy containers of sweet tea)
Its called being a slave not working
you worked the same job for 14 yrs and never got a raise? that's .. something
@@sleepyheadluke That's what servers all over the country are paid, you don't get raises, hence being dependent on tips. If you're not from the U.S. I understand you not getting that, but otherwise...
@@sleepyheadlukeit’s standard, because the tips pay the wage, that’s just normal.
LOL When people ask me "how are you today?" I jokingly answer "Do you want the truth or should I lie?" 😆
I reply " good today thanks, how are you" Being polite to one another is one of the many things I love about The USA.
I think it’s more about their tone and whether it’s just a “whats up” or if they’re sincerely asking how you’re doing. Both do happen.
What he's referring to with the high end hotels is that they assume if you have the money to stay at their hotel, then you obviously have the money to purchase everything you want and they will gladly take your money.
One way or another 😢
Your "VAT" is roughly 20% added to your product, in the US your tax that is added is between 5% to 12% depending on where you are.
No backlash, but yeah, you do have to tip. If you need to do things as inexpensively as possible, try to order directly at a counter, or at a drive through.
As far as Culture is concerned, there's no country on earth with a more diversified culture. People from all over the world here, even in smaller towns. You will commonly see Mexican, Chinese, Italian, Polish, Thai and a veriety of other cultural restaurants right next to each other in a given city. Then you toss in the differences between Northern and Southern as well as Eastern and Western States in the country. Everyone has an accent noticably different to those from any given area. When y'all come to America I suggest focusing of attractions of interest to you. Amusement parks, Water parks, Museum or even musical interests you have... It's all here. Cultural diversity really becomes apparent in larger cities because you can have entire areas of a city dedicated to a particular culture. Little Italy, Grenich Village, China Town, German Town, etc. The festivals for these areas are AMAZING.
The longest drive I have ever taken was from my home in Georgia to El Paso Texas. I drove straight through and it took me 27 and a half hours. It's crazy how big Texas is, but I love it out there. My second favorite place on earth, Georgia being #1.
Love GA, wouldn't leave here for anything!
I’m not familiar with the customs in all of the 23 countries in North America but tipping is also the norm in Canada and Mexico.
23 countries? In the U. S.there are 50 states.
@@stephaniemccracken1324 There are more countries in North America than the US. Canada and Mexico are North America as well. It includes Caribbean countries like the Bahamas, Bermuda, etc. Last time I was in the Bahamas there was tipping as well.
@@munchichi02 and yet, the video was about tipping in the USA. Pretty specific.
@@munchichi02 Read the name of the video. Very specific to the U.S. Which I believe is 50 states; not countries.
I don't know which planet you are living on, but there are only 3 countries in North America.
In a cheeper hotel you probably will get more bang for your buck. Besides a bed and a bathroom you’ll get WiFi, a buffet style breakfast, access to the gym in some cases, a coin laundry, the pool (if available), a safe for your valuables and passports,and a mini fridge. I don’t think a fancy hotel is worth it when the only purpose the hotel serves is a place to lay your head down at the end of the day.
You need to look up more about minimum wages with and without tips for food service workers in the US. It'll vary by state, but in many places tips are factored into wages. Tips make up a huge part of your server's pay. Protesting by refusing to tip doesn't change the system. It only hurts your server.
Public transportation is generally pretty good within population centers, but it gets tricky between them. Here are some comparisons for you.
The UK is just a touch smaller than Oregon, which is kind of a mid-sized state. While the UK has a population density of 270 per km2, Oregon's is 17 per km2. There are only five states (plus DC) with a population density similar to or greater than the UK's and twenty states for which it's 10% of the UK's or less. There are thirty-nine states that each have fewer people than London.
Given all this, it's easy to see why transport between population centers is sparse. *People* between population centers are sparse. 83% of us live in cities. There are small towns with good transit systems, but those systems are really expensive per rider because there are so few riders. For many less populated areas, it's just not worth it. So you'll see a really good transit system in a big city surrounded by hundreds of miles of very sparsely populated land with no transit at all.
Yes, you'll need to rent a car.
Forcing stranger to pay strangers wages instead of doing the time and work to change the companies' policies that let them get away with it is what hurts everyone, "yes let's force the poor to pay for the poor even if the rich are doing it because that will change things" as Spock would say it seems highly illogical. It is not my responsibility to make up for a lack in someone wages there are billions of people on the planet it is unsustainable to force others to cover wages that should be coming from companies who's CEO's make 14 million dollar bonuses above and over their pay each year. Strong arming and guilting everyone but the people making the problem to try to fix the problem is why wages are still a problem after all this time.
I live in Connecticut, the state that he recorded this video in. Central CT is a 2 hour drive to both New York City & Boston. Food for thought it you'd like to see both of them from a convenient location. Also, New Haven, Connecticut is known for being one of the pizza capitals of the world (Sally's Apizza [pronounced Ahh-beets] & Pepe's are my 2 favorites. Even better, they're literally about 100 meters away from each other). And also is the city of the (disputed by some) birthplace of the hamburger, Louis' Lunch. This area (New England as a whole) is known for it's seafood, if you guys are fans. Oh yeah, please do more food reaction videos! I saw the Terry Black's BBQ video, and you guys reactions were great!
I LOVE Sallys....is Libbies ices still there?
@@katyareads221 As of the last time I was there, it was. It's been sold since the last original owner (besides the sons) passed away, so that may have changed.
I am from canada and recently a friend of mine was in england i cant remember where but he went into a store and the employee said hello to him so my friend says hey hows it going?...and he said the employee sounded offended and asked why?
Servers in the US make about $2.13 per hour. They rely on tips. It's American culture.
The upside is we are very friendly here. You'll meet all kinds of crazy nice people. We are very helpful too. I drove a stranger around my town for two hours looking for her lost dog. No good deed goes unpunished 😂
yes, the stars on the flag in the blue represent the 50 states. There are 50 stars there. The red and white stripes on the flag represent the 13 original colonies.
I’m driving from Austin to Dallas on Sunday to buy some wheels for my Mustang. That’s a 3 1/2 - 4 hrs each way
Sales Tax: I live in East Central Kansas in a city of about 24,000 people. If I go to Walmart and buy a pair of shoes, I will pay 8.5% tax. If I buy prepackaged food, I will pay 4% tax. If I buy shoes at the Mall just South of Walmart, I will pay 9.5% tax. If I buy shoes at the Mall just North of Walmart, I will pay 10.5% tax. If I go to the lumber yard and buy anything for my home and take it out to my pickup, I will pay 9.5% tax. If I can't take out whatever because it won't fit in my car, the lumber yard will deliver to my home. The sales tax goes back to 8.5% and they will charge me $30 for delivery. A lot of people qualify for sales tax exemption. If a teacher at a school needs eggs for her Home Economics class, that teacher through Board of Education members can apply for a tax exempt card because the eggs are for students in a school that is tax exempt. Those are some reasons we just do not have products that have taxes applied to those products on the shelves. The bottom line, few people care about tax rates.
This is a beautiful illustration. Well-explained. Thank you.
Good explanation. The only time I really pay attention on sales tax rates are on big purchases. For example, purchasing a car.
the U.S. flag, consists of thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white, with a blue rectangle in the canton, referred to as the union and bearing fifty small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows, where rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternate with rows of five stars. The 50 stars on the flag represent the 50 U.S. states, and the 13 stripes represent the thirteen British colonies that declared independence from Great Britain, which they went on to secure by their victory in the American Revolutionary War.
50 stars 50 states 13 stripes 13 original colonies
The reason why there's only public transport in major cities and some mid size cities. Because the country is so big and it wouldn't be cost-effective to put it everywhere. People enjoy their cars we are a car culture. We do have a national train system, called amtrak. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH MILITARY SPENDING.
If you disagree with the way tipping culture is structured and "don't believe in tips" you certainly aren't going to fix or change things by shortchanging the waitress or waiter making *below* minimum wage who relies on tips and works long hours. Bad service is one thing but refusing on "principle" only harms the blue collar workers.
Right. And for the folks who say they don’t have money to tip, they probably need to make better choices. You can either choose not to eat out, or choose less expensive options. Choosing to short change a retiree, single parent or college student is quite inconsiderate.
I used to work my ass off every day in the kitchen while wait staff counted their tips at the end of the day. To this day I resent that. There's more to this discussion.
The minimum wage for tipped employees is $8.98 per hour unless it is considered a small business in which case the minimum wage drops to $4.00 an hour. The living wage here in Florida is $15.76 per hour for a single adult with no children, and $28.88 per hour for a family of two adults and two children. They depend on tips because you can't really survive on minimum wage.
It depends on the state. You must be a republican.
@@robwood6588 what?
@@robwood6588 You must be confused on which bathroom to use. Try to stay away from children.
No some places pay 2.01 .
@@robwood6588 are you dumb?
I'm from California and this guy is pretty spot on about everything in the video.
One of my favorite says: in the US we think 100 years is a long time, in the UK you think a 100 miles is a far distance. 😆
Your VAT is hidden with the cost of goods and I’m (jokingly) convinced so you have no idea how much you are actually paying in tax. I could go off on why we pay separately, but we pay much less, even in what we consider high tax areas.
Most hotels are chains, so services are controlled by the chain. The state doesn’t control the costs or services. The joys of a free economy. I like really fancy hotels too.
Most of the US was settled as the industrial age was kicking in. Public transport is more common in the east because it’s considerably older than other sections of the country. Most larger cities have it, as he says, but the farther west you go, the newer, and cars were already developed. You can go across the country on trains or buses, but mostly big city to big city. Only smaller cities if they are on the way.
That's exactly the reason they do it. So you have no idea how much the government is stealing from you.
Your best car is a small vehicle. They are very economical on gas. The vehicles you mentioned are vintage vehicles and are not rented out. Those vehicles are the kind you own. They are 50 states. The stars represent the states and the stripes represent the original colonies.
The Mustang GT is not just a vintage car. They still make them.
@@Crazson34 But she mentioned a Shelby Mustang. That's vintage.
You should check out Amtrak train service. Most trains are slooow, but service between Washington, DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia, NYC and Boston is very good. Catch the Acela (sp?) train which is faster than others.
You're trying to send them to crime ridden hsit holes. Those are places they should stay away from. Look at the crime stats.
Probably avoid talking about abortion as well. It's both political and religious over here, and VERY polarizing.
Cigarettes are 21 now; the age was raised in 2019.
The tobacco companies lied about the dangers of smoking for decades. It eventually caught up with them. We have ads against smoking or vaping.
I'm not sure if that's still the case, but when I was a teen you could get full driving privileges at 16. It was a social expectation to do so. Laws about driving are done at the state level so different states have different laws. So if you're in there U.S. people's driver licenses will say which state it was issued in, rather than United States of America. In the late 1980s or early 1990s GM used to run an ad that said "it's not just a car, it's your freedom".
Hwy 6 in Nevada; 169 miles til the next gas
Oh yes, the lonliest highway in the world. Lived there and loved it.
I was in Farnborough UK for work once and a coworker and me drove to Southampton after work (52 miles each way.) When we shared this with the local people the next day, you would have thought we drove to the moon 😂😂😂 In Texas, 52 miles is the other side of the Metroplex.
Lol she specified shelby cobra. Im impressed.
This guy never mentioned Texas but has done a whole video on the Lone Star State. It is 3 times bigger than the UK, has great BBQ, Tex-Mex food and Buc-ee's! Great highway system to zoom around in your Mustang! Hispanic culture in San Antonio, Cowboy culture in Ft. Worth, and Cajun culture not far away in Louisiana. Sales tax in Texas is 6% but an extra 2.5% more in large cities to fund things like public transportation. Have you seen all the other videos by Brits who decide to come to Texas? They did their homework, came, and had a good time!
I live 50 miles from Dallas and you'd be surprised how many people in my town of 32,000 people commute there for work or to other larger cities than mine within a 15 mile radius of Dallas
Most of the cities in the US grew after WWII, Car culture was growing and people were moving to the suburbs. Accelerated by the Interstate Highway System.
She is correct a Mustang is a must
I love Walter's World! He's so funny! 😂😂
From what I have heard, the service at American stores and restaurants is far better than in many other countries. I've heard stories that in some countries where tipping is not "expected", the server will essentially take your order, put the food on the table when it's ready and you won't see them again until it's time to pay the bill. In the US, service a restaurants is usually pretty good. The servers are normally quite attentive. They are usually working other tables in your area and are willing to get you something if you need it. You can even ask a server that is not working your table to get you something like a condiment or new napkin. They often won't tell you that you have to talk to your server. They are "working" for those tips. If you feel that the service was not very good, don't feel obligated to tip them very much. Not saying don't tip if you have an issue with the way the food was prepared as that is generally out of the control of the wait staff.
All of this is fairly subjective as service varies from restaurant to restaurant and the prices you are paying for the food. A restaurant where the meals are all under $20, the service generally won't be as good as restaurants where you are paying more than that. Then again, there are always exceptions. Sometimes you will get amazing service at a diner where you are only ordering breakfast.
Not entirely due to tipping though. Customer service is considered part of the job even in stores where there’s no incentive from tipping or commissions.
Not sure what else people have said but I recommend, depending on the time of year getting a hybrid car or small SUV type vehicle, gas prices vary across the country and depending on the time of year. So a hybrid vehicle is sometimes a better option also a minivan or SUV gives you more room for stretching and baggage.
Always said she was a smart lady, one star for each state.
We officially have 50 states. However, we also have islands like Puerto Rico and Guam that are not states. Not yet anyway.
Sometimes iive left $0 tip because the service was terrible - But generally, servers are trying to make you happy so that you feel that the standard tipping rate is fair. There have also been times where i've left a massive tip because the service was excellent . Whenever I stress out the serving staff anywhere with my business Ill usually give them a big tip if they do their best to accommodate. Best example of this was when 3 friends and I went out for AYCE sushi - we ordered tons of food and were eating it at an alarming rate because we saved up 15 hours of appetite. Had the waiter literally running back and forth for an hour trying to keep up with us because we were so hungry. Tipped him $80 because we really made him sweat. That and we ate $200 worth of sushi for like $26 per person.
Tips make up for cheaper food prices so you dont lose a ton there. Sales tax does vary by state but it's somewhere around .06 on the dollar. 10 dollars is 10.70 ...somewhere in that ball park. I live in Wisconsin and if i want to spend 1k on a tv, its around 1100. Every state is different
In North Carolina our sales tax is 8.25%. Spend $10 amd pay $10.82.
My family and I travel 1:30-1:45 on Sunday to go to church. We spend the rest of the day with my wife's parents and then drive home. Public transportation is lacking because cars are cool ! Go where you want, when you want, stop for a meal if you want, completely change your mind on where you're going if you want. None of those are convenient on public transportation. When you rent a car, the cooler the car - the higher the rent. Mustangs, Chargers, Corvettes and big Cadillacs are available but you're going to pay for it ! If you want to blend in, rent a pickup truck.
Also have a 10 cent deposit on most can or bottled beverages on top of the sales tax
I was born and raised in a small town in Colorado. Rough town. But I hung out with a female from Boston. So fun! She really liked me as a friend because she said I’d fit in, in Boston. Because I was cynical. One morning I told her good morning how are you, she was like the fuck, your writing a book? We laughed and I said something crafty. Different people from different areas have different attitudes. Loved it tho.
Fats quiet smile on tipping is everything 😂😂
Yes, stars are the states. Stripes are the original 13 colonies. The we have properties, Puerto Rico, Virginia Island,,Guam and a few others
Red Lobsters brings hot garlic bisquits to snack on while you are waiting for your food. BBQ restsurants will bring you hot hush puppies, etc. Each restaurant has its own.
The last time I drove to Wyoming, I drove by myself 850 miles the first day. That's about 14-15 hours.
He's Correct but do get discouraged please 🙏 just come here if you want too, there's a lot of states in the US and they're all Great with many things to look at just pick your place or places you want to see and make your vacation wonderful and if you like it we will be happy to welcome you ♥
The reason people are pissed if you don't tip or under tip is they get paid a minimum wage then they get the tips. The IRS takes taxes based on the tips you should have. So it is easy to go backwards monetarily if the tips drop. Also you don't want to feed a GT Mustang.. gas is high and the distances are stupid far. When was the last time you drove to Budapest???
I drive far a lot, 2 to 4 hours here and there, and there is no problem if u want to take a 15 or 30 minute breaks. In fact I time my drives in the morning so that half my drive ends up to be 12pm, so we can stop for lunch, it makes the trip feel a lot shorter to me,. same reason I like layover over direct
Ritz-Carlton is worth it. The breakfast is complimentary (on the club level) and is nop-notch. The service is excellent and wi-fi is free...
At 19:43 yes the stars in the flag represent a state also another thing alot of foreigners forget is the USA is a country but we are one that's considered a union each state is it's own country in it's own way another topic for another time
An exception to the greeting warning is Memphis Tennessee. If you ask someone how they are on the street they will stop and talk to you for a long while.
The Country is SO large that the cost of putting in widespread Public Transport would be prohibitive. In compacted large cities, we have public transport. Slow long range rail but the time factor for rail is too long for normal travel. It is best suited for leisure travel only... That is why we have a huge car culture... Cheap fuel and personal transport makes sense here.
Consider tipping as a cost when compared to the free drink refills at most places (typically coffee, tea, soft drinks but not alcohol) and also including (depending on location) the mentioned salsa and chips at Mexican/Tex-Mex or rolls/bread at other, etc. and most usually bottomless.
It’s nothing for me to go into a Tex-Mex location with a friend and we might have two baskets of chips with salsa before our meals come out… then a couple of soft drink refills each before we leave. At some places that I frequent, they will give you a drink in a styrofoam cup to go, on the house.
For a $40 total check we would probably leave $10 on the tip.
Considering what we would pay if we had to pay for those free appetizers of chips and a few extra drinks…. it all comes out in the end.
If a basket of chips was $2 and drink refills maybe $2 like in some countries, we might end up spending less on the tip than if we had to purchase each item.
Certainly location matters! If I have a $100 check at the end, I can’t drink 12 refills of Dr Pepper or eat 8 baskets of chips to make up for the tip…. 🤣🤣
I think when people say 52 states they're referring to Puerto Rico and Guam (or the virgin Islands) since they're US territories. They aren't officially states though.
On the extra charges for the fancier hotels, no that doesn't apply in every area. The hotel I used to work at was one of the nicer ones and we had free wi-fi. There are plenty of nicer hotels that do offer free wi-fi and maybe a continental if not a full breakfast. Just do your research and you'll be fine. There are plenty of options to get your money's worth when staying here.
The "how are you" being a statement isn't really how he should've said it. It is like saying hi but it can still be the question of how are you doing? What he means is that some will give you their LIFE STORY if you ask how they are doing when a simple "I'm doing good" or "I could be better but I'm making it" will suffice. It's all in the delivery and what setting you find yourself in.
You'll have a LOT of strangers smiling/nodding a hello or saying good morning/afternoon/evening to you all the time because it's just us being courteous and friendly so don't let that put you off
One easy thing to remember about Tax is for every 10 dollars you spend add 1 dollar for tax. That will cover you for most tax. Except for electronics that's usually a little more in tax. The average sells tax in the U.S. is about 8-9 percent depending on what you are buying it might be a little higher or lower.
Just happen across your channel. A new Mustang rental will cost you about $800 USD per week. I know this as I happened to check prices a few days ago for a trip I am taking to Las Vegas (which should be on your list if you come here). I am also a Mustang owner ( a classic 84 Mustang GT convertible that I restored). A great way to visit the USA is with the top down!
Must do's, stay out of New York, CA, Washington State, and cities from DC though NYC.
Just a little tidbit on renting a car, Hertz rent-a-car has a partnership with Shelby so you can rent a Shelby Mustang, but only in Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Fort Myers, Phoenix, and Las Vegas.
The thing with tipping is, its alot more casual than alot of people make it out to be, like if its just the 2 of you and yall eat out its ok to just slap down and automatic 5 on the table and head out, if your at a fancy place then its time to do the calculations but just about everywhere if its 2 to 3 dont matter the price slap a 5 down if yall werent too demanding and youre set
I refuse to drive any longer than 15 hours, after that train or plane for me. Re the taxes, the amount can change from state to state, but think of it this way, your VAT (between 0%-20% depending on product) is added up front, our sales tax is added at point of sale (between 0%-8.5% depending on the State) so both countries are adding tax the only difference is when you're actually paying it.
Love your reactions. You should definitely visit the US but plan wisely, this is a HUGE Country!
I travel for work all the time & it is reasonable for me to consider max driving 6-7 hrs. I worked in Seattle past week (I’m in the Dallas area) it’s an hour Uber ride to the airport for me. That’s an hour just in the metroplex (Dallas) alone
It is 10 miles into town to go grocery shopping and get gas here in north cental florida
Jeff catching strays had me laughing 🤣
Most mid or lower hotel chain, have what they call a "continental breakfast" and its usually free. Also most everything is 4 star. if a hotel is rated 2 star, run, you don't want to say there
For public transport, imagine having 100 houses in a 1 square mile area. You could put in paved streets connecting those houses for a certain amount of money. Now, instead have those 100 houses in a 40 square mile area. Now if you want to have paved streets connecting them, it's going to cost MASSIVELY more. America is so huge, connecting all the towns and cities with a comprehensive public transport system would be outrageously expensive.
But also, though some Americans like the idea of taking public transport, most prefer the freedom to hop in their car, when they want, go where they want at any time they want.
I’m new to your channel. I’m subscribed. I find you both to be genuine and so adorably likable. I really hope you do get to come to America. Just like he said, don’t book an expensive hotel but stay away from the super cheap ones as well. The middle of the road is where you want to be. Also, think midsize car/SUV for a rental vehicle. Affordable and comfortable. Unless you are extremely wealthy, a Shelby Mustang is going to cost a small fortune to rent and insure. It would be cool but I would suggest spending the extra money on activities and of course… because you’re foodies… food. This is an older video and since Covid, food prices in America skyrocketed and never went back down. So food isn’t as inexpensive as it was during the filming of the video. A suggestion if I may… ask the locals where they eat and what they recommend. Try to find the local mom and pop restaurants and shops. Nothing wrong with trying the chain restaurants you’ve heard about but there’s so many little gems out there too. In another video, you mentioned Terry Black’s (I want to go there) and Buckees. Buckees is regional. I went to one on a road trip last week. First time. It is overwhelming in a good way. Just reading all of the signs leading to B’s is entertaining. I’ll keep watching and hope one day you’ll be making several videos of your American vacation/road trip. Wishing you the best.
Just a small note… our middle of the road hotels are usually very very nice.
And a stranger asking “How are you?” can be followed up with a, “Fine , thanks. How are you?” You just don’t go into detail about your day or your personal situation. It’s more of a pleasantry than a conversation starter.
I moved from Texas to Oklahoma last year and it was very surprising to me that food was taxed here in Oklahoma. In Texas there is no sales tax on food.
YES, you need to tip in the USA. Please realize that in most places in the USA servers get less than minimum wage because it is assumed they will actually make a living from their tips. Here in Louisiana, the server "minimum wage" from their employer is $2/hour, so the tips are crucial.
As far as transportation just depends where you are.. They're usually is always at least city buses.
Where I live sales tax is .09 or .10 depending on what side of town I'm on. I just round every price up to the next $1 and I always do fine. So $4.50 I count as $5. I do that on everything. you see there is no tax on groceries. Food items. so If that $4.50 was something to eat I'm now .50 in the black. Be aware that a lot of states have recycle taxes. So if you bought a case of Coke (taxable) for $4.50 and chips for $3.99 and dip for $4.99, how much will you actually spend? depends on the state. Here in Cali Recycle tax is .05 per can. So, $4.50 + (24x.05) + 10% + $3.99 + $4.99 total = $15.13. Easy peasy. Now you will be charged what seems like a sales tax on food that has been prepared for you. As far as tipping goes, well Both my sisters were waitresses so I understand why it's so important, that being said, if your server isn't making sure your needs are taken care of while you are dining in their restaurant (with a smile) don't feel guilty about skipping the tip. Exception being they might be under staffed and girls are covering extra tables, so she might not be around checking your coffee cup or overall experience as often as should be. I would still tip her reasonably well. Any server with an attitude, forget it no tip. What are they going to do? You will never see them again. Tipping is still YOUR discretion.
While sales tax is different everywhere you go here, it's never as high as your 20% VAT. You don't really have to know precisely what it is everywhere you go -- we certainly don't when *we* travel from state to state! Just assume that it will be somewhere between 0% (Oregon, New Hampshire, and a couple of other states have no sales tax at all) and 10% (some west coast cities where city sales tax is added onto state sales tax), and you'll be just fine.
Servers are in fact *not* "still paid to do their job" here. Restaurants are allowed to pay servers far below minimum wage. So if you don't tip, they might be getting paid like $3 an hour. Those aren't even starvation wages here.
He is right on the hotels. You can get a get a great hotel cheaper than a lavish hotel. The expensive hotels are expensive, and they charge for Wi-Fi, exercise rooms and pool time. I know this by experience.
Its like this, most wait staff rely on tips to make a living. Most of them will provide excellent service because they depend on the tip because they assume if they do good you'll tip good. So bare in mind, if they did good but you didn't tip, tip good, they will remember you so, don't expect good service next time.
USA is a huge country so growing up to explore your state you need an auto. Also in big cities the crime on the
trains/subways is bad, another reason to rent a car. As with all big cities talk with the locals what areas to avoid.
Sit down meals you usually tip as the service people make minimum wage. It was good advice to stay in the region
your visiting as it easily takes 2 weeks at least to 'explore" the area.
The tradition of tipping started during prohibition which didn't happen in other countries. And the tradition still goes on long after prohibition ended. It's a complicated situation for everyone.
I grew up in Southern California… in high school me and about six friends would go to a Mexican restaurant where they had free chips and salsa. One of my friends would order a quesadilla and the rest of us would just eat chips and salsa lol. Until someone working there was like, enough of this. Lol
In Texas, saying How are you is usually answered briefly.
sooo i grew up in the coachella desert (yes that coachella) but now live close to bakersfield and it can take me 4 hours or 6 if my mom is driving or heavy traffic to go see family in coachella. and thats reg, thats regulation mind you. thats 6 hours of driving, and never leaving the state of california
Tipping allows the restaurant to give you quality and larger portions at a lower price. Most servers make less than $3 an hour. The person serving you is practically working for free if you don't tip. So for those who don't like tipping culture, it's best to go to fast food places where it's not required.
alot of hotels here in the US have free wifi well most of the regular hotels ive been too and i travel alot for work out here.
You don’t need to figure out sales tax. The store computes it automatically and prints it on the receipt with the pre tax amount and the total. Overall total sales taxes (state city local whatever all together) range from zero to at most maybe fifteen percent. For comparison your VAT is twenty percent or so. If you need an estimate to figure out if you have enough money just round everything up, add it together and add ten or fifteen percent.
As to why sales tax, advertising. Mass media markets are large compared to areas applying the taxes.
All gasoline and diesel are sold at the advertised price, taxes already included. $X.999 per US gallon just like it says on the sign and the pump. And yes that nine tenths of a cent is really part of the price as far as how they calculate the total before rounding it.
There are places that rent sports cars but if you plan to do a lot of driving I'd recommend a smaller car. Gas prices are kind of high right now, you'll save a bunch of money.
The drive from like Seattle to NYC is like driving from Paris to Iraq. From Paris to Moscow would be like Seattle to Chicago.
About 70% of hotels have a breakfast buffet, free Wi-Fi n fool (inside or outside) especially in Florida and California and smaller areas but New York you might get breakfast and Wi-Fi but don’t count on pools unless it’s rooftop! Holiday Inn , is actually a nice hotel very inexpensive you’ll get free breakfast Wi-Fi and a pool And spend less than $100 a night or go with my idea about the van! Research it! Good luck
Tipping is normally 20% because the waiters wages is like 1/4 of minimum wage.
No, 15% for satisfactory service. Over 20% is for superior or outstanding service.
@@JEREMY99218 I spent 25 years traveling for work if you are tipping 15% you are a stingy person. I always tipped 20% and up to 25% for excellent service.
Yeah Pretty much in every state. The overprice hotels you will. You let the pay You won't get breakfast and you have to pay for Wi-Fi. In the cheaper hotels you get free Wi-Fi and breakfast. They usually pretty nice clean. William s
Most places do have free wifi, but not all. There are public places you can go to use free wifi. Check out the place you're considering online before you pay. If wifi is included, it will tell you.
When I waited tables as my first job I made 2 dollars per hour plus tips.
I would suggest the channel 'The Military Show' and the video 'How the U.S. became a Super Power. It has a bit of history you may not have learned yet.
Another thing on sales taxes is there are 2 states that don’t have sales taxes. I went to graduate school in Oregon and the no sales tax was weird but cool. But they make up for that money in other ways like higher state taxes. And then you have Texas that doesn’t have any state income tax.
Also whatever the number of guns an “expert” tells you, just double it. In Texas we don’t have to register are guns so if you buy one from a friend you don’t have to take it and get it registered under your name meaning many of us own double the amount of guns the government thinks we do.
YALL should do a reaction to us advance billion dollar drone tested on aircraft carrier
There are trains & Bus across Country but it's just far. Petrol is much cheaper then in Europe. Less then half. It's easy and cheap to rent a car!