Pick a scale
The contiguous US is about forty times the UK. A first trip that is “New York, Grand Canyon, San Francisco” in ten days is a film, not a holiday. Pick one coast or one city + one park.
Pack from the packing library — tech, apparel, outdoors if parks are involved.
A sane first shape
| Days | Do this | Skip |
|---|---|---|
| 5–7 | New York only | Hiring a car in Manhattan |
| 10 | NYC + a train or one flight to Chicago or Miami | Route 66 “the whole thing” |
| 14 | West: LA + a park or SF | Vegas and the canyon and Yosemite |
Then: ESTA, flights, budget. If you will drive, read driving before you collect the keys.
Money and manners
Tipping is not a hint. Portions are not a dare. See culture shock and food.
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