Culture & Etiquette

At sit-down restaurants, 18-20% is standard. Bartenders, taxi drivers, rideshare drivers, hotel staff, tour guides, and salon workers commonly expect tips. Digital payment screens may ask for tips even in casual counter-service situations; use judgment there.

Sales tax is usually added at checkout, not shown on the shelf or menu price. It varies by state and city, often around 5-12%. The final amount may be higher than expected.

Cashiers, servers, hotel staff, and strangers may ask how your day is going. A short friendly answer is expected. This is social warmth, not an invitation into a long personal conversation.

Asking for substitutions, dressing on the side, no ice, extra sauce, or allergy accommodations is normal in American restaurants. Portions can be large, and taking leftovers to go is common.

Americans usually keep an arm's length of personal space and expect orderly lines. Cutting in line is considered rude. Loud phone calls are common in some places but still annoying in quiet settings.

The US does not have universal healthcare for visitors. Emergency rooms can be extremely expensive. For non-urgent problems, urgent care clinics are usually faster and cheaper. Travel insurance is strongly recommended.