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Useful info about US dollars
How to make more of your US money on holiday
Obviously the price of your American holiday depends to an extent on where you're staying. For example, Texas and the deep south don't cost much for dining out or buying souvenirs, compared to Boston, New York or Chicago. However there are some general rules to heed if you want your holiday spending to go further.
- Public transport is usually cheaper with many cities offering good-value travel passes. Alternatively you might consider renting a car.
- Whether you want to visit the theatre or watch a ball game, ticket prices vary significantly from tour operator to tour operator and among agents so it's best to shop around.
- And if you intend to pack in a lot of sightseeing, you can save money with a CityPASS pre-paid ticket booklet, which covers admission to multiple major attractions in 10 US cities.
Tip if you think it's worth it
While tipping is not mandatory in most of the United States, it is customary in many circumstances for service, especially at almost all sit-down restaurants which offer table service. Many food servers depend on tips to supplement their wages. Generally, the average tip is 15% to 20% of the total meal cost.