Things to do and where to stay in United States
Where to stay · United States

United States — find the right stay, from deciding to booking

“Mega-cities, grand national parks, and extremes of every kind”

The United States is a country of dazzling extremes — New York, the city that never sleeps, the Grand Canyon and the national parks, Hollywood and the California beaches, Las Vegas around the clock, and Disney World, all paired with pop culture, the great American road trip, and food from every corner of the world.

🗽New York🏜️Grand Canyon🎬Hollywood🎰Las Vegas🏰Disney World🌉Golden Gate
16Cities reviewed
41Ranked guides
410Hotels reviewed
11Sights · dishes
🤝 Curated by the TopOfHotel team · 📅 Updated 2026 · based on real reviews · 3-site price comparison · affiliate links openly disclosed How we review →

United States at a glance

💵
CurrencyUS Dollar (USD)
🔌
Power plugType A/B · 120V
✈️
Getting aroundDomestic flights · car rental · Uber/Lyft
🗣️
LanguageEnglish (Spanish widely spoken in some states)

Choose a city in United States

Each city has its own things-to-do and food guides plus in-depth ranked hotel reviews with real photos and price comparison — start with the city that fits your trip.

1

Decide — is United States right for you?

Why people love United States, how it compares to its neighbors, and which travel style suits you

🗽

World-class cities

New York, the Statue of Liberty, Times Square, and Central Park.

🏜️

Grand national parks

The Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and Yosemite — nature on a world-class scale.

🎬

Pop culture

Hollywood, the Disney and Universal theme parks, and Las Vegas.

🚗

The dream road trip

Route 66 and California's coastal Highway 1.

🍔

Food from everywhere

Every cuisine on earth, steaks, burgers, and a serious brunch culture.

United States vs its neighbors

United StatesCanadaUnited Kingdom
Daily budget (per person)$100–170$90–155$85–145
Visa (Thai passport)Visa required (B1/B2)eTA/visa requiredFree 6 months
Getting around citiesNYC subway is great, elsewhere you'll mostly need a carBig cities have trains, suburbs need a carTrains + Underground cover everything
EnglishNative language, easy everywhereNative language, easy everywhereNative language, many accents
Known forDiversity · national parks · pop cultureStunning nature · safety · multiculturalismHistory · museums · football

Figures are rough per-person, per-day estimates — your real budget depends on your travel style.

2

Plan — stay, eat, see

Start with where to stay (the heart of the trip), then add food and sights, and gauge your daily budget.

Find the stay you want

41 ranked reviews
By level / price
By location
By style

Signature dishes across United States

  1. 1🍔

    Burgers & steaks

    Juicy burgers and big steaks — classic American food.

    📍 Nationwide
  2. 2🍕

    New York pizza

    Big, thin slices you fold to eat — an icon of the city.

    📍 New York
  3. 3🍖

    BBQ

    Slow-smoked meat with sauce — a Southern food heritage.

    📍 The South / Texas
  4. 4🥞

    Pancakes & brunch

    Tall stacks of pancakes with maple syrup, and a weekend brunch culture.

    📍 Nationwide
  5. 5🌮

    Mexican-American food

    Tex-Mex tacos and burritos.

    📍 The Southwest

Top sights across United States

  1. 1🗽

    New York City

    The Statue of Liberty, Times Square, Central Park, and the skyscrapers.

    📍 New York
  2. 2🏜️

    Grand Canyon

    The greatest, deepest canyon of all — watch the sunrise and sunset over the orange cliffs.

    📍 Arizona
  3. 3🎰

    Las Vegas

    The city of casinos and shows, and the gateway to the Grand Canyon and Zion.

    📍 Nevada
  4. 4🎬

    Los Angeles

    Hollywood, Santa Monica, and Universal Studios.

    📍 California
  5. 5🌉

    San Francisco

    The Golden Gate Bridge, the cable cars, and charming hilly neighborhoods.

    📍 California
  6. 6🏰

    Orlando

    Disney World and Universal — the theme-park capital.

    📍 Florida

🚆 Getting around United States

✈️

Domestic flights

The country is huge, so flying between major cities is both necessary and a big time-saver.

🚗

Car rental

Outside the big cities you'll need a car; road trips are part of the culture and you drive on the right.

🚇

City transit

New York has a 24-hour subway; other cities have more limited public transport.

🚕

Uber/Lyft

Ride-hailing apps have wide coverage and are often more convenient than taxis.

🛂 Etiquette & culture in United States

💵

Tipping

Tipping ~15–20% at restaurants and for services is expected — it's an important part of the culture.

🛂

Visa/ESTA

Thai travelers need a B1/B2 visa arranged in advance (with an embassy interview), so allow plenty of time.

📏

Imperial units

Miles, Fahrenheit, and pounds are standard, and distances are very long.

💊

Health insurance

Medical care is extremely expensive, so always buy comprehensive travel insurance.

💸 Daily budget — a rough guide

🎒

Budget

$70–100/ day / person

🛏️ Hostel / motel $25–50

Eat fast food and supermarket meals, ride the subway in NYC, and skip taxis — Uber adds up faster than you'd think.

🧳

Comfortable

$130–200/ day / person

🛏️ Central 3–4★ hotel $70–130

Mix local restaurants with casual dining, and book domestic flights early for cheap fares.

Premium

$260+/ day / person

🛏️ 4–5★ hotel in a good area $145+

Broadway shows, fine dining in NYC, and private national-park tours — world-class experiences.

🗓️ When to visit United States

🌸

Spring

Apr – Jun

Pleasant weather across much of the country and flowers in bloom — a great time to travel.

☀️

Summer

Jul – Aug

Peak season for national parks and road trips — busy and pricey.

🍁

Autumn

Sep – Nov

Fall foliage (New England is stunning), comfortable weather, and fewer crowds.

❄️

Winter

Dec – Feb

Cold up north (skiing) and warm down south — California and Florida.

3

Book — hotels our team picked

Hand-picked from the highest guest-rated hotels we've reviewed in United States — compare prices across 3 sites.

The Peninsula Beverly Hills★ 9.6👑 Great for your trip

The Peninsula Beverly Hills

From ~$942,862,857

See the full ranked review →
Drury Plaza Hotel Dallas Arlington★ 9.5👨‍👩‍👧 Great for your trip

Drury Plaza Hotel Dallas Arlington

From ~$1,171,643

See the full ranked review →
Mandarin Oriental, Boston★ 9.4👑 Great for your trip

Mandarin Oriental, Boston

From ~$91,430,714

See the full ranked review →

Want to see every option in United States?

Browse all our ranked stay reviews — every budget and area, with real photos and price comparison.

View the top city guide →

FAQ — visiting United States

Which region should I visit first?+

First-timers tend to pick either the West (Los Angeles–Las Vegas–Grand Canyon–San Francisco) or the East (New York–Washington) — focus on one region, because the country is enormous.

Do Thai travelers need a visa?+

Yes, you need a B1/B2 visa arranged in advance, which includes an embassy/consulate interview — prepare your documents and book the appointment well ahead.

How much should I tip?+

Tipping around 15–20% at restaurants and for services is standard; some places add a service charge already, so check the bill first.

Tips before you go to United States

  1. Apply for a B1/B2 visa well in advance (interview required)
  2. Budget for ~15–20% tips and buy comprehensive health insurance
  3. The country is huge — focus on one region per trip
  4. Book domestic flights and theme parks ahead for the best prices

Explore more

🏨 Our top hotels in United States Compare 3 sites →