Practical information United States

For a tourist stay of less than 90 days, French nationals benefit from the Visa Waiver program and simply need to obtain an ESTA authorization. The application is made online on the official United States government website (esta.cbp.dhs.gov), costs 21 dollars, and remains valid for two years. We recommend requesting it at least 72 hours before departure, ideally two weeks in advance. The passport must be biometric and valid for the entire duration of the stay. For a stay of more than 90 days, paid work, or studies, a standard visa issued by the embassy is necessary. Our team guides you step by step through the ESTA procedure.

No vaccines are required to enter the United States territory. However, we recommend being up to date with your standard vaccination schedule: DTP (diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis), MMR, hepatitis B. No malaria risk. West Nile fever exists in summer in certain States, transmitted by mosquitoes, but the risk remains low. The key point is health insurance: American healthcare is of high quality but extremely costly—a simple emergency room consultation exceeds $1,500, and hospitalization can reach $100,000. Travel insurance with medical coverage of 1 million euros and evacuation is essential; we guide you toward reliable policies.

Expect to budget an average of $150 to $250 per day per person, excluding international flights, for a comfortable trip. This budget includes a mid-range hotel ($120 to $200 per night in a double room outside major cities, more in New York or San Francisco), car rental ($45 to $80 per day depending on the category), gas ($3.50 to $4.50 per gallon, or approximately $1 per liter), meals ($15 for breakfast, $25-40 for dinner), and national park entrance fees ($35 per vehicle, or $80 for the annual America the Beautiful pass, which pays for itself after visiting three parks). Add 18 to 20% gratuity at restaurants.

It depends on the region. For the Western parks (Grand Canyon, Bryce, Zion, Monument Valley), we recommend May-June and September-October, avoiding the heat of July-August. California can be visited year-round, with a preference for April through October. New England reaches its peak from late September to mid-October for fall colors. Florida and the Southwest are perfect from December to April, when the rest of the country is frozen. The Northern parks (Yellowstone, Glacier) are only accessible between June and September. Avoid hurricane season in Florida and Louisiana from August to October, and Death Valley's extreme heat in the middle of summer.

The car remains the main mode of transport outside major cities. Distances are considerable (4,500 km east to west) and domestic flights are often faster and more economical than driving to connect two regions: 5 hours flying from New York to Los Angeles, versus 5 days by car. A French driving license is accepted for short stays, driving on the right, strict speed limits (105 km/h on highways in general). On the East Coast, the Amtrak train connects Boston, New York and Washington. In major cities (New York, San Francisco, Chicago), the metro and buses are sufficient. Uber and Lyft operate everywhere.

Overall yes, for the tourist areas we offer. National parks, medium-sized cities and rural regions are safe. In major cities (New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, New Orleans), a few neighborhoods are best avoided in the evening — we'll provide you with a detailed map. Standard precautions apply: don't leave valuables visible in your car, opt for supervised parking, keep your belongings close in public transport. The main concern is health (medical costs, which is why insurance is essential) and weather (tornadoes in the Midwest in spring, hurricanes in the Southeast in fall). 911 operates 24/7 for any emergency.