USA FAQs

Asheville GMT –5hrs 

Atlanta GMT –5hrs 

Big Sky GMT –7hrs 

Denver GMT –7hrs 

Grand Canyon National Park GMT –8hrs 

Grand Teton National Park GMT –8hrs 

Greenwood GMT –6hrs  

Las Vegas GMT –8hrs 

Los Angeles GMT –8hrs 

Memphis GMT –6hrs 

Moab GMT –7hrs 

Monterey GMT –8hrs 

Nashville GMT –6hrs 

New Orleans GMT –6hrs 

Park City GMT –7hrs 

Salt Lake City GMT –7hrs 

San Diego GMT –8hrs 

San Francisco GMT –8hrs 

Santa Barbara GMT –8hrs 

Savannah GMT –5hrs 

Springdale GMT –6hrs 

Torrey GMT –7hrs 

Yosemite National Park GMT –8hrs 

US Dollar

Generally, all our tours travel when it is considered the best time to travel, however it is important to note that climates may vary between different regions so the weather may vary throughout your tour. As weather patterns around the world are becoming less predictable the information we provide should be used as a guide only and is no guarantee of the weather at the time you travel. We also recommend checking up-to-date weather forecasts before you travel.  

Mainland USA  

Tours to California and the National Parks operate from late Spring to late Autumn which generally means sunny days and pleasant temperatures. Tours to the southern states operate from February to April and again from October when there are pleasantly warm days and cool evenings. 

Dress for our tours is generally relaxed and informal during the day, dressing to suit the weather conditions and the activity you are undertaking. Evening dinners are also informal, with smart casual dress being the norm. It’s likely there will be occasions when exploring you’ll be walking on uneven surfaces, so we recommend sturdy and comfortable walking shoes. Wearing layers of clothing means it’s much easier to deal with potentially varied weather conditions – remember it will be cooler at higher altitudes – and it’s always advisable to carry a waterproof, good insect repellent, a high factor sunscreen lotion and a hat for protection from the sun. 

For restaurants you should look to add 15%-25% to your bill and for taxis add 15%-25% to the fare. For housekeepers, if you are happy with the service provided, a tip of around 5-10 USD should be offered. For your tour, suggested tipping amounts for your driver and guides are as follows: • Tour Manager: $8 USD per person per day • Driver: $6 USD per person per day • Local Guides: $5 USD per person per day When travelling on the Rocky Mountaineer or Canyon Spirit, gratuities have been included for the train staff . Any porters or coach drivers are not included in this. 

The following information on entry requirements, passports and visas is for British Citizens only. Any visa information covers visa requirements for the duration our tour stays in any given country. If you intend to stay longer you should seek additional information before booking. Holders of a British Subject passport, non-British citizens and holders of a passport endorsed in any way should check immigration requirements with the relevant embassy or consulate of the country to be visited, as should clients with dual nationality or renounced citizenship. It is important to recognise that whilst the information below is correct at the time we go to print, all requirements may change and all clients must check the up to date position in good time before departure with the Embassy or consulate of the country(ies) you are travelling through and to. We also suggest referring to the UK government’s Foreign Travel Advice website, gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice for advice about travelling abroad, including the latest information on safety and security, entry requirements and travel warnings. 

A valid ten-year British passport is required for all our holidays, valid for a minimum of six months after your return date to the UK. If you are not currently in possession of a valid passport please make sure you leave plenty of time before your holiday to apply for this document. A full British passport presently takes approximately up to 10 weeks to obtain. If you are 16 or over and have not yet arranged a passport, you should apply for one at least six weeks before your departure from the UK. The UK Passport Service has to confirm an applicant’s identity before issuing their first passport and will ask them to attend an interview in order to do this. Please note, if you need to apply for visas after you receive your new passport, you will need to factor in additional time for this. For more information on passport and entry requirements please visit the Government Passport Office website, or see our website for more details 

You are required to obtain an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) visa waiver before travelling to the United States including Alaska. You can apply for your ESTA on www.esta.cbp.dhs.gov. Once approved an ESTA application is generally valid for two years. 

Health & vaccinations Health facilities, hygiene and disease risks vary worldwide and may change at any time. You should take health advice from your GP or local travel clinic about your specific needs as early as possible and ensure that vaccinations or preventative measures are taken early enough (which may be a month or more prior to departure) to be fully effective by the date of travel. In addition to the UK government’s own travel advice website, gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice at least 8 weeks before your trip, we recommend you check the latest health advice from the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) on the TravelHealthPro website, travelhealthpro.org.uk/countries Guidance is also available from on the NHS Travel Vaccinations website, www.nhs.uk/conditions/travel-vaccinations and the NHS (Scotland) FitForTravel website, fi tfortravel.nhs.uk/home 

Baggage allowance You are entitled to carry one suitcase per person. Total dimensions for each piece must not exceed 158cm (62in) and weight must not exceed 20kg (44lbs). Dimensions for luggage are calculated by adding together the length, height and depth of the piece of baggage. In most instances this will be less than the airlines permitted allowance and is restricted to accommodate for coach and, or train capacity, domestic flights and where applicable local health and safety laws. We are unable to accommodate more than one suitcase per person, or any oversized pieces of luggage. Personal and valuable items such as cameras, medication, money / credit cards etc. should be carried in a travel bag or on your person.