18 year old travelling to America advice please

[Ceefax101]

Hi
My 18yo daughter is travelling to America for the first time alone. We are trying to make sure everything is in place for the trip but having never been we’re a bit clueless. She has an ESTA and travel insurance. Are there other things she needs to have before she travels? Is it best to change money to dollars before she goes? Thank you.

If she has a valid ESTA and passport with at least six months on it prior to expiry, she should be fine.

I'd make sure she has a currency card that you can just load and top up as needed with good rates, and then it's used just like a debit card. I use Caxton, but there are many others. Some actual dollars (cash) would probably be useful too.

Thank you so much.

If she is taking a VISA or Mastercard with her, she should inform the company of her travel before she goes so that they don't block the card for unusual usage.

Check the cost of using her phone there so she doesn't get stung with high roaming charges. Remind her that many (most?) states have 21 as the age for alcohol and are very strict about keeping out underage people - mother and I were (nicely) thrown out of a bar in Seattle when I was 19 even though I had no intention of drinking alcohol and we just wanted a meal.

Is she going with friends, alone, or meeting people there? Make sure she has a clear idea of where to go once she is at the airport (as in how to find her accomodation). She also needs to be prepared for a grilling from immigration as they sometimes like to reassure themselves that younger people aren't planning on overstaying or trying to work illegally. I went to stay with a friend in Boston when I was 20 and got well and truly cross-questioned about who I was staying with, what did I plan on doing, and when was I going home!

How long is she going for?

Tea bags! Remind her of the drinking age over there (of alcohol, not tea)

Thank you all so much! She’s not a drinker so won’t be trying the bars 🙏🏻 Her friends are meeting her at Chicago airport and she’s going for one month. She’ll contact EE and the bank before she goes too. I’ll remind her about the Caxton card.

If she's there a month it will be worth getting a local SIM card, and contacting home by internet calling rather than phoning. Then roaming won't matter.

Remind her aswell (unless it's changed? It's been a few years since I was last there) that prices in shops don't include tax, so you need to add the local tax on.

Get a starling bank account free to use abroad best rate and no need to carry lots of cash.

For peace of mind a local SIM card even though she may have to get a 3 month contract and bin the last two months.
Means she can what’s app day or night.
Does her insurance cover her mobile phone and laptop being stolen?

Make sure she has any spare medication if she needs it - like inhaler etc. We just had an Australian student staying at new year who forgot to bring hers and epi pen.
And good that she not want to go drinking.
A study abroad friend of my daughter got v drunk and an ambulance was called. Bill was $2k.

Actually EE will be fine. My daughter study abroad was two years ago and it’s all got better with UK accounts

@Latenightreader the drinking age is 21 in every state. Buying tobacco is also 21 in many states.

You don't need 6 months on your passport prior to expiry for the USA.