New York and East Coast
Duration : 10 days
Route : New York (5 nights) → Washington DC (2 nights) → Boston (2 nights) → New York (1 night)
Custom travel to the USA
The USA is one of the world's most complete destinations, where vertical New York meets southwestern deserts, where tropical Florida dialogues with Alaska's icy landscapes, and where every state reveals its own character. From Manhattan's skylines to the Western national parks (Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Zion), from California beaches to Louisiana bayous, from the Rocky Mountains to the Everglades, the country offers unmatched geographical, cultural, and culinary diversity.
Highlights
- New York: Manhattan, Brooklyn, museums, and Broadway
- California: San Francisco, Los Angeles, Highway 1, Yosemite
- Western parks: Grand Canyon, Bryce, Zion, Monument Valley
- Florida: Miami, Keys, Everglades, Orlando
- Deep South: New Orleans, Nashville, Memphis
Sample itineraries
Great American West: national parks
Duration : 16 days
Route : Las Vegas (1 night) → Grand Canyon (1 night) → Page / Antelope Canyon / Horseshoe Bend (1 night) → Monument Valley (1 night) → Bryce Canyon (1 night) → Zion (2 nights) → Las Vegas (1 night) → Death Valley (1 night) → Yosemite (2 nights) → San Francisco (3 nights) → flight to LA → Los Angeles (2 nights)
West Coast and Pacific Coast Highway
Duration : 14 days
Route : San Francisco (3 nights) → Napa Valley (1 night) → Monterey / Carmel (1 night) → Big Sur (1 night) → Santa Barbara (1 night) → Los Angeles (3 nights) → Joshua Tree (1 night) → San Diego (2 nights) → flight to SF (1 night)
Deep South and Florida: music and tropics
Duration : 12 days
Route : New Orleans (3 nights) → Louisiana bayou (1 night) → Memphis (2 nights) → Nashville (2 nights) → flight Miami (3 nights) → Florida Keys / Key West (2 nights) → return flight
Hawaii: three islands and Polynesian tradition
Duration : 12 days
Route : Oahu / Honolulu (3 nights) → flight Maui (4 nights, Hana Highway, Haleakala) → flight Big Island (4 nights, volcanoes, Mauna Kea) → return flight Honolulu
When to go
The USA can be visited year-round depending on the region. For East Coast and Washington DC: April-June and September-October (stifling and humid summer, cold winter). For West Coast and California: almost year-round (Mediterranean climate in the south, oceanic in the north). For Western parks (Grand Canyon, Bryce, Zion): April-June and September-October (40 °C+ summer in Death Valley). For Yellowstone: June-September (snow other months). For Florida: November-May (rain June-October, hurricanes). For the South (New Orleans, Nashville): spring and autumn (humid summer).
- Spring (March – May), Western parks, East Coast, West Coast, south
- Summer (June – August), Yellowstone, Alaska, West Coast, California parks
- Autumn (September – November), New England (foliage), West Coast, Southwest, Napa
- Winter (December – February), New York at Christmas, Florida, Aspen, Hawaii, southwest desert
Practical information
In the USA, ESTA is mandatory (apply online before departure, valid 2 years, around $21). Biometric passport required. Systematic tipping: 18-22% in restaurants (calculated before tax), $1-2 per bag at hotels, 15-20% in taxi/Uber. Prices shown exclude tax (sales tax) variable by state (0-9%). Tap water good everywhere. Cards accepted everywhere, cash rarely needed. Emergency number: 911. Extremely high medical costs: travel insurance essential. Some urban areas to avoid at night (check locally).
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time for a USA trip?
April-June and September-October offer the best conditions across most of the territory: the East Coast is pleasant and less humid than in high summer, the West Coast is already sunny, and the Western parks are mild before Death Valley's fierce summer heat. For Yellowstone and Montana, book June-September, the park stays snowbound and partly closed the rest of the year. For Florida, November-May avoids the muggy heat and the June-October hurricane season. To see New York under snow and Christmas lights, December offers a unique atmosphere but higher prices. New England peaks with fall foliage in late September to mid-October.
How long for a USA trip?
Minimum 10 days for New York combined with another nearby point of interest (New England, Washington DC). 14-16 days allow the Western grand tour, a full national-parks loop from Las Vegas, or a north-to-south California immersion. 21 days or more to combine East Coast and West Coast, or add Hawaii as an extension. The country is vast: better to pick one region and explore it in depth than multiply domestic flights and lose precious time in transit.
What budget for a custom USA trip?
The budget varies significantly by the cities visited, New York and San Francisco being notably pricier than the rest of the country. As a guideline, expect €2,800-€4,000 per person for 10-14 days in comfort (3-4★ hotels, rental car, a few experiences), excluding international flights. For a deeper trip with charming addresses and a private guide on select stops: €4,500-€6,000. For an upscale trip with exceptional hotels and bespoke experiences (helicopter over the Grand Canyon, a national-park lodge): €6,500-€12,000. Flights from Paris range €500-€1,200 to New York and €700-€1,500 to Los Angeles depending on season.
Do I need a visa to travel to the USA?
No visa is required for French, Belgian, or Swiss citizens for a tourist stay under 90 days, but ESTA (electronic travel authorization) is mandatory for everyone, including children. Apply online at least 72 hours before departure, ideally several weeks ahead (around $21, valid 2 years or until passport expiry). A biometric passport is required, and a denied or uncertain ESTA response means applying for an actual visa at the embassy, allow several weeks for that.
How do I get around in the USA?
A rental car remains essential for most itineraries (Western parks, Highway 1, Deep South, New England), distances between sites far exceed what public transit covers. The subway works well in New York, San Francisco, Boston, Washington DC, and Chicago for getting around without a car. Domestic flights (Delta, United, JetBlue, Southwest) remain the fastest way to connect East and West Coast (about 5-6 h direct). Amtrak trains, picturesque but slow, suit regional links (Boston-New York-Washington on the Northeast Corridor) rather than transcontinental crossings. Greyhound bus remains the most economical option for tighter budgets.
Should I rent a car in the USA?
Essential for Western parks, Highway 1, Deep South. Unnecessary in NY, SF, DC (excellent public transit). French license accepted for short rentals, international license recommended. Minimum age 21, young driver surcharge until 25.
How does tipping work in the USA?
Tipping is systematic and part of waiters' salary: 18-22% in restaurants (calculated before tax), $1-2 per bag at hotels, 15-20% in taxi/Uber, $1-2 per drink at bars. Not tipping is very badly perceived.
Is the USA safe for a trip?
Generally safe for tourists who stay in recommended zones. Vigilance in some urban areas (Skid Row in LA, Tenderloin in SF, some parts of NY after midnight). Extremely high medical costs: travel insurance essential.
How to pay in the USA: card or cash?
Cards are accepted everywhere (Visa, Mastercard, Amex). Cash rarely needed, except for tips and food trucks. ATMs abundant. Apple Pay and Google Pay widespread.
Is the USA suitable for a family trip?
Absolutely. Family-oriented country (Disney, Universal parks, kid-friendly restaurants, hotels with pools). Favor Florida (Orlando, Miami) for kids, West Coast (San Diego, Los Angeles) or Western parks for teens.
Do I need a separate ESTA for each state I visit?
No, the ESTA is a single federal authorization covering all fifty states and valid for multiple entries during its validity period (2 years in general). You can therefore enter via New York, cross into Canada or Mexico for a side trip, then return to the US without a new application, as long as the ESTA remains valid and each stay stays under 90 days.
What's the best itinerary for a first visit?
For a first trip, I generally recommend choosing ONE region rather than trying to see everything: New York alone or combined with New England in the fall, a grand tour of the Western parks from Las Vegas, or California north to south (San Francisco, Big Sur, Los Angeles). Combining East and West Coast in under 3 weeks forces a dense pace with many domestic flights, better to save that combination for a second trip once you've discovered the first region.