Advice for British People Visiting America 

Met Europeans at Yellowstone who thought the Grand Canyon was a day trip away. It's 3 western states away.

A tip for visitors: if you do plan to drive, particularly in the more wooded/rural areas of the country, watch for deer, especially in the evening. They may look pretty and docile at first, but given half a chance, they WILL dive in front of your car. They are a menace. On a related note, if you happen to be visiting a rural area in the fall/winter, you will hear gunshots. This is the sound of the local deer population becoming less of a hazard.

Apparently, it's quite surprising to Brits to have an American simply walk up and talk to them without them first talking to you. My family was visiting Disney World a number of years ago and ran into a British family there on holiday near a set of restrooms. The family was discussing where to go next and trying to figure out how to get there from their current location; as luck would have it, we had just come from there, so I popped into their conversation and provided them with suitable directions. After finishing the conversation, the husband remarked that his friends at home had warned him that Americans would up and out of nowhere start talking to them, and he didn't believe it--only to discover much to his chagrin, that his friends were right. Still to this day, some nearly 20 years ago, the memory amuses me.

Some German friends were wanting to visit NYC and planned to drive down to Disneyworld for an afternoon of fun. I explained it was a 24-hour drive if one went non-stop. They were dumbfounded.

"To the annoyance of cows" in regards to American tipping culture. Gold.

On distance My recommendation is to think of it this way: Get into a car in London and drive to the Ural Mountains. On the way back swing by the pyramids and stop off for lunch at Gibraltar. That should give you some idea of the size of the U.S.

Also note that not only can taxes be different between states but also local governments. Never assume you know what the taxes will be.

If you visit the Rockies, water boils at a lower temperature. Keep that in mind when making tea.

Even though I am neither a Troll nor an Upper, thanks for correctly pronouncing Mackinac Island correctly! You are truly becoming a Midwesterner.

By “my team is making me do this”…. It’s the cat, right? It’s the cat.

That is so true. So many people don't know how big the USA really is. My friends in laws came in from Germany & wanted to see disneyland. Once we explained that it was a 2-3 day drive, the look on their face was priceless.

Visiting all those areas in the U S. In a week is like "Ferris Buelers day off, Chicagoans know he could not possibly have done it all in one day. We laughed and laughed!

A lot of American drivers don't know what road signs mean either.🚸

As a North Carolinian, thanks for the shout-out for Asheville. It's a beautiful, eclectic mountain city, but, it's surrounded by lots of other equally beautiful smaller towns and cities. My husband and I spent a number of years exploring the western mountains, finding places to pan for gold and gemstones, swimming holes, waterfalls, places to raft, places to camp and hike and fish, and places to get a great bottle of wine. We began with the Blue Ridge Parkway and followed it down to Skyline Drive, and then the myriad side roads along the way. Y'all come on down. It's a treat for the soul.

Ironically, in Portland (the weird one) the price on the tag IS actually what you pay because there is no sales tax.

Once when my mother was visiting Alaska, she heard some European tourists asking the tour guide if they would have enough time to visit NYC before dinner. 😂 My mom said the looks on their faces when the distance between Anchorage Alaska and NYC was explained to them was hilarious! 😂

Don't forget that while many electrical items operate on both 110 and 240 VAC it is best to check for something that says "100 / 240 VAC 50/60 Hz" which should cover you. A friend brought an espresso machine back from Europe and while they corrected the voltage with a transformer, they missed the frequency difference that an AC motor designed for 50Hz will run faster - and likely fail sooner on 60Hz in the US. In some cases it's both voltage and frequency.

If you go to a park in the west, don’t try to pat the buffalo. They get cranky about it. You always hear about them stomping some Australian.

As someone who has worked at a fast food restaurant I’ll tell you that, no, we don’t expect anyone to tip but it is really nice because we too are struggling. I worked for two years at one only to find out months after I quit that there was a $5 difference between what I started out making and what everyone else hired after me was making and at the time that I quit I made $2 less than someone hired months after me!!!!!!!!! And also housekeeping in hotels also appreciate tips as we make even less than I did in fast food.

You will be asked for tips in places that DO NOT NEED THEM. Tipping is for people who are providing you conditional service. Waiters, bartenders, hair stylists, nail technicians, taxi drivers, people lugging heavy objects... and that's pretty much it. It's also perfectly acceptable to click NO on a register asking you to donate, though rounding up your change in donation is probably a good idea if you are paying cash.

Thanks for mentioning Mackinac Island!!!!

Be mindful of the weather and winter hours. For example, the Grand Canyon closes.

When I traveled to the UK in 1988 for business, the manager of the facility gave me a short hands on course on driving on the left. That was all it took and I did fine except for speed limits. There were signs that were just a black circle. I was told this meant to drive the law of the land. The trouble was, nobody could tell me how fast that was. Now that was a long time ago and I was young and dumb. They may have been yanking my chain. Also, I may not remember everything correctly because now I'm old and dumb.

When I worked at a fast food joint, near the airport, we had some visitors from England. They asked what root beer was, I had no explanation, just suggested they give it a try. They did and immediately were like "it tastes like mouthwash" cracked me up.😂

The only time I ever got formally denied entrance to a country by an immigration officer was when I first arrived in the UK to start my semester studying abroad (I'm American). Apparently he needed my physical letter of acceptance to the University, not just a digital copy, so he read me the whole spiel about how I am "hereby denied admission to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland" (or something like that). It was only after I was able to contact the admissions office and they could vouch for me that I was allowed to enter.

"Things that vibrate..." You silly boy...🤣🤣🤣

True story - a client in Kansas City KS/MO once told me that a friend was visiting from the Boston area and said they might take a quick drive to Las Vegas. 😂 Knowing geography is important because though Boston MA is in driving distance of Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New York...there is no such thing as a day trip from Kansas to Nevada. 😂 States in the Western USA are much larger and therefore driving this particular trip would take a few days. ;-P

As a British person visiting the USA for the first time last year, going through security they asked me about my job and when I go back to work, how much money I have on myself. Also open a mondo or Chase UK bank account, these banks don’t charge overseas fees when you make transactions-also with a Chase UK bank account, if you use a Chase atm in the states with your Chase card, you won’t be charged for withdrawing money.

I think one of the more interesting activities when traveling around the United States and meeting people -- whether you are a foreign visitor or a domestic tourist -- is to learn the ways that Americans can be very regional and different from each other, and how we are all similar typical Americans in other ways. We are such a varied country, and yet also have a "common culture." Our motto: "E Pluribus, Unum" -- Out of Many, One. 😊

Not going to lie, that tipping joke about the cow made me throw my head back and laugh. Not easy to do these days. Great job Laurence. :)

Squirrel, say squirrel!!!! Love it so much. Good news is, even budget hotels have usb charging ports in the outlets, especially on the desk and nightstand. Definitely something to ask about when you book the room. I recommend visiting State Parks. Some places, like St Louis, Missouri, have amazing city parks full of museums and attractions that are free to the public. There's a state park in my area that has a pioneer village, a lovely inn with a pretty good restaurant, outdoor activities, some great caves, and a working corn mill. It's a popular place for school trips. There's a museum dedicated to a local astronaut that has part of a rocket, and a NASA space suit, among other items. I mean, for $7 a car, that's a good time.

If you have an outlet with just 2 holes, that will be a very old house or apartment.

Here's good rule of thumb for tipping: If you ordered your food from the same place you eat, leave a tip. (Cars don't count because you move through the drive-thru.) If you sit down at a table, are handed a menu, and you order there, you should be leaving a tip. If you stand in front of a register and order and then go back to a table, even if they bring you your food, you don't tip there. If you call from your house/hotel and they deliver food to your door, tip the driver. Remember, you're not tipping for the food, you're tipping for the SERVICE.

It is also a good idea to avoid chain restaurants for ethnic food. Some storefront or strip mall restaurant will probably have much better food.

Another point on driving, that I found out when going from American style driving to British. It's not so much which side of the road is the problem. (When in doubt, the driver's side is closer to oncoming traffic.) The problem is where in the lane to be. You are used to having all this car over here. Well, suddenly it's now all on the other side, so you have to get used to staring down a different part of the lane.

Your sense of humor is always welcome and wonderfully cranky. Do not ever change!

Why do I love this dry British humor so much?

I live in Texas. Texas does not have sales taxes on most (but not all) food items that you buy from a grocery store. Exceptions are pet foods and sodas. Non food items such as laundry soap, etc. have sales tax. As to the accent, I was visiting Scotland many years ago. I went in a store and the clerk said "You are not from here". I thought that would be pretty obvious with my Oklahoma/Texas accent.

Mackinac Island is AMAZING. Staying on the island is expensive but the ferry only takes about 15-20 minutes. St. Ignace is a little nicer if you’re looking for a quiet area. Mackinaw City is more touristy but still really small and quiet. The water is cold all year if you aren’t basically a moose or a local. We Michigan people are sincerely that nice, no one is messing with you. You can get Cornish pasties in the UP. They are delicious.

My last 4 visits to the USA have been for birdwatching in Cape May at the southern tip of New Jersey. That generally means flying into Philadelphia. I' ve often found that the guys on passport control are genuinely interested in what I'm there for and I've had more than one friendly chat with a fellow enthusiast.

To bolster your last point, there's this misconception, which isn't totally unfounded (no shortage of bigots anywhere you go), that Americans are anti-immigrant or anti-tourist. Most Americans, I'd say 90%+ of us, are pretty nice people and we especially love it when someone from another country comes to visit or live here. We, like probably most humans, find people from other countries interesting.

Definitely go to Mackinac Island. Get some fudge, ride a bike, see the Lakes.

I was in the Catskills in NY one weekend with the family to do some hiking. A man walks up to us with a bottle of wine and asks, in his British accent, if we have a corkscrew. I knew I had one somewhere in the car, attached to a swiss army knife. While I was digging around we chatted a bit and he said "I don't want to put you out" when it took a little longer to find the corkscrew than I anticipated. I told him it was no problem. I found the tool, opened his wine and he joked with me "Seems a bit inappropriate, me drinking wine in a US national park." I broke the news to him that he was not actually in a national park but rather a NY state park run by the NYSDEC. He seemed a little let down by the news but at the same time amazed by the fact that each state has its own park system in addition to the national park system. So, citizens of the UK, if you visit NY State, LEAVE THE CITY. Avoid it like the plague. NYC is as overrated as London. The rest of NYS is incredibly beautiful. Especially the state parks.

Also if you visit the beaches of Texas invest in a can of bug repellant. And don’t stay past dark unless you wanna be mosquito fodder.

You should explain to your Brit audience the reasons why there's a disparity between the listed price and the price you ultimately pay, on some of the goods you purchase. It's because countries that utilize a VAT, those taxes are collected by and go directly to the national government, as into the UK coffers. Where as in the US sales taxes are set by the states, ans their local municipalities. Some states [usually more conservative ones] believe in lower taxation, where as states like NY, CA. Massachusetts [Taxachusettes] have never seen a tax they didn't like. Like wise, the states do not pay sales taxes collected within their borders to the federal government. Sales taxes are a type of tax imposed and collected by state and local governments, not the federal government. The federal government does not have a national sales tax or collect sales taxes directly from consumers or businesses. Sales taxes are solely the domain of state and local jurisdictions, which have the authority to impose and administer these taxes within their respective territories. Each state, and in some cases, local governments (cities, counties, etc.), determine their own rates, and add on extra sales taxes. The sales tax revenue collected stays within the state or local jurisdiction where the tax was levied and paid. Some key points about sales taxes and the federal government: 1. States are not required to share or remit any portion of their sales tax revenue to the federal government. 2. The federal government's main revenue sources are income taxes, payroll taxes, corporate taxes, excise taxes, and other fees/duties, but not sales taxes. 3. While the federal government does not collect sales taxes, it does impose excise taxes on certain goods and services, such as gasoline, tobacco, and airline tickets. 4. There have been proposals in the past to introduce a national sales tax or value-added tax (VAT) at the federal level, but these have not been implemented. In summary, sales taxes are a state and local revenue source, and the federal government does not receive or collect any portion of the sales taxes paid by consumers within each state. Sales taxes can run from 0% in some states such as New Hampshire, Montana, Delaware, Oregon, to 1.76% in Alaska all the way up to Tennessee with combined sales taxes depending on location, which can mean which city, town or county you're in to a whopping 9.55% NYC is at 8.875% Here's the catch ... it may be a bit confusing for you when you pay at tge register only to find there's a sales tax associated. The mean sales tax in all states combines is approximately 7% Whereas in the UK the VAT is 20% ... so even our highest sales tax, is still less by over half of what's paid in the UK. So, do the math, would you rather have a little bit of head scratching and pay half, or know exactly what you're paying and double the tax? Also, 30 states exempt groceries [consumable food items] from being taxed, while others tax them at a lower rate Does that clear up the sales tax conundrum?

I live in Dallas Texas. To go from Dallas to the border with New Mexico takes 7 hours via interstate. To go from one end to the other takes around 13 hours. Texas is HUGE.

I've had TSA ask, "what's in the box," when I was flying out of California. It was avocados and they looked too much like hand granades in the x-ray.

There are SO many beautiful places that don't get international attention. Gor instance, everyone thinks the only thing in New York state is NYC. Wrong. There's the Adirondacks, Letchworth state park and the Thousand Islands. Look these up on the internet. You won't believe what's here. Also, there are 50 states, each with it's own beauty.

Sales tax is certainly a thing in most states, but it is not 16%. That is just absurd

You got to do tourism commercials for British Airways.

a lot of Americans are also hazy on just how big the country is. I once worked with a woman from NYC. She said she and her husband (also from NYC) were going to drive to LA from Dallas over a three day weekend. She was a bit taken aback when we told her that they would barely get there before they would have to turn around and drive back.

I’m African American. When I’m in the UK I always tell black British guys if they’re looking to meet girls, go to the South or Midwest. Then just start talking. We’re not use to black Brits and you will be a hit. I also tell them the same basic manners rules apply; be nice, respectful, and if you see one girl you like with other girlfriends, talk to them all. PS thanks for the Asheville NC shoutout. Heading g there next week for good food, beer and a nature walk. M

We have some roundabouts, putting in more all the time, but don't expect most people to know how to use them. They don't even fill the blinker fluid reservoir 😬🙄😒

Watching from Asheville, NC! It's a beautiful place, and there's a lot of stuff to do and see. The Parkway alone is reason enough to visit, late-Spring thru late fall (autumn). The food scene is great and the beer is world-class! We've won Beer City, USA multiple times. The Grove Park Inn is a beautiful, historic place, and worth a visit even if you don't stay there. The Biltmore Estate is the largest private estate in the US, the very pinnacle of Gilded Age decadence, and an undeniably beautiful place. There's lots more, but I'm in danger of ranting, already. So, c'mon by, mates!

There’s a British man who comes to my Arizona hardware store frequently. I really appreciate helping him. Always has a short funny story worth a belly laugh. Delightful!

Asheville! All of western NC is stunning.

I wouldn't say the accent is perceived as sounding smart so much as sophisticated.

Can confirm, Asheville is a great destination for vacations!

I'm so glad you mentioned that Double Tree in Westminster, CO. It's still there, and they still expect a tip when you buy a beer.

Normal Portland mentioned! Strange how the one in Oregon is specifically named after the one in Maine, but the one that didn't burn down twice is considered the weird one.

FYI, tipping extends beyond restaurants...you're expected to tip Uber/taxi drivers, hotel staff, haircuts, mani/pedi service, massages, movers, to name some. Find a tipping etiquette website b4 coming to the States to learn who to tip and how much 😊

I loved visiting Asheville! 🤠💚

Since you had the visual of the electrical outlet, I should point out for the portion of the English crowd that plans to visit; While most people from NA associate the "mickey mouse" face with electrical outlets, it is actually a common misconception that this is the correct orientation. Code dictates that the ground (the wider centered opening) should be upwards, especially when the receptacle is below counter height. This is so if something were to fall and strike the plug or cable and consequently cut into the sheathing, the wire it makes initial contact with and/or exposes is the ground wire, thus being less likely to cause electric shock, fire, etc.. However, the code is only strictly enforced in hospitals and nursing homes, and other such settings. It doesn't help that most older electronics manufacturers jumped on that bandwagon and sold power packs and converters so that the heavy part hung down with hot on the right and neutral on the left, which only perpetuated it further. Therefore, most American people are blissfully unaware that their outlets are almost all upside down.

Did not notice this video until it had been up for over a month, so someone has probably already pointed out that there are some states that do NOT have a sales tax. I live in one of them, and your example particularly captured my attention because it mentioned Portland, Maine. Had you made that purchase in the other Portland (Oregon), you wouldn't have paid sales tax. :)

My Scottish boyfriend cant believe how far away everything is. We went to a mall in the next state over and couldn't believe the distance. He thought it was just around the block. Lol

You've made a Michigander very happy talking about Mackinac island. Thanks Lawrence!

It’s true, we’re suckers for various British accents 😁

"Much to the annoyance of cows." Had me on the floor laughing!

“America is a very surprising country full of very surprising people”is a 100% true statement that I as an American take as both a compliment and an insult.

I ran into a Scottish woman when I was on vacation a few weeks ago. I told her I drove my daughter back to college after her spring break. She asked if we had to drive a long time. I told her it was only a five hour drive. She laughed. I wasn't joking.

US Travel Hack: Hork up $80 (or so) for TSA precheck. It's saved so much time and has so little BS compared to the usual one that it's worth the extra.

Remember if you visit Mackinac Island, motor vehicles are prohibited so plan on renting a bike, a horse/carriage, or just walk. For a place with so many horses, the streets are remarkably free of poo but still, watch your step. And don't forget to buy some fudge. Murdick's orJoann's are the best.

Not to mention sales tax differs by state and even local town/city! And some states don't charge it at all. My state doesn't charge it for food and clothing under $175. Where a relative lives they pay 7% (!!!!) on food! So yes, it's confusing and annoying even for us Americans.

Last time I went to the UK, the passport officer asked him if I was there for business or pleasure. I told him "No." Got a raised eyebrow at that so I explained that my sister had an emergency surgery while on a business trip and was in the hospital in Reading. It was true and he was flustered, bless his heart. I suppose he could have said "Why are you here?" Which is less welcoming, and I probably would have said something sassy back. "I don't know, where am I?" comes to mind, but I kinda wanted to get where I was going. Little did I know...

Just a special note about sells tax, in the state of Oregon, except for things like gas we don’t have sells tax in general. We make up for it in property taxes

If you're in a state where there's a sales tax, you should be tipping 15-20% of the pre-tax total, not the final bill.

Even in locations where you will have trains available, cars may often be a better choice. Amtrak is currently recruiting Nashville to join so they can link Nashville to Atlanta. I can drive from Nashville to Atlanta in less than 4 hours. But the planned train line is supposed to take six to eight because of all the stops they're going to make. I'm not entirely certain if I was only here for a couple of weeks that I wouldn't just prefer to drive rather than waste a day going to Atlanta and back from Nashville. Also don't say plan things regionally, because regions in America can be much larger than the British perceive. As noted above, I live in Nashville, and I have lost track of how many tourists from Britain have flown into Nashville on the direct flight, and honestly think they can get up at 6:00 a.m. drive down to Orlando, and be at Disney world in time for lunch. It's actually a 10-hour drive. So plan on staying in one city, maybe hitting the surrounding counties to that city, But that's about it.

Brits should find a site that will superimpose Great Britain onto California, Texas, or New England. That ought to give them a clear jolt of the size of the US. Enjoyed your reel, as usual -- funny, charming and informative! 😃

You're coming up on one million subs, Lawrence!!! Congratulations from Massachusetts! Love your videos!

Ooo, Laurence!! ❤❤❤ to Tarah & the 4 legged kids.

I work at a hardware store and a brittish guy asked me "what aisle are the screws in?" he had to keep repeating it because I kept hearing "well I was just cruisin"

Delaware has no sales tax. Of course, we are small and easy to miss.

The price tag in Europe includes tax (VAT), but it's usually 20% or more. Sales tax in the USA is generally 10% or less.

As a Coloradan, it was weird to hear you call out Westminster. Very unexpected

2:47 you mean driving on the RIGHT side 😂

So funny!!! I absolutely love your humor….Thank you for sharing!!

Also, I may have been typing through you saying this, but I'd think the most important thing to tell people from anywhere else is that public transit doesn't exist. You pictured yourself on a train, but train travel is so expensive and so difficult to plan that it's not worth while, and try finding a bus. Damn. As my father used to say, buses are fine if you have no place to go and all day to get there. Even taxis are getting difficult to find in a lot of places, replaced by Uber and Lyft, and damned if I want to get in a car with someone who I summoned through an app - I'd sooner trust someone I summoned using a pentacle and 2ccs of mouse blood.

Really enjoyed the editing on this video😊

The final price of an object in a store is always a mystery. The sales tax is always added on at the very last second after the cashier hits the final total button.

The state of Oregon does not have a sales tax but we do have a 10 cent deposit for drinks so that means you can turn in all your empty bottles and cans and get your 10 cents back for each container if you turn in 100 containers that's $10 it's that simple

Thanks a lot, Laurence! I just spit iced tea all over my monitor and keyboard, with that "cow tipping" reference. You Americans are all alike!

Ah, St. Augustine is my favorite city in the US! At least out of everything I have visited, anyway. I grew up in Florida just north of there. Asheville, NC is lovely too. Even so, I'd love to live near London; there is 'so much to divert' as Jane - and Jane - said, and I love it there.

Al-you-minium is another one I really like!

Also be advised that the American beer will be served ice cold, not lukewarm.

I second the St. Augustine suggestion! Beautiful place, lots of history and cool places to visit. And good food! But it is definitely a popular tourist place lol

your humor is awesome

An example: California Disneyland is 1000 miles from Yellowstone National Park.

I lived in England for a short while and sometimes in public I pull out my (ok-ish) English accent and people treat me so much better!

I love the innuendo in this video, keep it coming.

Great combination of jokes and useful information!