Things to Remember When You Visit a Relative in the US
Family members move all over the place. At times, families move from one city to another, but a few daring souls move to other countries, like the United States. Those planning to visit relatives in the US may want to consider the following before making the trip.
Get Healthcare
It is important that you get travel medical coverage before you leave Pakistan. The prices for health care in this country are high.
No one is saying you are going to have to go to a doctor’s office or clinic during your visit, but you never know. What if you have an accident during your visit? That could be costly if you don’t come with your own health care insurance.
Stay Connected
Depending on where you are visiting from, you might be far away from home. This means staying in constant communication with family members is vital. There are many ways to stay connected not only by calling your phone company to turn on roaming but making sure you are in a place where wi-fi is available so that you can make VoIP calls or video calls through the net.
The reason you are doing this is that going back home in case of an emergency is going to take longer if you are visiting from faraway countries, like Pakistan. It may also be a good idea to locate local ways to transfer money to Pakistan or to the country you are from, just in case there is a financial emergency back home. All you are doing is being prepared because life can be unpredictable.
Tipping is Major
Tipping is not always done in other countries around the world, but it is expected in the United States. Granted, no one forces you to give a tip, but waiters and other similar workers will not appreciate you omitting a tip.
Most of the time, the tip is about 15 percent of the price of a meal, so make sure you plan on having that on hand. A lot of the servers in the US aren’t paid well, so tipping is there to help make ends meet each week.
Learn the Measurements
The United States is one of the few countries in the world that does not use the metric system to measure things. This is the reason people in the US measure height in feet and inches. The country also measures a field in yards or distances in miles.
This could get a little confusing if you are visiting from a country that does use the metric system. Have a measurement translator handy; there are some apps that can help you do this, just in case you need to talk to an American about measurements.
Prices are Misleading
In some countries around the world, the advertised price for something is pretty much what you end up paying. This is not the case in the United States. The prices you see don’t include taxes and other fees.
It is important that you learn this, especially if you are going to be staying in hotels as you travel with relatives around the US. Not having enough money could cause you to lose a hotel room, so make sure you remember that you may end up paying around 10 percent more than the price displayed.
Traveling to the United States to see relatives can be an exciting adventure, and these tips should help ensure that your time there is pleasant.
