US help.

[Shiny Things]

Another question, so mean its better/a must to bring the physical credit card?
They do accept credit card payment?

Anyone been to west coast in recent years?

1) Do most places (supermarket, petrol station, restaurants etc.) take paywave/contactless payment?

Or are magnetic stripe based transactions still common there?

2) Need to keep plenty of "small" notes for tipping? For like housekeeping, etc.

1) Most places accept contactless, yeah. You’ll find a few places that still want to swipe the card, unfortunately - as a rule, the bigger the place, the more likely they are to have a modern point-of-sale system that can handle contactless.

Supermarkets: never a problem. Restaurants: better than 50/50 but still not quite there. Petrol stations are a bit hit-or-miss. Some chains have enabled contactless across all their pumps, others have chip readers, and a very few gas pumps are still magstripe.

2) Yeah. Bring some 1s and 5s. (The easiest way to get them is find a Chase Bank ATM - most Chase ATMs will let you choose to withdraw $5 notes instead of 20s or hundreds.)

 

[nez]

1) Most places accept contactless, yeah. You’ll find a few places that still want to swipe the card, unfortunately - as a rule, the bigger the place, the more likely they are to have a modern point-of-sale system that can handle contactless.

Supermarkets: never a problem. Restaurants: better than 50/50 but still not quite there. Petrol stations are a bit hit-or-miss. Some chains have enabled contactless across all their pumps, others have chip readers, and a very few gas pumps are still magstripe.

2) Yeah. Bring some 1s and 5s. (The easiest way to get them is find a Chase Bank ATM - most Chase ATMs will let you choose to withdraw $5 notes instead of 20s or hundreds.)

Thanks for your help

 

[jingle_babble]

Hi,
currently shopping for a prepaid sim from SG.. going to NYC

was told to use this link to see if phone is compatible. Am currently using a POCO X4 GT... seems like its shows limited compatibility... should i be worried? not sure if anyone has this issue in the past and any experience to share?

https://www.t-mobile.com/resources/bring-your-own-phone

 

[Hisashiburi]

Hi,
currently shopping for a prepaid sim from SG.. going to NYC

was told to use this link to see if phone is compatible. Am currently using a POCO X4 GT... seems like its shows limited compatibility... should i be worried? not sure if anyone has this issue in the past and any experience to share?

https://www.t-mobile.com/resources/bring-your-own-phone

Did u put in the phone imei n check?

Might be able to get 4g but prob not 5g

According to gsmarena, poco x4 gt has the necessary 4g bands for tmobile which are 2,4,5

 

[Crimsom]

Some advise needed on tipping

1) If i reach the hotel earlier than the check-in time and want to deposit our baggage while we head out to explore, do I need to tip? And how much to tip? Is $1 per bag enough?

Also, when coming back to collect baggage need to tip again?

2) if there's free shuttle bus offered at the national parks or other attractions, i suppose need to tip the driver too? Is $1 per pax ok?

Thanks in advance! First time in USA

 

[Shiny Things]

Some advise needed on tipping

1) If i reach the hotel earlier than the check-in time and want to deposit our baggage while we head out to explore, do I need to tip? And how much to tip? Is $1 per bag enough?

Also, when coming back to collect baggage need to tip again?

2) if there's free shuttle bus offered at the national parks or other attractions, i suppose need to tip the driver too? Is $1 per pax ok?

Thanks in advance! First time in USA

Welcome to America, have fun over here!

And being confused about tipping is super normal. If you're ever not sure whether or how much to tip, it's totally OK to quietly ask, it'll always be appreciated.

For the two examples you talked about:
1) Don't tip when you drop off; tip when you get the baggage back. $1–$2 per bag is fine, even at a fancy hotel.
2) Yeah. For a regular shuttle bus, tipping is optional-but-nice - $1 per person is normal. For an actual tour bus, you'd tip more.

 

[android]

Going to have a 10hours layover at LAX, thinking of using this time to do a little exploration. Can advise where I can get SIM card? Read that the SIM card at LAX is expensive?

 

[Crimsom]

Going to have a 10hours layover at LAX, thinking of using this time to do a little exploration. Can advise where I can get SIM card? Read that the SIM card at LAX is expensive?

Airalo esim. USD4.50 for 1GB.

Pay, install and ready in less than 5 minutes.

 

[owenowenno]

I applied for the Travel ESTA 7 DAYS ago as a group for me ,wife and son but did not put my social media as i am not active,Any idea how long it takes and i am due to travel in 2 weeks.What happens it it still not approved and we still get on the plane to Boston?Any way to check or to expedite ?

 

[Hisashiburi]

I applied for the Travel ESTA 7 DAYS ago as a group for me ,wife and son but did not put my social media as i am not active,Any idea how long it takes and i am due to travel in 2 weeks.What happens it it still not approved and we still get on the plane to Boston?Any way to check or to expedite ?

https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/retrieveGroup
Can check here

 

[owenowenno]

https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/retrieveGroup
Can check here

THANKS,FOUND the reply in my spam Mail

 

[apple isle]

Hi
Thinking of going to Hawaii this October for a week. Appreciate advice on flights, accommodation and land tours. Thanks in advance!

 

[Hisashiburi]

Hi
Thinking of going to Hawaii this October for a week. Appreciate advice on flights, accommodation and land tours. Thanks in advance!

Can fly to Honolulu airport on Oahu island from many different airports
Flights can connect through Japan, Korea, maybe Taiwan and HK etc
So pick whichever u want.
Just dont fly the usa airlines.
They are bad.

Recommend self drive in Hawaii, pick a Convertible car (with open top) if u can.
Open air driving in Hawaii is awesome!
Very easy to drive in Hawaii.
People are relaxed.

Recommend 3 days in Oahu and 3 days in Maui.
Maui is my fav island!
Can easily spend one week there.

Hotels are very expensive in Hawaii.

On Oahu, can stay in the Honolulu area.
On Maui, recommend Wailea or Lahaina area.

Have all sorts of adventure, scuba, snorkel, heli, glider, zipline tours etc
So whatever u feel like.

I tried hang gliding on Maui which was quite fun.

Also have lava tube cave tour in Hana town but dont recommend it as it can be dark n scary...for me. Haha

Molokini crater n Turtle town snorkeling on Maui is very nice. They take u out to a sunken crater as well as an area frequented by green turtles.
But the water can be very choppy.
Hmm in October, can be quite cold in the water so maybe not good idea...

Maui also has a sunrise tour , which u can do yourself, on Haleakala mountain.
Super cold at the top at 5am but get to see amazing sunrise.
Have to get up really early though at 3am to drive there.

 

[owenowenno]

Going to Boston.in May.
Depart SG 1am,stopover korean Incheon at 8am ,2nd Flight at930am, after 14 hours ,arrive Boston 1030 am local time. What do i do to cope with jet lag and how should i set my watch time ?
if i have confirmed return tickets print out (back to Sg),any thing else to have standard entry at IMMIGRATION?
Any Customs prohibited items,eg can i bring pork jerky bak Kwa?

 

[Hisashiburi]

Us customs is very strict.
Dont bring any sort of meat veggies fruit etc

Need your esta n vaccination for usa entry.

Going to Boston.in May.
Depart SG 1am,stopover korean Incheon at 8am ,2nd Flight at930am, after 14 hours ,arrive Boston 1030 am local time. What do i do to cope with jet lag and how should i set my watch time ?
if i have confirmed return tickets print out (back to Sg),any thing else to have standard entry at IMMIGRATION?
Any Customs prohibited items,eg can i bring pork jerky bak Kwa?

 

[owenowenno]

thanks .ANYthing i should do to cope with the jet lag?

 

[beanstalk6]

Hi
Thinking of going to Hawaii this October for a week. Appreciate advice on flights, accommodation and land tours. Thanks in advance!

Hotels are expensive in Oahu. I recall renting a car to circumnavigate the island, visiting Northshore. the Polynesian Cultural Center and the Waikele Outlets. I snorkelled at Hanauma Bay and also visited Pearl Harbour. The biggest shopping mall is the Ala Moa Centre which is a short walk from Waikiki Beach and a Red Losbter in between. The shortest connection flies via Narita and it made sense to visit Tokyo.

https://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/threads/hawaii-travel.5774310/

 

[beanstalk6]

Going to Boston.in May.
Depart SG 1am,stopover korean Incheon at 8am ,2nd Flight at930am, after 14 hours ,arrive Boston 1030 am local time. What do i do to cope with jet lag and how should i set my watch time ?

Why... set your watch to the local time when you reach your destination.
https://www.healthline.com/health/healthy-sleep/how-to-get-over-jet-lag#tips-to-help

 

[Hungry kid]

Some advise needed on tipping

1) If i reach the hotel earlier than the check-in time and want to deposit our baggage while we head out to explore, do I need to tip? And how much to tip? Is $1 per bag enough?

Also, when coming back to collect baggage need to tip again?

2) if there's free shuttle bus offered at the national parks or other attractions, i suppose need to tip the driver too? Is $1 per pax ok?

Thanks in advance! First time in USA

Yes, just like the other bro replied, dropping off does not require to tip, only when picking up or when they send to your room. How much to tip really depends on few factors like: Which city/state you are in, how good the service is etc... If say you are in Oklahoma or Wyoming $1 per bag will be fine, but maybe in LA i would normally do $10 for 2 big and 2 small luggage.

Shuttle bus same $1 per pax is ok, maybe say if have 4 pax total $4 can round up to $5

Actually really depends on their level of service and how much the individual wants to give. There's no hard rule on that haha....Enjoy your trip!

 

[LancelotDuLac]

anyone can give a guide for coastal drive itinerary from San Fran to Vegas. Going in End Nov/ early Dec

intending to do Grand Canyon, does it make sense to drive to Vegas first, then make the trip to Grand Canyon or go Grand Canyon straight then go Vegas