Getting around the USA
Introduction
Americans do not walk- they drive! Therefore one of the first things you will have to consider is a car.
Once you have settled down in your new place you should begin exploring your new area.
Learning the area
While the US is one nation, each state has its own culture, infrastructure, climate and vegetation. Describing each state is well beyond the scope of this section. Generally speaking however, having your own car is the best way to travel locally, especially in areas like Los Angeles, where public transport is close to non-existent.
If you are looking to do some intra-state travelling, it is recommended to travel by air, even though increased airport security has somewhat slowed down the check-in procedure.Public Transport
While offering limited coverage, you may travel by train along the West and East coast of the US, as well as across the Southern states. If you ever have a chance to take the train between San Diego and Los Angeles, you should take it. It's a beautiful route and often used by commuters working in L.A. Most big cities like New York, Miami, Chicago and San Francisco offer efficient public transport in the forms of subways, buses and trams. If you plan to live and work in the city, you are most likely better off not even drive your own car, since traffic congestions are common and unpleasant. Driving
Driving is for the most part performed on the right hand side of the road (with the exception of certain police car chases). You can use your international driver's license in the US, but need a state license to buy car insurance. If you are ever pulled over by the police when on the road, you might want to try showing your international license since the cops tend to be more tolerant towards "foreigners".
Parking could have qualified for its own section, since it can be an intricate art in certain areas. If you decide to travel to the West Coast in high peak season, expect to pay about $30 per day in San Francisco and $15 for an afternoon in Santa Monica or Venice Beach.
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