Our USA Travel Guides —
four very different sides of America
America hasn't been one trip for us — it's been four completely different adventures. We've driven 4,000km from New York to Miami through the Deep South, island-hopped four Hawaiian islands, sailed Alaska's Inside Passage and spent four packed days in Los Angeles. This is the starting point for all our first-hand USA guides.
From New York to Miami, Hawaii, Alaska and Los Angeles
This map brings our four American adventures together in one place. The orange route follows our Deep South road trip from New York to Miami; blue covers our four-island Hawaii trip; teal follows the Alaska Inside Passage; and gold marks our Los Angeles stay. Tap any marker for the story and the matching guide.
Every photo on this page is from our own USA trips — no stock images and no placeholders.
Start with the trip that takes your fancy, then follow the individual city, island and cruise-port guides underneath.
New York, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Williamsburg, the Smokies, Nashville, Memphis, New Orleans, Kennedy Space Center, the Everglades and Miami.
Explore the road trip →
Big Island volcanoes, Oahu adventure and history, Maui's Road to Hana and Kauai's extraordinary Nā Pali Coast.
Explore Hawaii →
Icy Strait Point, Hubbard Glacier, Juneau and Ketchikan — plus the shipboard story from our round-trip cruise from Vancouver.
Explore Alaska →
Hollywood, Warner Bros., Beverly Hills, Griffith Observatory, Santa Monica and Venice Beach after returning from Hawaii.
Explore Los Angeles →We've now broken our bigger USA journeys into individual first-hand guides, so you can jump straight to the city or experience you're interested in.
Big American journeys, without planning every mile
Having driven 4,000km from New York to Miami ourselves, we know how much planning a big American trip can involve. We loved having our own wheels, but if you'd rather leave the route, hotels and logistics to somebody else, these are some TourRadar itineraries we'd start with.
Rhythms of the South
An 11-day journey from Nashville to New Orleans, travelling through the musical heart of the South.
View Rhythms of the South →Best of Alaska
A bigger Alaska adventure for travellers who want to experience the state beyond a cruise itinerary.
View Best of Alaska →Best of Yellowstone
A Yellowstone-focused option for anyone dreaming of America's extraordinary landscapes and wildlife.
View Best of Yellowstone →Niagara Falls & Toronto from NYC
A handy three-day add-on from New York combining Niagara Falls with Toronto.
View Niagara Falls & Toronto →Holiday Magic in New York City
A New York city break itinerary for travellers who'd prefer an organised experience in the Big Apple.
View New York tour →Affiliate links — if you book through one of our TourRadar links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
- ESTA is essential. Irish citizens don't need a visa for short tourism trips, but everyone must apply for an ESTA online in advance under the Visa Waiver Program. Do this at least 72 hours before you fly.
- Tipping is a much bigger deal than at home. Budget for 18–20% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 per drink at bars, 15–20% for taxi and ride-share drivers, and a few dollars per night for hotel housekeeping. It's not optional in the way it can be in Ireland.
- You'll need a plug adapter. The USA uses Type A/B plugs and runs on 110V. Most phone, laptop and camera chargers are dual-voltage and just need an adapter. Hair dryers and straighteners often are not — check the label or buy a travel version.
- Driving is on the right — opposite side to Ireland. For a road trip like our Deep South drive, that's the whole point. For cities like New York and Washington DC, public transport is often much better than driving and parking.
- ATMs are universal, cards are king. Contactless is now widespread. You rarely need lots of cash — but keep a small amount for tips.
- Best time to visit varies enormously. There is no single "best time" for the USA — pick your destination first, then the season. See our destination guides for region-specific advice.
Start exploring America with us
Pick a road trip, island adventure, cruise or city break above. Every guide is based on somewhere we've actually been and the experiences we genuinely had there.