US tour, got any tips?

[Macktheknife]

so how long to go now?

4 weeks and counting down fast!
Departure date is 14th of March, if the Americans decide to give me an entry visa!

[Hitcher]

if the Americans decide to give me an entry visa!

What sort of passport are you travelling on?

[oldrider]

Apart from riding on the wrong side of the road, my biggest fear about travelling in the US is the quaint and arcane practice of tipping.

Here in NZ service is leveled to the lowest common denominator. IE: The service provider gets paid top $ for crap service, customer has no redress.

In USA employer provides opportunity for service provider who has unwritten contract with customer to provide service.

The harder they work for their customer the better the reward and the more they earn. Customer satisfaction = size of tip!

If they give crap service they get poorly paid.

If they give good service and the customer refuses to tip them appropriately, they have been screwed.

How many tips would you give for service in NZ?

Most of the service providers here should pay their customers for putting up with them! John.

[Macktheknife]

What sort of passport are you travelling on?

Kiwi of course!

[Keith the Pom]

Here in NZ service is leveled to the lowest common denominator. IE: The service provider gets paid top $ for crap service, customer has no redress ...

Most of the service providers here should pay their customers for putting up with them! John.

That just about sums it all up John. You could substitute your 'NZ' with 'UK' or indeed any Euro-zone country's initials - because we've got the same problem up here.

In the USA (and Canada), however, general service standards are much, much higher. The customer truly is 'King' .. BUT on the unwritten proviso and mutual understanding that there will be a tip offered and received when the bill ('check' in US speak) is settled.

In Summary: As food - and other service-provided goods - is/are just soooooooo much cheaper in the States (but not necessarily in Canada though) compared to similar stuff in the UK/NZ/Eurozone, then no Brit/Kiwi/mainlandEuropean - can or should really complain about leaving a decent tip for service-provided goods. The combined net figure is still likely to be better value for money than what we're used to in our respective home countries.

[Hitcher]

Kiwi of course!

Then you don't need a visa.

[jafar]

Then you don't need a visa.

Pardon ? That doesn't sound right

[Hitcher]

Pardon ? That doesn't sound right

Do I need a visa?

The United States Visa Waiver Program

The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) permits visa free travel to the U.S. You do not need to apply for a visa if your travel plans meet the Visa Waiver Program requirements.

You may travel on the Visa Waiver Program if you meet all of the following requirements:

• You must hold a valid machine readable passport.
• Machine-readable passports issued or renewed/extended before 10/26/05 - no further requirements.
• Machine-readable passports issued or renewed/extended between 10/26/05 and 10/26/06 - require a digital photgraph integrated into the data page or integrated chip containing containing information about the data page.
• Machine-readable passports issued or renewed/extended on or after 10/26/06 - require an integrated chip with information from the data page.
• Any traveler whose regular passport does not meet the biometric passport guidelines listed above must obtain a visa or VWP-compliant passport to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program.
• You are a citizen of one of the countries mentioned below and hold a valid passport of that country. Please note that passports of certain countries need to be valid for at least six months prior to the date of departure from the U.S.
• You are travelling for business, pleasure or transit only.
• You will enter the U.S. by a land border or aboard an air or sea carrier that has agreed to participate in the program. This applies to most airlines and shipping companies (Private or official aircraft or vessels do not meet this requirement). You will need a visa if your carrier is not a participant.
• Your intended stay in North America including the United States, Mexico and Canada does not exceed 90 days. This period will commence on entry from either Canada, Mexico, or the United States.
• You must hold a valid round trip, non-transferable airline ticket on an authorized carrier. Onward tickets may not end in Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean.
• Your tickets must show that the traveller will leave North America (the United States, Mexico, Canada) within ninety (90) days of arrival.
• Travellers who enter on the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) may not extend their stay or change their status while in North America.

Visa Waiver Program Participating countries:

Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Cook Islands, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, New Zealand, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

[ratast]

Hi Mack, On my trips to States I pass out chrome ferns with New Zealand printed in capitals below. They measure 45x 55. Excellent on semi flat surfaces like screens, panniers oil tank , fairing ect. I put a pair on my bike in 2005 and still looking good. Nearly every day I would get comments from the locals and was surprised by the number of New Zealanders living in States who noticed them.
Last year we were gassing up 50 miles south of Boise and were noticed by a chap who rang his Kiwi mates in Boise and told him Kiwi bikers were on their way.The Kiwis knocked off work and rode down to a intersection and waited for us to hit town. Good night had by all as the local Kiwis showed us around their favourite bars. I gave one the U.S kiwis a NZ Harley T Shirt. He was very pleased at having it, but did express an opinion that it was a pity it was from Wellington MotorCycles and not the Auckland Harley Shop
Anyway, said chrome ferns are $15.00 a pair PP.I can email you a photo ,but not able to work out how to put on Kiwi Biker. Cheers Ratast

[Keith the Pom]

Do I need a visa?

The United States Visa Waiver Program
[*]Your intended stay in North America including the United States, Mexico and Canada does not exceed 90 days. This period will commence on entry from either Canada, Mexico, or the United States.

Mack knows all about the VWP; in fact, just lately he's become a leading authority on US immigration laws.

BUT he anticipates that his North American round tour will take longer then 90 days - hence the reason and need for him to apply for a 90+ days visa permit before his departure from NZ.

[Macktheknife]

Then you don't need a visa.

Mack knows all about the VWP; in fact, just lately he's become a leading authority on US immigration laws.

BUT he anticipates that his North American round tour will take longer then 90 days - hence the reason and need for him to apply for a 90+ days visa permit before his departure from NZ.

What he said.....
I originally thought the same thing though, but I was wrong!

[Hinny]

Some random thoughts / rambling.
A little rule I had for turninging at intersections. Loose left, tight right. Particularly helpful when faced with a choice of six lanes when turning.
Loved the shops at Sausalito under the bridge, North side, San Fransisco.
Need to ride Lombard Street. Just so you can say you did really. San Fransiscan women, and men for that matter...not that I was really looking, have the best looking arses. All that walking up and down hills.
Hearst Castle on drive South is worth a look. Cannery row. Steinbeck revisited./seaquarium worth a look as well.
Deer are unafraid of humans and not road savvy at all. If you see one cross your path look for the rest of the head folowing - sometimes so strung out you need to stop.
Zabriskie Point (Seen the movie?) in Death Valley as sun comes up is cool. Campground just down the road.
Vegas has a lot of drivers from out town. They can be very confused about where they need to go. Good shopping. Margarita bar in Caesar's Palace is recommended. Fremont Street at night. Stay away from 'The little White Wedding Chapel' no matter how drunk you are. Being there today is an eye opener. 24 hr weddings. 3 hour wait to get wedding licence.
Cops are down on speedsters around Utah borders.
Two weeks around Utah/Arizona border. Gonna do some orr road riding or rockclimbing? National park visa card can be cost effective. Best time of year for photos in Arches NP> Snow on ground adds immensely to landscapes.
Yosemite is worth a visit but may be still closed in March due to snow.Grand Canyon is cool. For a change of ride take a mule ride to bottom. Make your arse ...well you know.
Natchez Trace is worth a ride. 55mph for 440m is a bit tedious tho' with active, enthusiastic revenue collectors.
I wanna come too..............
Enjoy.

[Swoop]

Visa Waiver Programme is for short term "holiday" visits and transiting through.
Anything longer, like Mack is doing, will require paperwork...
Unfortunately.

If it was open slather on going to the USA, NZ would see an exodus like that seen going to Oz.

[Macktheknife]

WOOHOO, I am now the proud owner of a 10 year multi entry Visa for the USA!!!
9 DAYS TO GO, 9 DAYS TO GO, 9 DAYS TO GO!
All I need to do now is get all my belongings packed and in storage and I am good to go!
Must remember to pack suitcase first, otherwise I will forget something and then not know which box it is in! lol.

[Macktheknife]

Some random thoughts / rambling.
A little rule I had for turninging at intersections. Loose left, tight right. Particularly helpful when faced with a choice of six lanes when turning.
Loved the shops at Sausalito under the bridge, North side, San Fransisco.
Need to ride Lombard Street. Just so you can say you did really. San Fransiscan women, and men for that matter...not that I was really looking, have the best looking arses. All that walking up and down hills.
Hearst Castle on drive South is worth a look. Cannery row. Steinbeck revisited./seaquarium worth a look as well.
Deer are unafraid of humans and not road savvy at all. If you see one cross your path look for the rest of the head folowing - sometimes so strung out you need to stop.
Zabriskie Point (Seen the movie?) in Death Valley as sun comes up is cool. Campground just down the road.
Vegas has a lot of drivers from out town. They can be very confused about where they need to go. Good shopping. Margarita bar in Caesar's Palace is recommended. Fremont Street at night. Stay away from 'The little White Wedding Chapel' no matter how drunk you are. Being there today is an eye opener. 24 hr weddings. 3 hour wait to get wedding licence.
Cops are down on speedsters around Utah borders.
Two weeks around Utah/Arizona border. Gonna do some orr road riding or rockclimbing? National park visa card can be cost effective. Best time of year for photos in Arches NP> Snow on ground adds immensely to landscapes.
Yosemite is worth a visit but may be still closed in March due to snow.Grand Canyon is cool. For a change of ride take a mule ride to bottom. Make your arse ...well you know.
Natchez Trace is worth a ride. 55mph for 440m is a bit tedious tho' with active, enthusiastic revenue collectors.
I wanna come too..............
Enjoy.

thanks heaps for the tips, will be making good use of the national park pass, and a few others too.
Cheers
Mack