UK citizens must apply for ESTA online before traveling to the USA. (No formal Visa is required)

Website: https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov

Cost: Around $21 USD (15.50 Pound)

Valid for 2 years (or until passport expires)

Apply at least 72 hours before your flight (but ideally much earlier).

Apply as early as you can, your ESTA will be valid for 2 years.

Flight Planning Tips:

Book Early: Aim to book flights 4–8 months in advance for the best fares.

Major Departure Cities in the UK: London (Heathrow/Gatwick), Manchester, Edinburgh.

We typically find the cheapest fares to Dallas from Heathrow if booking direct!

Arrival Options in the USA: Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is the main airport in Dallas. This is the closest airport to our venue, approx. 45 mins away.

Popular Airlines: British Airways, American Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, United Airlines, Delta.

Budget Airline: Norse Atlantic - offer UK to USA flights at low prices.

Skyscanner: A great comparison tool to find the cheapest flights.

Layovers: Make a Trip of It! Take advantage of these common layovers to explore a second city. Avoid layovers with short connection times, you will have to go through immigration and collect your bags at the first US airport that you land at.

Make sure you have a return flight or onward travel booked before you land.

New York City (JFK or EWR)

Airlines: American, Delta, United, British Airways

Great for: A few days of sightseeing (Broadway, Central Park, museums)

Washington, D.C. (IAD)

Airlines: United, British Airways

Great for: U.S. history, monuments, museums, cherry blossoms (early April)

Boston (BOS)

Airlines: American, British Airways, JetBlue

Great for: Walkable city, historical sites, seafood

Philadelphia (PHL)

Airlines: American Airlines hub

Great for: US history, food scene, less hectic than NYC

Chicago O’Hare (ORD)

Airlines: American, United, British Airways

Great for: Architecture, deep-dish pizza, Lake Michigan

Miami (MIA) – American Airlines hub; a fun layover for beaches

Orlando (MCO): Visit Disney World or Orlando Studios with sunny weather

Power Adaptors:

The US uses Type A/B plugs (two flat pins).

Voltage: 120V (not 230V like UK) — bring a voltage converter for high-powered items.

SIM Cards/Wi-Fi:

Consider eSIMs or buying a US SIM card for data and navigation. Mint Mobile is a good, short term option.

Most places have free Wi-Fi (hotels, cafes, airports)

Weather:

Pleasant and mild: around 15–25°C (60–77°F).

Bring layers for changing temperatures throughout the day and potential spring showers.

Things to Do in Dallas/Fort Worth:

(See our 'Things to do in Texas' Section fore MORE ideas)

Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Gardens

Sixth Floor Museum (JFK history)

Deep Ellum: Live music & street art

Bishop Arts District: Food & shopping

AT&T Stadium: Home of the Dallas Cowboys

Fort Worth Stock Yards

Fort Worth Rodeo

Food Tour!

🧳 Extended Travel Suggestions:

Are you planning on staying a little longer? Here are some popular USA destinations and travel times from Dallas:

Destination: New Orleans

Flight from DFW: 1.5 hrs

Attractions: Jazz, French Quarter, Creole food

Destination: Las Vegas

Flight from DFW: 3 hrs

Attractions: Casinos, shows, Grand Canyon (day trip)

Destination: San Francisco

Flight from DFW: 4 hrs

Attractions: Golden Gate, Alcatraz, wine country nearby

Destination: Miami

Flight from DFW: 3 hrs

Attractions: Beaches, nightlife, Everglades

Destination: Austin

Drive from DFW: 3 hrs

Attractions: Music, BBQ, Texas Hill Country

Destination: National Parks

Flight from DFW: Varies

Attractions: Yellowstone, Yosemite, Zion, Grand Canyon, Rocky Mountains.

Remember you can look at Amtrak train trips or a USA road trip if you are feeling adventurous! Casey and Rob are happy to suggest some more Texas locations!

Navigation: Google Maps, Waze, Apple Maps

Tipping Calculator: Tip N Split, Gratuity

Transport: Uber, Lyft, Turo (peer-to-peer car rental)

Car Rental: Renting a car is a good option to consider. Petrol is cheap, about 50p per litre.

Want to use a debit card while abroad?

Try international debit cards such as Revolut (https://www.revolut.com/) or the Post Office. Simply top up the card and spend in the local currency!

As you may already know, the US does not have NHS style healthcare. It is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED to have travel insurance, that covers you for your trip.

Providers: Search on comparison websites such as GoCompare, compare the market. TrueTraveller is one that I have used in the past. Whatever insurance you decide to go with, double check on TrustPilot to see if they are actually a reputable company!

You can surprisingly see a lot of Texas, in a short amount of time.

Dallas > Fort Worth > Austin > San Antonio = Approx. 4hours 45mins of driving.

Spend a day at each one , they all have their own unique character.

Currency:

USA deals in Dollars,

1 United States Dollar equals 0.74 Pound sterling.

Almost everywhere takes Credit Cards, but Cash is always accepted with ATMs easy to find. If you plan to use your card check if there is any transaction fee for international purchases!

Tax: Tax is never included on the sticker price in shops or on menus, and is calculated after purchase so make sure you have enough if using cash and are not surprised by this.

Tipping:

Restaurants: 15–20% is standard.

Bars: $1–$2 per drink.

Other Cultural Tips:

Americans use Fahrenheit for temperature.

Smoking is banned in most indoor public places.

Our pints are smaller than a UK pint

Opening Hours:

Many stores and restaurants open early (7–9 AM) and close by 9–10 PM.

Tipping is expected in sit-down service situations—no service charge is added by default.

Driving in the USA:

Drive on the Right Side.

Automatic cars are standard.

Speed limits are in miles per hour.

Car rental available with a valid UK driving licence.

Uber & Lyft:

Easy and widely used in cities like Dallas AND more reliable than taxis in many areas.