Organize your stay Texas
Money Texas
Texas uses the U.S. dollar (US$), as does the rest of the country. There are bills of US$1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 500, and coins of 1, 5, 10 and 25 cents, called "cents".
In July 2024, €1 = US$1.09 and US$1 = €0.91.
Budget & Tips Texas
In terms of spending, you should be aware that inflation has been affecting the United States very strongly since autumn 2022, and prices for supermarket shopping, among other things, have risen sharply. However, your gas expenses will remain very low compared with the price of gas in France (which is handy for a roadtrip). Supermarkets like Whole Foods are among the most expensive, and supermarkets like Trader Joe's offer much more affordable (and good-quality) prices. Compared to major destinations like New York or San Francisco, however, Texas is much less expensive.
For a low budget: US$80 per person per day, with few paid activities, including accommodation.
For a medium budget: between US$100 and US$200 per person per day, for a certain level of comfort, the possibility of discovering good restaurants, etc.
For a high budget : from US$ 250-300 per person per day, for comfort and the flexibility to try out everything.
Passport and visas Texas
To enter the USA, you need a passport valid for the duration of your trip and a return ticket. You must also complete the ESTA online at least 72 hours before your trip to the USA, on this website only: https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/. ESTA stands for"Electronic System for Travel Authorization", and is required to cross the border as a foreigner (even for a simple transit), and costs US$21.
Once you're through airport customs, you'll also be asked to fill in a"CBP Declaration Form", or a form to fill in for customs ensuring that you're not a terrorist or have nothing to declare. Beware, the queue at customs can sometimes be very long. Here, national security takes precedence. As a tourist, you can stay in the country for up to 90 days.
To stay in the U.S. beyond 90 days, you'll need another type of non-tourist visa. Several visas are available, including student and work visas. For more information, visit https://fr.usembassy.gov/visas/.
Driver's license Texas
For stays within the 90-day time limit, a French driving license is sufficient. To rent a car, you need to be over 21, and if you're under 25, you'll have to pay more (for insurance reasons). For stays of more than three months or 90 days, you'll need to obtain an American driver's license in your state of residence. As laws differ from state to state, we recommend that you contact the French consulates in the states concerned.
In terms of driving, you'll drive on the same side of the road as you would in France, and you'll quickly get used to the rules of the road, which are fairly obvious. It's also easy to understand how automatic cars work. On the other hand, signposts inside towns do not indicate the names of the towns to which the roads lead, but the cardinal direction (north, south, east, west). There is, however, a simple and reliable way to find out the general direction of an Interstate Highway or State Highway. The main Interstates have one or two digits (I-5, I-40). If the number is even, the road will run east-west. If the number is odd, it will run north-south. I-5 runs along the Pacific coast. Three-digit Interstates (a prefix followed by the Interstate number) are extensions of the main Interstates. For example, I-280 is an extension of I-80. If the prefix number is even, it's a "bypass", meaning you'll avoid the city center. If the prefix number is odd, it's a "spur", and you'll be directed towards the city center. In Texas, one of the main Interstates is I-10, running west to east between Los Angeles and New Orleans.
Health Texas
Texas has no specific illnesses to declare for which you should be prepared. However, we wouldn't recommend drinking tap water everywhere, as in some cities the water is not 100% clean and sometimes simply not drinkable. The city of Houston, for example, sometimes has water bans, periods when it is forbidden to drink tap water as a health precaution. As a result, tourists are advised to avoid tap water altogether and buy bottled water (which can be purchased by the gallon).
As far as Covid-19 is concerned, it is imperative to be vaccinated before your trip. We recommend that you carry proof of vaccination with you, just in case, although you won't be asked for it at the airport. Most local businesses and gathering places do not require you to wear a mask, although it is recommended. In New Mexico, on the other hand, many stores and establishments will ask you to wear one before you enter.
Security Texas
Texas is generally not a dangerous state. The locals won't take advantage of you as a tourist, and will usually be friendly and helpful. However, guns are carried, and you are advised not to venture out at night on foot. This is a precaution against dangerous interactions that can take place on the street, but also because locals will be suspicious of you if they see you walking down the street at night: something that doesn't happen in most major Texan cities, outside pedestrian areas such as downtowns. On the other hand, driving around is not a problem.
Be aware that the difference in crime rates suddenly changes from one block to the next. As a general rule, avoid walking in downtown Houston or Dallas after a certain hour. In residential neighborhoods, never enter a property where you don't know the owner. So look out for any sign that might suggest a territorial boundary. Texans are capable of drawing their weapons against any stranger who ventures onto their property without permission.
What's more, if you're stopped on the road by the police, don't get out of your vehicle, and don't move from your seat until the officer gives you permission. The police are no laughing matter here.
Time difference Texas
There's a 7-hour difference between Houston and Paris. Texas straddles two time zones, with a one-hour difference between El Paso (Mountain Daylight Time) and Austin (Central Daylight Time). The time zone changes twice a year, once in autumn and once in spring. The time difference is often much easier to manage when you're traveling to Texas, but much harder when you're back in Europe. We recommend that you try to sleep on the plane as much as possible to catch up on sleep.
Spoken languages Texas
The official language of Texas is the same as that of the rest of the country: English. However, Texas shares its borders and culture with Spanish, the second most spoken language in Texas and New Mexico. The closer you get to the Mexican border, the more Spanish you'll hear. The city of El Paso, for example, is over 80% Hispanic, making Spanish the majority language. However, you don't need to speak Spanish to travel in Texas. English remains the main language.
Communication Texas
The international code for the U.S. is 1, so you need to prefix each phone number with 001 or +1 from a foreign mobile. The area codes are as follows: 210 San Antonio, 214 Dallas, 281 Houston, 469 Dallas, 512 Austin, 682 Fort Worth, 575 New Mexico (outside the Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Farmington and Gallup areas, which are grouped under 505). The numbers you'll see will all have either 10 or 11 digits, depending on whether they're listed with the U.S. code or not: 1 digit for the U.S. code; 3 digits for the areacode; 7 digits for the local number, presented in two groups of 3 and 4 digits (e.g. 764 3827).
Depending on your normal telephone service, you should be able to get a good-value international package that will give you what you need during your trip. We recommend that you have access to 4G or 5G, as this can enable you to access the Internet and contact your loved ones via mobile applications like Whatsapp or Facebook. We also recommend that you have unlimited SMS and calls. If you want to get an American number, you can buy a subscription to which you add credit manually, or by the month. For example, AT&T and Verizon are the most popular companies.
Electricity and measurements Texas
The USA operates at 110 volts and 60 Hz frequency. Sockets have two flat plugs, and light bulb sockets are screw-in (no bayonets). Whether you bring your own electrical equipment or buy it locally, don't forget to bring adapters(converters), which can be purchased from CVS or Wallgreens.
In terms of measurements , the United States refuses to submit to the metric system, which doesn't make life any easier for us. Distances are measured in inches, feet, yards and miles. Weights are measured in ounces, pounds (or libra) and tons. Liquid measures are even more complex and confusing: imperial (English) and American measures are in pints and gallons, but are different (1 imperial pint= 1.25 american pint).
To convert kilograms (kg) to pounds (lb), multiply kilograms by 2.2. To convert pounds (lb) to kilograms (kg), multiply pounds by 0.455 (or 0.5 of a head!). 1 oz or ounce = 28.35 g. 1 kg = 2.2 lb(libra or pound).
To convert meters (m) to feet (ft, short for "feet", which is the plural of "foot"), multiply meters by 3.28 (or, in your head, multiply by 3 and add 10%). 1 mile = 1.6 km. 1 km = 0.62 mile. 1 yard (yd) = 3 ft = 0.91 m. 1 inch (in) = 2.54 cm. 1 m = 3.33 ft. 1 foot (ft) = 12 inches = 30.48 cm.
To convert liters (l) to gallons (gal), multiply liters by 0.264. To convert gallons (gal) to liters (l), multiply gallons by 3.79. 1 gallon = 3.79 liters. 1 quart (qt) = 0.95 liters. 1 fluid ounce (fl oz) = 0.03 liter. 1 quart = 0.47 liters.
Temperatures: 0 ºC = 32 ºF. To convert degrees Fahrenheit (°F) to degrees Celsius (°C), subtract 30, divide by 2, add 10%. To convert degrees Celsius (°C) to degrees Fahrenheit (°F), multiply by 2 and add 32. Ex: 80 °F = 80 - 30 = 50; 50 : 2 = 25; 25 + 10% = 27.5 °C. In short, in the USA, the normal temperature of the human body is 98.4°, water boils at 212° and it freezes at 30°.
Luggage Texas
Although Texas is known for its heat, cold winds can sometimes cool temperatures, requiring sweaters and even jackets, especially in autumn or spring (and winter, of course). That said, the sun is often out, although the air is cool. Sunglasses are a must, as is sunscreen and a swimsuit. A good pair of denim pants is ideal, along with a light sweater just in case. In winter, take a coat. If you stay towards the southwest or east of the state, you'll probably never get too cold. However, the Panhandle plains can have freezing temperatures, being a region with more altitude. Heavy snowfalls can occur there in winter, whereas it almost never snows in Houston or Austin. Don't forget to bring an adapter.
