Organize your stay Florida
Money Florida
Currency. The only currency is the US dollar. Coin is called coin and currency is called exchange. The dollar is divided into 100 cents. The 25 cent coin is called a quarter, the 10 cent dime (very small), the 5 cent nickel (larger than the dime). The 1 cent coin is called a penny (very small) and is used to make up the difference. There are also, but more rarely, half-dollar and dollar coins. Always have a good supply of quarters. Even dedicate a special purse to them, because these coins are used all day long: buses, parking lots (beware of fast contracts), highway tolls... On the bill side, there are 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 US$. They are in the effigy of the first American presidents, from George Washington for 1 US$ to Benjamin Franklin for 100 US$. One-dollar bills are also popular for tipping and topping up, so be sure to have some on you. Commonly used credit cards are Visa, MasterCard and American Express.
Exchange rate in April 2023: 1 US$ = 0.93 €; 1€ = 1.07 US$.
Budget & Tips Florida
Expect to pay an average of US$100 to US$200 per day if you are very careful, especially for hotels, which will be the most expensive part of your trip (in high season, expect to pay at least US$150).
In general, prices are very high in big cities and tourist areas, and are divided by three in smaller cities. This rule applies to everything: in a large city, expect to pay about US$100 for a double room in a charming hotel, US$70 in a small urban community. A meal will never cost less than US$10, US$20 to US$30 in a standard restaurant, and US$45 minimum in a fancy restaurant.
Urban transport costs an average of US$1.50 per ticket, but cabs are a little too expensive for the distances covered in general. We recommend that you take Uber or Lyft, which are available in all major cities in Florida.
Entrance to the amusement parks is always expensive; at least 100 US$ per park.
Passport and visas Florida
To travel to the United States, you will need:
A round-trip airline ticket that proves your exit from the United States, regardless of your destination.
A validbiometric passport .
To have obtained your ESTA at least 72 hours BEFORE your departure! The ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) is a questionnaire, identical to the I94W form that used to be filled out on the plane (among the information requested are passport number, country of residence...). Adults and children (regardless of age) are subject to this procedure. Please make sure that you have not misspelled your first and last names, otherwise you may be stopped at customs if your identity documents do not match. After completing and validating this form, the traveler receives an electronic travel authorization. In most cases, Homeland Security officials give their approval online almost immediately by sending back the "approved authorization". The authorization is valid for 2 years or until the passport expires. The ESTA authorization (you can print it from the website) may be requested at the airport check-in (but usually airlines automatically receive an ESTA notification for passengers who have purchased a ticket to the United States). Upon arrival in the United States, the customs officer will automatically find the ESTA authorization in his files when he scans your passport.
Good to know: the declaration must be made on the official website https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov, and only on this website. The application is not free and costs US$21.
Be aware of the entry conditions for your pets. Find out before your departure how they can accompany you.
Advice. Before leaving, remember to photocopy all the documents you take with you, or scan them and send them to you by e-mail. You will take one copy of each document with you and leave the other with someone in France. In case of loss or theft, the renewal process will be much simpler with the consular authorities.
Driver's license Florida
To rent a car in Florida, you must be at least 21 years old and have had your driver's license for at least 12 months.
Rental companies systematically apply a young driver supplement to people under 25 years old (about 25 US$ per day).
If it is not mandatory for stays of less than 3 months, we advise you to apply for an international driving license. This free application is done in two steps. First, make a pre-application online on the ANTS website (Agence Nationale des Titres Sécurisés) by providing a copy of your proof of identity, your proof of residence of less than 6 months and your driver's license. You will then have 15 days to send additional documents by mail: certificate of application online, passport photo less than 6 months old (compliant with standards) and a ready-to-post envelope, in 50g registered mail, to your address. The delivery time for international driving licenses varies greatly, so it is recommended that you apply 6 months before your departure. The issued license is valid for 3 years and should ALWAYS be presented with your French driving license.
Health Florida
A trip to Florida does not require you to be vaccinated before leaving. But as for any trip, it is advised to update your vaccines against tetanus, polio, hepatitis B and diphtheria. Please note that tap water is drinkable (unless otherwise stated) and free in restaurants (for a carafe, ask for tap water).
Security Florida
Florida is a fairly safe state. Miami is no longer the most dangerous city in the USA for a long time. The municipality has invested a lot for the safety of tourists and retirees who come here to seek peace and security. Pedestrians, outside the city center, must be very careful, because the infrastructure is not always well equipped to give them space in safety (lack of sidewalks, crosswalks).
Florida is often subject to hurricanes from May to November and more particularly from September to November. In case of an alert, tune in to the weather channel on television or listen to the radio. Your hotel staff will also relay safety instructions to you.
Women can travel without fear in Florida. It is up to you to be careful when going to nightclubs or bars, two precautions are better than one. If you can go out without fear in Naples or cities with a high concentration of elderly people, be careful in big cities like Miami or Tampa. However, the police are extremely present in tourist areas.
Time difference Florida
There are 6 hours less in Florida compared to France. Attention, Pensacola and its county have 7 hours less.
Spoken languages Florida
One can almost say that Florida is bilingual, as Spanish is so present due to its Latin immigrant population and especially Cuban. The official language is still English, but the double display or advertisements in Spanish are very present in Miami and in the rest of the southern half of the state. French is little studied and little practiced except at the reception of some large hotels.
Communication Florida
Finding wi-fi will not be a problem in Florida. All hotels have wi-fi connections (usually free but sometimes for a fee). The same goes for many cafes, restaurants, cultural places, airports and train stations... as well as some visitor centers. The biggest cities like Miami have free wi-fi networks available to the public.
Electricity and measurements Florida
Electricity. The current is 110-120 volts and 60 periods. The American plugs have 2 flat plugs. It is preferable to come with an adapter, it will cost you less in France (about 5 € for a simple adapter). However, you can buy one in a multimedia store, a supermarket or at the airport. You will not need a current transformer, because most of our electrical appliances (phone chargers, laptop chargers...) also accept this type of voltage.
Distances. 1 mile = 1.609 km. To mentally convert distances and speeds (in miles per hour), add 50% to the given number, then 10% to that result. Mysteriously, some highways also list distances in miles.
Capacities. 1 gallon = 3.785 l - 1 quart =0.946l - 1 pint = 0.473l.
Lengths. 1 yard = 0.918 m - 1 foot = 30.48 cm - 1 inch = 2.54 cm.
Weight. 1 pound = 0.4536 kg - 1 ounce = 28.35 g.
Temperature. 32°F = 0°C - 104°F = 40°C. The conversion between the degrees Farhenheit (°F) used in the United States and the degrees Celsius (°C) is more difficult to do in your head. The exact calculation is to subtract 32 from the number shown, multiply the result by 5, and then divide by 9. Easier, but a little less accurate: subtract 30 from the degrees Fahrenheit, divide by 2, and add 10%.
Luggage Florida
Sunscreen will be essential in Florida. Don't bother with an anti-mosquito spray bought in France, only those you will find in Florida will be really efficient. You will rarely be cold but bring a jacket or a vest in anticipation of the mornings or evenings. An umbrella and a raincoat are not too much if you travel between July and November.
