Travel essentials for the United States
Adapters, plugs, tap water, tipping and health basics.
Power & adapters
Type A, B adapter required
You need a Type A or B adapter. At 120V, Australian hair dryers and styling tools will run at half power or not at all - check the label says 100-240V.
120V, 60Hz
Tap water
Safe to drink
Tap water is safe across the US. Free tap water is standard in restaurants.
Staying connected
Excellent in cities, genuinely patchy in national parks and rural stretches of the West.
US eSIMs are more expensive than Asian ones but far cheaper than Australian roaming. T-Mobile and AT&T networks give the best coverage; check which network an eSIM uses before you buy.
Compare United States eSIMsHealth risks
- Extreme heat in the Southwest in summer
- Hurricane season on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts (June-November)
- Very high healthcare costs
Emergency numbers in United States
| All emergencies | 911 |
|---|---|
| Police | 911 |
| Ambulance | 911 |
| Fire | 911 |
| Australian consulate | Australian Embassy Washington D.C. - +1 202 797 3000 |
Tipping and everyday costs
Expected and effectively compulsory. 18-22% in restaurants and bars, USD $2-$5 per bag for porters, 15-20% for taxis and rideshares. Tipping screens now default to high percentages - you can adjust them.
What screening will actually let you pack
Half of what goes in the bag is decided by someone else. What you can take on a plane sets out the Australian rules item by item - power banks, liquids, scissors, aerosols - and what has to be declared at the border on the way home.
More United States essentials
Further reading: Power adapters by country: what Australians actually need to pack
How these comparisons are made
Plug types, voltages and frequencies come from the international electrotechnical standards data for each country, stated per destination with what that means for Australian appliances specifically - what needs an adapter, what needs a converter, and what should stay home. Read the full editorial policy.
Planning United States?
We will send you the United States guide as it grows - what to book before you go, which eSIM and travel card are worth it there, and what things actually cost in Australian dollars.