United States travel guide (2026)
The mainland and the Pacific territories are entirely different trips. The closest piece of the United States to Korea is Guam and Saipan, about four hours by air, and their entry procedure differs from the mainland's. This page starts with that distinction.
Last checked September 2026
- Suggested length
- Guam 3-4 nights · mainland 7 nights and up
- Budget guide
- About KRW 900,000-1,800,000 per person (Guam basis, excluding flights, 3-star hotel and local meals)
When to go
Guam and Saipan are driest and best from December to May; July to November is the wet season and the typhoon track. The mainland varies enormously — Hawaii and California stay mild year round while the East and Midwest have hard winters. US domestic peak is the summer school break and the Thanksgiving-to-New Year stretch, when both flights and hotels jump.
Getting between cities
Guam is small enough that a rental car is effectively required, with public transport limited to tourist shuttles. On the mainland, distances between cities mean domestic flights, and outside New York, Chicago and San Francisco you generally need a car in the city too. A home licence alone is not enough — carry an international driving permit with it.
What each region is for
Tumon Bay and Two Lovers Point on Guam, Managaha island off Saipan, and on the mainland New York, the Grand Canyon and Yosemite. Guam and Saipan are an hour apart by air and combine easily.
Food and eating culture
Strongly regional. Guam mixes Chamorro cooking — kelaguen, red rice — with American chains, while the mainland splits into Southern barbecue, New England seafood, Tex-Mex and more. Eating out is expensive, and with tax and tip on top the real spend runs about 20% above the listed price.
Before you go
Do I need ESTA for Guam?
No. Guam and the Northern Marianas run the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program, which admits eligible travellers for up to 45 days without ESTA. Since 26 November 2024, however, CBP verifies an approved G-CNMI Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), so obtain the eTA before departure. A nonrefundable, non-transferable round-trip ticket with a confirmed departure within 45 days is also required. The old paper Form I-736 has been superseded by the eTA — plenty of guides still describe it, and they are out of date.
Is the mainland the same process as Guam?
No. The mainland uses ESTA under the Visa Waiver Program, which is a separate scheme from the G-CNMI eTA that covers Guam and Saipan. A Guam-only trip does not need ESTA, but if the same journey transits or visits Hawaii or the mainland, ESTA does apply. Assuming that clearing Guam covers the mainland is how people get stopped at the airport.
How much should I tip?
In the US tipping functions as part of the wage and is not really optional. Sit-down restaurants run 15-20% of the pre-tax total, bars a dollar or two per drink, hotel bellhops a dollar or two per bag, and taxis or ride-hail 10-15%. Check whether gratuity is already added, which is common for larger tables, so you do not tip twice. Card terminals offer preset percentages, and the default may be calculated on the post-tax amount.
Do I need a rental car on Guam?
Effectively yes. Staying inside central Tumon works on foot and with tourist shuttles, but the southern coast, Two Lovers Point and the marine parks need a car, and public routes barely cover a visitor's itinerary. A home licence alone is not enough — carry an international driving permit as well. The US drives on the right; check the left-turn rules and stop-sign priority before you set off.
How much cash do I need, and how does payment work?
Cards work almost everywhere and contactless is standard, so around USD 100 per person covers tips and small purchases. Note two things that inflate the bill: listed prices exclude sales tax, and tips are added on top, which together run the real spend about 20% above the shelf price. Build both into the budget rather than discovering them at the till.
When is the best time to visit Guam?
December to May is the dry season — less rain, lower humidity, and the best conditions. July to November is the wet season and the typhoon track, so squalls are frequent and plans can slip. That said, Guam holds 26-31C year round, so swimming is still viable in the wet season and lodging is noticeably cheaper. Flights spike around Korean school holidays, so shifting dates by a day or two makes a real difference.
Cities in United States
Pick a city and its sights, transit and costs sit on one page.
A U.S. territory 4 hours 30 minutes' direct flight from Seoul, one hour ahead of Korea. Resorts line Tumon Bay; Hagatna keeps traces of the Spanish era. No sales tax, so the tagged price is the price you pay.
Guam trip cost