Our travel tips for Florida

Credit cards and cash

Common credit cards such as VISA, MASTERCARD or AMERICAN EXPRESS are accepted almost everywhere and are preferred means of payment. Traveler’s cheques are also redeemed everywhere without any problems. With the refund you received you have a good cash source.

Many banks, shopping malls and larger supermarkets also have ATM’s where you can withdraw cash, e.g. with your credit card. Even cash withdrawal with EC/MAESTRO cards is possible at some machines.

Tips

Services in the US are rewarded with tips, which in most cases are the sole merit of service. As a tip, 15-20% of the invoice amount are common.

Food and drink

Everywhere there are beautiful, diverse restaurants: American, French,Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Thai, gourmet fish restaurants and steakhouses, as well as all well-known fast food chains. The average price for a dinner in one of the many restaurants is p.p. about 12,00 – 18,00 USD

Shopping

You can shop around the clock, there is no shop closing law. Supermarkets and department stores are usually open until 9 p.m. or 10 p.m. in the evenings and also on weekends. The WALMART in Cape Coral is even open 24 hours a day, 24 hours a day.

Supermarkets, drugstores and retail stores as well as huge shopping malls with countless shops can be found everywhere and of course very close to our villa.

Taxes

All services and goods you buy, as well as restaurants, etc., are taxed at the current rate of 6%. This is not included on the indicated signs, but is to be added.

Entry to the USA

Visa Waiver Program:

This program allows citizens of certain countries to enter the United States without a visa for a maximum of 90 days. See which countries are participating in this program here.

Apply for your ESTA travel permit here

Your passport must meet the following requirements, depending on the date of issue:

  • Exhibition before 26.10.2005: Your passport must contain a machine-readable zone (text lines with personnel information in OCR-B font).
  • Exhibition between 26.10.2005 and 25.10.2006: Your passport must contain a machine-readable zone and a digital passport photo.
  • Exhibition from 26.10.2006: Your passport must be an “e-passport”. It contains a chip with your biographical, biometric data as well as a digital passport photo

More information can be found here.

You will need a visa if your passport does not meet the requirements or if you are not from a country of the VWP program. Please check with the Embassy of the United States of America in your country about the procedure.

Travel protection

In order to compensate you for possible financial losses in the event of cancellation or cancellation of your stay due to important expenses, e.g. illness or accident, we strongly recommend that you take out travel insurance.

Please also refer to our special page on travel protection

Clothes

In the summer months, light clothing is sufficient. When visiting restaurants, however, it is recommended to take a jacket (partially prescribed) or a sweater, as the air conditioning systems are usually running at full speed.

Attention: A beach life “topless” or even “without“, as well as nudism, is prohibited by the Floridian law. Anyone who violates it will face hefty fines or even a prison sentence.

Driving

Driving is very easy and relaxed in Florida. If you drive defensively and comply with the speed limits, there are no problems and no stress on the road. However, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is severely punished in Florida.

Important: Do not forget your driving licence. An additional one. International driving license is usually not required, but is still recommended ! The rental of a car is possible at any time from the age of 25 (partly also from 21 years, but often with additional conditions – or with surcharge)

Electricity

Please note that the power grid in the USA is designed to be 110 volts. An adapter may be required to use European devices. Since these are difficult to obtain in the USA, we recommend to buy them before arrival.

Time difference

There are different time zones in the United States. For the state of Florida there is a deviation of – 6 hours at Central European time.