Business Trip To North America: What should I know?

Planning a business trip to North America, and you’ve never been before? Here’s what you should know before landing in the US or Canada:

Tipping is expected, around 20% of the bill.
Travel health insurance is always wise, but especially in the US where the price of health care procedures can be extreme.
Tax isn’t included in the price of an item, so you’ll have to pay more than you think when you go to pay.
The legal drinking age is 21, and some states are very strict about it. Everyone needs to present ID, even if they’re clearly 60, and minors can’t sit near the bar (certainly not at the bar) in restaurants. You may even get challenged if a drink is too close to a minor on the table.
Public drinking is illegal, as is crossing the street not on an official crossing.
Avoid the 1st of September when going to Boston, the city will be in chaos for moving day (when everyone renting in the city moves on the same day).
Food portions will be bigger, and saltier than expected. Pre-made food from a supermarket is likely to contain things banned in the UK.
If pulled over by the police, stay in the car, follow the officer's instructions, and keep your hands visible.
The US has many different climates, from deserts to ski resorts. Check the actual weather where you are going, don’t just assume.
Don’t approach wild animals, they can & will kill you.

The legal drinking age is 19 in most of Canada, only 18 in Alberta, Manitoba, and Québec.
Tipping is expected, around 15-20% of the bill.
Americans often don’t say please or thank you, considering it to be implied.
Tax isn’t included in the price of an item, so you’ll have to pay more than you think when you go to pay.
Don’t just assume it will be cold, it often isn’t and each area has a slightly different climate. For example, Vancouver is known to rain more frequently than Manchester, while Calgary is known to be sunny.
Don’t approach any wild animals, moose are huge and could easily seriously injure you.
Avoid swearing in Canada, they take it more seriously.
Canadians are big on apologising, so if you think you’ve done something wrong, saying sorry can go a long way.

Men’s toilets will be marked with a ‘H’ or a ‘C’, women’s will be marked with an ‘M’. Put toilet paper in the bin.
Don’t drink the tap water.
Don’t panic if someone doesn’t arrive on time, or something doesn’t start in time. Punctuality isn’t as important in Mexican culture.
Don’t just assume it will be hot, check the actual weather forecast.
Tipping is important, around 10-15% in restaurants. Many other customer service people will also expect to be tipped, such as hotel housekeepers, porters, parking attendants, and grocery baggers.
Not everywhere takes card.

It’s a common requirement to be 25 to hire a car in North America. In Mexico you can’t drive at all until 18.
Remember to check the driving laws for where you’re going. Driving laws can vary per province or state, including if you can turn right on a red light. It’s best to check for the province or state you’re in when hiring a car.
If you hire a car in New Jersey, you should remember it’s illegal in this state to fill your car’s tank yourself, someone should come out and do it for you.
Remember to drive on the right-hand side, and the speed will be in kilometres in Canada & Mexico.
You may need to get an International Driving Permit.
If you aren’t staying in the city centre, then it’s best to hire a car. There are some exceptions if you are staying in the city but going to the outskirts, as many cities such as New York, Montreal, and Toronto for example have subways.
Bear in mind that Canada can have extreme weather conditions.
Beware of car hire scams, especially in Mexico. If the price seems too good, it probably is.
You’ll need local liability car insurance when you hire a car in Mexico.