Originally Posted by iahphx
On the way home, I was sitting next to a British family heading for their 2 week summer holiday in Orlando (why anyone would travel across continents to go to Orlando in the summer heat/humidity/thunderstorms is a bit of a mystery to me, but the Brits love the place). They told me they go every year. They each bring an extra empty suitcase to lug their loot home. I was told that jeans in the US cost 1/3 the price they do in the UK.
I would agree with you that sightseeing can be expensive in the US (compared to elsewhere in the world), but it's still much cheaper than in the UK. Restaurant food here is also significantly cheaper, at least as long as you don't drink too much (booze is expensive in the UK, too, but I found the mark-up at fancier restaurants there perhaps less than at some posh US eateries).
I do the same. I'll actually be taking two empty cases at christmas to stock up on certain items you can't get here and clothing which is much cheaper.
However, I still dispute that eating out in the US is cheaper once you add on tips and the fact alcohol is more expensive. I object to the cost of booze in the US so I simply don't drink in restaurants. A decent bottle of wine in the US is stupifyingly expensive.
Also, if you tip like an American in a British eaterie then that's your call but the standard UK tip is 10%, anything more will be appreciated but not expected. In fact I would appreciate it if you didn't, I don't want to find that in 5 years I have to tip 20% because the tourists are doing it.
I'd also dispute that groceries are more expensive here. Yes, our junk food groceries are more expensive and perhaps beef, but in general I've found ours to compare favourably. Oh, and ours tastes better too, none of that GM crap thank you very much.
