United States

## Setup If `~/united-states/` doesn't exist or is empty, read `setup.md` and start naturally. ## When to Use User is planning a U.S. trip and needs practical guidance beyond generic advice: entry requirements, region choice, route design, transport decisions, seasonal risks, and on-the-ground execution. ## Architecture Memory lives in `~/united-states/`. See `memory-template.md` for structure. ``` ~/united-states/ └── memory.md # Trip context and evolving constraints ``` ## Quick Reference | Topic | File | |-------|------| | **Entry and Border** | | | Visa, ESTA, I-94, IDs | `entry-and-documents.md` | | Customs, cash, restricted items | `customs-and-border.md` | | **Planning Backbone** | | | Regions and route strategy | `regions.md` | | Sample itineraries (7-21 days) | `itineraries.md` | | Accommodation strategy | `accommodation.md` | | Budget and cost planning | `budget-and-costs.md` | | Tipping and payment habits | `tipping-and-payments.md` | | **Transport** | | | Domestic flights, rail, transit | `transport-domestic.md` | | Driving and road trips | `road-trips-and-driving.md` | | **Nature and Parks** | | | Passes, reservations, seasonal access | `national-parks.md` | | **Major Regions and Cities** | | | New York City playbook | `new-york-city.md` | | Washington, DC playbook | `washington-dc.md` | | California playbook | `california.md` | | Florida playbook | `florida.md` | | Southwest and Rockies playbook | `southwest-and-rockies.md` | | Pacific Northwest playbook | `pacific-northwest.md` | | Great Lakes and Midwest playbook | `great-lakes-and-midwest.md` | | Deep South and New Orleans playbook | `deep-south-and-louisiana.md` | | Hawaii and Alaska playbook | `hawaii-and-alaska.md` | | **Lifestyle and Execution** | | | Food by region and style | `food-guide.md` | | Nightlife strategy by city type | `nightlife.md` | | Traveling with children | `family-travel.md` | | Accessibility strategy | `accessibility.md` | | **Safety and Conditions** | | | Emergencies, alerts, air quality | `safety-and-emergencies.md` | | Climate and seasonality planning | `weather-and-seasonality.md` | | **Tools** | | | Connectivity and essential apps | `telecoms-and-apps.md` | | Research sources map | `sources.md` | ## Core Rules ### 1. Route by Geography, Not by Bucket List Anchor around one macro-region per week of travel. U.S. distance and transfer friction are a bigger quality lever than attraction count. ### 2. Entry and Compliance First Before itinerary work, confirm the correct travel pathway (`entry-and-documents.md`): visa vs ESTA, passport validity, I-94 context, and acceptable domestic ID rules. ### 3. Make Every Plan Season-Aware Use `weather-and-seasonality.md` and `national-parks.md` before promising outdoor-heavy plans. Heat, storms, wildfire smoke, snow, and park reservation systems can invalidate perfect-looking schedules. ### 4. Always Offer Two Transport Models For each route, provide at least two options with tradeoffs: - Flight-heavy (faster, higher airport overhead) - Rail/road-heavy (slower, more scenery, different logistics) ### 5. Price Reality, Not Sticker Price Budget with real trip math: taxes at checkout, tips where expected, parking/toll risk, resort/destination fees, checked bag costs, and transfer costs. ### 6. Flag Tourist Traps Proactively Call out common mistakes before users commit: - Overstuffed coast-to-coast itineraries - Peak-season parks without reservations - Car rental in dense cores where parking dominates cost - Theme-city weekends without crowd and weather buffers ### 7. Deliver Actionable Plans Output should include: - Base city strategy - Day-by-day flow with transfer windows - Reservation deadlines - Backup plan for weather or delays - Safety and emergency quick notes ## Common Traps - Treating the U.S. like a compact country where five cities in one trip is normal. - Ignoring entry/admin steps until the final week. - Using one fixed itinerary regardless of season or hazard conditions. - Underestimating domestic transfer time between airports, hotels, and final neighborhoods. - Choosing accommodation by nightly rate only, ignoring transport cost and time. - Assuming all parks and attractions allow same-day spontaneous access in peak windows. ## Security & Privacy **Data that stays local:** Trip preferences in `~/united-states/` **This skill does NOT:** Access files outside `~/united-states/` or make network requests. ## Related Skills Install with `clawhub install <slug>` if user confirms: - `travel` — General trip planning and itinerary structure - `car-rental` — Better rental strategy and handoff logistics - `booking` — Reservation workflows and confirmation hygiene - `food` — Deeper culinary planning for each destination - `english` — Language support for calls, bookings, and service interactions ## Feedback - If useful: `clawhub star united-states` - Stay updated: `clawhub sync`