1 BEWARE UNOFFICIAL ESTA SITES

As an Australian passport holder you're entitled to apply to travel under the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA), designed for those seeking to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. The fee is $US14 but there are plenty of websites that offer to assist you in this application for a whopping service fee, which can be anything from $US35 to over $US100. They're all scammers and they're charging you for a non-service, so make sure you apply at the correct website, esta.cbp.dhs.gov.

2 SIGN UP FOR YOUR HOTEL'S LOYALTY PROGRAM 

It costs nothing and you'll usually get perks from the get-go, which might be free Wi-Fi, complimentary breakfasts, spa credits and late check-out. Some of the heavyweight, social media-conscious hotel brands are offering extra points to guests who "like" and follow them on Facebook and Twitter, and those points can be redeemed for extra privileges and discounts. Loyalty points can even earn you airline miles, such as the partnership between Starwood and Delta.

3 PAY IN LOCAL CURRENCY

If you're offered a choice of paying in US dollars or Australian, always go for US. Choosing Australian might sound like a great idea but you're invoking the Dynamic Currency Conversion rate of exchange, which allows the merchant to apply a rate less favourable than the credit or debit card exchange rate. Merchants are required to ask if you want to select DCC but if they tell you it's a better deal because it cuts out foreign transaction fees, that's just nonsense.

4 TOILETRIES ARE CHEAP

Just about everything you might have to buy for everyday bathroom use is cheaper in the US. If you don't already have them in your kit, wait until you're stateside before buying  toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo and sunblock. Make-up is a steal. Supermarkets are usually cheaper than drug stores.

5 PAY NOW

Given the recent downward trajectory of the Aussie dollar against the US, it's likely that an American holiday is going to cost you more in  a few months' time than it would today. You can lock in at the current value of the Aussie dollar if you pay for hotels, car hire and whatever else you can now rather than when you get there.

6 GO FOR THE PACKAGE

Big travel operators such as Trafalgar, Qantas Vacations and Flight Centre have buying power that enables them to drive down the cost of flights, hotels, car hire and tours. Especially if your US vacation involves big-city stays, a package deal will put wings on your holiday dollar.

7 BOOK AN APARTMENT

Apart from having to pull up your own doona, there's lots to like about renting an apartment. An apartment makes it possible for families to experience cities such as New York and Los Angeles at a reasonable price, where multiple hotel rooms would be a  budget buster. You also get the benefit of a kitchen, with major savings on meal costs. Beware of scams. Rent through an agency and you have some protection if the property does not live up to expectations. Homeaway (homeaway.com) has more than 300,000 apartments and houses all across the US. You can check reviews from past guests, filter for location and amenities and correspond with the owner.

8 GO BIG ON LUNCH

A three-course lunch typically costs 20-30 per cent less than a three-course dinner at the same restaurant. Eat your main meal in the middle of the day and snack by night and you'll come out on top. There's also less temptation to spend big on alcoholic beverages in the middle of the day.

9 THE PRICE IS RIGHT

Priceline (priceline.com) is a treasure trove for hotel bargain hunters. You'll find deals and steals galore, and through its "Name Your Own Price" function, Priceline lets you enter into a bidding war with hotels. Choose an area and a star rating, nominate what you're prepared to pay and see if any hotels accept. Start off low and gradually up your bid, but you can only bid once a day. Some of the best buys are to be found if you look beyond the most desirable areas, for example Brooklyn rather than Manhattan.

10 HIRE CAR INSURANCE MATTERS

If you're hiring a car you need Collision Damage Waiver, Supplementary Liability Insurance and Loss Damage Waiver, since you are responsible for all damages you might do to persons and property in the event of an accident, up to the full replacement cost of the vehicle. If you buy this cover when you front up to the hire-car desk it can add $US20-50 a day. You might find that your travel insurance offers all the cover you need, but check the fine print. If in doubt, get clarification in writing from your travel insurer.