I have just started the course but have some knowledge of Spanish. I notice that the familiar rather than the formal verb form for "you" is being used. If I am traveling and speaking to strangers, such as to ask for information, is the familiar form alright to use.

Hola. I think the use of tu and usted varies from country to country, as well as from situation to situation. Years ago, Spanish was taught primarily with the more formal "usted" form, because that's the form a stranger would almost certainly use. Nowadays, customs have changed a lot, and "tu" is much more commonly used in many places. However, if you're speaking to someone you don't know who is clearly much older than you, you're usually wiser to use usted. And in some countries, usted is widely used even among friends. It's been quite a while since I listened to Rocket Spanish, but I think it's likely that by the time you finish, you'll be able to use both tu and usted.

Hello fellow learners I would suggest practicing using the ustedes form primarily. I had focused on the informal forms initially I think because they are placed first on the conjugation lists, and so they tended to pop up accidentally as it is hard to get used to the two forms. I was accidentally being a bit rude until I trained myself to think in ustedes. In the State of Jalisco, Mexco according to native friend, the rules are simple, use ustedes always( except with kids) Use tu only by invitation, rather like the old english manners where he is Mr. Smith until he says call me John.

I try to place equal emphasis on both because they both seem important, and I'll likely use both forms a great deal. I'm halfway through stage I and things are starting to click, I'm not worrying about perfect form so much anymore, and trust that in time things will fall into place as long as I'm doing my best. Hopefully this doesn't require I start another thread, but I was wondering: When I say "me gustaria comer contigo manana" can I use this for friends and respected elders in the same way? Do I need to stick an (ustedes) in the sentance somewhere? Thanks.

In most places, you can certainly use that with friends, but with "respected elders" you'd probably be wiser to say "con Usted/Ustedes" (depending on whether you were addressing one person or more than one). In other words, "contigo" should be used only with people you would address as "tú."

Thanks!