Holiday in the USA

[Zed7fiddy]

Hey guys!

This time next year im planning a trip to the States with 3 other friends, jsut wandeirng if anyone knows of any tour companies that they can recomend, my group of friends are between 21 and 31 years of age, we all really want to get to San Fransisco, Los Angeles, maybe San Diego, Las Vegas, New York and Miami.

We were going to do a contiki trip but they recently bumped the cost of the tour up $600, so now im thinking we should go our own way considering we have our own group.

Any Hints and tips for traveling in the USA, reccomendations for Hotels, Tours, Things to see and do

My to do list reads:

Either Disneyland or Disneyworld
ALcatraz
Grand Canyon
Statue of Liberty
Sand Diego Zoo
Hollywood Homes Tour
Vegas general party / casino life, Dinner and a show etc...
Orange County Choppers Headquaters
Catch a NFL, NBA, Ice Hockey or Baseball game
See Ground Zero

There is plenty mor ei want to do but cant thnk right now, also limiting oourselves to about 2 - 2.5 weeks.

Also want to hire a msutang for part of it and just crusie around, Vegas would be the best place to do this i think?

So yeah, im open to any ideas or options or reccomendations!

Cheers

Mick

[Fev]

tip: stay away from Compton.

[dogwatch2]

Hi, we drove around the states for 6 weeks last sept/oct. From much research I found expedia.com.au generally the best for pre-booked accomadation, especially in Vegas. For Vegas book about one to three weeks before as that's when prices are best. Also if only staying a couple of days do it during the week as prices are about half the weekends. In Vegas go to the older part - called Fremont street - on the north side. It's amazing at nighttime, on the hour they have a five minute light/sound show on the above 700m long mall cover, as well as side shows and a couple of bands playing. The casinoes are older but the beer etc prices are cheaper -US$2 for a corona or heiniken, I paid $7 at another casino in town. Also Hoover dam is great - an easy one hour drive. Rental car - try traveljigsaw.com.au as their low prices include full insurance and zero excess., and free drop off on Vegas/LA. Also at Fremont street you can buy discount show tickets at one of the casinos - about two blocks up on the right(south row of casinos. We spent eight nights in Vegas and needed another four, we went to 4 shows and the cheaper ones were better than the dear ones. Mobil phone wise, if your not international roaming, buy one from Walmart for $30 from I-ten? inculdes phone , $30 credit = 300 min and can phone home on it for about 20c/min. Also next time I go I'll take a small laptop as all motels/hotels have wi-fi - generally free except in Vegas. When I remember more I'll post it.

[Zed7fiddy]

Thanks dogwatch! yeah ill either not take a phone at all or jsut pick up a local one as you said! my boss went a few yrs ago and he spent $600 on calls on hsi own phone, lucky the company was picking up the bill.

[sgt_doofey]

For the Grand Canyon, apparently the South Rim is better than the West Rim but is a much longer drive from Vegas. I think the sky walk is at the West Rim anyway. It hadn't been built when we were there.

As for the sporting games, try to steer away from the higher profile teams. It'll cost a lot more to go to those. For example, the wife and I went to a LA Lakers NBA game back when Shaquille O'Neill and Kobe Bryant were playing. Cost us US$170 each to get the tickets. That converted to roughly AU$300 each, but it was worth it. On a different note, we went and saw an NFL and a NHL game for about US$30 each. I can't remember how much we paid for the MLB game.

With hiring a car, see if the hire company gives discount for AAA members. If so and you are a member of the RAA, RACQ, RACV, etc, here in Australia, they'll give you a discount as AAA members have reciprocal rights here in Australia. Hertz is one company that gave us the discount.

If in San Fran and there are some wine lovers, head out to either Sonoma County or Napa Valley. Sonoma is only 1.5 hours north of San Fran and you head out via the 101 highway over the Golden Gate bridge. Napa is a bit further but is just as good.

[Zed7fiddy]

Awesome, the more money saving tips the better

Reason we are going to San Diego Zoo is we all work at Australia Zoo so we get free entry to SD Zoo thats a whole day of entertainment for free!

[csv8]

I have used Gray Line Tours in LA, LV, NY, SD and Washington, couldn't have been happier with the guides or the service,
South Rim is a long day but worth it. There is even a MACCAS there !!!!
Wasn't impressed with San Diego Zoo, the SD Plains Zoo, out of SD is much better, like our Western Plains Zoo.
I am with VODAFONE and use their Global Roaming,I don't find it expensive, they use VERIZON in the States. Driving is fun !! wrong side of the road, gotta go right at roundabouts. !!
The Outlet Mall just out of Vegas is a shoppers paradise. My missus spends, spends there !!
I am going there in a month. I hope the airfares are as cheap next year as this year.
Go with an open mind. ENJOY !! and remember you gotta tip !!

[JerseyVics]

I should be back in the States by next year (if I don't go to Europe) feel free to contact me when in NYC area (or even Miami) I'll be happy to take you around and show you ground zero and other parts of NYC (manhattan) wouldn't mind parking the car and going to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island with you... its only $12 bux and free parking on the Jersey City side.

You'll have fun... book it on your own, there's super cheap fares out there now to the states!

--Russ

[TUF351]

You got to do the drive from LA to SF along the coast rd, pacific hwy 1 or something. Really worthwhile drive, we hired a new convertable stang had 17 miles on the clock, the drive is a cruisey 2 days and you must stop at monterey and have seafood chowder at the wharf. Car hire was cheap. Food is awesome in SF, try the crab house at fishermans wharf. I do recommend a GPS if driving anywhere

Vegas you can hire vipers, ferrari etc at an hourly rate. Also the shelby museum is at the vegas speedway. You can hire M16s AK -47s etc from las vegas gun store. My missus loved the outlet shopping just out of vegas too

NY i would recommend the rockefeller centre rather than the empire state, no lines and just as good view. Central park is cool

Disneyland is amazing and I thought universal was pretty good too

We did yellowstone and yosemite national park, that was well worthwhile but a bit of a travel to these locations

we got stuck with super shuttle transfers from the airports and they sucked big time. I think its better to get a cab.

we did a contiki tour too, it was well worth the money. We had an awesome tour guide.

you will have so much fun, america rocks

[gregaust]

http://www.travelaire.com.au/ highly recommended have used many times always great service.

[jaydee]

Don't miss Universal Studios in LA. Took the kids to LA 2 years ago and did Disneyland, but for my money Universal Studios was the best.
The food everywhere is disgusting, all greasy fried and fatty.

[Walt Kowalski]

Originally Posted by TUF351

You got to do the drive from LA to SF along the coast rd, pacific hwy 1 or something.

If you do that road hire a sports car.

I'd be getting a Vette for that trip.

But a Stang vert would be ok too.

plenty of stuff along the way
Hearst Castle.
Pismo Beach

but especially lots of windy roads

Limo at night in any city is cheap and fun.

[ltd]

Which airline are you all flying to LA with?

[Zed7fiddy]

No idea yet! still 12 months away from flying! depend on what is cheap at the time!

I like the idea fo driving to San Fran, but unsure how easy that will be with all our gear and 4 of us and a convertable, its gunna be tight fitting everything in to the back!

[sgt_doofey]

We drove San Fran to LA on our trip, down highway 1 along the coast. It was a great drive. Stopped in at Hearst Castle which was an interesting stop. We stayed in a hotel in Santa Maria on the way. Santa Maria is the city where Michael Jackson was arrested on child molestation charges, only days before we were there.
In San Fran, just spend a day walking around the city. It's great, but hard work due to all the hills.

Oh, and I'd be booking flights now if you can. I've heard that you can get return flights to LA for $600 + taxes.

[73gscoupe]

I spent 5 weeks touring the USA in 2007 with a mate of mine. Did it fairly cheap by backpacking.

I highly recommend contiki – don’t let the $600 price hike put you off. You get to travel with a group of people your age, and its all organised for you. No travel hassles, the coach takes you from place to place. The accommodation they book is good quality – always a good hotel or inn. Trust me, its worth it, go contiki.

2 weeks – concentrate on the west coast. Ie – forget NY / ground zero / Statue of liberty. You need 1 month to do both coasts.

LA to bay or wild west tour will cover all the stuff you listed.

[Pedro]

Originally Posted by ltd

Which airline are you all flying to LA with?

Start here ..... www.vaustralia.com.au

[Spanrz]

My wife and I did NYC in 16 hours..LOL. Feet copped a hiding. Walked all the way from Grand Central, down to the Financial district and back up to West 77th street.
I loved everypart of it, but it's something to do by foot, if you are willing.
We were there about 9 weeks after the wtc collapse, so we saw it all in the raw.
November is a good time in NYC (Thanksgiving parade timeline) and it might snow..
But if that's too cold, pick Sept/Oct, nice colours of the trees in the north and a little warmer.

My wife went to school with the OCC guys. (Mainly Vinnie)
By memory they have the big shop in Newburgh now.
Just stay away from Broadway (main drag) in the centre of Newburgh, it's quite roughish/slumish. My wife forbids me to go there.
Tho nearly know that area like the back of me hand now. I did doughies in the shopping place where the OCC merchandise shop was (before it became OCC).

If you are anywhere near Pennsylvania and a chocolate lover, go to Hershey - PA. You wont regret it.

If you like rollercoasters go to Great Adventure in New Jersey!

[Zed7fiddy]

I havent got an airline yet! probably wont be buying those tickets until a month or two out? (first time travelling international!)

Also another conundrum i have is to buy a video camera here before i go or there? woudl they be cheper there?

[TUF351]

Originally Posted by 67-FKD

No idea yet! still 12 months away from flying! depend on what is cheap at the time!

I like the idea fo driving to San Fran, but unsure how easy that will be with all our gear and 4 of us and a convertable, its gunna be tight fitting everything in to the back!

We struggled to fit just two of us and our luggage in the mustang.

[sgt_doofey]

Originally Posted by 67-FKD

I havent got an airline yet! probably wont be buying those tickets until a month or two out? (first time travelling international!)

There is some good bargains to be had now with the whole financial crisis, so I'd look sooner rather than later. Make sure you give yourself a few weeks to sort out your passport as well. Don't leave it to the last minute!

Also another conundrum i have is to buy a video camera here before i go or there? woudl they be cheper there?

I don't think that there is much difference really. If the Aussie dollar was strong, then they probably would be, but the conversion rate probably stuff things up now. Also, they have different power to us, 110V vs 240V, and different plugs. If you buy over there, make sure the battery charger can handle all voltages and you'll also have to get a converter for the plug. We bought a converter from WalMart for $17. It converts any plug in to any plug.
I last went there when the Aussie dollar was US$0.94, so some good bargains back then. Clothing is where you'll really save your money!

[alecrain]

My father lives in San Diego and I've visited him few times.
SD is a very beautiful city, with fantastic places to visit, such as:
Sea World
Zoo + Wild Animal Park
La Jolla
Point Loma
Colorado Island
hike up Iron Mountain for 360 view of county (2-3 hrs)
great Mexican restaurants
and around:
try going to Tijuana (Mexico)
Grand Canyon is a must see place!!!
don't forget fantastic wineries all over CA

[cs123]

San Francisco is a great city, plenty to do there. Alcatraz is a must see.
I found Miami a waste of time, not a nice city, crap beaches compared to QLD.
NYC is a blast. Not much to see at ground zero.
Vegas, great, see some shows, gamble and drink.
Disney is an unexpectedly great experience.

I'd avoid package tours. You can get better value by doing it yourself.


Look at avoiding air travel where possible. Airports are a nightmare. For instance you're better off catching a bus from LA to Vegas. Amtrack is good.

[sgt_doofey]

Originally Posted by cs123

you're better off catching a bus from LA to Vegas.

Bah, hire a Mustang and drive route 66!

Amtrack is good.

No complaints here. I caught it from Washington to NYC.