US Holiday

[Happy_Neale]

Everyone does the trek america tour as a taster

You miss out on places like Yellowstone park though, the US's most visited national park

But the advantage is its short, so you wont be getting on the nerves of your fellow tour mates

There is a lot of driving though

Yeah I'm not sure about a full circle road trip. Might look at doing a one way-er from LA to NY instead, take away a little bit of the rush.

Yeh food fund was about $10 a day. Add on any optionals aswell (which you will probably end up doing anyway).

For me the pros outweighed the negatives. Would have loved to have done it solo and hung about in NYC looking for a cheap car, a few other people to split costs but I just didn't have the time. The USA won't be cheap whatever way you do it if you want to see more than just a few cities. Remember that geographical distances are quite massive.

Yeah...seems a bit over the top price wise. Looks like the kind of think I'd be interested in, but think it might be more beneficial to just drive with mates. I'd reckon I could spend less money and do the same stuff seeing as though the costs will be split. The distance is enormous, have been researching it. How do you decide what to see?!

Think I might just steal a tour companys itinerary

 

[peejay]

The best rate I can get is $125. But it does look nice and I might be able to swing it. Thanks for the heads up.

There are some dates at 99 guess it depends where you are going.

Rooms are small - no tiny but it is a really cool old style hotel.

The website is a very true indication of the place.

Meat packing district is uber cool , plenty of good bars nearby.

Automatic slims is a must ! Also grab a burger and two beers for less than $10 at the corner bistro. Very good burgers. White horse tavern is also good for some drinking and cheap food. Bennys Burrito will sell you a frozen margarita with an up turned corona in it for $7.50.

All these places are within 10 min walk of the jane.

 

[rdhopkins2]

Think I might just steal a tour companys itinerary

You wouldn't be the first either.

If you are going with mates and can work out a car quickly over there, do it! Would be an excellent experience.

Trek is very handy as I was saying though for a single or even couple of mates that don't want to hang around looking for others to share expensive. The States isn't a cheap place to 'hang around', especially NYC.

 

[Happy_Neale]

You wouldn't be the first either.

If you are going with mates and can work out a car quickly over there, do it! Would be an excellent experience.

Trek is very handy as I was saying though for a single or even couple of mates that don't want to hang around looking for others to share expensive. The States isn't a cheap place to 'hang around', especially NYC.

Yeah I've already got one mate who is keen for it, possibly another. Car hire was not too bad either, we're looking at about $2,000 for a car for over a month, so about 700 each which is more than affordable. Pretty decent car too and comes with a GPS.

 

[Freakie]

Just remember that US car hire companies charge massive one way drop off fees so unless you are returning it to the same place you will have to factor that into the cost.

Freakie
Travel Agent to Bigfooty.

 

[Happy_Neale]

Just remember that US car hire companies charge massive one way drop off fees so unless you are returning it to the same place you will have to factor that into the cost.

Freakie
Travel Agent to Bigfooty.

Do they? I hadn't read that on any of the sites, might it be a hidden charge then?

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Do they? I hadn't read that on any of the sites, might it be a hidden charge then?

Not hidden.

I just went on to Thrifty for example.

1 week, LA pickup - New York drop off.

Rental: $167.93
Drop Off Fee: $1239.48

So you would have to drive West to East, the return again. Maybe do a loop?

Or do a loop half way, LA - SF - Seattle - Maybe to Mt Rushmore, then down through the rural states into Texas, then Vegas back to LA. Jump on a plane and do New York - Washington - Memphis/Nashville - Chicago - maybe go up through Canada or back through Philadelphia, then head up to New England and back to NYC.

I'd probably just hire the one car and go North, East, South, West in a huge loop around the country if I was going to do that., but two smaller loops would be better if you want to go somewhere in the middle as well.

 

[Happy_Neale]

Not hidden.

I just went on to Thrifty for example.

1 week, LA pickup - New York drop off.

Rental: $167.93
Drop Off Fee: $1239.48

So you would have to drive West to East, the return again. Maybe do a loop?

Or do a loop half way, LA - SF - Seattle - Maybe to Mt Rushmore, then down through the rural states into Texas, then Vegas back to LA. Jump on a plane and do New York - Washington - Memphis/Nashville - Chicago - maybe go up through Canada or back through Philadelphia, then head up to New England and back to NYC.

I'd probably just hire the one car and go North, East, South, West in a huge loop around the country if I was going to do that., but two smaller loops would be better if you want to go somewhere in the middle as well.

Interesting. I guess it comes down to whether it's worth paying $2k for the one way fee. I was apprehensive about doing a cross country drive because of the massive hours spent driving. For example, I'd rather go LA through the south and then up to NYC in 6 weeks then doing a full country loop in the same time.

I guess what I'm trying to say is I'd rather experience less places to a fuller extent than rush through twice as many cities in the same time.

A quick search before and the total fee was about $2,000 for a decent car with a GPS. Between three that's about or even less than spending money on flights, and we get to see most of the West, South and East coasts.

 

[rdhopkins2]

There is some sort of arrangement in the USA with the rental car companies where they pretty much give you a car and a deadline to drop it off.

Ie. Pick up in City X on Day 123 and drop off in City Y 5 days later. Not sure exactly how it works or how realistic it might be to try and do a series of these to get from one side of USA to the other. Worth a google though-let us know what you find out.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

I found some of those. The deadline might be too quick for getting a good look around though. I think they stipulate a maximum of 8 hours driving per day but you would still have to be on the move every day.

Basically fleets migrate to places like Florida during Spring and then migrate back to their places of origin after summer.

You have to pay a few hundred deposit for the car but get the money back again at the other end.

 

[Happy_Neale]

There is some sort of arrangement in the USA with the rental car companies where they pretty much give you a car and a deadline to drop it off.

Ie. Pick up in City X on Day 123 and drop off in City Y 5 days later. Not sure exactly how it works or how realistic it might be to try and do a series of these to get from one side of USA to the other. Worth a google though-let us know what you find out.

Yeah I noticed that when looking it up. It seemed to be cheaper to rent for shorter periods. Might be worth getting a couple of different rentals for the major distances and getting the train for the shorter ones.

I just looked it up - to go from LA to NY over the period of one month is ~$2,800 AUD for an intermediate vehicle on a premium rental plan (whatever that is, it's the most expensive one for that car, including $25 per day as a young driver under 25 for me). Not sure about extra charges etc.

Whereas to go from LA to Phoenix, (just used as a point of reference) in a week it is ~$520 for the same vehicle (including the extra young drivers tax). So theoretically, if you hired a car for 2.5 weeks and caught the train the other 1.5 weeks out of 4, it should save you quite a bit of money...theoretically.

That doesn't take into account price changes between cities, train tickets, petrol etc. But it sounds like a more sensible option but with more mucking around. Might be good to mix it up though, and not spend the entire trip in the same car.

 

[Happy_Neale]

Also, whilst on the subject of cars, may I direct you to this post from another thread.

I don't know much about this but from what I gather, you drive somebodys car from point A to B and just pay for fuel (and a refundable deposit)? Sounds dodgy but could be pretty cheap.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Also, whilst on the subject of cars, may I direct you to this post from another thread.

I don't know much about this but from what I gather, you drive somebodys car from point A to B and just pay for fuel (and a refundable deposit)? Sounds dodgy but could be pretty cheap.

You'd have to have a very flexible itinerary though so would need to get very lucky.

 

[XFactor1979]

You'd have to have a very flexible itinerary though so would need to get very lucky.

Its too scary to drive on the wrong side of the road

Try doing it New York, or the Los Angeles freeways

 

[peejay]

Also, whilst on the subject of cars, may I direct you to this post from another thread.

I don't know much about this but from what I gather, you drive somebodys car from point A to B and just pay for fuel (and a refundable deposit)? Sounds dodgy but could be pretty cheap.

Not dodgy at all, just unreliable if your starting and finishing points are fixed. I used this system back in the 80's and got to see a lot of the US countryside. in fact i like a place so much i spent two days there but had to drive for 16 hours the last day to make up the time !!!!

things you do when you are young (er)

 

[peejay]

Its too scary to drive on the wrong side of the road

Try doing it New York, or the Los Angeles freeways

Driving in New York is actually easy - plenty of traffic but it moves very slowly.

But LA freeways =

 

[Freakie]

I found the LA freeways easy, no harder than the Monash, just if you drive on the express lane be prepared to sit on 140mph to stop extreme tailgating.

The trucks even have to sit in the far right lane!

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Its too scary to drive on the wrong side of the road

Try doing it New York, or the Los Angeles freeways

I found it hard to reverse my thinking and I only drove in Hawaii. I reckon I might start driving for longer periods next time, preferable in a smaller city, then branch out.

 

[alex_is_on_fire]

I found it hard to reverse my thinking and I only drove in Hawaii. I reckon I might start driving for longer periods next time, preferable in a smaller city, then branch out.

We're flying to LA and then driving streight to Vegas on boxing day. I'm not looking forward to the freeways.

I'm just trying to remember that the driver always stays in the middle of the road.

FML.

 

[Happy_Neale]

What's so bad about LA freeways?

 

[Happy_Neale]

Not dodgy at all, just unreliable if your starting and finishing points are fixed. I used this system back in the 80's and got to see a lot of the US countryside. in fact i like a place so much i spent two days there but had to drive for 16 hours the last day to make up the time !!!!

things you do when you are young (er)

You wouldn't be able to PM me some details about companies etc per chance? I've had a look but I'm not sure exactly what I'm looking for. One from LA or anywhere out West would be perfect if you know of anything.

 

[Freakie]

What's so bad about LA freeways?

Not much really, just ALOT of traffic, the exits are well sign posted (they are all number sequentially making it pretty easy to judge when you need to get off). Just have to remember to be in the far right lane to get off instead of the left! Although some express lanes (the far left lane) have dedicated exits as well.

 

[Childish Gambino]

After a day of driving in the US you will get used to it.

I wasn't sure on the rules on speed limits so I just kept up with traffic in the far left lane.

It was awesome driving to Vegas from LA attempting to break the 100 mile/hour barrier in our mini van. Got there in the end!

I found reversing the most annoying because I would constantly be trying to look over my left shoulder. Didn't feel right looking over my right one.

 

[Brad Goodman]

I'm heading to Vegas next week, I was thinking about doing the drive but seeing as I will be by myself I decided to just get a connecting flight instead.

With flight tours of the Grand Canyon leaving from Vegas do you actually get out of the plane or just fly over the top of the canyon and fly back? Haven't booked a tour yet so weighing up whether to get a plane or a coach.

 

[peejay]

You wouldn't be able to PM me some details about companies etc per chance? I've had a look but I'm not sure exactly what I'm looking for. One from LA or anywhere out West would be perfect if you know of anything.

Would love to but mate it was the 80's - to many brain cells destroyed since then.

But you might something out of this..

http://www.gonomad.com/transports/0012/javins_driveaway.html