Travelling to the North America next summer...

Ashok_2

Hi -

I want to travel to North America next summer with a friend (possibly two) for a month to celebrate the end of A Levels and our last summer before university and although I realise it is quite early still I really need some help with planning because I've only been to America once (Orlando with family) and there is a LOT I'm not sure about.

We were thinking of sticking to the East Coast and visit as many states and cities as possible, for example, houston, dallas, orlando, atlanta, jacsonville, miami, charleston, philidelphia, new york, washington, chicago, detroit, charlotte, richmond, birmingham, cincinatti, and pittsburgh . That may be a few too many, but you get the idea..

We would stay in motels as much as possible, although I'm not entirely sure on what the age requirements are.. At least one of us will be 18, but also at least one will be 17 years old?

Flights are also something I'm not too sure about. We were thinking of starting of in Houston but aren't sure when the best time to book tickets would be in order to get the best deal? We would be flying in mid July.

Transport - we're both too young to rent cars and buying one would be too expensive so I think that our two options are the Greyhound (an unlimited month pass costs like $400 or an Amtrak train pass which is $600 for a month) but I'm not really sure which of these would be best?

Those are just a few of my questions, and I'm sure I will have more over the next few months, but I'd really appreciate if anyone could help out. I haven't really travelled much up to now and this really would be an amazing experience, I just want to get it all planned properly!

Thanks

fifeken

Maybe start off by getting a map. Chicago, Houston, Detroit are not in the East Coast. Then think what you want to do when you're there. Discuss what are you interested in and narrow down your target. Do you want to be travelling long distances every other day or maybe stop a bit longer if there's somewhere takes your fancy? There are Orlando and New York threads on here with lots of information but also I'm sure you'll find lots of other useful advice if you can be more specific.

Ashok_2

fifeken wrote: »

Maybe start off by getting a map. Chicago, Houston, Detroit are not in the East Coast. Then think what you want to do when you're there. Discuss what are you interested in and narrow down your target. Do you want to be travelling long distances every other day or maybe stop a bit longer if there's somewhere takes your fancy? There are Orlando and New York threads on here with lots of information but also I'm sure you'll find lots of other useful advice if you can be more specific.

Sorry I know they're not East Coast, I guess I meant we didn't want to go any further west than Texas.

We realise there will be a lot of travelling, but we don't mind staying maybe only a day at most places, but want to spend maybe 3 days each in Houston, New York, Orlando, Washington.

Do you know when the best time to book flights would be? We were planning on starting at Houston, and current quotes for July 2010 are £700ish..

fifeken

Not sure on best time to book (I always think earlier is better although haven't been to the USA for about 5 years), but you might want to look at an open jaw ticket or alternatively, if you want to end back up where you started head for New York. It'll be a much cheaper flight and you'll have the same amount of travelling on land than if you start and finish in Texas.

Ashok_2

fifeken wrote: »

Not sure on best time to book (I always think earlier is better although haven't been to the USA for about 5 years), but you might want to look at an open jaw ticket or alternatively, if you want to end back up where you started head for New York. It'll be a much cheaper flight and you'll have the same amount of travelling on land than if you start and finish in Texas.

Just tthouht about that and found a return for £540. Starting at Houston then leaving from New York. That's perfect!

Do you think that's a reasonable price?

I really want to know if the prices will stay like that because currently they're not taking bookings for August 2010, just July 2010 and I want to return in August.

flutterbyuk25

Depending on how far you are travelling around, it may work out better to fly internally or use companies like megabus.

Last year I travelled round US for a month. travelled by megabus from Washington DC to Boston (8hours) for $20. Megabus was clean, comfortable and had powerpoints so you could charge stuff or use portable DVD player etc. I then flew from Boston to LA for around $120 one way, and then San Fran to NYC for $90 one way.

Do lots of research, search all the budget airlines for internal US flights, and check out buses as well as trains.

HTH, and have fun!

x

blindman

Ashok wrote: »

Hi -


We would stay in motels as much as possible, although I'm not entirely sure on what the age requirements are.. At least one of us will be 18, but also at least one will be 17 years old?

In the US a lot of hotels/motels you need to be 21 to check-in.


Transport - we're both too young to rent cars and buying one would be too expensive so I think that our two options are the Greyhound (an unlimited month pass costs like $400 or an Amtrak train pass which is $600 for a month) but I'm not really sure which of these would be best?

Look at the China bus network for cheap travelling

anguilla

Ashok wrote: »

I really want to know if the prices will stay like that because currently they're not taking bookings for August 2010, just July 2010 and I want to return in August.

Nobody can predict with any accuracy the prices as they are based on US$. I booked LON to Orlando to Caribbean - LON for xmas in Feb. A month later they had risen by 50% and the £ was stronger against the $ (figure??).

The best tip is to book as far ahead as possible & use the 330 day rule ie time return flight lands must be no more than 330 days from the time you book. This is used by scheduled airlines and will give you those hard to find lowest fares (unless of course the airline is not selling enough seats so has a fare sale closer to time of departure!). Also don't 100% rely on the time of the flights as being accurate (mine have changed 4 times so far!).

Currently fares on scheduled flights go up to June 2010. I did a quick check on aa.com and you are looking at around £345pp LHR - Dallas and returning via New York so considerably cheaper than the fares you are seeing now.

The other thing you may have problems with though is immigration. The US has a policy of "you are going to breach your visa unless you can prove otherwise" and a group of 18 year olds or thereabout that are not going to be sticking in one place for very long and returning a month or so later from somewhere 1/2 way across the country could cause issues - especially if you dont have a lot of funds or can prove very strong ties to the UK.

flutterbyuk25

Also, remember that you will not be able to drink whilst you are away (most states have drinking age of 21, and are very strict on ID). And if you do manage to buy alcohol, and are found or suspected of drinking it in your motel/hostel by the manager etc then they can call police and you can be fined or worse!

x

fifeken

Ashok wrote: »

Just tthouht about that and found a return for £540. Starting at Houston then leaving from New York. That's perfect!

Do you think that's a reasonable price?

I really want to know if the prices will stay like that because currently they're not taking bookings for August 2010, just July 2010 and I want to return in August.

You can probably knock 200 quid off the flight price by going in and out of New York and booking in the next few weeks, but obviously this means more travelling on the ground. Depends what you want more - the quick but expensive flight or the slower but cheaper bus as described by blindman and flutterbyuk25 above.

Ashok_2

anguilla wrote: »

Nobody can predict with any accuracy the prices as they are based on US$. I booked LON to Orlando to Caribbean - LON for xmas in Feb. A month later they had risen by 50% and the £ was stronger against the $ (figure??).

The best tip is to book as far ahead as possible & use the 330 day rule ie time return flight lands must be no more than 330 days from the time you book. This is used by scheduled airlines and will give you those hard to find lowest fares (unless of course the airline is not selling enough seats so has a fare sale closer to time of departure!). Also don't 100% rely on the time of the flights as being accurate (mine have changed 4 times so far!).

Currently fares on scheduled flights go up to June 2010. I did a quick check on aa.com and you are looking at around £345pp LHR - Dallas and returning via New York so considerably cheaper than the fares you are seeing now.

The other thing you may have problems with though is immigration. The US has a policy of "you are going to breach your visa unless you can prove otherwise" and a group of 18 year olds or thereabout that are not going to be sticking in one place for very long and returning a month or so later from somewhere 1/2 way across the country could cause issues - especially if you dont have a lot of funds or can prove very strong ties to the UK.

Thanks everyone fo all the posts - it is very helpful!

The thing that is worrying me the most is the immigration thing.. What could we do to insure we won't have any problems?

Also in regards to flights, I'm guessing they would cost more for July anyway because of school holidays, or should they stay around £345?