North America trip?

catye

Hi all

Oooh travel, my favourite subject!

I am looking at booking a trip early-mid June, I'm open-minded about where to go, have New York & Niagara Falls (Canadian side) in the back of my mind though!

Was thinking of maybe doing a rail journey between the 2 places with a couple of stop-offs on the way.

Would also consider maybe New York stay + cruise or East to West/West to East USA journies.

Does anyone have any personal experience or suggestions for:
- amazing/must-see places,
- best way to travel at decent prices (Am-Trak & Opodo seem pretty good for train travel & multi-centre flights?)
- twin/multi-centre travel agents (without wishing to attract spammers!:eek:)

Was planning on going for about 14-17 days (with my husband - don't think he'd appreciate being left behind ).

Like I said I'm open-minded (sorry if that makes the topic a bit broad!) but I don't want to rule out any must-sees or great deals!

Looking forward to any replies!

Thanks,

Catye:D

neilbond007

14-17 days is not long enough to do a east / west journey.

Research and see where you really want to see. I'd advise to stay in one area. For example I did -
NY, Boston, Montreal, Toronto, Niagara Falls, NY (Driving between cities)

Don't try and fit too many cities in. You can easily spend 4-5 days in NY alone.

Milo19

neilbond007 wrote: »

14-17 days is not long enough to do a east / west journey.

Research and see where you really want to see. I'd advise to stay in one area. For example I did -
NY, Boston, Montreal, Toronto, Niagara Falls, NY (Driving between cities)

Don't try and fit too many cities in. You can easily spend 4-5 days in NY alone.

I agree, I spent 5 weeks doing the east coast in 2008 and tried to scram too many cities in. Thinking back, I wish I had spent longer in DC and Miami.

I've been to NY 4 times now and still only seen probably a third of it. Boston and the surrounding area (New England) is really spectacular as is Niagara. I stay in Dover, NH with family and that part on New England is truly beautiful.

I flew from Boston to Buffalo and spent the day in Niagara, again, not really longer enough but I plan to go back next Feb.

If I was planning a trip again, I would stick to Boston/New England, Niagara & NYC. Oh, I've trained it from Boston to NYC, NYC to DC and also driven it. Flying maybe be cheaper, but you dont see anything and spend hours inside an airport!?!?

Hope this helps - and good luck! How are you planning it, are you sorting it all yourself or do you have an agent?

Bogtrotter

neilbond007 is US resident so its quite easy for him to cross the border.

The rules have changed since 9/11 so maybe my experiences may not be valid now but maybe you should check just to be sure.

I first visited Niagara in 2000 and I remember that there was some regulation that if you left the USA for more than 24 hours (if travelling on a visa waiver programme) you could not return on a visa waiver if travelling from a country other than your own.

What this means is that if you travel from the UK to USA using the Visa Waiver, visit Canada from the USA and stay in Canada for more than 24 hours the authorities may refuse re-entry to the USA if you haven't got a full visa for a stay in the USA.

Best we could do on our first visit was to go on a day trip across to the Canadian side.

neilbond007

Bogtrotter wrote: »

neilbond007 is US resident so its quite easy for him to cross the border.

Er, no I'm not. I'm English. I have an English passport so crossing the border is the same for me as it is for you.

The trip mentioned was done prior to me moving over here too and was after 9/11. There were no Visa issues with crossing in to Canada and back to the US (I was in Canada for 5 or 6 days).

dzug1

Bogtrotter wrote: »

I first visited Niagara in 2000 and I remember that there was some regulation that if you left the USA for more than 24 hours (if travelling on a visa waiver programme) you could not return on a visa waiver if travelling from a country other than your own.

What this means is that if you travel from the UK to USA using the Visa Waiver, visit Canada from the USA and stay in Canada for more than 24 hours the authorities may refuse re-entry to the USA if you haven't got a full visa for a stay in the USA.

.

Certainly not true now - and could well have been a misunderstanding in 2000 as I don't recall it being the case then. The rules haven't changed, only the finer details of implementation

I've certainly spent a week in Canada and returned to the US with not the slightest problem.

And spent several days border hopping in the Niagara/Thousand Island area - again no problem

Bogtrotter

Ok obviously the rules have changed since 2000 but I know that when crossing from the USA to Canada we had to get a document from the USA authorities to present on our return to allow us re-enter the USA.

curlygirl1971

Hi Catye

I have no experience of driving in US as I'm a big coward about doing things on the other side of the road

Last year I did a day trip from Manhattan to Niagara falls - it was escorted (booked on Expedia). I priced up the individual components of the trip and found that actually the tour price couldn't be beaten. The only thing was it was a very long day and we didn't get long enough at Niagara. It was advertised as a day tour but in reality after travel we only had 4-5 hours there and that just isn't enough.

We were picked up at 6.30 am by coach, over to LaGuardia (I think), 9.25am flight to Rochester er 45 mins?, another coach over to Niagara (about 1 hour, 15?) arriving there about 11.30am . We went through Canadian border control very easily - I guess they get day trippers all the time. Did the maid of the mist, lunch at the Sheraton Falls - great food, fantastic view - back over to the US side - again no problem with border control (they just checked the visa stamp on our passports) and then we had a couple of free hours. We didn't have enough time to do the Cave of the Winds. Return flight was from Buffalo - there was delay due to weather and we got back to our hotel at 12.30am

I would pack some layers - we went in mild September, we were cool when we got there, really cold on the boat and then afterwards a little damp and very cold

Would really recommend Niagara but would suggest an overnight trip. I think driving takes the best part of a day.

We also did an overnight trip to Philly - Amtrak from NY Penn took 1hr 15ish. It was okay - not sure if I would recommend it - maybe I was on a bit of a downer after NY and our hotel turned out to be a bit grotty. Found Independance Hall / Liberty Bell interesting although we were the only British Tourists there - which caused them no end of amusement with the Americans. Wish I'd done the Art Museum (but thats my kind of thing). We did the open top bus tour hop on hop off - wasn't as good as NY's - not as many buses/stops and they no longer do the last loop round the zoo but fail to tell you..... Unexpected interest was the East State Penitentiary where Al Capone was incarcerated and where parts of Twelve Monkeys was filmed.

If you go to Philly beware of an evil thing called 'White Pizza'........no tomato sauce!

This next trip we are returning to Washington DC - we're getting the Amtrak down from NY which takes around 3 hours 20. The trains are really quite nice and comfy so I've no qualms about the journey. (If you go to the Washington DC Tourist website and follow the Amtrak link there is currently an offer on rail fare for that journey)

With relatives (that live in NJ) we've also spent a little time over near Lancaster PA. Beautiful countryside. Polar opposite to to the lights and hustle of NY. At 6pm there is NOTHING to do or anywhere to go. I found it very hard to counter my interest in the different religious communities there (like the Amish) with their wish for privacy and not to be gawked at like animals at the zoo......

Pretty sure you can get the train to Lancaster but not sure how you would see beyond the town without your own transport

Have a wonderful trip whatever you end up doing

curlygirl1971

Sorry about the long post - I guess I just get excited

headpin

Bogtrotter wrote: »

Ok obviously the rules have changed since 2000 but I know that when crossing from the USA to Canada we had to get a document from the USA authorities to present on our return to allow us re-enter the USA.

Not sure what you are talking about. I have been to Niagara on a number of occasions over the past 15 years. The last time was in June/July last year (2010). Flight in to JFK. Time in NYC. Drive to Niagara on Canadian side. Spent 4 days there crossing the border each day. Then on to Toronto and Montreal before crossing border 10 days later on return trip to JFK via Albany.

The only difference between my first trip and the one last year is that the number of places where you can cross the border in the Niagara area has reduced if you are not a Canadian or US citizen who is qualified and registered to use the automated border crossing system. The reduction in crossing places has therefore resulted in extremely long queues at the remaining crossing point, which for most will be the Rainbow Bridge. there was no requirement for any additional paperwork or visa as the Visa Waiver Program documents remained acceptable as long as you were within the 90 day validity.

Do not worry about crossing the border, except for the potential long queues at peak times. Enjoy

catye

Thanks so much for all of the replies & info! It seems NY & Niagara are definitely popular!

Well our plans have progressed a little since I posted! We have (almost) decided on a 10-day visit to Toronto (with a 2-night Niagara visit in there somewhere & maybe another place) & then a 4-5 day stay in NY.

I've spoken to a few agents & the best quote so far (for 2 adults) in June was just over £2500 for flights (not the most convenient flights tbh) & accomodation for 14 nights.

I decided to look myself though & have found flights from UK to Toronto (direct), then Toronto to NY (direct), then NY back to UK via 1 short stop in Iceland for a total of £565 per person - seems like a good deal I think? Really great choice of flights too! Maybe I will look into train instead of flights from Toronto to NY though, I agree with the comment about not seeing so much from the air.

Need to find hotels now to see if I can beat the agent lol! My friend who is a US national visited NY in September so waiting to see if she can recommend a hotel, also another friend has visited Toronto many times so hopefully will get some good recommendations! If anyone would like to add any personal favourites please do!

Curlygirl - your "evil white pizza" comment really made me laugh! For me that is the perfect pizza, as I always complain about the tomato sauce! I discovered the white pizza in Venice a few years ago & was so impressed lol!:rotfl: