Advice - travelling in the US - Page 4

noobcakes

United States526 Posts

July 03 2011 16:49 GMT

#61

Unfortunately, America is way more spread out than the european countries. If you try to travel by train or bus, you still might have to walk 20+ blocks to get anywhere close to where you want to go. Get a car.

Zyxds

United States91 Posts

July 03 2011 16:53 GMT

#62

Maybe you should try one of those charter bus tours. Might be easier since they drive you around, no way to get lost and they don't miss any of the main attractions. Some run from around Salt Lake City through Yellowstone into South Dakota, though they are pretty expensive.

Most everything else had been covered already so maybe it's something to consider.

Deja Thoris

South Africa646 Posts

July 03 2011 18:09 GMT

#63

I've done the USA thing and the advice here is pretty good.

I'd also advocate car hire. Cars are cheap and plentiful there and fuel is cheap. Google the big places and get quotes - alamo / avis / hertz etc. Familiarise yourself with the car rental lingo. You dont want to get quoted $10 a day for a car and then get boned for all kinds of hidden extras. Educate yourself before hand so you don't end up with top of the range overkill insurance etc.

I'm not a fan of tour busses etc. They kill spontaneity.

The camping idea is good but only if you can make the mental adjustment to being without a soft bed and electricity. I camped on a 3 month tour across the US and it adds an indescribably beautiful dimension to the countryside. I dont advocate sleeping in cars though, maybe I'm just too tall! I'm a huge fan of the national park places (I forget their names) Really cheapo, picturesque and generally offer ok ameneties like hot showers!

All the other advice is sensible, dress for hot weather but layer when it cools. Sunglasses are essential, not a fashion item. In places like Arizona you will seriously fuckup your eyes without them.

Finally, an old anecdote I always find appropriate. Take half the luggage you think you will need and twice the money!

Mordanis

United States893 Posts

July 04 2011 03:47 GMT

#64

One last thing I'd like to say is that, In this corner of the world, it is pretty essential to have a four wheel drive especially if you really want to see the natural wonders. Yes, there are beautiful places that you can get to in a sedan, but they are almost all filled with tourists, and you can often just go off the highway on a trail and find absolutely fantastic landscapes, brooks, etc. Also, these trails are too small to have two cars pass easily, so you can just drive in the middle, which should be nice after driving on the wrong(right) side of the road.