4 weeks travel in NorthEast and California - USA
Replies: 34 - Last Post: Nov 14, 2012 10:24 AM Last Post By: redwhine
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4 weeks travel in NorthEast and California - USA
Hey everyone,This is going to be a bit of long post so thanks in advance for reading it and any replies I get :)
Bascially, I'm going to be working in a summer camp in the US this summer and afterwards I want to travel for a month - so the dates I'm looking at are the last 2 weeks in August and the first 2 weeks in September. I'm a single female traveller (20) who's never really did any 'proper' traveling alone - so I'd like to hear from any single travellers and how safe they felt travelling alone and staying in dorm room hostel.
The itinerary looks like this:
-4 nights New York
-4 nights Philidelphia
-4 nights Washington D.C
-5 nights Chicago
-5 night Los Angeles
-4 nights Chicago
-4 nights San Diego
Can anyone tell me if this is a realistic amount to fit in about a months travel? Also does anyone have any advice about if I'm spending too long in one particular place and not enough in another?
I'm planning on taking in terms of money 50 dollars a day (excluding accomodation and travel) is that a realistic amount or should I be factoring in more? I know that's like saying how long is a piece of string but to give you an idea of what I plan on doing is visiting;
- the main sights that the places are famous for e.g. Empire State etc;
- I'm not a fan of art galleries but I do like the occasional museum;
- i like going to parks and pretty places.
- In places like New York I'd like to go to a broadway show and Los Angeles a day at Universal Studios.
- I'd like to see something like a baseball match which you can't see in the UK.
- I plan on eating in cheap places
- a night out (maybe two) in each place
All advice on cheap place to eat; what to do; how to save money; good nights out would be much appreciated.
On another note I plan on getting to most places by Amtrak except Chicago to Los Angeles were I will fly. The only one I'm not sure about is travelling by Amtrak Chicago to LA - it takes 17 hours and it costs about £55. Going by plane its about £120 and takes 4 h 30min. If anybody has done that route on Amtrak (on a normal seat not a bed) or one like it is it worth getting a plane? I don't mind long jouneys if it is a pleasant one on a nice route but if it's not i'd sonner fork out the extra money and get a plane.
Anyway thanks for reading - all advice welcome :)
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Is this correct? Two visits to Chicago? Or is the second one a mistake and you really mean some other city?The itinerary looks like this:
-4 nights New York
-4 nights Philidelphia
-4 nights Washington D.C
-5 nights Chicago
-5 night Los Angeles
-4 nights Chicago
-4 nights San Diego
Can you drive? Are you willing to rent a car? 5 days in Los Angeles without a car will not be easy.
4
All of those cities have baseball teams, find one that fits into your schedule. NY Yankees are most expensive, I'd guess. Wrigley Field in Chicago has a lot of atmosphere. Washington Nationals have some exciting up and coming stars. San Francisco is headed to the World Series. And I've always wanted to see a game at Dodger stadium. You can't really go wrong.Maybe go from Chicago to San Francisco then to LA to avoid backtracking down to San Diego.
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Oops just noticed another mistake I'm definitely flying Chicago to LA. it's Washington Dc to Chicago that I'm not sure about as it takes 17 hrs by Amtrak.6
I'm planning on taking in terms of money 50 dollars a day (excluding accomodation and travel) is that a realistic amount or should I be factoring in more?
Just to give you an idea:The xEmpire State Building costs $25. That's half your budget for that day.
Universal is $80. That's over your budget for that day.
Shows are anything from $20-250 (generally, more popular = pricier, and xBroadway = pricier). That's up to (almost) a week of your budget.
Baseball "games" (not "matches") are generally $10-400, depending on team, seat location and, in some case (like the Giants), popularity of the game ("dynamic pricing").
On top of all that, you still need to eat and get around.
In other words, I'd highly suggest raising your budget.
On another note I plan on getting to most places by Amtrak except Chicago to Los Angeles were I will fly.
One place to save money is in the northeast, where you can use the plethora of cheap buses to get between cities. They average around $25-30 per leg, though some can be as little as $1 when booked well in advance. Check Bolt Bus, Megabus, Vamoose, the chinatown buses, etc.it's Washington Dc to Chicago that I'm not sure about as it takes 17 hrs by Amtrak.
The trip is nice, though some of the nice parts may occur at night.If you like train journeys, take the train. If you want more time at your destination (instead of losing a day), fly.
Maybe go from Chicago to San Francisco then to LA to avoid backtracking down to San Diego.
Or to SD and work your way north.I'd also consider taking a day from xChicago to add to say, xBaltimore or xAnnapolis.
I'd like to see something like a baseball match which you can't see in the UK.
In rough order of preference, based on quality of team, quality of stadium and the "nostalgia" factor:Yankees (xNYC), Cubs (Chi), Giants (SF), Nationals (DC), Dodgers (LA), Orioles (xBaltimore), White Sox (Chi), Phillies (Philly), Mets (xNYC), A's (Oak), Angels ("LA", but really xAnaheim), Padres (SD).
Or how about something you really don't see in the UK?
7
I second the opinion that you should raise your budget.You can do it on $50 a day (excluding transportation and accomodation) but it becomes a quality of your experience issue. Do you want to focus on engaging in those activities and experiences that will make for a rewarding trip, or be focused on spending so little money that you have to seriously limit your activities and experiences?
Have a great trip.
8
Maybe do the hop on hop off bus for LA so I can see everything.
That may not take you to everything you want to see. Check the routes vs. what you want to do. On the other hand, transit in San Francisco is very good, so you might want to take a day from LA and add it to SF.
Monday, Sept. 2 is Labor Day. That day and the preceding weekend are big travel times, so some lodging or flights may be booked up. some sites may be very crowded.
9
One other thing--will you be 21 by the time you take your trip? If not, you will not be able to buy alcohol.Do you already now where your camp will be? If it turns out to be on the West Coast or in Texas or something, then your itinerary is going to include more plane flights.
11
Hey girl,Where in ny will you be staying? I'm going to guess in the city? Well since you don't drive, the subway would be a good way to get around. Fare cost 2.25. You.com visit staten island by.ferry. The ferry is free and you can get a pretty good look at the statue of liberty. Tons of tourist take it! Once on staten island there's a pretty good pizzeria. I love going there.
Of course you have to go to times square! Hot.dogs will run to between 2/2.50 but you can find.dollar pizza shops all over! Sometimes me and my friends go to each place to see which has the best slice. For drinks, u can pick up dollar water or can soda. I will warm u, it will seem overwhelming as times square is filled with tons of people but take it in and enjoy!
Will u be 21 by the time of your trip? Because u must be 21 to get into a bar and drink and even some places to dance.
What are your dates of travel. I might be around!
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If possible, you should start your trip in Boston, give two nights to ensure you have one full day. Walk the Freedom Trail. Enjoy some local seafood. Before you go watch the first few episodes of this mini-series, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0129692/. If you have the time, visiting the USS Constitution is worthwhile. If you have an extra day and I dunno $50-$70, Plymouth is a worthwhile side visit. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0493146/ (I did it by car and, for history buffs, I rate it one of the top 10 sites in America.)New York (I live just outside of NYC) is a budget buster. Four days there is great, but if you need to trim expenses, that’s where to start. Two full days (3 nights) is sufficient to train away satisfied. Don’t get me wrong, you can spend a week in NYC and still feel like there is more to do, but if money matters, NYC is a place to cut short.
Philadelphia is a love it or hate it location. I love it, but others hate it. It’s got some great historical sites (same mini-series) and is famous for both its rib-sticking working-class cuisine (scrapple and eggs for breakfast, cheesesteak sandwiches for lunch), and for its rowdy sports fans
Once you get your accommodation worked out DC is a budget location. Take the guided tour of the US Capitol, see the Air and Space Museum (Guided Tour is better, but self-guided is okay too). Visit the Natural History Museum (as good as the one in NYC but free.) There are a bunch of major sites and they are all free.
While there, consider a side-trip to Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. It’s a little pricey but if you have the budget it’s worth it. I’d go to the aquarium, take the boat tour to Fort McHenry, eat more seafood and have dinner in Little Italy.
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@Imnop - thanks for the advice on baseball teams. I'm probably going to go to San Francisco down to LA and San Diego.@bzookaj - thanks for the reply. You and others are right I am going to up my budget - what would you say is more realistic for the things I want to do? I'm thinking of buying Universal ticket in advance so it won't eat into my budget. I've been to New York before when younger and I think my mum said she got reasonable priced broadway tickets in a kiosk on the day; so I'm going to try and do that.
With the baseball "game" (I'm used to saying football match/rugby match/cricket match - being from Liverpool!) I'm not looking for a big high profile game just one that will capture the atmosphere of a baseball game (I went to a basketball game in Florida once when I was younger and loved it) so I'll look into whose playing before I go.
I would like to go to Chicago by bus or train rather than plane but when I checked on greyhound buses and Amtrak and they both take ages. So I'll check out your suggestions! Thanks for the lacrosse suggestion but I can watch that any time here really (though not sure its played on professional level - it's a more fancy boarding school thing here!)
14
@laketraveller - thanks for the reply! Deffo going to try and up my budget!@nutraxfornerves - thankfully I will be 21 so being served drink is nothing to worry about. I've checked out the LA bus and it seems to cover what I basically what I want to see. I'm kind of stuck about LA its somewhere I really want to go but I am worres about getting round on public transport. Do you know how expensive taxis are in LA?
