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This branch covers: Mainland USA, Hawaii & Alaska

So many posts request the impossible - that a bunch of people who have never met you magically intuit how much you have to spend and what will make you happy on vacation, generally planning out your route for three months and helping you get discount flight reservations.

So, what can you do to get great travel advice?

1. Do your homework
The web is filled with basic information like how far it is from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon, or how to get from JFK to Manhattan (all major US airports have websites with transit info). Google is your best friend. See the list of indispensable sites below. Get your basic info first, then you can ask intelligent questions on the TT and pick the brains of the many knowledgeable locals who frequent this site just hoping someone will ask about a romantic B&B in New Orleans or a baseball game in Boston.

2. Do a Lonely Planet and Thorn Tree (TT) search
At least five posters a week ask what to do in NYC, whether to go to LA on their way around the world, whether it's possible to work under the table/overstay a tourist visa, and how to get to Miami Beach on a six-hour stopover. The road is well travelled. Find those threads, and add your question or 2c. You should also explore Lonely Planet's Destinations online, which has a wealth of key info and tips.

3. Be specific.
You might include: How much do you have to spend? Back country hiker or bargain shopper? Getty Museum or Old Faithful? Mexican taco stand or French bistro? Two days in Chicago or two months as a student? If you don't have a profile on the TT, make sure your post mentions anything about you that would be helpful to know. An 18 year old Brit on his first trip abroad usually wants different advice from a Italian family with an infant or a couple in their 50s from Ohio.

4. Be wary of mixing politics with tourism.
This board is about visiting the USA, a big, diverse country of over 300 million people. "Is it safe in Alphabet City after dark?"; is a tourism question "Is it safe in Disneyland thanks to your war mongering president?" will probably get you a fight, and no helpful answers.

Indispensable websites for US travel:
- Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
- TSA
- Immigration & Naturalization Service (INS)
- biddingfortravel.com
- quikbook.com
- roomsaver.com
- hostels.com
- amtrak.com
- weather.com
- Hostelling International USA
- American Auto Club
- For a comprehensive list of local public transit agencies, look at: www.apta.com/sites/transus

Please feel free to add any other useful advice and insight you might have inside this thread. The more the merrier for all!

Guidebook Updates
To get the latest updates to any of our guidebooks - or to add your own - visit the Guidebook Feedback branch of the Thorn Tree.

Note:
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Thanks!

Edited by 101CupsofTea, updated and deleted obsolete links July 2016
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there is plenty to write about and much to do in Baltimore...

Then take a look at our local magazine online...in particular look at the FAVORITES SECTION: BEST OF BALTIMORE
Baltimore Magazine
Best of Baltimore

For a little urbanification check out our "alternative" City Paper for the week you'll be there...
Baltimore City Paper Not to mention what LP has to say about Baltimore Baltimore-Lonely Planet

Mount Vernon is also a great place to see, if you want to meet real Baltimoreans and get away from the more tourist laden areas. A stones throw north of the Inner Harbor...slightly eclectic, artsy(with museums, opera, plays, and depending on the time of the year, festivals), good coffeeshops/restaurants, and gay-friendly(and some just downright gay) pubs. Worth a check out as well. The Cultural District of Mount Vernon

Edited by 101CupsofTea, updated and deleted obsolete links July 2016
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Another good site to keep in mind for travel is City Search. You can find very detailed information about most major cities in the world. Listings include general information, entertainment listings, club guides, jobs, accomodations, shopping, etc.

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Edited by: katija

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Local newspapers and community websites are an easy way to research current events, live music shows, festivals, restaurant reviews, and general goings on.

In the San Francisco Bay Area, these include The San Francisco Chronicle (main daily newspaper) The San Francisco Bay Guardian (alternative weekly) SF Weekly ("alternative" weekly, good music listings) SF Station (music and performances listings)

The most widely used website in the bay area is Craigslist where you can find an apartment, a job, a lover, a ride to LA, or an opinion on any of the above. Their websites for LA and NY are also very popular.Bay Area Backroads is a local TV show with info on touring on their website.

Edited by 101CupsofTea
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I would add: http://www.hostels.com/ not only for a list of independent hostels, but they also have a good links and resources section (such as transport options, how to buy and resell a car, etc.

Another question that comes up a lot is "what's the deal with driving someone else's car where I only pay for gas and a nominal refundable deposit". It's called a driveaway car, and this company is the most well-known (but not the only one, so you might also want to do a web search) www.autodriveaway.com

Edited by 101CupsofTea
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May seem obvious, but remember to use credit cards when booking flights (unless they're covered on your travel insurance) - airlines do fail occasionally, and if you've booked an expensive ticket you'll want to get your money back if they do!

Also remember that prices (hotels/flights/cars) are often dependant on when you travel. Some places are weekend destinations, others weekday - you can save quite a bit if you choose the correct times - generally tourist destinations are more expensive at the weekends, work destinations during the week.

If you have any photographic films remember they must go as hand luggage - there are powerful X-ray scanners in the hold luggage path of most airports. Generally a hand luggage scanner should be safe enough, but if you're in any doubt politely ask staff for more information!

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People often ask for very specific Transit info ("where does the subway from JFK go to"? "can I get from Ft. Lauderdale to Miami airport"?).

Here's a list of helpful transit links, many of which have "trip planners":
NYC Transit
Chicago Transit
Boston Transit
Miami/Ft. Lauderdale/West Palm Beach Rail (with links to connecting bus services)
Washington DC Metro & Bus
San Francisco/Bay Area Rapid Transit

Edited by 101CupsofTea, updated and deleted obsolete links July 2016
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For nightlife in NY City, here are a few sites to check out. There are so many bars, clubs and lounges, there really isn't one that is "the best" club. It depends on your personal taste, musical preferences, neighborhood, etc.
Paper Magazine
Shecky's Bar Club and Lounge Guide
Time Out NY - click on "This Week's Picks" then "Clubs" for the top picks of the week
Club Planet -- good for getting on the discounted guest list for the bigger dance clubs
Citysearch.com's bar and nightlife listings

Edited by 101CupsofTea, updated and deleted obsolete links July 2016
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I took a 30 day train trip around much of the U.S. and some of Canada in April/May 2002. This webpage consists of observations and tips on the Amtrak and VIA Canada trains, with some comments by others. (101CupsofTea: page no longer exists)

Edited by 101CupsofTea, deleted obsolete link July 2016
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