Off Topic Traveling USA

[nathanhny]

Hello all

I've taken a back seat on this forum recently, but hope any of you brilliant people have the time to answer a few questions regarding a visit to the USA. Been a bit of a shakey start to the year, but i've hit a wall where I really need to think about my future career. I'm considering heading to uni/college, and have always wanted to travel the US for a month or so, especially NYC. I'm basically looking at taking a trip to the US in about a year or so.

I would just like some feedback from anyone who has travelled the USA, or indeed anyone who lives there, about their experience. Did you plan it all yourself or book a tour through a travel agent? I would like to plan it myself/go with the flow. Would you say it's wise to precisely plan everything before hand? or improvise a little along the way? i.e Purchase internal flights/coach trips along the way, stop in B&B's/hostels rather than hotels/motels (I will save up as much as I can but there is no money tree lol).

And of coarse, i'd love to pick up a Musicman along the way lol

Thank you very much

 

[Adrian-XI]

I went to Alaska for 3 weeks last year. It was for work so I didn't plan anything, but I did pick up my music man along the way

 

[sbrett]

I'd probably want to book all my flights in advance. For hotels you might want to at least check out some places to stay where you plan on visiting. It's not like you won't find a room, but depending on what's going on where you go, you may end up having to stay some place you really don't want to.

The only time I'd want a 'tour guide' on any trips is if I'm traveling to a country where I don't speak the language. Otherwise I prefer to explore on my own, and have a list of the things I absolutely want to see/do before I leave.

 

[luv]

The USA is easy my friend. The only difficult part about a trip here is deciding where to go. It would be wise to get some help if you are going into NYC. I've never been, but all my close friends that have suggest having a game plan if going there. Public transportation will get you everywhere you need to be in NYC....it's a good system.

Outside of NYC it's completely different, and you could probably just wing it....except with your flights. If you go west or south it's way more lax and easy going, but a little less cultured in most areas. Colorado, west Wyoming, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona are all amazing....as is the entire west coast. I'm told Texas sucks, so don't go there! Just kidding fellas...Texas isn't so bad (Dallas rocks!).

My opinion is the only reason you would want to stick to a strict schedule is if there were places that you absolutely had to see and you were pressed for time.

 

[guitfiddle]

If you are really into live music (I am), the "not to miss" list is topped by Memphis and Nashville.

 

[V_S]

We' made a 4 weeks tour last year: San Francisco, Yosemite, Sequoia, Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, Joshua Tree, San Diego, LA. We just booked the hotel for the first 3 days and the car for three weeks before. The rest (motels and camp grounds) were pretty easy, because we had a netbook with us and there's pretty much everywhere free Wifi (Starbuck, Mc Donalds, ...). Motels were cheap... beetween 55 and 90 $ for a room and night for two persons.

 

[fatkatz77]

Don't forget the trip to the rock and roll hall of fame in Cleveland, Ohio. Out west such as Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, etc. have some really beautiful scenery to experience. Maybe take a tour of Chicago, see things such as the Sears Tower.