one month trip around the America by car

Old Apr 12th, 2000, 07:09 AM
  #1  
sqkelly
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one month trip around the America by car

Hi:

I am from china, and I plan to travel around the America with my husband during the summer vacation. We plan to cover most of the famous cities and resorts that must see in America. We need tips about how to plan the whole trip. We plan to start on June 5th, from Cleveland then to east coast, south, and then westcoast. could you please please give us some recommendation on how to plan the whole trip? Should we rent car or use our own cars( a new BMW)? Thanks I need a lot of information.
 
Old Apr 12th, 2000, 07:18 AM
  #2  
Joe
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Would you have to ship your car from China? If so, you would be better off renting a car here.
 
Old Apr 12th, 2000, 08:13 AM
  #3  
Diane
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There may be too much driving to see so much in one month. You could easily spend that much time just to see the East Coast, from Boston to Miami, with perhaps a couple of inland jaunts (for example) to drive the Blue Ridge Parkway, and to visit Nashville. For many of us, even that would take much longer than one month!
 
Old Apr 12th, 2000, 08:23 AM
  #4  
Bob Brown
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I agree with Joe on the car suggestion.
Even if you acquire the car in Cleveland, you will be putting some 10,000 to 15,000 miles on the car if you drive west and back. (What do you do with the car at the end of the trip??)

Let me strongly suggest that you try to decide what it is in this big country that you want to see. In some cities like Washington, New York, Boston, and Philadelphia, a car is more of an expense than it is a help. Parking is expensive and you cannot drive to many of the places you will want to visit and be able to park close by. If you are interested in the American West, then a car is mandatory.
So my suggestion is to try to make a list of what you want to see. Then go from there is terms of route planning.
What do you think you want to see the most?? Decide that and then I think you can get more specific help.
Right now I don't know where to start.
I have my preferences, but those are personal and may not fit your objectives.
 
Old Apr 12th, 2000, 08:29 AM
  #5  
debra
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One month is not enough time. You should pick some cities, or sites, and focus on them, or a geographic part of the country. You are probably better off renting here, and if you really want to see the cities, have you considered the VUSA air ticket which lets you fly to various cities for a reasonable price? It is only available outside the US.

That said, I think the Western states (I'm from NY) offer a lot---the grand canyon, Yosemite, Mt Rushmore, with maybe one flight from Cleveland to New York to just experience it.
 
Old Apr 12th, 2000, 09:08 AM
  #6  
dan woodlief
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I agree with Debra that you should concentrate on the West. See New York and Washington, D.C. Then go West. There is a lot of natural beauty in the East, but it is more spectacular out West. Consider driving through some of the Rocky Mountain areas (for example, Colorado or Utah), then to the coast (maybe to San Francisco). Keep in mind the heat of the deserts though. I have never been in that area in the Summer, but others have said it can be quite rough on your car and body.
 
Old Apr 12th, 2000, 09:20 AM
  #7  
ibemee
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You have some VERY good advice here already! Absolutely do NOT bring a car! (Go to yahoo.com maps and check distances and routes if you still think you'd want to!) Also find websites for AAA - American Auto Association and AARP - American Assoc of Retired Persons, and some RV (recreational vehicle) Clubs: All of these should be able to give you info about the SAFE/UNsafe places for foreign tourists. (another good reason NOT to bring your foreign-licenced vehicle, not to scare you, but there ARE many places where tourists are targeted by criminals and gangs) It would be a wonderful trip if you could plan to fly between a couple of the major places you want to see, then rent a car, and fly on to the other. When you get to the west you can rent a small RV which will give you the freedom to eat and sleep whenever/wherever, I believe we are ALL agreed that 4 weeks is NOT enough time, you will need a MINIMUM of a week and preferably two weeks, to see ANY area. Otherwise, you might as well take a train... and just look out the window coast to coast I'd also contact a travel agency to ask about guided tours in a given area such as Hollywood, where tourists love to go, but are often disappointed; or the Grand Canyon where tourists often spend time being lost...
We could all give you better information if we knew what interests you.... Have a wonderful time, we are happy to have you. Please let us know what you think of our beautiful country!
 
Old Apr 12th, 2000, 11:43 AM
  #8  
Christie
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I agree that a month is NOT enough time to cover the entire US unless you want to see it from the Interstate at 70 mph! Pick 4-5 cities, spend 4-5 days in each one, and that will be a LOT better. Plus, any of us can tell you that spending long amounts of time in a car makes you weary, so you will get really sick of driving!

Also, unless you just like the heat, you probably should avoid the South in the summer months. I live in Dallas, Texas and I love it, but I will agree that 110 degrees is a little hot!
 
Old Apr 14th, 2000, 05:08 AM
  #9  
Kelly
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Hi, friends, thanks so much for your responses. I think I would like to visit Newyork, Washington, Boston, Miami, Florida, and Westcos los Ansgels, and San Francisco. And some natural resort such as the famous national park and The big strait. I can extend my trip to 2 month is necessary. And how can we find good hotels with dayliy expenses not go over $100.

Thank you nice people.
 
Old Apr 14th, 2000, 05:49 AM
  #10  
Bob Brown
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Hi Kelly.
You are going to need to tell us a little more about your expense planning.
Do you mean lodging and then add $100 per day for food and other expenses?
Or, are you talking a $100 per day limit including ALL expenses, which means hotel/motel, eating, admissions fees to various attractions and events?
 
Old Apr 14th, 2000, 07:56 AM
  #11  
dan woodlief
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You can do it in two months, I think. There are motels here for the $40-60 range. In the cities, accomodations much under $100 per night are not as easy to find. There are hostels too in many cities if you are interested in very low-cost accomodations. I will let others tackle that issue. For food, I think you could get by on a minimum of $10-$15 per day per person, if you want to eat very cheaply and don't mind living on fast food.
 
Old Apr 14th, 2000, 08:30 AM
  #12  
Cal
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I would add San Diego to your west coast trip. It is much different than Los Angeles and well worth seeing.

You budget is very low. It will be virtually impossible to keep your daily total expenses below $100.00 in the cities. Do you really mean total expenses or just for lodging?
 
Old Apr 14th, 2000, 01:15 PM
  #13  
Christie
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You still have selected too many cities. I would really recommend cutting it down to either the west or the east coast in order to have enough time to see the cities and enjoy your time there. I'd really recommend the east coast, as the western National Parks are jammed in the summertime, and it is also hotter there.
Do you realize how long it takes to drive across the heartland of the USA? It takes 2 days just to get across Texas!! It's going to take a full week of driving to get from east ocast to west coast. Plus, Miami is WAY off your path. I'd save it for another time, too.

$100 a day is not going to be enough. In texas, a decent hotel for 2 people is going to cost $50 a night (Motel 6 is about $39: www.motel6.com) and food will be about $25 per person per day. That comes right to your total of $25, but doesn't leave any money for tours, etc. I would recommend upping your budget to $150 a day.
 
Old Apr 14th, 2000, 02:12 PM
  #14  
Tracy
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Kelly, Good Luck - even with the limited number of cities you listed driving will be absolutely impossible. I'm assuming you REALLY enjoy driving or have no idead how far apart (in driving time) these places are. To even attempt both coasts you simply MUST fly between at least some of these points of interest; rent a car in Cleveland; drive to NY, DC and Boston. from Boston fly to Miami. from Miami fly to Denver (you MUST see the mountains!) Fly to LA and drive the coast to SF (Big Sur is breathtaking). Then drive (or fly) to Seattle before flying home. from Seattle you can visit Mt. Ranier Nationa Park and/or Olympic National and/or Vancouver British Columbia and/or the San Juan Islands (see killer whales) With two months, including a few days of driving you could spend at least five or six days in each city (plus choose nearby side-trips if desired) I must admit my bias is showing. We prefer the National parks and the outdoors. you didn't say what your preferences are: the urban scene, historical sites, natural monuments etc...with this itinerary you'll see it all! Have fun - you must be one energetic person. I'd need some rest time during the vacation!
 
Old Apr 14th, 2000, 08:24 PM
  #15  
Clark
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I have to disagree with all the "can't do it in a month or two" advice. Yes, the US is big (keep in mind, bbrown, that 'this big country' may not seem so huge to someone from China), but it can definitely be done.
Average 140 miles per day and you can travel Boston to Orlando to Los Angeles to San Francisco. (Of course, no need to stop every 140 miles in Oklahoma or New Mexico). A few big days in the south central US leaves lots more time for the coasts. I've done driving trips in Europe covering 1500 miles in a week with lots of brief stops, which I found great. True, not much time for leisurely days at the museum and lazing by the shores of a river, but it depends on goals. Absorbing massive culture versus tasting lots of sites briefly.
If I were of the latter mindset for a whirlwind US tour, I'd fly out of Cleveland to Manchester or Boston, head down to NYC, Philly, Balt-DC, Blue Ridge Parkway, Charleston, Florida panhandle beaches, New Orleans, San Antonio, Tucson, San Diego, LA, SF. I'd spend a week on the Charleston to San Diego leg (three 10 hour driving days nearly covers that length).
THe budget, on the other hand, is a little slim, especially for lodging in the cities. If not picky, though, lots of cheap interstate hotels could make it doable.
 
Old Apr 15th, 2000, 06:26 AM
  #16  
O
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I agree with Clark for the most part, but with a few notable exceptions. First, I'm wondering how much you should see of Florida. I love the place, but it can be HORRIBLY hot and HUMID in the summer. However, I would head down to Palm Beach, Orlando, Miami, into the everglades, and down through the Keys. Then I'd head back up to Miami and fly out from there, over to Phoenix. If you can stand it, you may consider driving back up Florida, seeing the panhandle coast -- beautiful beaches -- and on to New Orleans. I don't think you're missing a whole lot between New Orleans and the West Coast. True, Texas has some great spots -- San Antonio, Austin, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Houston -- but it's over 1000 miles wide -- it's HUGE! Anyway, I'd fly into Phoenix, head north to see Sedona, and the Grand Canyon -- then over to Flagstaff, and on to LAS VEGAS. What about this city? It's truly unique. I love it, some don't -- but even if you don't love it, I really thik it's something worth seeing. From there, I'd head to San Diego (make sure you don't do this on a Sunday, though -- TRAFFIC). Then I'd begin my trip up the coast (choose Highway One -- the PCH -- as much as possible. It's a lot slower than the Five, but it's BEAUTIFUL. If you're going to drive, and you have the time, this would make it worth it). Along the way, I'd see Los Angeles (Hollywood, Santa Monica's 3rd Street, Venice Beach, Malibu, etc), and head north from there. Around San Francisco, I might stop into Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz -- both beautiful places, in my opinion. San Fran is a great city, too -- pleanty to do. If possible, try to see some of Yosemite, and the Lake Tahoe area. Then you could head up through Napa, into Oregon, and up to Seattle, if you wanted to. There's plenty to see that way, too -- however, I don't know it as well as some. But, as you'll see on a map, it's another LONG drive -- about 14 or 15 hours, I believe.

So, that's my take on it. You may want to skip Seattle, or Fly there. If you include New Orleans in your trip, and decide to drive (rather than fly) west, you could see a good deal of Teaxas, and some of New Mexico (Santa Fe, etc, if you divert your route a bit), and more of Arizona (the Painted Desert, Petrified Forest, and James Turrell Roden Crater). However, this is a LONG drive. You'll have two months, though -- maybe you should consider it.

A couple of final notes: From Miami (or even New Orleans), it will probably be cheaper to Fly into Las Vegas than Phoenix. If you wanted to, you could take a helicopter ride from Las Vegas over the Grand Canyon -- an interesting way to see it. Or else you could just drive there from Las Vegas, seeing Flagstaff and Sedona on the way (or way back).

Also, be warned that hotels in New York, especially, are EXTRREMELY expensive -- ther is no such thing as a cheap hotel there. Getting something halfway decent for under $100 would be an unbeelievable find. And it doesn't help much to go right outside the city -- it'll be expensive (only SLIGHTLY less) there, too -- there's no way to beat the system here, unfortunately. Places like Boston and San Francisco are similar, though I think New York is the most expensive of the bunch -- just a warning. You'll save money when driving through places like Texas, but don't expect to be able to make-do with $100 a day in New York.

Fianlly, why for curiosity are you starting in Cleveland? If I were you, and wanted to start in the Midwest, I'd go with Chicago -- one of America's greatest cities in anyone's opinion. It's just so Isolated. Chicago may be a bit of a backtrack from Cleveland -- about 6 hours in the wrong direction (New York is close to 9 from Cleveland). You could start in Chicago, though -- and head to Cleveland from there, if there's something specific you're trying to see/do there. I'd consider it strongly -- but, then again, I'm still not sure why you're picking Cleveland as your starting point. Let us know what you decide, what your preferences are, and if we can help more.
 
Old Apr 15th, 2000, 10:00 PM
  #17  
Cavell Thompson
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You seem to have a lot of advise from withim USA. We live in Australia and recently spent 14weeks driving around USA. We bought a car in L A. Travelled from the west coast to east then down south, only place we will have to see next trip is New York / Boston area.
We picked up voucher books at the visitor welcome centres on most borders and got cheaper motel rooms. eg in Richmond Virginia we had a $76 p/night room on a voucher for $34.95 which included a full breakfast. Some vouchers have conditions on them & are usually available on their anticipated empty rooms.We travelled 13000 miles in 14 weeks and still want to see more. We were interested in the Wild West and War Between the States battle grounds.
You can see a lot in a shorter time but
you may not have the luxury of staying too long in one place.
We love USA and will definately be comming back to do it all again..Thanks USA.
 
Old Apr 16th, 2000, 04:21 AM
  #18  
Cass
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Seeing America is a real juggling act between our great cities -- where you don't want a car -- and our beautiful wilder areas, where a car is essential. I think it would help you -- and us -- to highlight the sort of things you really don't want to miss - an "A" list -- and then things that would be a bonus -- a "B" list. I'm wondering what you mean by "resorts" -- Disney-type stuff or ranches/spas or mountain houses or seaside areas? Do you want what's "typical" about America or the best we have to offer? "Typical" is Hard Rock Cafe in any city; "best" is our wilderness or some of our art museums.

You might want to consider "doing" east coast cities without a car (maybe fly from Cleveland to Boston) and only get around to renting a car when you're ready to head south or west.
 
Old Apr 16th, 2000, 09:37 PM
  #19  
juliee
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we spent three weeks in China, on the move every day, and only scratched the surface..so you can imagine how huge this country is. Come to the west, its the best part, and I don't mean LA. We have lived in the east and the middle and the west. West is best.
 
Old Apr 17th, 2000, 05:30 AM
  #20  
O
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You may be right -- West may be best. I'd say it's a tossup between the the East and the West -- personal preference. I've lived in the East (NY & Boston), the Midwest (outside Chicago), and the West (San Diego). West may be best, but the sights of the east offer SO much more for the short-time traveller -- there's an ENDLESS number of daytrips all over the east coast. Fewer out west, though the west does have some natural gems like the Grand Canyon and Yosemite.
 

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