5 weeks world tour
Oct 11th, 1999 | 04:05 AM
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
5 weeks world tour
I am considering a world tour from 4th march 2000 to 8th april 2000. I have a budget of £4500 and would like to see Aus and US. Any ideas for destinations, tickets etc greatly appreciated. I am 27, live in York, England and will be travelling with 2 friends. Thanks in advance
Oct 12th, 1999 | 12:06 PM
#2
Guest
Posts: n/a
Wow, that's really going to be a whirlwind tour -- two huge countries with so much to see in only 5 weeks? Are you sure you don't just want to choose one or the other and do one really well? You could easily spend two weeks in California alone and still not even see all the high points.
My favorite places in the U.S. (in no particular order) are:
California: San Francisco, and the Big Sur Coast down to the Hearst Castle and Cambria
Washington, DC
Maine: Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park
Yellowstone National Park
Florida: Key West
New Orleans
Chicago
New York City
Charleston, South Carolina
Austin, Texas
Everyone's list would be different though. Another consideration: much of the U.S. is still pretty chilly at that time of year, so if you're splitting your time between them I would recommend doing the Australian portion first and then the U.S., and/or focus more on the southern/western portions of the U.S. Plus, this list doesn't even include Yosemite or Grand Canyon or Great Smoky Mountains National Parks or lots of other incredible things in between...
I recommend you do a search on this site for several threads from a few months ago wherein two of your countrymen received advice on travelling around the U.S. for 6 months -- they received a lot of good advice.
My favorite places in the U.S. (in no particular order) are:
California: San Francisco, and the Big Sur Coast down to the Hearst Castle and Cambria
Washington, DC
Maine: Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park
Yellowstone National Park
Florida: Key West
New Orleans
Chicago
New York City
Charleston, South Carolina
Austin, Texas
Everyone's list would be different though. Another consideration: much of the U.S. is still pretty chilly at that time of year, so if you're splitting your time between them I would recommend doing the Australian portion first and then the U.S., and/or focus more on the southern/western portions of the U.S. Plus, this list doesn't even include Yosemite or Grand Canyon or Great Smoky Mountains National Parks or lots of other incredible things in between...
I recommend you do a search on this site for several threads from a few months ago wherein two of your countrymen received advice on travelling around the U.S. for 6 months -- they received a lot of good advice.
Oct 13th, 1999 | 05:45 AM
#3
Guest
Posts: n/a
I'm with Lisa on this one-to pick two countries that are so far apart and try to do them on the same trip is too ambitious for me. And the weather in the US at that time of year isn't the best in some of the best spots in the country. Why not focus on Australia and maybe New Zealand for this trip and save the US for another time? You could easily spend four weeks there, we spent 3 1/2 weeks there and could probably have easily stayed for another month.
Also, you would spend a good portion of your budget on airfare if you were to fly to the US and then to Australia or vice versa. If you only had two weeks or so in each country, you would also probably be flying around each country quite a bit.
If you do decide to come to the US, you might want to concentrate on the Southern States. The weather in Chicago during March and April is rainy, sometimes cold and occasionally we get hit with snow that time of year. I imagine the same holds true of New York.
Also, you would spend a good portion of your budget on airfare if you were to fly to the US and then to Australia or vice versa. If you only had two weeks or so in each country, you would also probably be flying around each country quite a bit.
If you do decide to come to the US, you might want to concentrate on the Southern States. The weather in Chicago during March and April is rainy, sometimes cold and occasionally we get hit with snow that time of year. I imagine the same holds true of New York.
Oct 13th, 1999 | 06:03 AM
#4
Guest
Posts: n/a
I agree with the previous posters. You can very easily spend your whole 5 weeks in visiting California alone with a jaunt to Las Vegas. And like the previous posters said, the weather may not be too great. That holds true even for California. You are still in our rainy season. I like to call the weather "iffy" at that time. That simply means that it can be warm and sunny, chilly, rainy, etc. The upside is that you will have some nice days during your 5 week period. Best time to visit Califonia is in October.
Oct 14th, 1999 | 09:11 AM
#5
Guest
Posts: n/a
5 weeks??? You definitely must pick only one country. I live in US but have been to Australia for 2 weeks. Just not enough time at all for Australia. It is just so big with miles and miles inbetween tourist sites. We are planning another trip for a min of 4 weeks.
If coming to US, don't miss Grand Canyon. If you do decide on Grand Canyon, also don't miss Bryce and Zion.
This area of the US is just spectacular.
If going to Australia, then be sure to spend time in New Zealand as well.
Good luck.
If coming to US, don't miss Grand Canyon. If you do decide on Grand Canyon, also don't miss Bryce and Zion.
This area of the US is just spectacular.
If going to Australia, then be sure to spend time in New Zealand as well.
Good luck.
Oct 14th, 1999 | 12:59 PM
#6
Guest
Posts: n/a
Paul, like all the above I think your goal is insane. I lived in England (TINY little England) for a year and traveled every weekend and still missed entire regions. As has been said before, you'll be spending tons of time and money on transportation just within the countries.
That said, if you have to do it, I'd say 3 weeks US, 2 in Australia/New Zealand. Plan out an itinerary in advance, then go to priceline.com or a similar site and try for the necessary flights at as low a price as you can. I do remember the bucket shops in the UK having world tour packages; maybe they could tailor one for you.
Anyway, in the US you can see a lot more and save $ by train travel (I'm sure Amtrak has a website, maybe www.amtrak.com?) or renting a car. The Road Trip is the quintessential American experience, but be prepared for loooooong rides. Like a couple of days in a row without long stops. I'd say spend a week in the Northeast, whipping through Boston, New York and Washington (the scenery in New England won't be much of a change from the UK and weather matters less in big cities, plus these all have can't-miss sights). Then get over to New Mexico (if you're driving all the way, maybe go through Memphis and take a tour of Graceland for some true Americana). Once in New Mexico, see a few pueblos, note the influence of the Spanish and the Native Americans, and burn rubber over to the Grand Canyon in Arizona, driving through Texas. Then go to Los Angeles via Las Vegas (for this stretch, definitely rent a car), taking pictures of the desert and the mountains as you whizz by, and then if time permits drive from LA up the coast as far as you can, but at least to San Francisco.
My only experience of Australia is second-hand, but if I were to go I'd hate to miss Sydney, the Great Barrier Reef or Ayers Rock, all of which are airplane flights apart, and then of course New Zealand....
That said, if you have to do it, I'd say 3 weeks US, 2 in Australia/New Zealand. Plan out an itinerary in advance, then go to priceline.com or a similar site and try for the necessary flights at as low a price as you can. I do remember the bucket shops in the UK having world tour packages; maybe they could tailor one for you.
Anyway, in the US you can see a lot more and save $ by train travel (I'm sure Amtrak has a website, maybe www.amtrak.com?) or renting a car. The Road Trip is the quintessential American experience, but be prepared for loooooong rides. Like a couple of days in a row without long stops. I'd say spend a week in the Northeast, whipping through Boston, New York and Washington (the scenery in New England won't be much of a change from the UK and weather matters less in big cities, plus these all have can't-miss sights). Then get over to New Mexico (if you're driving all the way, maybe go through Memphis and take a tour of Graceland for some true Americana). Once in New Mexico, see a few pueblos, note the influence of the Spanish and the Native Americans, and burn rubber over to the Grand Canyon in Arizona, driving through Texas. Then go to Los Angeles via Las Vegas (for this stretch, definitely rent a car), taking pictures of the desert and the mountains as you whizz by, and then if time permits drive from LA up the coast as far as you can, but at least to San Francisco.
My only experience of Australia is second-hand, but if I were to go I'd hate to miss Sydney, the Great Barrier Reef or Ayers Rock, all of which are airplane flights apart, and then of course New Zealand....
Oct 14th, 1999 | 03:02 PM
#7
Guest
Posts: n/a
If you have not done extensive US travel before, there are some things you should not miss. Others have mentioned the grand canyon. I agree. I would put yellowstone nat'l park in the same category, but not a march/april trip. You can find another post I did regarding a long stay in washington dc. San Fransisco and NY should be on your list. do you want city visits or more relaxing? can you do 5 weeks later when the weather is better in some of the best US destinations? I agree re sticking to 1 region in this time frame. you could consider US/Canada/ Mexico/Carribean destinations to add variety and decrease travel time. If you must come in March/april, you may think about some spring skiing if you want to visit some northern mountain locations.
