I think the poor weather comment refers to places like NYC, Boston, Toronto.

Oh since it was in the paragraph about beaches, I thought she was worried about poor weather for the beach.

The northeast doesn't have poor eather. It has 4 distinct seasons - and each has (usually) seasonal weather. Frankly I can't bear the summers - just too hot. I prefer winter (I get very energized) then fall and spring. Cities like this are perfect for cooler weather - since it's good for a lot of walking (who want to hike all over a city when it's 85 degrees) and there are a zillion things to do indoors.

If you want a beach vacation that's fine - but frankly there are better and cheaper places to get one than the US (although we have great beaches, they're rarely inexpensive). If you want to see the US - do see different areas and different climates.

Hey guys! Wow thank you all so much - it's giving us heaps to think about. We are travelling from Melbourne, Australia and this will be our first time to the US hence speaking with the travel agent with regards to where/when/how is best to go. This in mind, and a budget of around 8k, how would you suggest planning the trip?

You've got the geography of our original idea, it was suggested to hire a car west coast, and utilize the train system east coast/New York? Does this make sense?

You've all been awesome so far - thanks again!

Hey Mate: Seems like you travel agent wanted to pick up commissions - which some resorts (Cancun?) pay more for than others.

I would fly into Hawaii from Australia - and then after resting up from the long flight/relaxing on the beaches for a few days (see other posts in here - about what/where people recommend - and that's a whole nutter kettle of fish) - fly to San Francisco (about a 5 hour flight) - and enjoy "Baghdad by the Bay".

From there - I would yes, hire/rent a car (see www.carrentals.com for some info) - and take at least a couple days driving down the Coast - and enjoy staying in the Carmel/Monterrey/Big Sur area one night - and then a 2nd night in say cute Cambria http://www.cambriachamber.org/ or maybe Danish themed Solvang. http://www.solvangusa.com/

I would recommend you also try to take a tour of Hearst Castle/at San Simeon - below Big Sur - probably a half a day is needed for that http://www.hearstcastle.org/ - or at least stop in the Visitor's center and watch the movie/tour the small exhibit there) and then when you get to LA - spend a couple nights out by the beach/Santa Monica? - and drive in along Sunset to wander around Beverly Hills/West Hollywood, drive through UCLA, etc.

You might also consider touring the amazing Getty Center. http://www.getty.edu/

You could also include a couple days in San Diego if you want to visit a place where you can get around easier than LA, see the Zoo/Safari Park, Old Town, Balboa Park and it's museums, drive over to the classic Hotel Del, whatnot. It's only an hour from here up to Anaheim/Disneyland - which in one day you can easily determine if you want to come back for another day on this trip.

From LA/Orange County-Disneyland/San Diego- it's a 4 to 5 hour drive to Las Vegas - and I definitely think Vegas is worth a couple of days. Just seeing the interesting architectural styles of the various resorts is a trip - and you don't really have to gamble - as visiting the fantastic fountains and Arboretum at Bellagio is quite interesting, as is taking a Gondola ride the Venetian, going up the Eiffel Tower at Paris, driving out to Red Rock Canyon (20 minutes) for an idea of the stark beauty of the Southwest, perhaps taking a helicopter flight - or one day van tour - of the Grand Canyon, whatnot.

From there - turn in the rental car (check ahead on what the drop off fee will/might cost)and fly to/hit the Big Apple - NYC - and maybe take the train to Washington DC and/or Boston to gain more experience in your fellow colony. :)

Sounds like you will have a memorable trip. Have a blast.

Oh yes - if you still want to see Miami/do a Bahamas cruise - you can easily fly there from NYC, or vice versa. A 3or 4 day cruise around the Bahams is fun - and Miami has nice weather in the fall/winter. NO humidity or bugs. :)

Forgot to mention: Vegas (aka Lost Wages) - has great shows/entertainment - and besides Cirque de Soleil - a number of big name entertainers rotate through the City of Light. (The US version anyway. :)

You can get discount tickets at places along the Strip - and here is one company and there are others. Just google away ahead of time to see what is going on when you plan to be there.

http://www.tix4tonight.com/discount-...w-tickets.html

I think that tom is definitely on the right track with the itinerary.

You've got Hawaii, a bunch of California, Las Vegas, east coast cities, and then Miami/Bahamas. This will give you a very nice sampling of the country. If you have room in your itinerary, you could include a few days in New Orleans as well. That is a very unique city, nothing else like it anywhere - food, music, architecture - just a really neat place.

you should think about doing this in two different visits to the USA, maybe a 2nd visit in two years. I know that travel from Australia may be considered "once in a lifetime trip", but really with visiting so many places, you are spending more money on this one convoluted trip than you would spend on two trips....and you are rushed and not seeing much anywhere. Air travel around the U.S. is not fun, it is a challenge, you're dealing with time difference of 3 hours across the country so losing one full day when you travel west coast to east coast etc. Plus December can have weather delays/ snow all up the east coast. You can't plan Boston for just one night....your plane could be delayed 48 hours in a snow emergency...you'd get to Boston and would already have missed your bus to Toronto etc.

The travel agent's itinerary is 6 and a half weeks long, not 5 weeks. And he hasn't allowed for the 'travel days', getting from place to place.

If you stick to that 1st itinerary I'd cut out Dallas and add one night to DC and one night to Boston. Cut out Cancun and Toronto and then you'd be down to a 5 week trip and closing in on your budget.

First check car rental pricing through Traveljigsaw.com.au as they will include the needed insurance and often will get oneway dropoff fees waived, they get good reviews on another travel forum from other Australians.

Second, TomSD has a good idea, however I would do Hawaii on the way home as most Aussies love to shop and that way you would not have to lug all your stuff along as you travel. Good shopping in Honolulu and the Aussie dollar is still pretty strong against the USD.

joesource may have a good idea to cut out the East Coast and save it for another trip.

Working basically from your original itinerary, this works out to 4-1/2 weeks (32 days):

Fly into Hawaii:
Honolulu 5 nights
San Fran 4 nights
Santa Barbara 1 night
Beverly Hills 2 nights
Santa Monica 2 nights
Anaheim (Disneyland) 3 nights
Cancun/Playa del Carmen 5 nights

Fly back east:
Miami 4 nights
Washington DC 2 nights
NYC 4 nights

Fly home from New York City.

Cross off: Bahamas Cruise, Boston, Las Vegas, Dallas, Toronto

Suze has given you a plan and it could be worked in the opposite direction, starting in NYC for 4 nights and ending in Hawaii. This would give you a rest at the end of the trip. Do be aware that the flights/travel between places will take at least part of a day out of each destination.

You can go back and forth endlessly debating the merits of a plan. Personally - I like to see as much as possible the first time - more of a survey trip - and I find travel energiziing.

Yet - some people prefer to spend more time in fewer areas and explore them more in depth.

To each their own - but I would add that I think if you are hitting Hawaii and Miami/w/ a cruise - that's plenty of "beach time" and you could cut out Dallas/Cancun and apply those days/travel time elsewhere. :)

Even if you are trying to "see as much as possible the first time", still you need a reality check. *possible* being the operative word. The first ininterary does NOT work.

You simply can't go to Boston 1 night, New York 1 night, LA 1 night, etc. Well I guess you can but you wouldn't have time to leave the airport(s)!

Yeah, I think we are all in agreement (including the OP) that the original itinerary doesn't work. We are onto helping the OP figure out a good itinerary because the travel agent appears to be absolutely worthless.

When I add this up - I get 45 nights from the first itinerary?

If that is correct - here is what I would do:

Fly either to Hawaii at the start - or at the end. Say 4 or 5 days/nights.

Anyhow - 4 or 5 days in don't call if "Frisco" :) - including maybe a day tour of wine country. Recommend you don't drive if you are imbibing very heavily - and you can take the ferry over to Marin County and be picked up there by tours - which is less expensive.

Spend a night in the Carmel/Monterrey/Big Sur area - and then another night in the Cambria or Solvang Areas.

Spend 3 nights in Santa Monica - "commuting" from there into Beverley Hills - Hollywood, etc. It's about a 45? minute drive - assuming of course - you don't go during the morning or evening rush hours.

Would suggest you spend 3 nights in San Diego - and one day - get up to and back from Disneyland.

We have now taken up 12-13 days if you first fly in SF - or 16 to 17/18 if you stop in Hawaii first.

Drive over to Las Vegas - and spend 4 or 5 nights there (you can get good deals on lodging - and there are plenty of shows, etc) and one day - either flying or taking a bus tour - go see the magnificent Grand Canyon.

From Vegas - fly to NYC - and then spend time there (4 nights?) - and then 2-3 nights in DC. You could also zip up to Boston on the train - 3 scenic hours - and spend a night or two there. Your call of course.

Ok - so now we are up to what - 25 or so days if you first flew into SF - or 30 or so if you flew into Hawaii and kicked back there for a few days.

Again, if my count is right - you still have about 13-15 days/2 weeks left - already factoring in the Hawaii time.

You could spend say 4 days in the Miami area - and take a 3 to 4 day cruise - and you still have a week or more to play with.

Suggest you now go back over this plan and add more days where you feel you might want to stay - or I like to build in a couple days of flexibility here and there - if you decide you love some place and want to spend some more time there.

In November - or even if you could start in say mid-October - it's usually not that busy (except for Thanksgiving thursday - and have your place reserved for the last part of that week - and try to get there the Wed before - or Tues if you can - to avoid the huge travel crunch - and either leave on a Sat - or Monday/Tuesday.

Anyhow - you could make reservations where you want to go - and leave a couple days open here and there - maybe spedning more time at the end driving down the Cal Coast (you might want to spend a couple of days in say Big Sur) - and there are a lotta places to stay in LA and/or SD if you need to be "flexible" and slide/cancel a reservtion.

Also - when you get to NYC - and see DC/and or Boston - you might have a couple days open there if you want to spend more time in one of those places before heading south for some warm weather. :)

Hope this helps.

Why not consider doing half of this trip?

California and include the beautiful northern coast and San Francisco.

Las Vega, if you must but instead of Dallas (unless you are going to see the art) why not go to Tucson Arizona for the flavor of the old West. Oct-Nov is nice.

Enjoy the West, including Hawaii.

I'll bet you can save enough money by cutting the East out to come back next year.

If you do follow Tom's itinerary to some extent and have some extra days, I second the idea of spending a little time in New Orleans. Another beautiful city is Charleston, South Carolina, and it would let you take a peek at the Old South venue. If you plan this as an overview trip, I'd do less of California and Miami and more of other different locales.

Again - it's about how one likes to travel and how much they want to see - and in what manner.

I like going for it - but others want to kick back in fewer places and explore the areas more.