US Holiday

[kirky]

For me time doesn't fly for me as I get to excited thinking about it (first overseas trip for me)

Nah havn't booked flights yet, can only book in September as I'll be coming hope August 12'.

About flights, is their a period of the year when flights drop? Or should I just play it safe by booking early as possible.btw, 110 cents to the US dollar today, was tempted to buy a few travelers checks!

They have sales on quiet frequently so it depends when you are going. If say you were going in June then book in November (when they have in the past had a sale). I just keep monitoring on a weekly basis.

For my trip this year to the US in June, I picked up Premium Economy return for approx. $2,800- when I booked last November!

Exchange rate is a beauty at the moment and it is expected to stay that way in the short term but will probably drop sometime next year to probably parity when there are signs the US economy is in recovery (yes, I work in a bank).

 

[Freakie]

For me time doesn't fly for me as I get to excited thinking about it (first overseas trip for me)

Nah havn't booked flights yet, can only book in September as I'll be coming hope August 12'. I have booked a few tours to do when I'm over there though.

About flights, is their a period of the year when flights drop? Or should I just play it safe by booking early as possible.

btw, 110 cents to the US dollar today, was tempted to buy a few travelers checks!

Get a travel money card (most major banks do them or Travelex) and put your US dollars on that, travellers cheques are outdated.

September is shoulder season but book early as possible, the longer you leave the less available cheap seats become.

 

[alex_is_on_fire]

About flights, is their a period of the year when flights drop? Or should I just play it safe by booking early as possible.

btw, 110 cents to the US dollar today, was tempted to buy a few travelers checks!

I don’t know what you mean by drop? As in price?

If so, you’re not going to get them much cheaper than you would. Between August and October you can get a return flight to the US about $1300.

The price increases quite dramatically between 20th of December and January 15th (Christmas and New Year period) and then June and July (American summer)

And yes, the dollar is awesome at the moment but I would get a MasterCard travel money card from the Commonwealth Bank and you can use the exchange rate from the time of purchase. For example, say you buy it today at $1.10 and in 12 months time it drops to $90.05 – your exchange would be $1.10.

 

[Freakie]

I don’t know what you mean by drop? As in price?

If so, you’re not going to get them much cheaper than you would. Between August and October you can get a return flight to the US about $1300.

The price increases quite dramatically between 20th of December and January 15th (Christmas and New Year period) and then June and July (American summer)

And yes, the dollar is awesome at the moment but I would get a MasterCard travel money card from the Commonwealth Bank and you can use the exchange rate from the time of purchase. For example, say you buy it today at $1.10 and in 12 months time it drops to $90.05 – your exchange would be $1.10.

Only if you fly China Southern Airlines via Shanghai... United are up around the $1450 mark, VA around $1550 and Qantas and Air NZ around $1800

 

[alex_is_on_fire]

Only if you fly China Southern Airlines via Shanghai... United are up around the $1450 mark, VA around $1550 and Qantas and Air NZ around $1800

Yeah, as soon as I posted it I knew it sounded way too cheap so I did some checking.

V Australia is about $790 one way.

 

[clarky449]

Just got back from the USA, went to NY, Orlando, San Fran, Vegas and LA. Alcatraz was booked for a few weeks, luckily i booked in advance. They do have standbyr in case their are no shows just like the flight's over their.​

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Last year I booked flights to LA in June leaving late September and we got them for $1090 return each. This was booked through bestflights.com.au and was on Air New Zealand. Since then I have seen them cheaper once and that was on a Flight Centre window but there may have been conditions attached to that. I'm thinking that maybe I got lucky last year.

 

[peejay]

Last year I booked flights to LA in June leaving late September and we got them for $1090 return each. This was booked through bestflights.com.au and was on Air New Zealand. Since then I have seen them cheaper once and that was on a Flight Centre window but there may have been conditions attached to that. I'm thinking that maybe I got lucky last year.

Yeah if you call flying Air NZ being lucky. Good price though.

 

[wce4premiership]

Vegas has one problem .. TOO MANY CHOICES!!


I'm lost for a place to stay, bellagio, mgm, monte carlo, ceasers, new new york, luxor, vdeera ....etc... they all look completely awesome!

 

[alex_is_on_fire]

Vegas has one problem .. TOO MANY CHOICES!!


I'm lost for a place to stay, bellagio, mgm, monte carlo, ceasers, new new york, luxor, vdeera ....etc... they all look completely awesome!

I didn't worry to much where we are staying, why?

Not going to be sleeping that much anyway.

We ended up going with the Excalibur.

 

[Shell]

Lucky you!

You doing another Trek? Thanks for getting me onto that by the way. I've booked my treks, doing 'Best of the East', then on to the "westerner 2"

Good stuff Espe!

As for me.. not sure atm. I call it a "blank canvas" lol- ie. still not 100% sure whats what.

I'm looking at doing Camp America at a camp in Florida again. Otherwise I'd be spending up to about $20,000 if I was travelling for the whole 4 months.

So yeah might be doing camp late May- first week of Aug, couple weeks travelling within States (west side, cause Ive done lots of the east b4), perhaps a week in Mexico, then a 42-day Contiki tour which goes thru Eastern/West Europe + a choice of 7 days in Egypt or the Greek Islands!!!!



I'm exhausted just reading all that.

Seriously, hope you have a blast in the States. Dw, you will- Americans are awesome, try and interact with as many as you can.

 

[clarky449]

Vegas has one problem .. TOO MANY CHOICES!!


I'm lost for a place to stay, bellagio, mgm, monte carlo, ceasers, new new york, luxor, vdeera ....etc... they all look completely awesome!

I stayed at Caesers, i had a friend who stayed at MGM and they said the rooms were really bad. MCG had the better shows on i thought. Caesers is huge, we gave the man at the front desk $50 and he gave us an upgrade, our room was sweet.

 

[NitroFan]

I'm thinking of buying really good seats at one game rather than bad seats for 2 games. Plus I want to add a hockey game in as well.

Saw Spurs @ Lakers. Was sitting 3 rows from the very top/back at about centre court. Was fanststic.

I would highly recommend seeing a hockey game. Is ****ing epic live.

And someone else asked about tickets to, I think, the NFL. For any major sport over there check the home teams wesbite. They'll have their calander where you can buy tickets from whatever agency they use. If they're sold out or no seats to your liking use stubhub.com

 

[alex_is_on_fire]

I stayed at Caesers, i had a friend who stayed at MGM and they said the rooms were really bad. MCG had the better shows on i thought. Caesers is huge, we gave the man at the front desk $50 and he gave us an upgrade, our room was sweet.

Does that work?

Always thought it was just a fallacy.

 

[alex_is_on_fire]

Saw Spurs @ Lakers. Was sitting 3 rows from the very top/back at about centre court. Was fanststic.

I would highly recommend seeing a hockey game. Is ****ing epic live.

And someone else asked about tickets to, I think, the NFL. For any major sport over there check the home teams wesbite. They'll have their calander where you can buy tickets from whatever agency they use. If they're sold out or no seats to your liking use stubhub.com

Cheers,

NBA lockout needs to end before worring about a game. Not holding my breath on that one. Will head to a mighty ducks game.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Yeah if you call flying Air NZ being lucky. Good price though.

I don't know. They have won plenty of awards over the last couple of years and their service was first rate when we flew. Unbelievably friendly and went out of their way to make us comfortable. Aside from it being a little warm on the way over, we thoroughly enjoyed the 4 flights we had with them.

 

[clarky449]

Does that work?

Always thought it was just a fallacy.

It worked for us. We went on trip advisor and someone did it so we thought we might of well and it worked. We got upgraded to a room 3 times above the one we were going to get.

 

[clarky449]

Cant find the Camp America thread so ill ask it here. Whats the best program to go through http://www.ccusa.com.au/ or www.campamerica.com.au because i got an email from ccusa and they have a information evening in the city on Wed. Thinking on going down to that.

 

[Shell]

Cant find the Camp America thread so ill ask it here. Whats the best program to go through http://www.ccusa.com.au/ or www.campamerica.com.au because i got an email from ccusa and they have a information evening in the city on Wed. Thinking on going down to that.

Theres a thread on the General Discussion board about Camp America.

I've done the program twice thru CA, and also used to do interviews for them. I dunno much about CCUSA- go to their info evening and maybe go to a Camp America info night (probably starting Sep/Oct maybe?) and make up your own mind.

 

[Abaddon]

Cant find the Camp America thread so ill ask it here. Whats the best program to go through http://www.ccusa.com.au/ or www.campamerica.com.au because i got an email from ccusa and they have a information evening in the city on Wed. Thinking on going down to that.

They're virtually identical. They both try and rip you a little on the cost of the flights (though the second time I went they let you book your own flights), the first day orientation session and some other processing fees with the visa.

I did CCUSA 2 times whilst at Uni and then got the resort in Utah I had been working at to sponsor my visa for the 3rd season.

For a first timer use one of these programs but after that you should be able to establish your own contacts in the USA and not need a third party for future working holidays.

 

[alex_is_on_fire]

It worked for us. We went on trip advisor and someone did it so we thought we might of well and it worked. We got upgraded to a room 3 times above the one we were going to get.

Sweet.

Gonna give the old college try then.

 

[Changamagic]

Guys, any advice as to where I can find details regarding getting a cab from 30th St station in Philly to Lincoln Financial Field and return...?

Got tickets to NFL pre-season game in Philly but coming from NY for the game and getting desperate as to info getting to and from train station....

 

[Qsaint]

Only if you fly China Southern Airlines via Shanghai... United are up around the $1450 mark, VA around $1550 and Qantas and Air NZ around $1800

I flew china southern once the landings was the worst I've experienced, never again

 

[Arsene Wenger]

You cannot beat Wynn/Encore in Vegas. I have stayed there twice.

Also in NYC Affinia 50 is a great place to say and reasonable prices !! (stayed there a few times too)

 

[Flawed Genius]

Hi guys.

Planning a trip to the US in October, have got most of it down but am sticking a bit on Las Vegas.

I turn 19 during our trip, and we are extremely keen on spending my birthday in Vegas.

Anyone who's been there/lives there, do you have any idea if a 19 year old has any chance of going anywhere in Vegas? Casinos etc?