US Holiday

[XFactor1979]

Not much really, just ALOT of traffic, the exits are well sign posted (they are all number sequentially making it pretty easy to judge when you need to get off). Just have to remember to be in the far right lane to get off instead of the left! Although some express lanes (the far left lane) have dedicated exits as well.

Also whats the deal with the quality of the roads in LA? its all cracked etc. I asked my tour guide on my private tour of L.A. and they were apologetic about the quality of the roads there in L.A. - along with the food and standard of American workmanship in general

Mind you, imagine the traffic chaos that would be caused if they actually closed a lane to properly fix up the quality of the roads

 

[Freakie]

California is broke. Almost to the point the state is litterally bankrupt. No money to fix the roads hence their generall shittyness.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Also whats the deal with the quality of the roads in LA? its all cracked etc. I asked my tour guide on my private tour of L.A. and they were apologetic about the quality of the roads there in L.A. - along with the food and standard of American workmanship in general

Mind you, imagine the traffic chaos that would be caused if they actually closed a lane to properly fix up the quality of the roads

There's actually an anamoly in that LA is split up into different cities and taxes are collected based on property values. So you head up Mulholland Drive for example and the roads are shit out the front of multi-million dollar mansions, despite the fact they pay the most taxes.

The taxes go to the areas that most needed it, usually the low socio-economic areas, despite the fact that these people don't pay taxes. Apparently other richer areas want to break away from LA County in terms of their council zoning (or whatever the US equivalent is), but are not allowed to because LA will lose too much in taxes.

I spoke at length to our personal tour guide about it.

Beverly Hills however is a city in its own right so their taxes stay in Beverly Hills and as such it is pristine.

Hollywood is better than other areas of LA but that is because the businesses contribute to a beautification fund.

 

[XFactor1979]

There's actually an anamoly in that LA is split up into different cities and taxes are collected based on property values. So you head up Mulholland Drive for example and the roads are shit out the front of multi-million dollar mansions, despite the fact they pay the most taxes.

The taxes go to the areas that most needed it, usually the low socio-economic areas, despite the fact that these people don't pay taxes. Apparently other richer areas want to break away from LA County in terms of their council zoning (or whatever the US equivalent is).

I spoke at length to our personal tour guide about it.

Beverly Hills however is a city in its own right so there taxes stay in Beverly Hills and as such it is pristine.

Hollywood is better than other areas of LA but that is because the businesses contribute to a beautification fund.

Oh to hell with that, skip L.A!

San Francisco is where California is at!

San Francisco should be in its own state, not be associated with being in the same state as dirty/ dangerous/ overrated Los Angeles

Its far enough to be in another state, and the weather is different (Its so cold there with that blustery breeze!)

There is an initial shock to being in San Francisco, but once you overlook all the homeless people and hookers, you have an awesome city!

Where Los Angeles is bi-lingual with most the folks there speaking Spanish, the trend continues in San Francisco with most the folks there speaking Cantonese

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

This is what I was talking about with LA.

City boundaries within Greater Los Angeles are quite complicated. For example, Beverly Hills and West Hollywood are completely surrounded by the City of Los Angeles with the exception of a small border shared between the two cities. Another example is Culver City completely surrounded by L.A. except for where it shares boundaries with the unincorporated communities of Ladera Heights and Baldwin Hills. Both Santa Monica and Marina del Rey are surrounded by L.A. as well, with regard to their ocean side. San Fernando in the northern corner of the San Fernando Valley is also an incorporated city entirely surrounded by L.A. territory.

Several incorporated cities and the rest comes under the jurisdiction of LA County.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

As you can see the chances of any other part of LA County seceding from LA County are almost non-existent, because they need a majority of voters from LA County to approve and nobody is going to give up taxes from wealthy areas who want out.

In 2002, a number of Hollywood citizens began a campaign for the district to secede from Los Angeles and become, as it had been a century earlier, its own incorporated municipality. Secession supporters argued that the needs of their community were being ignored by the leaders of Los Angeles. In June of that year, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors placed secession referendums for both Hollywood and the San Fernando Valley on the ballots for a "citywide election." To pass, they required the approval of a majority of voters in the proposed new municipality as well as a majority of voters in all of Los Angeles. In the November election, both referendums failed by wide margins in the citywide vote.

Not sure when LA County wised up, but West Hollywood became incorporated in 1984. Not sure if all of LA County got to vote back then and if they did, whether the fact that West Hollywood is 41% gay had something to do with it.

They have some intriguing political systems over there.

 

[Flawed Genius]

Oh to hell with that, skip L.A!

San Francisco is where California is at!

San Francisco should be in its own state, not be associated with being in the same state as dirty/ dangerous/ overrated Los Angeles

Its far enough to be in another state, and the weather is different (Its so cold there with that blustery breeze!)

There is an initial shock to being in San Francisco, but once you overlook all the homeless people and hookers, you have an awesome city!

Where Los Angeles is bi-lingual with most the folks there speaking Spanish, the trend continues in San Francisco with most the folks there speaking Cantonese

San Francisco is incredible. Was only there a few days but the city is so clean (compared to LA) and I could easily have seen myself living there.

 

[Shell]

Its too scary to drive on the wrong side of the road

Try doing it New York, or the Los Angeles freeways

I'm with you.

When I worked at a summer camp in Florida, I got my international drivers license before I went, was going to drive 12-16 seater vans!!!!!

Thought to hell with that, once I saw the crazy roads and the even crazier drivers...

 

[Childish Gambino]

I found Miami drivers to be a lot crazier than LA drivers.

Never seen so much tailgating in my life!

 

[Shell]

I found Miami drivers to be a lot crazier than LA drivers.

Never seen so much tailgating in my life!

You'd think the drivers would be alot slower in general, down there- cause of all the old people that live in Florida.

 

[Flawed Genius]

Florida: God's Waiting Room

 

[WCErevival]

How much would people budget to spend a month in the US travelling around? Not including flights.

 

[XFactor1979]

Florida: God's Waiting Room

Until SPRING BREAK!

How much would people budget to spend a month in the US travelling around? Not including flights.

Just your entire life savings

Nah, whatever you want to get out of it

Canada is actually more expensive than the states for good measure

 

[kirky]

Its too scary to drive on the wrong side of the road

Try doing it New York, or the Los Angeles freeways

Don't have a problem at all driving in the US/Canada. Do it every time over there and get a buzz from it. Have driven thru LA, San Fran, Denver, Boston, New York, Washington DC, Las Vegas, San Diego, Seattle, Salt Lake City with no problems at all and love doing it. In Canada, have driven in Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto.

If you think US is scary try driving in Italy and in particular Rome, not that is what I would call scary. Have come to the conclusion have driven thru Rome that I can drive anywhere!

 

[mark73]

Also whats the deal with the quality of the roads in LA? its all cracked etc.

You could say the same thing about Williamstown and Spotswood, and could've since about 1984 - And the funny thing is, Williamstown people like to think of themselves as well to do.

 

[Happy_Neale]

Would love to but mate it was the 80's - to many brain cells destroyed since then.

But you might something out of this..

http://www.gonomad.com/transports/0012/javins_driveaway.html

No worries mate. Cheers for the link.

 

[Espe]

Has anyone stayed at the Hostel International in New York? Opinions?

Also, I havn't looked into it much so excuse my 'noob-ness', but can anyone recommend a good, yet cheap, hotel/hostel in Anaheim and Santa Monica.

 

[camsmith]

Has anyone stayed at the Hostel International in New York? Opinions?

Also, I havn't looked into it much so excuse my 'noob-ness', but can anyone recommend a good, yet cheap, hotel/hostel in Anaheim and Santa Monica.

In Anaheim we stayed at the Hotel Menage... probably a bit more expensive than what you are after (tripadviser says rooms $94 - $161 per room/per night).

Nice though, has a bar downstairs, close to Disneyland (can walk or $4 hotel shuttle bus from memory). Clean rooms good TV from memory and nice pool area with outside bar.

Although my review may be influenced by some of the nice college girls we met while staying there.

At Santa Monica, Lowes is awesome but probably way outside your budget.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

I stayed at the Anabella Hotel in Anaheim. Lovely place, great staff, good rates. Walked to Disneyland one way stopping at Denny's for breakfast, then later that night after Disneyland, had dinner and Downtown Disney then had a casual stroll back to the hotel the other way. Breakfast at their in house restaurant was very good.

 

[Espe]

In Anaheim we stayed at the Hotel Menage... probably a bit more expensive than what you are after (tripadviser says rooms $94 - $161 per room/per night).

Nice though, has a bar downstairs, close to Disneyland (can walk or $4 hotel shuttle bus from memory). Clean rooms good TV from memory and nice pool area with outside bar.

Although my review may be influenced by some of the nice college girls we met while staying there.

At Santa Monica, Lowes is awesome but probably way outside your budget.

100-140 i probably juuuuuust inside my budget as i plan to stay in a few hotels to have a break from the hostels. Definetly likeing the college girls! Hopeing my Aussie accent is a lethal weapon while im over there.

 

[camsmith]

100-140 i probably juuuuuust inside my budget as i plan to stay in a few hotels to have a break from the hostels. Definetly likeing the college girls! Hopeing my Aussie accent is a lethal weapon while im over there.

Have a look on TripAdvisor to see other ones too, The hotel The Old Dark Navy's mentioned looks very nice.

If you want to splash out every now and then on a hotel while over there to break up the hostel stays, perhaps Anaheim isn't the best place to do that since you will likely be away all day at the theme parks (Assuming that's why you're going to Anaheim).

Maybe spend a little more when staying in Santa Monica? Especially if you are going in their summer.

And it is very good to be Australian over there...

 

[Walshy_The_Goat]

Just out of interest, how does Trek America fare compared to Contiki? Is it the same sort of deal with regards to a young group, partying etc? I read some of the reviews on their website and saw a couple say they had as little as 10 people in their group. Wow, that's pretty small!

 

[WhyAlwaysMe]

Has anyone stayed at the Hostel International in New York? Opinions?

Also, I havn't looked into it much so excuse my 'noob-ness', but can anyone recommend a good, yet cheap, hotel/hostel in Anaheim and Santa Monica.

I stayed there while in NYC and I'm staying there when I get back. While it's not right in the middle of the action it's only a 15 minute subway ride to 42nd street. Nice and clean and cheap compared to most other hostels. It's a big place and has good common room facilities. I'd recommend staying there.

 

[peejay]

I stayed there while in NYC and I'm staying there when I get back. While it's not right in the middle of the action it's only a 15 minute subway ride to 42nd street. Nice and clean and cheap compared to most other hostels. It's a big place and has good common room facilities. I'd recommend staying there.

My hostelling days are well behind me but when i was there recently someone i met was staying here and seemed to have very a favourable opinion of it.

Its a great area - much better than the one you have mentioned. ( Yours is not in a "bad" area, just a tad inconvenient.)

http://www.chelseahostel.com/


Oops - I meant to quote Espe.

 

[Stone in sock]

I have used them before ( including my 3 month stay there this year ) and they are fantastic - airbnb i used.

I am going back in may next year for 6 weeks and will use them again.

You can use them with utmost confidence.

Thanks peejay (and the others who replied)

Will keep looking on airbnb , will be in NYC in June next year so looking forward to another stay in that incredible city .

Would love a loft in soho or the village . Not interested in mid town this time . been there done that .