Travel USA travel tips and tricks

[Drakescoffeecake]

When are you going?? Firehouse is always quite busy so book well in advance if you choose there, Can get a 4 bed room with bathoom, so its a hostel enviroment but still have privacy. We had 3 nights in Austin and that was perfect

June next year.

 

[Richo is God]

Good ones yes. Shared dorms/bathrooms no.

I wouldn't recommend firehouse in Austin then . Chicago getaway was by far the best one we stayed in.

 

[Goodo73]

We stayed at the Luxor in Vegas, Not bad but i lean towards NY NY (A bit further up the strip and still a decent price or even Planet Hollywood) So many good options there on the strip, I tend to stay away from Bellagio and Caesers, not worth the extra chunk of money for similar standards.

My mates and I stayed at Jockey Club last month, which is on-Strip, next to Bellagio, but somewhat hidden from street view. Didn't have any complaints. I've stayed at Monte Carlo too in the past and was very happy with it.

 

[Deliverance]

On rollercoasters, is Six Flags in LA the place to go? Gutted I missed out last time I was there.

Cedar Point. Hands down!

 

[Deliverance]

Im a big rollercoaster/thrill ride fan and was a bit disappointed with the Stratosphere rides. Especially the one that goes off the side of the building then stops. The one with the arms that swing around off the edge was okay and i always like a decent Giant Drop style ride but...meh. glad i went on them as I'd probably be kicking myself if i didn't but I'm certainly not in any rush to go again.

I did go during the day so maybe the whole experience is better at night.

Really? I thought they were awesome, except maybe the teeter-totter one. It's funny, i did them at night, spectacular, but thought day might be more freaky.

 

[Deliverance]

I found San Francisco as a city to be over rated....

Have to agree with this. Riding the bay was nice, but no nicer than say, Elwood. The bridge was packed with tourists and locals and it wasn't even peak season, couldn't imagine what a nightmare it would be during busy times. Fisherman's wharf felt like Southend on Sea without the rides. The highlight was driving up and down the hills pretending I was Bullit. Alcatraz is way cool. And I'm a bit weird but I liked Lombard St too.

 

[crownie]

Was going to say the same in Austin! I love that place

best place i have stayed in!

 

[crownie]

Awesome thanks for that. Is 4 nights too much?

if you are going just to check out the place then 3 i think is enough.

 

[crownie]

Have to agree with this. Riding the bay was nice, but no nicer than say, Elwood. The bridge was packed with tourists and locals and it wasn't even peak season, couldn't imagine what a nightmare it would be during busy times. Fisherman's wharf felt like Southend on Sea without the rides. The highlight was driving up and down the hills pretending I was Bullit. Alcatraz is way cool. And I'm a bit weird but I liked Lombard St too.

Its the must thing to do in San Fran and i agree apart from Alcatraz nothing excited me to much about the city.

 

[Drakescoffeecake]

if you are going just to check out the place then 3 i think is enough.

Ok cool. Anything a must-do? Seems to be some cool tours and interested to see this Rainey street - have heard 6th street is a bit dodgy??

 

[Drumroe]

Ok cool. Anything a must-do? Seems to be some cool tours and interested to see this Rainey street - have heard 6th street is a bit dodgy??

Rainey Street is awesome, had a great time there too. 6th Street is your place to have a big night and definitely worth checking out. Petes dueling piano is good fun. If a Longhorns football game is on Id try and see that.

Check out la BBQ for great bbq, was around a 40 minute wait when I went on a Sunday, but theres free beer in the line.
Otherwise Kerlin nearby is great and doesnt have much of a line.

 

[crownie]

Ok cool. Anything a must-do? Seems to be some cool tours and interested to see this Rainey street - have heard 6th street is a bit dodgy??

I walked around on my own around 1 am one night, street was crowded and i dont think you would have any issues if you stayed on the main street.

 

[Drakescoffeecake]

Rainey Street is awesome, had a great time there too. 6th Street is your place to have a big night and definitely worth checking out. Petes dueling piano is good fun. If a Longhorns football game is on Id try and see that.

Check out la BBQ for great bbq, was around a 40 minute wait when I went on a Sunday, but theres free beer in the line.
Otherwise Kerlin nearby is great and doesnt have much of a line.

Sold!

Thanks for the info. State Capitol or South Congress worth a visit?

 

[Richo is God]

6th st at 2am is quite a thing to witness. Mounted cops about 10 wide across the road, police car lights flashing, cops yelling at everyone to go home

 

[crownie]

Sold!

Thanks for the info. State Capitol or South Congress worth a visit?

i found it very nice to walk around.

 

[Tannehill17]

Sold!

Thanks for the info. State Capitol or South Congress worth a visit?

State Capitol is a worth a visit. I went to the Texas state Museum which i enjoyed and a tour of the Longhorns Stadium was great.

 

[Dignan]

Good ones yes. Shared dorms/bathrooms no.

Green Tortoise Hostel in SF was cool, there's dorms but there's also private rooms available which sleep 3/4. Don't remember it being too expensive, though I'm not sure if there's private bathrooms if that's a deal breaker.

It's around the North Beach area which was an interesting part of the city, too. The day I arrived there was some sort of festival going on, stalls in the streets, live music etc. Was a lot of fun.

 

[crownie]

Heard some scary news today that some are predicting the America dollar to go down to .50 by mid next year

 

[HARKER]

Heard some scary news today that some are predicting the America dollar to go down to .50 by mid next year

How do you mean? Against our currency, or is that our currency against theirs?

Let's just call in all the debt and we're all broke. Could happen.

 

[Richo is God]

Petes dueling piano is good fun

I bought a t-shirt from there and it was hung on the wall with the map of Texas (which was the back of the shirt) and proceeded to wear it back to front all night. In my defence, I'd had a fair few Lone Star beers

 

[crownie]

How do you mean? Against our currency, or is that our currency against theirs?

Let's just call in all the debt and we're all broke. Could happen.

against our dollar.

its at .72 now.

 

[Hard Ball Get]

Heard some scary news today that some are predicting the America dollar to go down to .50 by mid next year

Australian Dollar to .50 American is what it is. American dollar remains the dollar. Haha.

 

[HARKER]

against our dollar.

its at .72 now.

So our currency is the one dropping.
Couldn't imagine the $US plummeting to those levels.

Been thereabouts once before. So what would drive that?

 

[Hard Ball Get]

First time I went it was around 67c. Second time it was $1.10. That was amazing.

 

[Aussie Assault]

Heard some scary news today that some are predicting the America dollar to go down to .50 by mid next year

Markets are saying:
25% chance of the Fed increasing it 3 times which would get the cash rate at our 1.5% providing we don't touch ours
34% chance we'll raise our rates against a 3% chance we'll lower them

Getting anywhere near 50c seems pie in the sky type scenarios, at least for next year. The big unknown is how the world will react to Donald when he takes office.

I just booked 5 weeks in August/Sept and cant wait to head back... LA>roadtrip across to Utah via Yosemite>Seattle>Cuba>LA.