Travel USA travel tips and tricks

[Total Power]

Most of the people I've read that have been getting questioned and phones searched seem to be those on work visas ect.

My mate who was with me (on a different queue) got his phone searched as well and he was a tourist (he's Swiss). Apparently his 'flight schedule' looked suspicious (although they never asked me about my flights funny that!) and they thought he might have been a potential migrant. He was let in after 2 hours of questioning.

I didn't see anyone else getting questioned, but again i was too stressed. I have never been stopped at any immigration and i have been living outside of Australia for the past 20+ years.

 

[Magnum27]

Haven't read anything to different to what I read 10-15 years ago about peoples experiences entering the country except now it's just reported in the news weekly.

Just means this time I'll prepare extra to have all my trip details on me when going through Immigration.

Next year will trip 6 since 2015, only on the first trip did we get asked why we were there, last trip last year arriving in Dallas, not even a question, just looked at me and passport and said have a nice day. I know it is a different government, but i visited previously in Trump years and no issues then.

 

[revo333]

Next year will trip 6 since 2015, only on the first trip did we get asked why we were there, last trip last year arriving in Dallas, not even a question, just looked at me and passport and said have a nice day. I know it is a different government, but i visited previously in Trump years and no issues then.

First went in 2009 and online there were the same stories back then as there are now about people getting extensive questioning and being sent back the other way.

No doubt now they are probably magnifying anything that might look a little suspicious but everyone should always be prepared that they might have to answer more than a few questions before getting let in.

 

[evolved2]

Australia's travel advice for the US has toughened three times since April

Between early April and early May, Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has changed the language of its travel warnings for the US three times in response to the Trump administration's tougher border stance.

www.abc.net.au

 

[damicky]

Hi guys & girls

We are looking at accommodation in Manhattan for June 2026 (may be a bit early to book some places)

The cost is even higher than I expected & the more I look at reviews, the harder it gets

Any suggestions???

 

[damicky]

Got back from there recently. Did the east coast north of DC, across to the Midwest, down the Mississippi finishing in Dallas.

City I liked the most: Chicago, the skyline, the lakeshore, the food, just a brilliant, exciting place despite its problems.

City I liked the least: Indianapolis, although the 500 was epic, the city itself was very vanilla.

NYC would be my favourite of all, but for all the garbage and constant smell of urine and weed, although it's better outside of Manhattan (I heard it gets unbearable in summer)

All in all, a very enjoyable and eye opening trip.

Where did you stay in NY?

 

[largebus]

Where did you stay in NY?

West 30th St Guest House in Midtown

Basic but 5 mins walk from Penn Station and Madison Square Garden. Not recommended if you can't climb stairs but that's a lot of the city

 

[Magnum27]

Hi guys & girls

We are looking at accommodation in Manhattan for June 2026 (may be a bit early to book some places)

The cost is even higher than I expected & the more I look at reviews, the harder it gets

Any suggestions???

New York accom will always be exxy, it's what New York is.

I have stayed at the below, both are good hotels, but our first choice will always be Hotel Belleclaire.

Hotel Belleclaire (Upper west Side )- not far from a subway stop 77th st, and a few blocks from Central Park, and Museum of national history, fantastic hotel, we have stayed there 3 times, and would highly recommend.

The Dylan now known as the Chemist clubs hotel- a 2 min walk to Grand Central station, and 2 blocks to 5th Ave and the New York Library, another great hotel.

 

[revo333]

Hi guys & girls

We are looking at accommodation in Manhattan for June 2026 (may be a bit early to book some places)

The cost is even higher than I expected & the more I look at reviews, the harder it gets

Any suggestions???

I wouldn't panic yet.

Hotels will always be more expensive that far away from the date.

I looked at hotel prices for LA last year for this year and the prices were really expensive but when it came time to book they were fairly normal and cheaper than what I was expecting.

If I was booking for June I'd probably start looking around February.

 

[darrenmorgan]

Hi guys & girls

We are looking at accommodation in Manhattan for June 2026 (may be a bit early to book some places)

The cost is even higher than I expected & the more I look at reviews, the harder it gets

Any suggestions???

Carlton Arms Hotel is my go to in Manhattan. its an 'art hotel' and has a very historic and colorful past. Probably not for you if you are into 4 or 5 star hotels and need luxury amenities (or any amenities really, other than a room), but if you are cool with a quirky, charismatic and interesting (but fairly basic) place which is incredibly well priced for Manhattan and in a brilliant location, then its fantastic.

 

[damicky]

Carlton Arms Hotel is my go to in Manhattan. its an 'art hotel' and has a very historic and colorful past. Probably not for you if you are into 4 or 5 star hotels and need luxury amenities (or any amenities really, other than a room), but if you are cool with a quirky, charismatic and interesting (but fairly basic) place which is incredibly well priced for Manhattan and in a brilliant location, then its fantastic.

We are looking at 3 to 4 stars

The most important thing for me is cleanliness

 

[largebus]

We are looking at 3 to 4 stars

The most important thing for me is cleanliness

Whatever accommodation you go with will probably be the cleanest place you visit in the city. The govt ddin't even give people bins until recently so they have to dump the garbage bags on the roadside. And the wonder why they have a rat problem

 

[damicky]

Whatever accommodation you go with will probably be the cleanest place you visit in the city. The govt didn’t even give people bins until recently so they have to dump the garbage bags on the roadside. And they wonder why they have a rat problem

 

[juzza316]

Hi guys & girls

We are looking at accommodation in Manhattan for June 2026 (may be a bit early to book some places)

The cost is even higher than I expected & the more I look at reviews, the harder it gets

Any suggestions???

Stayed at Hotel Riu Plaza Manhattan Times Square last year, first time in NYC so nice and close to Times Square and other touristy places. For first time in NYC I think it is a good location and price was reasonable compared to many others. Nice and clean, great breakfast too!

 

[Peter Sidorkiewicz]

Hi guys & girls

We are looking at accommodation in Manhattan for June 2026 (may be a bit early to book some places)

The cost is even higher than I expected & the more I look at reviews, the harder it gets

Any suggestions???

Stay in NJ and save $1,000s. Get the train in to Manhattan. Only 15-20 minute ride.

 

[damicky]

Stay in NJ and save $1,000s. Get the train in to Manhattan. Only 15-20 minute ride.

That was our original plan

Where in New Jersey do you recommend?

 

[revo333]

I have stayed at the below, both are good hotels, but our first choice will always be Hotel Belleclaire.

Hotel Belleclaire (Upper west Side )- not far from a subway stop 77th st, and a few blocks from Central Park, and Museum of national history, fantastic hotel, we have stayed there 3 times, and would highly recommend.

I thought this sounded familiar, I stayed here in 2018.

Great spot but Looking at prices now it's $500-800 a night!

Definitely wasn't that expensive in 2018.

 

[revo333]

Staying 20 minutes away by train to save money sounds good on paper but you need to be prepared that the Subway probably will be very hot in summer and using it day and day might become very exhausting.

 

[revo333]

Good to see this thread alive and kicking again.

While tourism overall is down for America , Australians going in 2025 is a 4% increase to 2024 so it seems we might be the only country that hasn't been put off.

 

[Magnum27]

I thought this sounded familiar, I stayed here in 2018.

Great spot but Looking at prices now it's $500-800 a night!

Definitely wasn't that expensive in 2018.

Yeh i looked at them yesterday, and showed my wife, we were both shocked, we were there in 2015,2019 and 2022. Certainly wasn't that expensive, New York prices are nuts right now.

 

[Magnum27]

Good to see this thread alive and kicking again.

While tourism overall is down for America , Australians going in 2025 is a 4% increase to 2024 so it seems we might be the only country that hasn't been put off.

I am planning to go back next year in August for 6th visit since 2015, i get people are apprehensive about going, but what you see in the media is not a real reflection of being there. We were there last year, and was their on election day and about a month in the lead up, If you did not watch TV you had no idea the election was going on, the general pop go about their everyday lives.

Our trip next year will start in either Houston or Dallas, pick up a car and drive , we plan to stop at Little Rock, Nashville St Louis, Knoxville Iowa ( holds a motorsport event i have always wanted to attend ), then onto Jackson Hole Wyoming stopping in Colorado on the way, with last stop being Vegas.

 

[revo333]

I am planning to go back next year in August for 6th visit since 2015, i get people are apprehensive about going, but what you see in the media is not a real reflection of being there. We were there last year, and was their on election day and about a month in the lead up, If you did not watch TV you had no idea the election was going on, the general pop go about their everyday lives.

Our trip next year will start in either Houston or Dallas, pick up a car and drive , we plan to stop at Little Rock, Nashville St Louis, Knoxville Iowa ( holds a motorsport event i have always wanted to attend ), then onto Jackson Hole Wyoming stopping in Colorado on the way, with last stop being Vegas.

I spent 7 weeks there in 2016 but wth the exchange rate, hotels and food getting more expensive the days of probably going for that long are over.

 

[Magnum27]

I spent 7 weeks there in 2016 but wth the exchange rate, hotels and food getting more expensive the days of probably going for that long are over.

We generally go for a month only.

This will probably be our last for a while, we both will have ticked off the many things we have wanted to see.

 

[brutus76]

Only 6 months until I make my 3rd USA trip for 6 weeks

NYC i've stayed in Financial District, Midtown and Uptown

Next trip might try Brooklyn or Long Island - I don't mind a walk or a subway ride

 

[damicky]

Stayed at Hotel Riu Plaza Manhattan Times Square last year, first time in NYC so nice and close to Times Square and other touristy places. For first time in NYC I think it is a good location and price was reasonable compared to many others. Nice and clean, great breakfast too!

I really like the look of this place