Travel USA travel tips and tricks

[kaiserchief13]

I assume not in that order?

LA/SD/TJ will be mixed together so I can fly out of LA but other than that what's wrong with it?

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

LA/SD/TJ will be mixed together so I can fly out of LA but other than that what's wrong with it?

It's good strategy to fly into LA and stay somewhere, then head to New York before working your way back to LA to fly out. Otherwise, it makes for a long flight home, flying from NYC to LAX and flying home.

I'd cut a day off SF, a day off LA and add to NYC. Happy with what you have for Vegas, you can easily waste 4 nights there IMO.

 

[New_England]

I'd cut a day off SF, a day off LA and add to NYC. Happy with what you have for Vegas, you can easily waste 4 nights there IMO.

Yeah, I agree with this and would fly in and out of LA.

Flying in and out of San Francisco is more expensive and you are also limited to how many carriers you can use.

Depending on your activities in Mexico and SD would do it in one day. The drive from LA to Tijuana is only 2 1/2 hours. Jump on the I-5 and you can be in Tijuana by 10 am and back in your hotel by 10 pm.

That would then give you another day in New York and feel you may regret wasting a day in SD/Tijuana rather than using it in NYC. I hate New York but it's still a 1000 time better than SD. Think Adelaide (SD) and then compare that to NYC (Sydney/Melb). I know where Im staying more time. SD is good but you don't need a lot of time.

 

[kaiserchief13]

It's good strategy to fly into LA and stay somewhere, then head to New York before working your way back to LA to fly out. Otherwise, it makes for a long flight home, flying from NYC to LAX and flying home.

I'd cut a day off SF, a day off LA and add to NYC. Happy with what you have for Vegas, you can easily waste 4 nights there IMO.

Why isn't it possible to fly into SF and out of LA?And I wasn't thinking NY-> LA-> Home. I was thinking SF->NY->LV->LA->home

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Why isn't it possible to fly into SF and out of LA?And I wasn't thinking NY-> LA-> Home. I was thinking SF->NY->LV->LA->home

No, what I meant is that it is good strategy to land on the West Coast and leave from the West Coast to cut your travel times down. It's such a long trip that you wouldn't want to leave via the East Coast and add 5-6 hours on to your journey.

Aside from that, do it however you want. A lot of the cheap flights will want the same arrival and destination point though. SF is an hour flight from LA. Pretty easy to do it domestically.

 

[chodadude]

Going to the states for 2 weeks May/June next year with the missus.

Land in LA for 6 nights before going to NY for 9 nights then off to Europe.

Should we grab a domestic flight and head to San Fran for a few nights? Sounds like LA is the pits.

 

[ThePezDispenser]

Anyone here done the Helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon?

 

[alex_is_on_fire]

Anyone here done the Helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon?

In about 45 days.

 

[ThePezDispenser]

In about 45 days.

Cheers. I'll be doing it in 26 if I go through with it lol

 

[Cousin Jed]

Anyone here done the Helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon?

Yes. Did the one that landed in the canyon, they get the picnic basket out etc.

 

[ThePezDispenser]

Yes. Did the one that landed in the canyon, they get the picnic basket out etc.

And you would recommend? A nice view, lunch etc?

Do you remember which company you used? There seems to be a ton of them.

 

[Cousin Jed]

This is what I did

http://www.papillon.com/popris/show_package.aspx?package_id=19&lang=en-US

Can't remember what I paid for it - but a great view of Hoover Dam and the canyon. Whether paying extra to land was worth it is up to your budget I suppose. Wouldn't say that extra was an absolute must do. But I would definitely do the helicopter tour.

The food was a turkey and lettuce roll, a packet of chips and a glass of wine

 

[monty1104]

Anyone here done the Helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon?

I also did it. It is really worth it. I didn't do one that landed, just flew over.

 

[BERT]

Anyone here done the Helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon?

I did it a couple of weeks ago. It was fantastic. I did the the sunset tour. Great flying over the strip on nightfall.

http://sundancehelicopters.com/tourpage.aspx?id=311

 

[Aussie Assault]

And you would recommend? A nice view, lunch etc?

Do you remember which company you used? There seems to be a ton of them.

We've booked Papillon for our upcoming trip. $280ish (AUD) from Vegas including landing in the canyon & lunch.

 

[ThePezDispenser]

Very good price. Thanks guys. You really have been very helpful!

 

[mike_]

Heading to Brooklyn, Boston, Jersey and Philly for the first time. Can you guys recommend some cool, not well known things to do in these areas?

Maybe a long shot, but has anybody tried getting tickets for Letterman or the like and can comment on how hit/miss lining up on the day would be?

 

[Aussie Assault]

Heading to Brooklyn, Boston, Jersey and Philly for the first time. Can you guys recommend some cool, not well known things to do in these areas?

Maybe a long shot, but has anybody tried getting tickets for Letterman or the like and can comment on how hit/miss lining up on the day would be?

I was only looking into this yesterday actually more out of interest than anything.
-Letterman seems the easiest if you just shoot an email off about 4 weeks prior to when you want to go. My sister and a mate walked up on the day & got tickets a few years back.
-Jimmy Fallon is done through a phone call in a similar time frame.
-Saturday Night Live ballot has been & gone in August for their 12 month allotment, and dates cannot be specified in this anyway so its luck of the draw.

 

[danzan22]

This is what I did

http://www.papillon.com/popris/show_package.aspx?package_id=19&lang=en-US

Can't remember what I paid for it - but a great view of Hoover Dam and the canyon. Whether paying extra to land was worth it is up to your budget I suppose. Wouldn't say that extra was an absolute must do. But I would definitely do the helicopter tour.

The food was a turkey and lettuce roll, a packet of chips and a glass of wine

Booked the same for my upcoming US trip, how was landing in the canyon?

Me and my girlfriend are leaving this saturday and will be heading to:

LA -3 Nights
Vegas - 4 Nights
New York - 7 Nights
Boston - 5 Nights

Does anyone have any info on what MetLife (Jets) stadium and Gillette (Patriots) stadium are like?

Also can anyone give me an idea of some cool bars to go to in New York and Boston?

My dream was to go see a Pittsburgh NHL game, i even planned my trip in boston around seeing them play the bruins until the lockout happened

 

[Aussie Assault]

My dream was to go see a Pittsburgh NHL game, i even planned my trip in boston around seeing them play the bruins until the lockout happened

I've got tickets to the Rangers v Islanders at MSG, so I'm praying they pull their finger out & at least get some of the season in. Not looking likely though at this stage..

 

[kaiserchief13]

Booked the same for my upcoming US trip, how was landing in the canyon?

Me and my girlfriend are leaving this saturday and will be heading to:

LA -3 Nights
Vegas - 4 Nights
New York - 7 Nights
Boston - 5 Nights

Does anyone have any info on what MetLife (Jets) stadium and Gillette (Patriots) stadium are like?

Also can anyone give me an idea of some cool bars to go to in New York and Boston?

My dream was to go see a Pittsburgh NHL game, i even planned my trip in boston around seeing them play the bruins until the lockout happened

At this stage of the year I would suggest pretty cold

 

[danzan22]

At this stage of the year I would suggest pretty cold

Haha that doesn't phase me, I'm actually hoping it snows at one of those games as I think it would be awesome.

I've got tickets to the Rangers v Islanders at MSG, so I'm praying they pull their finger out & at least get some of the season in. Not looking likely though at this stage..

If they don't agree on a CBA by the end of this week then that's it for NHL in December.

 

[BERT]

Booked the same for my upcoming US trip, how was landing in the canyon?



Does anyone have any info on what MetLife (Jets) stadium is like?

Also can anyone give me an idea of some cool bars to go to in New York and Boston?

Landing in the canyon was great. Standing there and looking up and around at it was surreal. Just an amazing view.

I went to a Jets game at Metlife while I was there. The stadium was great. Give yourself a good hour and a half to get there though. There was only 2 trains an hour to New Jersey and then you have to get another one to get to Metlife. The Jets got flogged when I was there and the crowd left early so you could move around the stadium to better seats.

There are heaps of good bars in NY. Depends on what you are after. Plenty of Irish and sports bars.

 

[Aussie Assault]

If they don't agree on a CBA by the end of this week then that's it for NHL in December.

Yeah we're there in Feb, so a little bit of time to resolve it but the talks dont seem to be getting anywhere. Some were saying that once December is canned, then the next step is the season as at the moment owners have to keep their stadiums available for the possibility of games on their dates, but could look at other revenue instead if it's looking like lingering on forever.

 

[ThePezDispenser]

So I'm told Disneyland tickets are far more expensive at the gate, however buying online you could be scammed. Has anyone used a trustworthy site for their tickets?

Also we're starting in San Fran then moving LA before Vegas. I'm not keen on packing too much (so I can bring more home), but will need to some dressy clothes especially for Vegas. Would it be easy enough for me to pick up some nice dress shoes, shirts, jackets etc in San Fran or should I pack some just in case?