Driving in US

[stoopadity]

Hi all,

i've already confirmed my next mth US trip and will be arriving and departing from LA itself. however, i'll be renting a car from hertz and will be driving from LA -> LV -> LA -> SF -> LA.

i was told that the driving experience in US is different than SG coz of the sign board, right ?

anyway i would like to seek advise is... from google map, driving from LA -> LV shows 4 hours + while LA -> SF shows 6 hours +. so basically, is the hours correctly identified ? coz i need to plan my overall trip, wat time arriving, wat time should i be leaving, etc.

i have booked for a Chrysler Sebring or similar from Hertz for 8 days @ USD$305. is this price ok ? pickup from LA and returning at LA airport.

 

[icube]

should be ok... i paid 308USD for 8 days for group A type of cars from AVIS.

anyway.. any one got experience buying and using prepaid 3G cards in US?

 

[Erwinlow]

Hi all,

i've already confirmed my next mth US trip and will be arriving and departing from LA itself. however, i'll be renting a car from hertz and will be driving from LA -> LV -> LA -> SF -> LA.

i was told that the driving experience in US is different than SG coz of the sign board, right ?

anyway i would like to seek advise is... from google map, driving from LA -> LV shows 4 hours + while LA -> SF shows 6 hours +. so basically, is the hours correctly identified ? coz i need to plan my overall trip, wat time arriving, wat time should i be leaving, etc.

i have booked for a Chrysler Sebring or similar from Hertz for 8 days @ USD$305. is this price ok ? pickup from LA and returning at LA airport.

You renting GPS right? Their Hertz Neverlost GPS very good.

 

[devilish_me]

should be ok... i paid 308USD for 8 days for group A type of cars from AVIS.

anyway.. any one got experience buying and using prepaid 3G cards in US?

i still use a prepaid phone until now....what you wanna know??

think i got a net10...paid $20 for phone+$30 worth of phonecalls/SMS.

 

[devilish_me]

You renting GPS right? Their Hertz Neverlost GPS very good.

what is so special about the hertz GPS?? ain't all GPS more or less the same? it's usually whether or not got live traffice updates, lane guidance etc. i still think renting GPS from car rental is so ex. better to just buy and own and you probably still pay less than what you pay to the car rental.

 

[devilish_me]

anyway i would like to seek advise is... from google map, driving from LA -> LV shows 4 hours + while LA -> SF shows 6 hours +. so basically, is the hours correctly identified ? coz i need to plan my overall trip, wat time arriving, wat time should i be leaving, etc.

usually google time would be slightly longer than actual....based on my experiences.

but if you are driving into big cities...then have to cater for jams, getting lost, finding parking etc.

better to over-estimate the time taken than under-estimate in my opinion....especially if you aren't used to driving in the dark...or need to be punctual for a certain event.

 

[devilish_me]

queen bed, my bad.

my 4 galfrens would also squeeze into 2 double beds....i won't be surprised but i just find it sooooooo uncomfortable. even queen beds is tight.

 

[devilish_me]

anyway...just a heads-up for some of you folks who are visiting USA soon and might consider buying a GPS preloaded with US/canada maps.

i bought a garmin nuvi 205W for a friend who's visiting and she'll be returning to SG on the 20 april and might consider selling off the GPS (at discounted price).

usually, the GPS rental from the car company would be anything between USD10-12/day (you can check with the car rental company). so if you are considering to save some money to buy/own (& perhaps subsequently resell) instead of rent a set....please drop me a PM.

 

[temasekcity]

Well, they seldom horn too. So dun be the idiot who horn.

 

[temasekcity]

U can also try the good old route 66 and be cow boy again. Visited some old towns with only 5 families. They don't look friendly though....haha...

 

[Erwinlow]

what is so special about the hertz GPS?? ain't all GPS more or less the same? it's usually whether or not got live traffice updates, lane guidance etc. i still think renting GPS from car rental is so ex. better to just buy and own and you probably still pay less than what you pay to the car rental.

overall its good lah. pretty user friendly too.

my dad is an AA member in sg so got 50% off the GPS rates heh

 

[patryn33]

Well, they seldom horn too. So dun be the idiot who horn.

in USA they seldom horn.
In Vancouver it is rather common.
here, I am the idiot that horn. I pick up this habit here with idiot drivers.

 

[devilish_me]

in USA they seldom horn.
In Vancouver it is rather common.
here, I am the idiot that horn. I pick up this habit here with idiot drivers.

over here (MA) must horn also sometimes....got those idiotic aggressive drivers who anyhow cut into your lane or something. but if car in front going slower or what...those no need to horn la...just overtake carefully

 

[icube]

i still use a prepaid phone until now....what you wanna know??

think i got a net10...paid $20 for phone+$30 worth of phonecalls/SMS.

i want a 3G SIM card that i can put in my iphone/ipad for 3G service... how much does it cost if i want to use it for like only 2 weeks.... to call back SG and call if there is an emergency....

and also... parking at the shopping centers... how do they usually pay? because in SG almost all is ERP... so just deduct from the card... in US do they have a person at the gantry to collect the fees? or do we pay first and then grab our car? what is the procedure like? and also those public parking meters - how do they work?

 

[patryn33]

min is US$20. u can get it at any T-mobile or ATT store
there are plans to choose.
network coverage ATT is better.

parking in usa mostly free, big cities u gotto pay.
rate vary from US$1 to US$12.

there are many systems.
- push for a card to enter, return the card to attendant and pay when u leave
- pay by the hour on a machine and put the receipt on the car where attendant can see.
- or put 25cents for every 5-10mins.
etc

 

[devilish_me]

for my net10 phone....international calls is 15cent/min...but you'll need to register your phone first (free) to make international calls. but SMS is like 50cents each!!

 

[unclebutcher]

that time i was in new haven hor...got one ambulance coming. EVERY car stop for it to go past. and it was SO LOUD!

talk about civic mindedness hor. See the way we drive here in Singapore. =.=

 

[devilish_me]

that time i was in new haven hor...got one ambulance coming. EVERY car stop for it to go past. and it was SO LOUD!

talk about civic mindedness hor. See the way we drive here in Singapore. =.=

ermm...that's a traffic rule. siam for all emergency vehicles.

 

[alexljy]

Has anyone here tried driving from Seattle to San Fran before? How long would the trip take - feasible in 2 days if we don't stop much?

Thinking if I should drive down after visiting rainier - maybe stop by 1 or 2 places, or should go back to seattle and fly down.

 

[devilish_me]

Has anyone here tried driving from Seattle to San Fran before? How long would the trip take - feasible in 2 days if we don't stop much?

Thinking if I should drive down after visiting rainier - maybe stop by 1 or 2 places, or should go back to seattle and fly down.

yes seattle to san fran in 1-2 days is possible