US help.

[Shiny Things]

going to usa on thanksgiving day is bad, all the hotel prices are high hee

Not necessarily! Depends where in the country you are.

Business hotels tend to be dirt cheap on Thanksgiving, because nobody travels for business that weekend. You can get a room in the very fancy Westin St Francis in the heart of San Francisco for $148 on Thanksgiving - that's even cheaper than the super-touristy and much worse Sheraton Fishermans' Wharf two miles away.

hi Shiny Things,

I was planning to add in Napa Valley before going off to Yosemite and would like to check if you have any recommendation for the wineries in Napa Valley? I read from Trip Advisor that Domaine Chandon is recommended. But I was wondering if there are others that I should also try?

Ooh. If you've got a whole day to spend, I can enthusiastically recommend renting a bike and doing a ride-yourself tour. There's a great bike-rental place in Yountville, and from there you can hit a few really big ones in one leisurely day's ride with a stop for lunch midway through.

My usual route is north out of Yountville along the Napa River, then onto the main road north to Opus One; a little further north is Cakebread Cellars; stop for lunch at the Rutherford Grill and Beaulieu Vineyard; hop along Rutherford Road to Round Pond Estate; stop in at Caymus just a half block down the road; then head back down the Silverado Trail to Paraduxx; and then a quick bike along Yountville Cross Road and you're back at the bike shop. Bam, you've just hit six absolutely top-notch wineries and had a fantastic day out. The map looks a bit like this.

Edit: make that seven. Cliff Lede Vineyards is on your left as you come back down Yountville Cross Road toward town, and they do a really exceptional cab sav.

Ask your hotel's concierge, though - they've usually got some recommendations.

If you've got less than that, or you don't like riding: whatever you do, don't drive. The cops over here take drunk-driving incredibly seriously; the fines start at $10,000 and go up(!!!). Rent a party bus and a driver; take the Napa Wine Train; nominate a designated driver and stick to it; but never drive drunk, ever.

btw are there sales during the 4th of July?

Sort of, but it tends to be on things like cars and whitegoods and stuff - it's not like Black Friday. Speaking of which...

Will there be irresistible sale on thanksgiving?

Yeah, but a tip from the pros: don't go out shopping at 6pm on Thanksgiving or whatever, trying to get one of those doorbuster specials. It sucks, it's cold, and it's miserable and crowded. Shop on Amazon instead - they run Black Friday specials all week long, and you don't have to go out in the cold on Thursday night.

 

[techman03]

hi guys,

any good shopping on 26th december in NY?

outlets?

 

[Shiny Things]

hi guys,

any good shopping on 26th december in NY?

outlets?

The USA doesn't really do Boxing Day (as a public holiday or as a big-blowout-sale day), so it'll be exactly the same as any other Saturday.

 

[techman03]

hi guys my fiancee is celebrating her bday and fortunately were on LA on the day itself...

any recommendations pls?? thanks

 

[addats]

Planning to go during the Sept and Oct period. will be going to Yosemite so hopefully snow have not fall.
Is it peak period during that time as in will the lodging be more expensive. i usually stay at Hampton Inn.

 

[Shiny Things]

Planning to go during the Sept and Oct period. will be going to Yosemite so hopefully snow have not fall.
Is it peak period during that time as in will the lodging be more expensive. i usually stay at Hampton Inn.

Nah, Sep/Oct is shoulder season, so it won't be too bad. You want to avoid the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day - that's the traditional "summer" season, that's when kids are out of school, so that's when the parks are absolutely jammed.

The nearest Hampton (and Hilton more generally) properties to Yosemite are in Manteca and Merced - both a couple of hours from the park, but totally doable as long as you get an early start.

 

[a1v1n_]

I'm in Houston right now. Heading to Mississippi next week. Checked forecast and realized it's gonna be closed to 0 deg and I didn't bring clothes for the cold weather.

Thinking of heading to Houston Premium Outlet to get something since its Black Friday.

I'm thinking of Columbia after looking through the store listing.

What sort of jacket & other attire should I look out for? Have not experienced winter before.

Sent from ME using GAGT

 

[Hisashiburi]

Hat or hood
- Hat that covers ears or earmuffs.
Hood of jacket works too if jacket/coat has a hood

Wool or down jacket/coat
- Those from Uniqlo work fine or any winter wool coat

Inner sweater
- wool sweater, heavy cotton is also ok but less warm

Jeans or wool pants
- Wear some long johns(long undies or uniqlo heat tech tights) beneath

Wool socks
- Very important to have warm socks

Shoes
- Boots or leather shoes that are at least water resistant and have traction. Running shoes dont work so well as they are ventilated and your feet will freeze.

Gloves and scarves
- Optional but many people use them
I just put my hands inside coat pockets

Inner wear
- Those heat tech tshirts/tights work very well for me.

Heat packs
- Can get from daiso but i've never used them. Optional.

Once u go into a warm location like a cafe or building, u can remove the outer coat and wont overcook.

I'm in Houston right now. Heading to Mississippi next week. Checked forecast and realized it's gonna be closed to 0 deg and I didn't bring clothes for the cold weather.

Thinking of heading to Houston Premium Outlet to get something since its Black Friday.

I'm thinking of Columbia after looking through the store listing.

What sort of jacket & other attire should I look out for? Have not experienced winter before.

Sent from ME using GAGT

 

[patryn33]

I'm in Houston right now. Heading to Mississippi next week. Checked forecast and realized it's gonna be closed to 0 deg and I didn't bring clothes for the cold weather.

Thinking of heading to Houston Premium Outlet to get something since its Black Friday.

I'm thinking of Columbia after looking through the store listing.

What sort of jacket & other attire should I look out for? Have not experienced winter before.

Sent from ME using GAGT

High in 14c low of like 3c, just get a Columbia jacket and layer up. Or something like this will do, should be under usd$100
http://www.columbia.com/mens-bugaboo-interchange-jacket-1561181.html?dwvar_1561181_variationColor=464#q=jacket&mid=paidsearch&nid=Search%7CBranded%7CProducts%7CJackets%7CUS&oid=NewBrand_Jackets_KW(columbia%2Bjackets_b)&did=columbia+jackets&eid=Google%2BAdwords%2BUS&s_kwcid=AL!3937!3!72869458527!b!!g!!columbia+jackets&gclid=Cj0KEQiA-NqyBRC905irsrLr-LUBEiQAWJFYThG_dwkc7i97_QRvyenhQPE6zxIIqOXdgpYpS1hWDCkaAsdG8P8HAQ&ef_id=UN0R%40QAAEVXcK2DI%3A20151127014408%3As&start=7

Tee shirt, shirt and a sweater plus that jacket and you all set.
If walking the streets late after 10-12pm need gloves. U can get a cheap gloves at Columbia

 

[a1v1n_]

Noted! Thanks!

Sent from ME using GAGT

 

[Shiny Things]

I'm in Houston right now. Heading to Mississippi next week. Checked forecast and realized it's gonna be closed to 0 deg and I didn't bring clothes for the cold weather.

Thinking of heading to Houston Premium Outlet to get something since its Black Friday.

I'm thinking of Columbia after looking through the store listing.

What sort of jacket & other attire should I look out for? Have not experienced winter before.

Haha, welcome to my world - I moved over to Cali after five years of living in Singapore, and when the freezing cold winter of 2012-13 hit I abruptly realised I had LITERALLY NO winter clothes.

Anyway. Depends if it's zero Fahrenheit, or zero Celsius (don't get the two confused, it is not fun, I found that out the hard way on a zero-Fahrenheit business trip to Chicago last January). We're talking about Mississippi, though, and from a quick squizz at the weather report it looks like zero celsius (even upstate in Oxford or Tupelo, it's going to get down to zero celsius on the clear mornings on Wednesday and Thursday, and the highs will be in the low teens celsius).

So you really don't need anything THAT heavy. Jeans and some nice warm socks will do you on your bottom half; on top, get yourself a nice light down jacket (I've got a sleeveless Patagonia that I really love, but North Face and Columbia are good too) and wear a couple of layers underneath. Mittens and pom-pom hat are optional but not a bad idea.

Of course if you're heading further north than Mississippi after this, all bets are off, and you want to take Hisashiburi's advice about layering up.

 

[Neways]

Tipping in LA

I heard that tipping is compulsory in US. Does the rates for tipping vary in restaurants or states? How do we tip if we are paying using credit card? Use cash?

 

[Hisashiburi]

Yes tipping is part of eating out.
Generally tip when u are in a seated restaurant n people serve food to you.
Usually around 15%.
More if u find service good.
Maybe less is server is bad.

U can put the tip amount on your cc.
Or pay the cc stated amt n pay tips in cash.

I heard that tipping is compulsory in US. Does the rates for tipping vary in restaurants or states? How do we tip if we are paying using credit card? Use cash?

 

[Neways]

Yes tipping is part of eating out.
Generally tip when u are in a seated restaurant n people serve food to you.
Usually around 15%.
More if u find service good.
Maybe less is server is bad.

U can put the tip amount on your cc.
Or pay the cc stated amt n pay tips in cash.

Wat happens if we don tip? Just a stupid qn..

 

[Hisashiburi]

Not stupid question.

Server gets less money as part of their wages comes from tips.
They might get angry or annoyed?

Happened to me before that I didnt tip.
Totally forget and didnt realize it until a few days later as there is no tipping culture in sg.

Wat happens if we don tip? Just a stupid qn..

 

[techman03]

anyone knows where i can get cheap tickets
to USS hollywood on dec17?

 

[Shiny Things]

I heard that tipping is compulsory in US. Does the rates for tipping vary in restaurants or states? How do we tip if we are paying using credit card? Use cash?

If you're paying with a credit card, there's a space on the credit card slip to add a tip. Usually the rule is 15% - I tend to leave 20% because it's easier to do the math.

And yeah, never tip zero, even if the service sucks - speak to the manager instead. The waitstaff at a restaurant usually gets paid pretty much zero and they get compensated by tips instead, so if you stiff your server on a tip you're literally taking money out of their pocket.

Tipping is dumb, but that's the way things are over here.

 

[critical888]

made a self drive to death valley national park on the mustang, feels good as u can roof down and have a smell of the mountains etc! highly recommend to have a try, can rent the 2016 mustang convertible from alamo

 

[techman03]

hi guys

AT&T or T mobile reliable? price for LA?

 

[jackieatbtu]

Planning to bring my 65 years old mom to USA. Not planning to drive. As she loves nature, would it be a waste if I just bring her to Niagara Falls and Washington DC?

Not sure if Boston and Philadelphia would be interesting to somebody with no knowledge of American history.

Anybody can share their views on their visit to the east coast? Thanks.