US help.

[punggolkid]

Will be going to US again

Should I choose Qatar with 6h transit in Doha 1.7k, Emirates flight about 3h transit in Dubai 1.8k or Cathay Pacific 1h transit 2k?

This is my ranking of each airline from best to, err, "worst". They're based on the factors I would consider if I were you.

Airline Service: Emirates, Cathay, Qatar
Airline Quality: Emirates/Cathay/Qatar (IMO they're all on par)
Plane Comfort: Emirates, Qatar, Cathay
Cost: Qatar, Emirates, Cathay
Transit Location: Cathay, Emirates, Qatar
Transit Time of Day: Cathay, Emirates/Qatar (transit during the wee hours)
Transit Time: Cathay, Emirates, Qatar

For me, the overall winner is Emirates, if you do not mind the red-eye on the first leg, since the transit can be quite painful in DXB so early in the morning, plus truckloads of people offloaded from A380s heading inbound to DXB may make it crowded (not sure if that's still the case with the new A380 concourse). Still, Emirates definitely offers the best value for money out of the 3.

If Emirates is not for you, I'd pick Cathay over Qatar. The food and entertainment are more to my liking. Transit in HKG is easy and smooth, and with the short duration of the transit, I'd say it's even less of an issue. Only one minor issue is the tendency for delays with Cathay. Their planes are older than EK and QR.

I'm neutral on Qatar, but being the cheapest amongst all, I'd say it's not a bad option. Qatar on its own is rather good. Ranks amongst the best airlines in the world.

And... of course if cost is no object, I will still pick SIA. Has the most comfortable Y I've been on in awhile. YMMV though.

Have a good trip!

 

[cormet]

Thanks alot punggolkid for such a thorough reply. Now there's a 1.5k Emirates to NY in june but with 7h stopover in Dubai on the way there and a 1h45min on the way back. I've decided to get this, the price is too attractive to resist, considering that it's june hol period

I've skywards but not a significant enough number of points..

Btw anybody tried booking Air Canada tickets from the Singapore office before? Can't book from their website.

 

[Shiny Things]

Will be going to US again

Should I choose Qatar with 6h transit in Doha 1.7k, Emirates flight about 3h transit in Dubai 1.8k or Cathay Pacific 1h transit 2k?

Depends which side of the country you're headed to.

If you're headed to the west coast (LA or SF), then you'd be an idiot to take Qatar or Emirates, because that's the long way 'round.

If you're headed to the east coast, then Qatar and Emirates start looking a lot better, but I think Cathay's still a better bet.

 

[cormet]

Anybody has preferred car rental companies in US?

Rented from Hertz the last time I was there. No issues but relatively expensive. Gonna try Thrifty this time after good experience in Australia.

 

[peejay05]

Hope to get some help here.

I'm planning a trip to west coast with a friend (4may-18may) and are thinking of visiting, SF, LA and Las Vegas.

We are thinking of touching down at LA -> Las Vegas -> LA -> drive via route 1 to SF
but have recently saw that there's a route from Las Vegas to SF which encompasses Napa Valley and Yosemite.

Any advice if we should go the route 1 way or the napa valley/yosemite way?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Shiny Things]

Hope to get some help here.

I'm planning a trip to west coast with a friend (4may-18may) and are thinking of visiting, SF, LA and Las Vegas.

We are thinking of touching down at LA -> Las Vegas -> LA -> drive via route 1 to SF
but have recently saw that there's a route from Las Vegas to SF which encompasses Napa Valley and Yosemite.

Any advice if we should go the route 1 way or the napa valley/yosemite way?

Thanks in advance!

You probably won't be able to do the Yosemite route: highway 120 through the park doesn't open until late May or early June.

The drive from LA to LV on Interstate 10 is pretty boring anyway, so you'll want to skip it. But here's an idea: fly.

Fly into LA; pick up your rental car, and drive it up highway 1 to SF. Drop the car at SFO, and spend a few days doing touristy stuff (you can hit Napa easily from SF, it's a one-hour drive north) - then fly to Las Vegas from SF. (Virgin America's having a 2-day sale right now; they've got SFO-LAX one-way for as little as $59.)

Do whatever you want to do in Vegas (I recommend renting a car and driving out to the Valley of Fire), then fly back to LA and head back out.

 

[peejay05]

You probably won't be able to do the Yosemite route: highway 120 through the park doesn't open until late May or early June.

The drive from LA to LV on Interstate 10 is pretty boring anyway, so you'll want to skip it. But here's an idea: fly.

Fly into LA; pick up your rental car, and drive it up highway 1 to SF. Drop the car at SFO, and spend a few days doing touristy stuff (you can hit Napa easily from SF, it's a one-hour drive north) - then fly to Las Vegas from SF. (Virgin America's having a 2-day sale right now; they've got SFO-LAX one-way for as little as $59.)

Do whatever you want to do in Vegas (I recommend renting a car and driving out to the Valley of Fire), then fly back to LA and head back out.

thanks for the advice mate! looking at that, we probably won't drive to LV to LA then. I'm thinking we can land in LV, then greyhound to LA, den drive up to SF, have checked Delta Airlines and luckily they do support multi city arrival/departure.

Didn't realise Napa is so close to SF, so i guess we can do the Napa things when we are in SF, thanks for the info!

 

[Hisashiburi]

Shiny Things posted a good itinerary.

Do not ever take greyhound buses in the usa.
You will regret.

 

[the_dog]

Thanks alot punggolkid for such a thorough reply. Now there's a 1.5k Emirates to NY in june but with 7h stopover in Dubai on the way there and a 1h45min on the way back. I've decided to get this, the price is too attractive to resist, considering that it's june hol period

I've skywards but not a significant enough number of points..

Btw anybody tried booking Air Canada tickets from the Singapore office before? Can't book from their website.

I've booked Air Canada from YVR to LAX before via Expedia.com (not Expedia.sg)

 

[peejay05]

Shiny Things posted a good itinerary.

Do not ever take greyhound buses in the usa.
You will regret.

oh didn't know greyhound is a bad choice. will have to read up on that.

I'm considering shinything itinerary but don't like the idea of back-tracking since we only have 13days (after deducting flying time)

 

[magicdriplet]

Can someone experienced here enlighten me on whether it would be too difficult to attempt these 2 routes if I choose not to drive at all? Am planning a 2 week trip to either one of these places

1. New York/Orlando

2. San Francisco/LA/Vegas

Thanks!

 

[cormet]

Can someone experienced here enlighten me on whether it would be too difficult to attempt these 2 routes if I choose not to drive at all? Am planning a 2 week trip to either one of these places

1. New York/Orlando

2. San Francisco/LA/Vegas

Thanks!

NY/Orlando shouldn't be a problem if you don't drive. Just take a flight to the cities and public transport there is easily available.

It is highly recommended that you drive in LA, even with the bad traffic jams. SF has good public transport system. You can walk along the strip in Vegas, although having a car would be good as parking is generally free!

 

[cormet]

I've booked Air Canada from YVR to LAX before via Expedia.com (not Expedia.sg)

I ended up booking via kayak.com

How was the experience on Air Canada?

 

[patryn33]

Shiny Things posted a good itinerary.

Do not ever take greyhound buses in the usa.
You will regret.

It's not like the coach buses from sg to kl for sure but its not that bad.

 

[patryn33]

I'm planning a trip to west coast with a friend (4may-18may) and are thinking of visiting, SF, LA and Las

Thanks in advance!

Having lived in AZ for sometime those places are like general vacation stops. U don't plan on Grand Canyon or parks in Utah?

 

[peejay05]

Having lived in AZ for sometime those places are like general vacation stops. U don't plan on Grand Canyon or parks in Utah?

yes we are planning Grand Canyon west rim, and that would be when we are at Las Vegas. I think the big question for is whether we should greyhound or take whatever transport there is from LV to LA or just drive throughout. I guess the main worry with driving throughout is if we'll get lost and parking?And sort out where we should arrive and depart.

 

[patryn33]

I like driving, I have control where I wanna stop.
If u are using gps no chance of getting lost, parking no worries. When u say la I doubt u are really spending time downtown la where parking is a thing u have to worry.

If u do drive don't rent car 1 way the drop of fees can be high as they may have to drive the car back.

Greyhound u can sleep all the way. I think they are other buses that takes u from Vegas to LA.
Oh yes there is the Chinatown bus but not safe.
Here is another
http://www.luxbusamerica.com

 

[ingen]

I'm heading to Boston this Friday. I know there's no ATM fees for Singapore issued Citibank ATM card used at Citibank branch ATMs. But does it also apply for the 7Eleven store Citibank ATMs?

Cos the website seems to suggest its only free for US issued cards:

"Fee free cash withdrawals available to customers using a U.S. Citibank® ATM or
debit card at Citibank-branded ATMs located in 7-11 stores in the United States."

https://online.citibank.com/US/GCL/citilocator/flow.action

 

[peejay05]

I like driving, I have control where I wanna stop.
If u are using gps no chance of getting lost, parking no worries. When u say la I doubt u are really spending time downtown la where parking is a thing u have to worry.

If u do drive don't rent car 1 way the drop of fees can be high as they may have to drive the car back.

Greyhound u can sleep all the way. I think they are other buses that takes u from Vegas to LA.
Oh yes there is the Chinatown bus but not safe.
Here is another
Daily Scheduled Bus to Las Vegas from Anaheim / Los Angeles | Buy Bus Tickets | Lux Bus America

yea LA is just for Hollywood, universal studios and six flags. that's all we have planned for LA currently.

about the drop off fee, so you recommend us to drop off at the same city?

my other friend who's traveling with me actually has been to the states before and she's taken greyhound. she said its pretty okay, not top class but just a bus coach. so not sure why the strong hatred for greyhound below, will really need to read more abt that.

 

[Shiny Things]

yea LA is just for Hollywood, universal studios and six flags. that's all we have planned for LA currently.

about the drop off fee, so you recommend us to drop off at the same city?

my other friend who's traveling with me actually has been to the states before and she's taken greyhound. she said its pretty okay, not top class but just a bus coach. so not sure why the strong hatred for greyhound below, will really need to read more abt that.

A couple of things.

Firstly, you say you don't like backtracking... look at a map. There's no backtracking when you go LAX-SFO-LAS-LAX; that's three sides of a triangle. If you're landing in Las Vegas, you have to come in through Los Angeles (unless you're coming in from San Francisco), so going from Las Vegas to Los Angeles is going to be backtracking.

The point of flying from LA to Las Vegas is that the drive is horrifically boring; taking Greyhound doesn't get around that. (Also, seriously, your friend's nuts: Greyhound is full of ex-cons and crazy people.)

Seriously: fly. And fly Virgin America, not Delta - VA does LA-LV for sixty bucks each way, which is only $30 more than the bus.