US help.

[Momentumm]

Anyone can advise on getting the data sim cards at SFO Airport? Like prices etc? Anyone with experience lol.

 

[ShinigamiX]

hi.... 1st time to NY in Aug

i'm pretty excited...... data plan sim cards can b purchased anywhere right?

in NY... is AT&T or TMobile better?

 

[a1v1n_]

Declare sure gone. Ask your friend go buy locally. Not sure NYC have but California not finding it. I did find in Toronto and have no issue bringing in
Past experiences no fine.

Really it's a gamble, lose 1kg in the bin

Alright. Just try luck then.

Sent from Sent from ME using GAGT

 

[Shiny Things]

Right, first, a couple of travel updates for roads in California:

1) Highway 1, the scenic drive up the coast from LA to SF, is closed near Big Sur because a bridge is collapsing after titanic rains all winter. This will last for at least six months; it basically means you can't visit Big Sur until this is fixed.

You can still drive from SF to LA, but you'll need to take Highway 101 between San Luis Obispo and Monterey (which, sadly, skips the most picturesque bit of the coast).

2) In related news, there's been record snow in the Sierra Nevada mountains (resorts near Lake Tahoe have had over forty-five feet of snow so far this winter). This means that roads across the mountains will potentially stay closed a lot later than usual. Tioga Pass (the road out the back of Yosemite National Park to Death Valley and Las Vegas could be closed as late as July instead of opening in mid-to-late April like it's been doing lately. Your alternative for getting from Yosemite to Death Valley and Vegas is to drive south to Bakersfield, then turn east (for Vegas) or northeast (for Death Valley).

Anyone can advise on getting the data sim cards at SFO Airport? Like prices etc? Anyone with experience lol.

Don't get them at the airport - you can get them in downtown SF instead. Try the T-Mobile store at the corner of Third Street and Market Street (near Powell BART station); they know how to handle overseas visitors and the price is an eminently reasonable $35-$40 a month for voice + data.

hi.... 1st time to NY in Aug

i'm pretty excited...... data plan sim cards can b purchased anywhere right?

in NY... is AT&T or TMobile better?

AT&T has somewhat better coverage, but I've had some headaches in the past getting them to sell prepaid SIMs to overseas visitors. T-Mobile's coverage is "good enough" these days; you're better off just going to them.

 

[lugia88]

Right, first, a couple of travel updates for roads in California:

1) Highway 1, the scenic drive up the coast from LA to SF, is closed near Big Sur because a bridge is collapsing after titanic rains all winter. This will last for at least six months; it basically means you can't visit Big Sur until this is fixed.

You can still drive from SF to LA, but you'll need to take Highway 101 between San Luis Obispo and Monterey (which, sadly, skips the most picturesque bit of the coast).

2) In related news, there's been record snow in the Sierra Nevada mountains (resorts near Lake Tahoe have had over forty-five feet of snow so far this winter). This means that roads across the mountains will potentially stay closed a lot later than usual. Tioga Pass (the road out the back of Yosemite National Park to Death Valley and Las Vegas could be closed as late as July instead of opening in mid-to-late April like it's been doing lately. Your alternative for getting from Yosemite to Death Valley and Vegas is to drive south to Bakersfield, then turn east (for Vegas) or northeast (for Death Valley).



Don't get them at the airport - you can get them in downtown SF instead. Try the T-Mobile store at the corner of Third Street and Market Street (near Powell BART station); they know how to handle overseas visitors and the price is an eminently reasonable $35-$40 a month for voice + data.



AT&T has somewhat better coverage, but I've had some headaches in the past getting them to sell prepaid SIMs to overseas visitors. T-Mobile's coverage is "good enough" these days; you're better off just going to them.

thanks for the updates, thats the 2 place im gonna visit on april.. guess have to detour @.@, thought will have the slightest chance to go through tioga pass in early may =/

-btw what is the best option for mobile data for 25days, im going to NYC, then fly to west coast for 2weeks.. best if we can have reception in places like yosemite or GC

 

[lugia88]

How long is layover?
I am seeing 16 and 9hr

First leg to JFK - lay over at Guangzhou 3hr 40min
Return Lax- SG - lay over at Guangzhou 3Hrs

Oh Jesus, I pray the flight be good! It is really a decent price!

 

[patryn33]

Alright. Just try luck then.

Sent from Sent from ME using GAGT

Can buy here
https://www.fragrantjerky.com/products/bbq-pork-jerky-flame-grilled

 

[cscs3]

hi.... 1st time to NY in Aug

i'm pretty excited...... data plan sim cards can b purchased anywhere right?

in NY... is AT&T or TMobile better?

Yap, even places like Walmart or Bestbuy.
If you are not those must go online all the time. You don't really need it as most fast food chain and shopping area has free WiFi.

 

[ShinigamiX]

Yap, even places like Walmart or Bestbuy.
If you are not those must go online all the time. You don't really need it as most fast food chain and shopping area has free WiFi.

what about JFK? can I buy there?

 

[ceecookie]

what about JFK? can I buy there?

JFK is Chop carrot head one. Just find the nearest t mobile outlet to ur hotel and get the tourist plan there

 

[acetylcholine]

First leg to JFK - lay over at Guangzhou 3hr 40min
Return Lax- SG - lay over at Guangzhou 3Hrs

Oh Jesus, I pray the flight be good! It is really a decent price!

Ask for an exit row for both segments (especially the CAN - JFK segment) - quite a high chance of getting it because most of the Chinese passengers will be checking in much later than you. If they are still flying their 777-300ERs on the CAN - JFK segment, the additional legroom will be a lifesaver (for a > 15-hour flight).

Keep your expectations low (especially for the SIN - CAN segment) and you should be fine! Guangzhou Airport is pretty bad for layovers so if you have PP membership, might be a good idea to use it there.

 

[crunsik]

hihi

On the accommodation at Furnace Creek Ranch, anyone tried staying in the Cabin or the Ranch Room?

From the photos, it seems like the Cabin is an experience to try out but I was wondering if the cabin is less maintained?

Oh yeah, absolutely. In April you'll need to go around the south end of the Sierra Nevada mountains; Google Maps recommends heading south to Bakersfield and then taking Interstate 40 all the way across Arizona, but I think you can do better than that.

Head south to Bakersfield, then curve around and drop in on Death Valley (stay at the Furnace Creek Ranch). It's amazingly beautiful, and how often do you get to hang out below sea level? This is a bit of a schlep - it's seven-and-a-half hours - but it's still better than doing the deathly-boring eleven-and-a-half-hour drive through Bakersfield and the Mojave.

Then, from Furnace Creek, it's only a couple of hours to Vegas, which is a fun (and relatively cheap) place to spend a night.

Then from Vegas, it's only a four-and-a-half-hour drive to Grand Canyon Village.

If you can't afford the extra night, and you don't mind missing Death Valley (you can hit Las Vegas on the way back; see below), break your trip in Laughlin, right at the bottom tip of the pointy bit of Nevada. Accommodation's cheap, because it's all casinos - you can get a nice room at the Golden Nugget, with a view over the Colorado River, for about a hundred bucks. And pop into Mojave National Preserve on the way, even if you just do the quick side trip to the cute little railway outpost of Kelso.

As a side note, when you're heading from Grand Canyon Village to Page (Antelope Canyon), make sure you stop over at the Cameron Trading Post and pick up some souvenirs. I recommend this to literally everyone who asks about that trip, but that's because it's a great little place that wouldn't get any attention otherwise.



From Page, you've got two choices for how to get to LA (assuming you don't want to retrace your steps on Interstate 40):

1) Head south to Flagstaff, then go back the way you came on Interstate 40 to Needles, then head south to Palm Springs along the 95 and the 10. This is eight hours' drive time from Page to Palm Springs, which is totally doable in a day.

2) Head northwest toward Kanab. This is an amazingly good idea, because you can drive back down through Zion National Park, which is an incredible drive; the road goes Kanab-Mt Carmel Junction-Springdale-Hurricane-St George, at which point you're back on Interstate 15 and about three hours from Vegas, which is a good place to stop for the night. From Vegas, it's about a four-and-a-half-hour drive to Los Angeles.

Basically it depends - would you rather see Palm Springs' 50s Hollywood glamour, or would you rather see towering natural beauty in Zion National Park?

The third option, if you're really sick of driving, is to drive to Flagstaff, dump the car there, and fly back to Los Angeles - but where's the fun in that?



Yeah, Santa Monica or West Hollywood is a great place to base yourself in LA. Here's the thing: LA sucks to get around; you have to drive everywhere; so you want to base yourself close to the things you'll want to see, and nearly all of those things are on the west side of town.

I personally like WeHo (well obviously *rainbow flag emoji* ), but I've stayed in Santa Monica as well and it's great. My pick for hotels is the Oceana Santa Monica.


I've always had good luck with T-Mobile, though their coverage leaves a bit to be desired.

 

[Shiny Things]

hihi

On the accommodation at Furnace Creek Ranch, anyone tried staying in the Cabin or the Ranch Room?

From the photos, it seems like the Cabin is an experience to try out but I was wondering if the cabin is less maintained?

I've stayed in the Cabin and the Standard Room, and they're both great. If anything I'd pick the cabin, because the cabin rooms have a bit more personality (the Standard rooms feel like a mid-range motel), and they're very nicely maintained.

 

[crunsik]

Thanks for the help!

My current plan for this leg is

Day 1- Leave Grand Canyon South Rim to Palm Spring
Day 2 - Desert Hill
Day 3-
Day 4- Disneyland
Day 5- LA
DAY 6- Santa Monica

Any suggestions for accommodation in GC South Rim?

Was wondering if anyone could recommend a lodging in Palm Spring? The accommodation are quite expensive. Or is there somewhere else I should put up at after GC?

Currently I'm planning to shop at Desert Hill for the day and was wondering where should I put up at? Should I put up somewhere near the outlet?

Also, I plan to give myself a day buffer after the shopping at desert hill before going to Disneyland. However, I'm unsure if I should head to LA for the day and then head back out to Anaheim ? Would there be something interesting to see for my one day buffer?

I've stayed in the Cabin and the Standard Room, and they're both great. If anything I'd pick the cabin, because the cabin rooms have a bit more personality (the Standard rooms feel like a mid-range motel), and they're very nicely maintained.

 

[Shiny Things]

Thanks for the help!

My current plan for this leg is

Day 1- Leave Grand Canyon South Rim to Palm Spring
Day 2 - Desert Hill
Day 3-
Day 4- Disneyland
Day 5- LA
DAY 6- Santa Monica

Any suggestions for accommodation in GC South Rim?

Was wondering if anyone could recommend a lodging in Palm Spring? The accommodation are quite expensive. Or is there somewhere else I should put up at after GC?

Currently I'm planning to shop at Desert Hill for the day and was wondering where should I put up at? Should I put up somewhere near the outlet?

Also, I plan to give myself a day buffer after the shopping at desert hill before going to Disneyland. However, I'm unsure if I should head to LA for the day and then head back out to Anaheim ? Would there be something interesting to see for my one day buffer?

Do something like this:

• Day 1: drive to Palm Springs. Spend the night in Palm Springs.
• Day 2: Palm Springs R&R. Sit by the pool. Take a tour of the city. Maybe go up the mountain.
• Day 3: Pack up from Palm Springs. Shop at Desert Hills all day. Then, in the evening, drive to your hotel in Anaheim and spend the night there. (The good bit about doing this drive in the evening is that all the traffic will be going the other way, so your drive will be quick.)
• Day 4: Get an early start and head straight to Disneyland. If you get there early, you can hit a solid three rides in the first hour before the lines get stupid. Stick around for World of Colour in the evening (pro tip, pay for reserved seating, it's worth it), then head back to your Anaheim hotel.
• Day 5: Pack up and drive into the city. Hit the things you want to see on the way through Los Angeles (I highly recommend LACMA and the La Brea Tar Pits); check into your hotel in WeHo or Santa Monica.
• Day 6: Explore the Westside (West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica). Go back to your hotel, or the airport, when you're done.

You'll want to note a couple of things:

• Disneyland is an all-day thing. You don't want to have to drive there in the morning; you want to stay as close as possible, walk there early, and spend the whole day there.
• Even if you're spending a whole day shopping at Desert Hills, it's worth spending an extra hour driving to Anaheim afterward, just so you don't have to do it the next morning.
• I've told you this before, but you don't want to have "LA" and "Santa Monica" as separate buckets in your mind. Treat them as the same thing; Santa Monica is effectively a suburb of Los Angeles. Base yourself in a hotel in Santa Monica or somewhere close to it, and do your "Los Angeles" items from Santa Monica, so that you don't have to switch hotels as often.
• LA traffic is f*cking horrendous and you want to go against it as much as possible. The traffic goes into DownTown Los Angeles in the morning, and out of DTLA in the afternoon. So: driving from Desert Hills to Anaheim in the afternoon (going inward) is smart. Trying to do a day trip from Anaheim to Los Angeles is not smart, because you'll be driving from Anaheim to DTLA in the morning (going inbound), or DTLA to Anaheim in the evening (going outbound).

Your other questions:

1. You're probably too late to book accommodation in Grand Canyon Village, whatever your dates are; that stuff tends to book out months in advance. Tell me your dates and I can have a sniff, but you might have to stay in Flagstaff or Cameron instead.
2. In Palm Springs, one tip: stick to the chain hotels unless you're a gay dude. There's a huge gay community there, and while it's all lovely, if you're not into naked guys you're probably not going to have a fun time if you accidentally book yourself into a little gay resort where guys can sunbathe naked by the pool. Check out the Riviera Palm Springs if you're a Starwood loyalist; otherwise, check out Tripadvisor and see what catches your eye. Again, let me know what dates and I can have a look.
3. Look at a map. Desert Hills is between Palm Springs and Anaheim. Don't you think it would make sense to do Desert Hills on the day you're travelling from Palm Springs to Anaheim?

 

[shawniiex]

Hey guys, just booked a trip to SF with my SO in June this year.
Flying ANA via Narita.
Just wanted to ask about accommodations in general in the states.
We saw AirBNB and it's like ~$150 per night for an entire apartment.
Does anyone has recommendations on alternatives? Or are we looking at spending such amounts on rooms every night in the USA.

 

[Shiny Things]

Hey guys, just booked a trip to SF with my SO in June this year.
Flying ANA via Narita.
Just wanted to ask about accommodations in general in the states.
We saw AirBNB and it's like ~$150 per night for an entire apartment.
Does anyone has recommendations on alternatives? Or are we looking at spending such amounts on rooms every night in the USA.

Yeah, $150 for SF is cheap if anything; it can get really stupid during the big tech conferences like Dreamforce or Oracle Openworld or WWDC (I've seen the crappy little two-star Hampton Inn near my house go for $600 a night during Openworld).

You might get cheaper when you're away from the cities, but $150 USD a night is a pretty good benchmark for what you'll pay for accommodation in the States.

 

[shawniiex]

Yeah, $150 for SF is cheap if anything; it can get really stupid during the big tech conferences like Dreamforce or Oracle Openworld or WWDC (I've seen the crappy little two-star Hampton Inn near my house go for $600 a night during Openworld).

You might get cheaper when you're away from the cities, but $150 USD a night is a pretty good benchmark for what you'll pay for accommodation in the States.

Haha thanks for the insights.

Anyone has any itineraries for 20 days in the states?
Flying to and fro SF, originally wanted to go east coast, but would have to get back to SF. Still don't mind going east coast though.

 

[funnyclown]

Haha thanks for the insights.

Anyone has any itineraries for 20 days in the states?
Flying to and fro SF, originally wanted to go east coast, but would have to get back to SF. Still don't mind going east coast though.

In Dec, we flew in to LAX and depart from SFO 26 days itinerary.

covering:

2N LAX
3N Anaheim
3N Vegas
7N Vancouver BC
3N Seattle
2N Portland
5N SFO

all via public transport, domestic flight, amtrak and buses.

 

[shawniiex]

In Dec, we flew in to LAX and depart from SFO 26 days itinerary.

covering:

2N LAX
3N Anaheim
3N Vegas
7N Vancouver BC
3N Seattle
2N Portland
5N SFO

all via public transport, domestic flight, amtrak and buses.

I see, so you went up north instead of east.
I'm only planning to go vegas for a day. Hahaha.
see see look look, mind PM-ing me your itinerary if you still have it?