US help.

[invisible999]

Uber is not taxi, tips are nice thing to do but not expected. Usually I tip 1-2 dollars or 10%.

I guess for $100 Uber ride it would be 10%, not $1-$2...

 

[kashanai]

15% would be a good gauge regardless of amount.

If it’s too small, then round up to nearest whole dollar or 5 dollar

I guess for $100 Uber ride it would be 10%, not $1-$2...

 

[patryn33]

https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/24/perspectives/uber-lyft-employees-ab5/index.html

Hourly earnings are very low. Our research found that once you deduct Uber's commissions (a third or more of a passenger's fare), vehicle expenses, extra self-employment Social Security/Medicare taxes (7.15%) and an allowance for a modest benefits package, an Uber driver earns a "wage" of $9 to $10 an hour. This is lower than 90% of all wage earners and below the minimum wage in many major cities. Uber confirms this as its IPO compares drivers to those in "retail, wholesale, or restaurant services or other similar work," some of our lowest-wage sectors.

UBER AND LYFT SUGGEST THE DAYS OF CHEAP RIDES COULD BE OVER
https://www.wired.com/story/uber-lyft-suggest-cheap-rides-could-be-over/

Lyft officials told investors they had raised prices on routes in some cities in June and touted the company’s upcoming pricing algorithms, which they hinted might be able to more precisely predict what riders might be willing to pay for a ride. Lyft said those pricing changes would boost revenue per rider by next quarter.

 

[invisible999]

UBER AND LYFT SUGGEST THE DAYS OF CHEAP RIDES COULD BE OVER

People won't pay a cent more than ordinary taxi ride. There is no consumer surplus in this case because taxi ride == maximum one has to pay due to absence of other options. As a result, a price difference between taxi and Uber/etc generated consumer surplus. You equalize that difference and there is no consumer surplus and a rider has zero incentive to ride Uber.

It is like going to the money changer of two money changers offer you the same rate and both charge the same commision (or both don't charge a commission) you have the same outcome choosing one or another. However if one offers better rate for you you have all the incentive to choose that money changer.

 

[fzhfzh]

People won't pay a cent more than ordinary taxi ride. There is no consumer surplus in this case because taxi ride == maximum one has to pay due to absence of other options. As a result, a price difference between taxi and Uber/etc generated consumer surplus. You equalize that difference and there is no consumer surplus and a rider has zero incentive to ride Uber.

It is like going to the money changer of two money changers offer you the same rate and both charge the same commision (or both don't charge a commission) you have the same outcome choosing one or another. However if one offers better rate for you you have all the incentive to choose that money changer.

That’s true provided the service is the same. You can’t get a taxi in 5 min just tapping a button from anywhere in the city. The situation in US is pretty different from Singapore. US is huge, there didn’t taxis everywhere on the road for you to hail.

 

[liteScribble]

After much reading, the skeleton of my trip in Mar 2020 will be around, NYC, Washington and Miami. Picked the east coast cause from what i've read offers a good balance of nature, city and town life.

Wont be renting a car all the way, going to use a combination of train, flight from city to city and then renting a car if necessary within that city to get around.

How I imagine mode of transport.
NYC to Washington - train
Washington to Miami - plane

Given the cities, mode of travel and days in the US..
Do you guys think it's pretty comfortable already and i'll have adequate time to "do some site-seeing and experience all 3 cities".

I'm the most chilled traveler ever (imo)....

How I imagine my trip.
NYC - Experience the city, wall st, madison avenue, central park.
Washington - parks, bicycle rides, museums
Miami - beach, campervan, cuba town, and more beach.

 

[patryn33]

After much reading, the skeleton of my trip in Mar 2020 will be around, NYC, Washington and Miami. Picked the east coast cause from what i've read offers a good balance of nature, city and town life.

Wont be renting a car all the way, going to use a combination of train, flight from city to city and then renting a car if necessary within that city to get around.

How I imagine mode of transport.
NYC to Washington - train
Washington to Miami - plane

Given the cities, mode of travel and days in the US..
Do you guys think it's pretty comfortable already and i'll have adequate time to "do some site-seeing and experience all 3 cities".

I'm the most chilled traveler ever (imo)....

How I imagine my trip.
NYC - Experience the city, wall st, madison avenue, central park.
Washington - parks, bicycle rides, museums
Miami - beach, campervan, cuba town, and more beach.

Not doing Niagara Falls? Philly on the way to DC? Washington gives me the impression of Washington state where u find Seattle.

 

[liteScribble]

Niagara, maybe, maybe not..

Philly is on the way to DC. Worth a visit? Have this impression it's a slum, but there are a couple of things to see there..

 

[ronaldgohandstop]

Philly is a bit dangerous .... better you have local Friend to take you around

Niagara, maybe, maybe not..

Philly is on the way to DC. Worth a visit? Have this impression it's a slum, but there are a couple of things to see there..

 

[Shiny Things]

How I imagine mode of transport.
NYC to Washington - train
Washington to Miami - plane

Yep to all of these. Pro tip: fly out of Washington from DCA airport, not IAD. It's way easier and quicker to get to - you can take the Washington Metro to DCA, but IAD is a hundred-dollar Lyft.

Given the cities, mode of travel and days in the US..
Do you guys think it's pretty comfortable already and i'll have adequate time to "do some site-seeing and experience all 3 cities".

How I imagine my trip.
NYC - Experience the city, wall st, madison avenue, central park.
Washington - parks, bicycle rides, museums
Miami - beach, campervan, cuba town, and more beach.

Ooh. If you have time in Miami, tack on a 1-2 day trip down the Keys to Key West. You could even put that right at the end of your trip, and then fly back from Key West to NYC or wherever you're flying out of.

 

[patryn33]

Niagara, maybe, maybe not..

Philly is on the way to DC. Worth a visit? Have this impression it's a slum, but there are a couple of things to see there..

Slum can be found in even in NYC.
Tourist sites usually not near slums.

Philly is a bit dangerous .... better you have local Friend to take you around

How dangerous is that place? Around liberty bell is bad?

https://www.safety.com/dangerous-cities/

Here are some of the most surprisingly dangerous big cities in America.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Dallas/Fort Worth, TX
Atlanta, Georgia
Miami, Florida
Houston, Texas

 

[fzhfzh]

Every city has its dangerous areas. In San Francisco, the dangerous area tenderloin is ironically right next to civic center, the government center, and moscone conference hall. So if you are not careful and go around there at night and walk through and alley you have pretty high chances of getting robbed. Actually, unlike Singapore, just avoid walking out at night at any of the big cities in US unless it’s a touristy downtown.

 

[Baffling]

is LA safe then? M1 data passport so expensive there at $25, what you guys use for data in US?

 

[themurphylow]

$25 is not bad - might be cheaper than their local plans

is LA safe then? M1 data passport so expensive there at $25, what you guys use for data in US?

 

[Shiny Things]

is LA safe then?

Oh yeah, LA's fine. The dodgy parts of LA are all south of downtown and there's no reason to go there anyway; the places that people actually visit (Santa Monica, Venice, Beverly Hills, WeHo, Burbank, Anaheim) are all great.

Hollywood itself is weirdly crappy and tourist-trappy, but it's not unsafe. Venice used to be a little grungy in an interesting way, but it's cleaned up and become a lot more anodyne since Snapchat took over the place.

 

[fzhfzh]

Just avoid Compton in LA

 

[pancake26]

Hi all,

First post here. Please be kind I am planning a trip to US next April. Focus is on the Southwest National Parks as have been to LA, SF, Yosemite previously.

Rough itinerary currently as follows, hope the readers here can have a look and provide any critique/comments. Will be much appreciated.

Day 1 (9 Apr): Land LAX around 10pm, overnight hotel near airport.
Days 2-3 (10-11Apr): Death Valley (overnight Stovepipe Wells)
Days 4-5 (12-13 Apr): Grand Canyon (overnight Grand Canyon Village/Tusayan)
Day 6 (14 Apr): Page - Antelope Canyon/Horseshoe Bend (overnight Page)
Day 7 (15 Apr): Drive to Moab via Monument Valley (overnight Moab)
Days 8-9 (16-17Apr): Arches/Canyonlands National Park (overnight Moab)
Day 10 (18 Apr): Capitol Reef National Park (overnight Torrey)
Day 11 (19 Apr): Drive to Bryce Canyon via Hwy 12, sunset Bryce? (overnight Bryce)
Days 12-13 (20-21 Apr): Bryce Canyon on day 12 morning, then Zion National Park for remainder of day 12 as well as following day (overnight Springdale)
Days 14-15 (22-23Apr): Drive to Las Vegas on day 14 via Valley of Fire State Park, day 15 Las Vegas, Hoover Dam? (overnight Vegas)
Day 16 (24 Apr): Back to LA, then flight back to SG around midnight.

Some parts currently unsure are

1) Should I pick up the car in LA and drive to Death Valley on day 2, and drive from Vegas back to LA at the end of the trip? Or is it a better idea to fly to Vegas on day 2 morning and drive to Death Valley from there, and also fly back from Vegas to LA on day 16 instead of driving? Option 2 has less driving but any good spots not to miss on the drive between LA and the 2 locations?

2) On day 3, should I overnight in Death Valley or drive back to Vegas for the night? If I overnight in Death Valley, the drive the following day from Death Valley to Grand Canyon looks like a really long one per Google Maps.

Any other suggestions or comments are welcome!

 

[Avizoa]

Hi all,

First post here. Please be kind I am planning a trip to US next April. Focus is on the Southwest National Parks as have been to LA, SF, Yosemite previously.

Rough itinerary currently as follows, hope the readers here can have a look and provide any critique/comments. Will be much appreciated.

Day 1 (9 Apr): Land LAX around 10pm, overnight hotel near airport.
Days 2-3 (10-11Apr): Death Valley (overnight Stovepipe Wells)
Days 4-5 (12-13 Apr): Grand Canyon (overnight Grand Canyon Village/Tusayan)
Day 6 (14 Apr): Page - Antelope Canyon/Horseshoe Bend (overnight Page)
Day 7 (15 Apr): Drive to Moab via Monument Valley (overnight Moab)
Days 8-9 (16-17Apr): Arches/Canyonlands National Park (overnight Moab)
Day 10 (18 Apr): Capitol Reef National Park (overnight Torrey)
Day 11 (19 Apr): Drive to Bryce Canyon via Hwy 12, sunset Bryce? (overnight Bryce)
Days 12-13 (20-21 Apr): Bryce Canyon on day 12 morning, then Zion National Park for remainder of day 12 as well as following day (overnight Springdale)
Days 14-15 (22-23Apr): Drive to Las Vegas on day 14 via Valley of Fire State Park, day 15 Las Vegas, Hoover Dam? (overnight Vegas)
Day 16 (24 Apr): Back to LA, then flight back to SG around midnight.

Some parts currently unsure are

1) Should I pick up the car in LA and drive to Death Valley on day 2, and drive from Vegas back to LA at the end of the trip? Or is it a better idea to fly to Vegas on day 2 morning and drive to Death Valley from there, and also fly back from Vegas to LA on day 16 instead of driving? Option 2 has less driving but any good spots not to miss on the drive between LA and the 2 locations?

2) On day 3, should I overnight in Death Valley or drive back to Vegas for the night? If I overnight in Death Valley, the drive the following day from Death Valley to Grand Canyon looks like a really long one per Google Maps.

Any other suggestions or comments are welcome!

Only one advice is to know which part of grand canyon you are heading to. It is a LARGE area. West , south or north takes a couple of hour to travel between.

 

[invisible999]

Days 12-13 (20-21 Apr): Bryce Canyon on day 12 morning, then Zion National Park for remainder of day 12 as well as following day (overnight Springdale)

Your plan looks like 8 days of driving and 4 days running from one place to another to take pictures, checkmark and move over.

Seriously - are you a hiker? Do you want to see the nature or just drive in, take photo with 200 people in background and move on?

If you want to see the nature, then Zion itself warrants three days. not half of the day. Angels Landing Point hike (I've been there four times) combined with Emerald Pools is 6 hours round trip. Observation Points and East Rim/Hidden Canyons are 10 hours with 700m elevation change. Narrows is 8 hours easily, but I would not suggest hiking it in April.

The same applies to other destinations - Arches, Bryce, Capitol Reef.

 

[Shiny Things]

Hi all,

First post here. Please be kind I am planning a trip to US next April. Focus is on the Southwest National Parks as have been to LA, SF, Yosemite previously.

Rough itinerary currently as follows, hope the readers here can have a look and provide any critique/comments. Will be much appreciated.
[...]

Hmm, so I love your itinerary but...
a) I think you might be trying to cram too much in. That's a huge loop!
b) Mid-April is still quite early in the year, and some parts (especially UT-12 south of Torrey) are at risk of being snowed in; you'll need to add a bit of flexibility to accommodate that.

I made that mistake once: rented a Corvette for a blast around Arizona and Utah in early October, and just as I crossed the AZ/UT border between Page and Kanab the outside temperature started dropping, and you could see the drizzle turning into snow as it ticked down through 32℉... there's nothing quite like having to nurse a 430-horsepower rear-wheel-drive sports car home on roads that are rapidly turning to ice...!

One question that might help: How hellbent are you on Arches and Canyonlands? If we can chop those out, that'll give you a ton of extra time to pootle around Bryce, Capitol Reef, and Zion.

Here's what I'd propose, very roughly:

1) Fly into LAX; crash at a hotel near the airport. Or, if you're feeling enthusiastic and you get there early in the day, make a break for it: get out of LA as fast as you can and spend the night in Lancaster or Palmdale;
2) Drive to Death Valley (5 hours, 3.5 hours if you made it to Palmdale), stay at Furnace Creek rather than Stovepipe Wells;
3) Day in Death Valley. In the afternoon, drive to Vegas (2 hours), stay at the resort of your choice (I personally like the Cosmo because I'm a Starriott loyalist);
4) Drive to Grand Canyon Village (about four hours); spend two nights there (if GCV is full, Flagstaff is a perfectly good option too, and you can take a side trip to see Meteor Crater)
5) Drive to Page. Stop off on the way at the Cameron Trading Post for souvenirs and fry bread (yes, I plug this every time someone proposes this route, that's because it's Really Really Good though).
6) Head southeast on US-89 then turn north, which takes you to Moab. This is a long drive (five hours nonstop), but it lets you hit Arches National Park, which is absolutely glorious. If you do this, spend two nights in Moab so you can spend a full day in Arches.

7) This is the fun part. Head west on I-75, then turn south on UT-24 toward Hanksville. Keep an eye out for cops, but if you want to test your car's high-speed handling, the long, straight stretches between I-75 and Hanksville are the place to do it. I may or may not have had my car up north of 110mph on this stretch. No comment.
Rather than Torrey, though, I'd say you can make it all the way to Escalante in a day. Make sure you leave time to stop at the Hogsback, at Capitol Reef, and at the summit of UT-12 up above 10,000 feet.
This is the one part of your drive where I'd be worried about hitting snow, because it gets up pretty high and pretty cold. The road is plowed and well maintained though, so even if you it snow it'll only add an hour or two. Just take it easy.

8) I personally like to stay in Escalante (and Escalante Saddlery is an excellent place for coffee), but staying up at Bryce Canyon Village is also a good bet, especially if you're going to spend a couple nights.

9) Zion. Stay in Springdale, and definitely spend a couple nights there. The pick is Cable Mountain Lodge, because it's right next to the park entry; but if that's full up the Desert Pearl Inn is very nice as well.

10) From Zion you can be back down in Vegas in four hours, but leave time for a side trip to the Valley of Fire as well.

11) The trick here: dump the car and fly home from Vegas instead of trying to drive back to Los Angeles. That'll save you a whole day.

How's that sound?