US help.

[fone]

Yeah, that's about right - or, if it's not, it's close enough that it's not worth kicking up a stink about. Taxis in Vegas aren't just expensive, they have a bad habit of taking the long way round (their favourite trick is taking the interstate instead of Flamingo to get you from the airport to the strip, which adds about five or ten bucks to the taxi fare).

Not necessary is the longer way around the fastest route, especially during peak periods. Was caught in a jam and decided to follow the taxis and take the longer roads, reach my hotel in record time. Not sure if the taxis charge for wait time in traffic, but the longer route might just turn out to be cheaper due to the heavy traffic on the direct route.

 

[ccjjxx]

Hi Guys,

Am planning to go for a realllll last minute trip to US in late June/early July.
Have a rather tight budget around 4+k.

Was thinking of maybe Eastern USA (NYC, DC, Philadelphia) + Canada, or possibly NYC + Western USA (LV, LAX etc) but the cost might add up to burst my budget (with all the rental for car etc) haha.

All that said, I would like to seek advice from y'all on where and how long i can go with the above-mentioned budget? My main concern is really the cost and i really do want to visit NYC. If the above budget is not sufficient for the other states i will just forgo them.

Thanks!

 

[Shiny Things]

Hi Guys,

Am planning to go for a realllll last minute trip to US in late June/early July.
Have a rather tight budget around 4+k.

Was thinking of maybe Eastern USA (NYC, DC, Philadelphia) + Canada, or possibly NYC + Western USA (LV, LAX etc) but the cost might add up to burst my budget (with all the rental for car etc) haha.

All that said, I would like to seek advice from y'all on where and how long i can go with the above-mentioned budget? My main concern is really the cost and i really do want to visit NYC. If the above budget is not sufficient for the other states i will just forgo them.

Thanks!

I reckon you can do this.

Your real killer is going to be accommodation; it's very hard to stay anywhere in Manhattan (and you will want to stay in Manhattan) for under a couple hundred USD a night. Look at AirBnB for ideas.

What you'll want to do, once you've had your fill of NYC, is get out and head somewhere cheaper for the rest of your holidays. Miami is fab, and relatively cheap (even on the beach). Maybe head to Texas - Austin is fun - or Las Vegas, which you can do for absolutely dirt-cheap, and then rent a cheapo car and drive around and see the sights.

I'd do a few days in NYC, then get a rock-bottom flight on Southwest or another cheap carrier to Las Vegas; couple of nights at the Mirage or the Luxor; then rent a car and head to the Grand Canyon, Zion NP, Bryce Canyon; all beautiful and all relatively cheap.

 

[patryn33]

Am planning to go for a realllll last minute trip to US in late June/early July.
Have a rather tight budget around 4+k.

Was thinking of maybe Eastern USA (NYC, DC, Philadelphia) + Canada, or possibly NYC + Western USA (LV, LAX etc) but the cost might add up to burst my budget (with all the rental for car etc) haha.

All that said, I would like to seek advice from y'all on where and how long i can go with the above-mentioned budget? My main concern is really the cost and i really do want to visit NYC. If the above budget is not sufficient for the other states i will just forgo them.

does your budget include international flight?
June/July is like peak season man.
how many days U plan on going?
Canada where U plan on going? Banff/Jasper on top of Vancouver and Niagara/Toronto?

cost of lodging in the Northeast isn't cheap, U going alone or having a few company? What is your comfort zone? hostel ok? or couchsurfing? or must be nice hotel? AirBnB is good if U are find with staying in ppl's home.

Northeast cities U can get around without a car, is Amtrak ok? or must fly? Bus also run between cities is that an option provided time allows.

 

[ccjjxx]

does your budget include international flight?
June/July is like peak season man.
how many days U plan on going?
Canada where U plan on going? Banff/Jasper on top of Vancouver and Niagara/Toronto?

Yes my budget would include international flight and based on the prices i checked i can get a return flight to NYC for around 1.55k on Air China.

Planning to go fro around 10-14 days, but the duration is flexible. Just that i am afraid the accomodation and food cost will cause me to exceed my budget if i stay too long.

As for the plan if i go to Canada, i will likely visit Niagara/Toronto, am looking also at Ottawa but not confirmed.



cost of lodging in the Northeast isn't cheap, U going alone or having a few company? What is your comfort zone? hostel ok? or couchsurfing? or must be nice hotel? AirBnB is good if U are find with staying in ppl's home.

Will be going with one other friend and have decided to use AirBnB. Cost is around 100/night or so i believe.


Northeast cities U can get around without a car, is Amtrak ok? or must fly? Bus also run between cities is that an option provided time allows.

Probably will not be flying to minimise cost. Would Amtrak or buses be a better choice?

Hi thanks for highlighting areas of concern!
I have highlighted my replies in orange.

I have decided to stick to the Eastern USA + Canada side. Will be travelling this route:

NYC>Philadelphia>Washington DC>Niagara Falls>Toronto>Montreal>Quebac>Boston>NYC

Similar to:

Will use chanbrother's itinerary as reference http://www.chanbrothers.com/tours/US13N.pdf

One question though, how can i travel interstates? Train?

Thanks again!

 

[patryn33]

4k+ budget take 1.8K off for airticket.
u have like 2k+ left.

10-14 days is not enough to cover NYC, DC, Montreal, Niagara, Toronto, Quebec city and the various national parks.
what do U wanna see or do?

I have done 20 days around NYC, Philly, DC, Montreal, Boston, Toronto, Niagara and I still feel its too short.

10-14 days I would recommend
NYC == 5 days (space things out so U don't feel like U miss things)
DC == at least 2-3 days if u are interested in all the museums and landmarks. Just too many to see and do. not into these, 1 day will do for memorial land marks
Philly 1 full day if u are into history, the fphlly cheese steaks.
Niagara Falls 1 full day, see the falls and check out 2-3 wineries
=== *** kinda out of time for 10 days***===
Toronto - 2 days (skip)
Montreal - 2 days
Old Quebec City - at least 1 full days
=== *** kinda out of time for 14 days***===
Algonquin PP - 3 days, if U into activities else whats the point if U spend so much on the road just to see animals, go zoo.
Ottawa - skip that U don't have time

anyway, in fact for 10-14 days, I would recommend U only to do NYC, DC, Philly, and Niagara Falls. U can take trains or bus between cities.
flying at times can be cheaper than train, train u have to book in adv.
don't know your traveling times, but I wouldn't do more than these places, if U are in for the amazing race sure.

look at
Chinatown Bus | Chinatown Bus Tickets from New York Washington DC Boston Philadelphia Chinese Bus NYC Philly

 

[Telur17]

cheap n yummy food trucks in nyc Here Are the 10 Best Food Trucks in NYC - Page 2 | Village Voice

 

[Hisashiburi]

I think u can skip philly.
Nothing worth seeing there.
Only noteworthy item is the Liberty Bell but that is about it.

Frankly, Toronto has nothing of note either.

Montreal is interesting as it is "frenchy".

 

[patryn33]

it really depends on ccjjxx wanna do, if he is into shopping a city.. then NYC sure.

DC, Philly, Boston, Toronto really nothing special to offer than one cannot find in a typical city. may it be french or english or german, at the end of the day city is a city.
to some national parks also damn boring its like Bukit Timah and zoo in 1 place LOL

having said so, maybe just watch youtube and keep the 4K in the bank. haha

 

[Telur17]

I think u can skip philly.
Nothing worth seeing there.
Only noteworthy item is the Liberty Bell but that is about it.

Frankly, Toronto has nothing of note either.

Montreal is interesting as it is "frenchy".

I like philly leh. places I particularly enjoyed:
Reading Terminal Market
Logan Sq
Masonic Temple
Italian Market

Its a v nice city to just walk around and enjoy

 

[ezonme]

Hi thanks for highlighting areas of concern!
I have highlighted my replies in orange.

I have decided to stick to the Eastern USA + Canada side. Will be travelling this route:

NYC>Philadelphia>Washington DC>Niagara Falls>Toronto>Montreal>Quebac>Boston>NYC

Similar to:

Will use chanbrother's itinerary as reference http://www.chanbrothers.com/tours/US13N.pdf

One question though, how can i travel interstates? Train?

Thanks again!

12 states in 10-14 days? Do u own a private jet? Even airport to airport takes abt 1/4-1/2 days..

 

[winorlose]

12states in 14days?! that's very very rush.

touch and go? quite impossible...

 

[winorlose]

Here is my west coast golden triangle iti in June:

My first road trip driving by ourselves in USA. Definitely looking forward to it. Last yr was at the East Coast + Bahamas.

http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/travel-accommodation-89/where-travel-honeymoon-june-4655536.html

 

[swatchie]

I think u can skip philly.
Nothing worth seeing there.
Only noteworthy item is the Liberty Bell but that is about it.

Frankly, Toronto has nothing of note either.

Montreal is interesting as it is "frenchy".

Philly has philly cheese steak. Stuffed myself with it when I was at UPenn.

 

[patryn33]

12 states in 10-14 days? Do u own a private jet? Even airport to airport takes abt 1/4-1/2 days..

I am seeing 7 states. Yes it's nuts
FYI
- Boston, cape cod, Clinton are in 1 state.
- Montreal and Quebec City are in 1 province
- Niagara, argonquin, Toronto in 1 province

 

[genie47]

My last day here in Mexico. Resort has been great. Went out to Cabo San Luca. Took a boat out to see El Arch. Cost me USD15 inclusive of tips. Ate at this party beach restaurant called The Office. First time saw a real mariachi band perform. The walked out to hit the bars. Giggling Marlin is a really fun place with the upside down tequila shots challenge.


More fun than what I expected.

 

[Shiny Things]

Hi thanks for highlighting areas of concern!
I have highlighted my replies in orange.

I have decided to stick to the Eastern USA + Canada side. Will be travelling this route:

Similar to:

One question though, how can i travel interstates? Train?

Thanks again!

No, don't do this.

That is way too much travelling - you'll be spending all your time bouncing between airports and renting cars and travelling on trains and basically getting from point A to point B, and you won't have time to enjoy point B when you get there before you have to leave to go to point C. The reason Chan Brothers can do it is that they have dedicated coach drivers, and also they don't care about letting you enjoy point B: they only care about giving you enough time to snap a photo before they pile you back on the bus.

You're not flying nine thousand miles to do that. Not on my watch. Here's what you do.

* Fly into NYC - spend three nights there seeing the sights.
* Take the train to Boston - spend two nights there.
* Fly to Toronto - that'll take a day - spend two nights there, and do a side trip to Niagara.
* Fly to DC - spend two nights there
* Take the train back to NYC.

There you go. Twelve days of reasonable travelling, and you've got plenty of time to actually explore the cities once you're in them. (And also you don't have to do multiple eight-hour drives across New York State.)

 

[cormet]

cheap n yummy food trucks in nyc Here Are the 10 Best Food Trucks in NYC - Page 2 | Village Voice

Wish I knew all these food trucks earlier

The halal chicken rice was a new experience though haha.

 

[Telur17]

Wish I knew all these food trucks earlier

The halal chicken rice was a new experience though haha.

for me, the best halal chicken rice is trini pak

Trini Paki Boys Cart - Midtown West - New York, NY | Yelp

I love the spicy kick of their chicken briyani and doubles. cheap too. Their large chicken briyani is only $6 and can easily feed 2.

 

[ccjjxx]

4k+ budget take 1.8K off for airticket.
u have like 2k+ left.

10-14 days is not enough to cover NYC, DC, Montreal, Niagara, Toronto, Quebec city and the various national parks.
what do U wanna see or do?

I have done 20 days around NYC, Philly, DC, Montreal, Boston, Toronto, Niagara and I still feel its too short.

10-14 days I would recommend
NYC == 5 days (space things out so U don't feel like U miss things)
DC == at least 2-3 days if u are interested in all the museums and landmarks. Just too many to see and do. not into these, 1 day will do for memorial land marks
Philly 1 full day if u are into history, the fphlly cheese steaks.
Niagara Falls 1 full day, see the falls and check out 2-3 wineries
=== *** kinda out of time for 10 days***===
Toronto - 2 days (skip)
Montreal - 2 days
Old Quebec City - at least 1 full days
=== *** kinda out of time for 14 days***===
Algonquin PP - 3 days, if U into activities else whats the point if U spend so much on the road just to see animals, go zoo.
Ottawa - skip that U don't have time

anyway, in fact for 10-14 days, I would recommend U only to do NYC, DC, Philly, and Niagara Falls. U can take trains or bus between cities.
flying at times can be cheaper than train, train u have to book in adv.
don't know your traveling times, but I wouldn't do more than these places, if U are in for the amazing race sure.

look at
Chinatown Bus | Chinatown Bus Tickets from New York Washington DC Boston Philadelphia Chinese Bus NYC Philly

No, don't do this.

That is way too much travelling - you'll be spending all your time bouncing between airports and renting cars and travelling on trains and basically getting from point A to point B, and you won't have time to enjoy point B when you get there before you have to leave to go to point C. The reason Chan Brothers can do it is that they have dedicated coach drivers, and also they don't care about letting you enjoy point B: they only care about giving you enough time to snap a photo before they pile you back on the bus.

You're not flying nine thousand miles to do that. Not on my watch. Here's what you do.

* Fly into NYC - spend three nights there seeing the sights.
* Take the train to Boston - spend two nights there.
* Fly to Toronto - that'll take a day - spend two nights there, and do a side trip to Niagara.
* Fly to DC - spend two nights there
* Take the train back to NYC.

There you go. Twelve days of reasonable travelling, and you've got plenty of time to actually explore the cities once you're in them. (And also you don't have to do multiple eight-hour drives across New York State.)

Thanks guys for your valuable inputs!
Will take your advice and stick to the few states suggested!

Shiny Things, i realised that you didn't include Phily in your suggested itinerary unlike patryn33. Do you think it would be okay to maybe slip Phily in and take a day out of boston or DC?

As i looked through the numerous pages on this thread, i also realised that many said that there isn't much to do in Boston. Do you have any suggestions on how i can spend the two nights there?

Thank you