America Trip Booked!

[mish99]

Hi guys

Just booked my flight to the States, yay!!! Here is the itinerary im thinking of. Will be using Amtrak mainly, greyhound a few times and flying....

April 16 London - Boston
17 Boston
18 Boston
19 Boston - NY
20 NY
21 NY
22 NY
23 NY
24 NY - Philadelphia
25 Philadelphia
26 Philadelphia - DC
27 DC
28 DC
29 DC
30 DC - Cleveland
May 01 Cleveland - Columbus - Meetup?
02 Columbus
03 Columbus - Cleveland - Chicago
04 Chicago
05 Chicago
06 Chicago
07 Chicago - Memphis
08 Memphis
09 Memphis - Nashville
10 Nashville
11 Nashville - Memphis
12 Memphis
13 Memphis - New Orleans
14 New Orleans
15 New Orleans
16 New Orleans
17 New Orleans - San Antonio
18 San Antonio - Austin
19 Austin
20 Austin
21 Austin - San Antonio - LA
22 LA
23 LA
24 LA
25 LA - San Diego
26 San Diego
27 San Diego
28 San Diego - LA - Vegas
29 Vegas
30 Vegas
31 Vegas - Denver
June 01 Denver
02 Denver
03 Denver
04 Denver - San Francisco
05 San Francisco
06 San Francisco
07 San Francisco
08 San Francisco - Seattle
09 - 14 Seattle, then fly back to London.

Have you guys got any hostel recommendations, must see places, and general advice??

And I would like to get a few meet ups in as well!!!

Thanks

[mbo108]

For your East Coast leg of Boston to DC I would look at using BoltBus or MegaBus. They have great ticket offers if you buy early, super cheap, like $1/$2 specials with others at like $10. Some of the buses offer free wi-fi too. Much nicer than the greyhounds and cheaper (and not too much longer) than the trains.

I'm not much of an expert on other parts but I can guide you around NYC/Philly. I'll defer to our DC crew for their city. You might want to use some of your "Washington" time in Baltimore.

Hopefully we'll get to meet up when you come to Philly.

[pinknic38]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Cbus meetup!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[marc873]

Looks great Michelle! See ya in Cleveland/Cbus!!!

[SGRHewitt]

Make sure to hit up Megabus as much as possible. Super cheap if booked in advance. Glad to see you're spend loads of time in San Fran, one of my favorite cities in the world. You really are hitting the highlights of the states. Although I don't know how much fun you'll have in Tennessee, I never did, but could be interesting. Geography speaking, it may make more sense to start at San Diego, and head north to LA/San Fran... But if you've already priced it out to be cheaper as you have it, then go for it. There are train options though, not sure if they'd be cheaper but could be more scenic.

[mish99]

SRG - I was going to do that route, but Denver is a must do (ive got friends there) on my list and its so far out so was really just trying to work out the trip around it. So to me it made sense to catch the train up and then to SF than back to LA. If Denver was out I would definitly go that route. Who knows, things might change....

[Dig]

Awesome. There are several Tpunks in Austin. I know at least one of them would be happy to show you around town!

Depending on if you have already booked your days places, I might be able to help you shave off several days worth of travel.

From New Orleans if would be quicker to go to Austin and then San Antonio. The trip to LA from San Antonio is going to be very, very long. You man want to change to San Antonio, Denver, Vegas, then California.

Also, there is only one hostel in Austin. It is worth staying at and is at a great spot in the city.

[simply_angelic]

Congrats! I *might* be flying out of NY while you're there, if so....MEETUP! You'll have a blast

[mushroom22]

Sounds awesome! I second using BoltBus on the East Coast, it's fantastic!

Hopefully I'll be around when you get to SF! Would love to hang out and show you some of the sights!

Keep us updated and congrats on booking.

[marc873]

Hey Michelle, I was just thinking that we have a travel friend in San Diego that we met in Amsterdam last year. We flew out for a week, and she showed us everything. Maybe I could convince her to take a day and show you around... Shes a super cool surfer/swing dancing girl

[kingcrazylegs]

You can hit me up for Seattle - can show you around and maybe enjoy some nightlife. Send me a message...

[offhegoes03]

Cool sounds like an awesome itinerary! We'll definitely have to meet up for drinks when you're in Nashville.

[jengt]

There aren't any hostels in Columbus, but we've got plenty of places to sleep if you don't mind being in the 'burbs.

[pinknic38]

I'll be out on my own by February and livin' the big life over downtown (and out of the 'burbs), and you (and anyone else for that matter!) are welcome to crashing there!

[mish99]

Wow, you guys rock!! I will definitly be taking all of you up on your offers! Im now more excited than ever, thanks guys

[Brookers13]

what? no phoenix!?

and where are you moving to nic?

[NoDirectionHome]

In chicago dont worry too much about touristy stuff sears tower milenium park etc. Go see neighborhoods wrigleyville, oldtown, logan square explore the north side theres not much to see on the south and west sides beside crikme poverty asnd gangbangers. Take the L around its fast and cheap itll give u more of an idea of what living there is like. Ride it around the lines go all over tho its not te cleanest train. Get pizza and not just deepdish get some chicago style thin Crust. If you can make it down to the southside Vito and Nicks is very good. As far as chains Lou Malnati's and Ginos east are always good and in ginos east you can grafitti everywhere. Go see ethnic neigborhoods theres more polish in chitown than in warsaw. See if u can catch a show at the metro or logan square auditorium usually 10 bucks er so. get food we have everything

[xanthuos]

For Boston-New York, New York-Philadelphia, and Philadelphia-DC...UNLESS you are getting an Amtrak unlimited pass...as mbo & SGR suggested, check out Megabus, BoltBus, and consider the Chinatown bus -

Originally Posted by Dig

From New Orleans if would be quicker to go to Austin and then San Antonio.

I think that mish99 is considering taking Amtrak from New Orleans to Austin. You have to go via SAT to do so, since you're connecting between two different trains.

mish - are you considering the unlimited Amtrak pass? Even so, I might suggest flying Chicago-Nashville (which you can get for around $69-$79) and then going to Memphis from Nashville and connecting to the City of New Orleans train down to Louisiana. That'll save you one Greyhound ride which, at the lowest, is about $35 anyway.

[hooplah]

when you are in san francisco area, it might be worth it to check out either sonoma/wine county to the north about 1 1/2 hours by car, or to check out santa cruz to the south 1 1/2 hours by car....both are very quintessential northern california areas, and it might be nice to check out non-metropolitan places in northern california too. Just a suggestion.
if you have questions about these places, ask me, i've lived in both santa cruz and sonoma/wine county.

[Dig]

I just realized that we will be out of town (and country!!) when you come by Austin. I can make a ton of suggestions for the place. Just bad timing I guess.