USA trip for April - general q's... (flights, buses, rentals) - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!



Go Back   TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards! > Backpacker College Student Travel Message Boards > Where ya going? & Specific country info! > U.S.A.

U.S.A. Hollywood, NYC, baseball, The Grand Canyon, East coast vs West coast, Starbucks, The Dallas Cowboys Chearleaders, and more...

Raileurope.com: See Europe by train
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 10-31-2007, 01:27 AM   #1
cattlikewoah
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Sydney
Posts: 59
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Send a message via AIM to cattlikewoah
Default USA trip for April - general q's... (flights, buses, rentals)

So this is my dilemma:

I want to do:
DC - Philly - NYC - Montreal - Toronto - Winnipeg - Eudora (KS) - Austin (TX).

The leg up from DC to Montreal was going to be done via Amtrak for $350AUD within 15 days. OR $150AUD via Greyhounds... (I think $200 saving speaks for itself). But is a 9 hour trip from NY to Montreal really worth it? I mean, scenery is great but 9 hours worth and I'm wanting to scream and pull my hair out.

What are the cheapest and quickest ways to get around Canada? Westjet seem to be fairly expensive with a oneway ticket from Montreal to Winnipeg for $360CAD. Considering when JetStar have a sale in Australia, we can get a oneway ticket from Sydney to somewhere in japan for that amount INCL taxes... it seems hardly worth it!

Then trying to get from Canada to Texas via Kansas seems to be a whole lot of trouble there...

The option was to train to Albany NY and fly out from there (much cheaper)... so is a 5 hour Greyhound ride BETTER than a 8 hour Amtrak train ride??????

Anyone have ANY suggestions at all about how this can be done?

Is allowing 10 days in NYC enough? too much? I spent a week there last time and felt it wasn't enough.

Also I spent so much time on buses or planes (literally would go to a place for a day or 2 then fly out again) that I felt exhausted and rarely experienced any sort of night life in each city... I probably went out ONCE in NYC... and not even to any pubs or bars...!

Thanking you muchly :D
cattlikewoah is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-31-2007, 05:36 AM   #2
LiveFreeorDie
TPunk Emeritus
 
LiveFreeorDie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Newly relocated to C-bus - USA
Posts: 2,858
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

Not sure if you have your plane tickets sorted yet but if you really want to go to Montreal why not fly from OZ into Boston, from which you can get to Montreal in maybe 5 hours by car or you can take another flight from Boston to Montreal? Flying into Toronto is another option. United and Air Canada are part of the Star Alliance. I know you could fly United from Sydney to San Francisco and from there to Boston or probably on Air Canada to Toronto. Flying into DC and then trying to get to Montreal is a little difficult and long, as you pointed out and seems like a more difficult path as you would head Northeast, then have to back track back West and eventually south. Ideally you should probably do: Montreal - Toronto - NYC (which involves back tracking East and South a bit) - Philly - DC.

The Winnipeg - Kansas- Austin part is difficult. Lots of ground to cover and I am less familiar with those places. Hopefully someone else can help you out. Just out of curiousity, do you know people in those places? Those seem like sort of random destinations. I am sure some other people may have good suggestions as well. Good luck!
__________________
\\Jamie\\



"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety." Ben Franklin

"The plural of anecdote is not data"
LiveFreeorDie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-31-2007, 06:31 AM   #3
joe7f
No one regrets traveling
 
joe7f's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 2,056
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Send a message via AIM to joe7f Send a message via Skype™ to joe7f
Default

I hear Austin is cool but I am guessing you are heading there because you have friends/family in the vicinity right?

--Joey
__________________


Countries visited: USA, Netherlands, Norway, France, Switzerland, Germany, Spain (and Gibraltar), Italy, Belgium, Hungary, Austria, Ireland, UK, Japan, Canada , Portugal, Czech Republic, Poland, Andorra, Croatia, Montenegro

Next up: Mongolia, China

"I sought trains; I found passengers" - Paul Theroux

Help Travelpunk's continued existence with a small donation
joe7f is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-31-2007, 08:21 AM   #4
mbo108
TPunk. Recognize.
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 1,177
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

If you've already spent a week in NYC, i think another 10 days could really be a lot. But that depends on what you're trying to do. If you've seen most of the major sites, 10 more days could be overkill, but i dont know what you're looking for.

Philly can be done in a couple of days. I mean, you can spend a year in a place and not see everything. I usually just try to work with the time i have and see what I can see. No regrets.

When are you thinking about going?
mbo108 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-31-2007, 08:38 AM   #5
maracle
Rabidly Xenophilic
 
maracle's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Austin Texas, but originally from Ann Arbor!
Posts: 1,223
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

If you need something to do in Austin we can definitely have a meetup

Or if you just want to know what there is to see here. But I'm guessing you've got a reason to come already...
__________________
Flickr!
maracle is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-31-2007, 08:44 AM   #6
pinknic38
TPunk Moderator
 
pinknic38's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Sierra Vista, AZ
Posts: 2,829
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Send a message via AIM to pinknic38 Send a message via Yahoo to pinknic38 Send a message via Skype™ to pinknic38
Default

yeah, when you're going will affect what kind od travel you'll want to take. for example, when I lived in Chicago, my family and I decided to "see the country" and take the amtrak to Pennsylvania for Christmas instead of flying and it turned out to be the 24 hour ride from hell... the water in the toilets were frozen, I think the heat was broken, and we were at a halt for a long time because the tracks were frozen.

I agree, 10 days in NYC may be a little much, especially if you've already been there, unless you're seeing friends/family or something. maybe opt to do 5 in NYC and 5 somewhere else in the general vicinity... Boston perhaps? Or if it isn't too far out of the way, Chicago is always lovely (maybe not so much in the winter, but where is, really?)

and my advice is, although greyhound can (at times, depending) be a bit sketchy, I think it's the better choice. especially if you're traveling in the winter.

hope this helps!

nicole
__________________
SO FAR: USA, Canada, Mexico, Ireland, Spain, Germany, Poland, Hungary, Kuwait, Qatar, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan
UP NEXT: Mexico, Belize, Honduras, Grand Cayman Islands - Feb 2012


tpunk gallery * twitter
pinknic38 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-31-2007, 03:39 PM   #7
cattlikewoah
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Sydney
Posts: 59
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Send a message via AIM to cattlikewoah
Default

AW FKN BROWSER!
I typed up everything and was almost finished and then it somehow went "back" and erased everything I typed!


So I wanted to say thanks and I hope the replies keep coming!!!

OK So I've revised the plans (ticket is: Syd - Hnl transit- LA transit- (? city - open jaw ticket i.e. fly into Austin fly out of DC as below) - SF - Hnl - Syd. Everything in between is make our own way):

LA (stopover) - Austin / San Antonio - Eudora / Kansas City - Winnipeg (MAYBE) - Toronto - Montreal - NYC - Philly (MAYBE) - DC - SF / LA

Texas + NYC - Friends I met on my last travel. Didn't spend enough time there last time either
NYC - didn't do any tourist stuff cept check out Coney Island (closed when I went). Anyone know if it'll be open end of April?
Kansas + TX + NY + Philly - Going for the music scene
Winnipeg + Montreal - Friends from home
Toronto + DC + SF - Family

I spent my time in Brooklyn staying at my friend's place (I met her when she was backpacking in Australia 5 years ago) and I loved the "life" there...

We'll mainly be doing the music thing there, so some partying. Not much tourist stuff...

Maracle - Definitely do a meetup. that'd be cool! I need help on accommodation there. I was looking up the SUper 8 Downtown... close to 6th St. Anything else cheap and close? I read about a hostel right near Emos but I could never find anything about it. Any idea?

I did the Greyhound overnight from San Antonio to Dallas in winter last year and I ended up catching a cold which = sucky
cattlikewoah is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-31-2007, 04:12 PM   #8
Sijuki
An Optimistic Realist.
 
Sijuki's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Detroit / Las Vegas
Posts: 3,294
Thanks: 2
Thanked 10 Times in 10 Posts
Send a message via AIM to Sijuki Send a message via MSN to Sijuki Send a message via Yahoo to Sijuki
Default

yeah, trying to get around the U.S. can be damn difficult. Greyhound is probably the cheapest option.
__________________
.~Sijuki~.



2009-2014: February - Mexico (Cancun x 3, Cozumel x 1, Mazatlan x 2

2014 : Europe: Norway, Denmark, Hungary, Czech Rep, Germany, France, England

2015 : US:Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Joshua Tree NP, Salton Sea, Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest, Mt. Rushmore. 20 states. Europe: Stockholm, Barcelona, Madrid, Prague, Krakow, Warsaw, Ireland (month driving around), Northern Ireland, Edinburgh.

2021: Europe?

Need a Railpass for that Trip to Europe?
Or Maybe a Hostel Reservation?
Frog Creek Brewing -- Upcoming Microbrewery

Sijuki@gmail.com
Sijuki is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-31-2007, 05:34 PM   #9
maracle
Rabidly Xenophilic
 
maracle's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Austin Texas, but originally from Ann Arbor!
Posts: 1,223
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

That super 8 wouldn't be too bad for what you have in mind. If there's a hostel near emos that would be ideal but I don't know anything about it. There's an extended stay america on 6th that would be in a really nice location but its probably more expensive than a super 8.

Sounds like a fun trip!
__________________
Flickr!
maracle is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-31-2007, 06:50 PM   #10
lost in texas
TPunk Recognized
 
lost in texas's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Texas
Posts: 446
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

When are you going to be in Austin?

Keep us updated and I may be able to meet up with you guys too. My dad lives there so I'm town fairly often...
__________________
"Men are not prisoners of fate, but only prisoners of their own minds."
-- FDR
lost in texas is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-31-2007, 08:18 PM   #11
cattlikewoah
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Sydney
Posts: 59
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Send a message via AIM to cattlikewoah
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by lost in texas View Post
When are you going to be in Austin?

Keep us updated and I may be able to meet up with you guys too. My dad lives there so I'm town fairly often...
Probably just after South by Southwest... Around Easter maybe?
I'm looking at staying there for about 6 days and drive up to San Antonio for maybe 1 or 2 of those 6 days...

It'll be cool to meet up with people.

Anyone from Philly or Kansas City? Need people to take us around there too
cattlikewoah is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-31-2007, 08:30 PM   #12
freespiritz
always trippin'
 
freespiritz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: The Island of Rhode
Posts: 2,063
Thanks: 0
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
Default

I've had more than my fair share of time on greyhounds...anything over six hours gets a little annoying. They are definitely cheaper than the trains (although still expensive), although the trains are decidedly more comfy. I think Amtrak does a 15% discount with the ISIC card if you have one. Not entirely sure, but if so, and if you are a student, it might help.

My preferred way of seeing the US is roadtripping, but I don't think you'll have that option unless you want to rent cars.

I personally probably wouldn't spend 10 days in NYC, but then again I go there fairly regularly. Interested in checking out more of Canada maybe? Quebec City is pretty close to Montreal...hehe.
__________________


Check out my band!
freespiritz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-02-2007, 02:21 PM   #13
joe7f
No one regrets traveling
 
joe7f's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 2,056
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Send a message via AIM to joe7f Send a message via Skype™ to joe7f
Default

If you decide to pull a Hwei, it might be cheaper to buy a car on one coast, and sell it on the other.

The driving on the otherside of the road bit could be entertaining

--Joey
__________________


Countries visited: USA, Netherlands, Norway, France, Switzerland, Germany, Spain (and Gibraltar), Italy, Belgium, Hungary, Austria, Ireland, UK, Japan, Canada , Portugal, Czech Republic, Poland, Andorra, Croatia, Montenegro

Next up: Mongolia, China

"I sought trains; I found passengers" - Paul Theroux

Help Travelpunk's continued existence with a small donation
joe7f is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply






Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 03:29 AM.



 

Search Engine Friendly URLs by vBSEO 3.2.0 (Unregistered)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121