Help with USA Holiday Itinerary

[MrSquished]

land in NJ. spend 5 days in NYC, go to boston, spend another few days. fly out to vegas and spend a few days - rent a car. hit up some national parks around those states, then drive to los angeles for a few days. then fly home.

 

[The Green Bean]

Thanks for the advice. What do you advise for accommodation? Should I pre-book or stay at motels along the way as I stop?

 

[BurnItDwn]

OP, Do you have any dietary restrictions? Do you only eat Halal meat? Please be aware that most restaurants in the USA do not serve Halal meat. Vegetarian options are common, and most places to serve seafood, but, halal meat can be difficult to find in some areas.

We welcome you to the US, have an excellent time!

 

[The Green Bean]

This is the best advice if Vegas will be one of the places OP is heading. I'd take a look at the parks listed above and see which ones interest you the most, as you won't have time to see them all. I'm partial to Zion, Arches, and Canyonlands, personally.

As others have noted, the U.S. is massive so you'd be best served finding on a small number of places that sound appealing and spending time in those places. Last year, I spent two weeks on the coast of Southern France, a much smaller geographic area than NJ to Nevada and felt like I barely scratched the surface of things to see and do there.

Those parks look nice and are relatively close. I think driving for more than 3-4 hours on any day would get boring and I wouldn't want to drive that long unless necessary.

 

[crashtestdummy]

Thanks for the advice. What do you advise for accommodation? Should I pre-book or stay at motels along the way as I stop?

It all depends on how picky you are. If you want specific places, you should probably plan ahead. If you're willing to just call around on the road, you should be ok. The real exception to this is the National Parks, especially the Grand Canyon and Yosemite. You'll need to have those planned well ahead.

 

[The Green Bean]

OP, Do you have any dietary restrictions? Do you only eat Halal meat? Please be aware that most restaurants in the USA do not serve Halal meat. Vegetarian options are common, and most places to serve seafood, but, halal meat can be difficult to find in some areas.

We welcome you to the US, have an excellent time!

I don't ask too many questions. If it's not pork/alcohol, it should be fine.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Thanks for the advice. What do you advise for accommodation? Should I pre-book or stay at motels along the way as I stop?

When I'm driving through areas and just stopping for a night, I don't pre-book for that, I just stop when I'm tired of driving. It's recommended to look to see what options are along the way before driving of course

If I'm planning to stay in a city in advance, I research the hotels in the area and prebook.

You need to do what makes sense to you, but to me, this gives me the best of both worlds.

Also, I will recommend that you may want to consider a Bed and breakfast for at least one night. It's a different experience compared to most hotels/motels, and it might be memorable for you.

 

[The Green Bean]

When I'm driving through areas and just stopping for a night, I don't pre-book for that, I just stop when I'm tired of driving. It's recommended to look to see what options are along the way before driving of course

If I'm planning to stay in a city in advance, I research the hotels in the area and prebook.

You need to do what makes sense to you, but to me, this gives me the best of both worlds.

Also, I will recommend that you may want to consider a Bed and breakfast for at least one night. It's a different experience compared to most hotels/motels, and it might be memorable for you.

Makes sense.

A friend of mine has some extra Marriott timeshare weeks. Perhaps I should plan my national park visits where and when I can utilize those.

 

[The Green Bean]

What about shopping? Which state (Eastern or Western Coastal areas) has the lowest tax rates for home stuff and the best choice? I'll probably being doing about $1500-2000 (not part of my $6000 budget) worth of home related shopping.

 

[ElFenix]

What about shopping? Which state (Eastern or Western Coastal areas) has the lowest tax rates for home stuff and the best choice? I'll probably being doing about $1500-2000 (not part of my $6000 budget) worth of home related shopping.

new hampshire, oregon, and delaware have no state sales taxes.

 

[Craig234]

Greenbean, ignore the nasty people who attack you for standing up for your values, and falsely accuse you of 'hating the US' because you have more values than they do.

Some tips:

The US is big. It'd be easy to waste too much time driving around, and a lot of the country is the same sprawling chains and houses not worth visiting.

It's better to pick a few highlights. It's up to you what you want to see.

Some places are 'unique destinations'. New York City has various things from museums to restaurants to the UN. New Orleans has a French-influenced Jazz and food feel to it.

There are regional places to experience - 'the south' such as you find in North Carolina to Atlanta; the mid-west, Seattle or Portland with their green-minded people and more.

Washington D. C. is an experience; you can see the capitol and the Smithsonias alone can take days.

Nature, depends what you want - hard to go wrong with a carefully planned visit in California to Redwoods and Yosemite. There are lakes, mountains, deserts and so on.

A guidebook might be of help.

A main thing I'd say is don't get bogged down in a spot that doesn't offer a lot - it's easy to go to a big city and not see much of what's there.

There are also little treats you miss out on that the book might help with - for exampe, if you fo to Atlanta, would you know to take the CNN tour - which last I checked, lets you experience what it's like to be a news anchor, giving you a video recording or you reading a news summary?

Maybe you'd enjoy seeing a television show taped in Hollywood live? There are many.

In Vegas, there's one thing most worth seeing IMO - a few of the Cirque Du Soleil shows. See Ka, O, and Mystere; the Beatles if you like; skip Zumanity.

Internet hotel booking sites seem to have decent deals - I'd try that over last minute booking, but do keep some flexibility to your travelling so it's not too rushed.

If you want to try a great steak restaurant in New York, try Peter Lugar's' Portehouse for two.

If you go to San Francisco, skip Fisherman's Wharf, designed for tourists - there are a lot better things to see.

Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL might be of interest; great resorts to see, and the world showcase in Epcot.

 

[Craig234]

What about shopping? Which state (Eastern or Western Coastal areas) has the lowest tax rates for home stuff and the best choice? I'll probably being doing about $1500-2000 (not part of my $6000 budget) worth of home related shopping.

Taxes aren't the main thing; what matters is what you can get. North Carolina is famous for furniture; most of the nation is really, though, pretty similar unfortunately, mostly chains.

Most cities have antique sections if you want that sort of thing. A third of all internet sales now go through Amazon, which you don't need to be in an area for.

If there were more specific things you're after...

 

[kranky]

Are there any size considerations to what you intend to buy? A bedroom set won't fit in the overhead.

 

[Jeffg010]

What about shopping? Which state (Eastern or Western Coastal areas) has the lowest tax rates for home stuff and the best choice? I'll probably being doing about $1500-2000 (not part of my $6000 budget) worth of home related shopping.

Las Vegas is very expensive for food and shopping. If you are going to Vegas and want to see some shows do not buy any tickets in advance. All long main strip is tix4tonight that you can walk up and buy show for that night that will be way cheaper. Some deals include a meal and a show. These booths open at 9:00 am, get tickets early as you can. If you fine the line is long just walk down anther block or 2 and see if the next one is any better.


http://www.tix4tonight.com/

 

[KLin]

Greenbean, ignore Craig234, he's just a huge asshole.

1. Yosemite and Kings Canyon National Park
2. No recommendation
3. Ikea
4. FTW
5. Rodeo Drive


Irony.

AT Moderator ElFenix

 

[waggy]

My wife and I planning a trip to the USA in June lasting 3 weeks. We're a young couple interested in:

1) Nature (national parks, lakes)
2) Historical architecture.
3) Shopping. We are furnishing our new house and wanted to buy some (practical and aesthetic) accessories.
4) Las Vegas
5) The wife also wants to visit Beverly Hills.


I have an uncle in NJ and that's where we are going to land. We also considered an Alaskan cruise, but my wife does not have a valid Canadian visa.

Budget: $6000

1) great thing about the US we have national parks/lakes all over.
2) no idea. but seeing you are landing in NJ that whole area should be great
3) same as 1. all over the US
4) good choice. have fun and don't be a idiot
5) meh. why would you want to do that?



and klin is right. ignore creig.

 

[Craig234]

Greenbean, ignore Craig234, he's just a huge asshole.

Ironic.

 

[Craig234]

ignore creig.

If only you would. Funny thing is, I think greenbean has the sense to ignore you first.

 

[Craig234]

Las Vegas is very expensive for food and shopping.

Actually, it doesn't have to on food - there are great bargains to be had if you look.

Vegas is famous for 24 hour dining and including a lot of bargain meals, the huge $10 prime rib type offers.

Good tip on show tickets.

 

[SAWYER]

Wtf from all the anti american hate speach you spew on P&N you ask us for ideas for your vacation in our country?

Here is one idea, piss off.

..

 

[crashtestdummy]

..

I get where you guys are coming from, but if you want to change someone's opinion of America, there's no better way than letting them visit the country, and our National Parks are our greatest evangelists.

 

[SAWYER]

I suggest a trip to Texas with I hate America shirt

 

[Craig234]

I get where you guys are coming from, but if you want to change someone's opinion of America, there's no better way than letting them visit the country, and our National Parks are our greatest evangelists.

Like most people, he doesn't need his opinion on America changed. Unlike some Americans, he can have one opinion of some American government policies, and another of other parts of America - the people, national parks and any number of things. It's not him that's conflating a war with everything else about the country.

It's no surprise he's excitied to visit a great country.

 

[mizzou]

Can't help wiht vegas or beverly hills, but I can help with 1-3

From New Jersey Head down to DC - take in all the historic monuments, see the whitehouse, go shopping at any of the various malls, etc.

From DC, head south the Colonial Williamsburg (3.5-4 hour drive). Visit the historic downtown, william and mary college, etc. Go shopping in the antique malls. Take the kids to Busch Gardens. Visit the Plum tree island national wildlife refuge and Great Dismal Swamp (its prettier than it sounds) national park.

From williamsburg, head south to the Outer Banks of North Carolina - spend a few days on some of the best beaches you will ever see. Good shopping, fishing, etc.

From OBX, head south to Charleston North/South Carolina - get some good bbq, enjoy the old southern architecture, etc.

From Charleston, head south to Savannah Georgia/Tybee Island - lots of historic architecture, good food, national parks (beaches), etc.

From Savannah, head south to Jacksonville FLA and pick up return flight to wherever.

This is actually a pretty good itinerary, except I would go from Charleston and head west to the mountains

 

[The Green Bean]

..

If there was one country I (most Pakistanis) want to emulate after Europe, Canada and Australia, it is the USA for its freedom, economic development, social rights, infrastructure and education. What affects me the most as a Pakistani is its foreign policy which is absolute rubbish. America is doing more harm to the world in that regard that good--that is something most non-Americans will agree with.

I can do more but $6000 sounds reasonable. I might splurge in Vegas, stay at a 5* for three and. My last visit was in 1998 and I'm sure plenty has changed there and elsewhere in the country. Which hotels do you recommend in LV? Also, I'm used to the high heat. Should not be a big problem.