cymbolz
15-12-2010, 09:45 PM
Hi,
I'm after feedback and opinions on my 6 week US trip in May/June 2011. I previously posted here outlining my 2-3 month trip through SE Asia and North America but have decided to stick to some US cities instead and do Asia the year after.
My budget is mid range accommodation (not backpackers or hostels unless private rooms) and treats (reasonable tours but not luxury). I am happy to walk around for hours, and enjoy thrills (theme parks) and the occasional historical site, museum etc. I am aware of the distance between cities and the time spent flying, so I’ve set aside full days for transit between cities.
I’ve been doing plenty of research (using sites like Wiki Travel, Trip Advisor and Virtual Tourist) and have a basic idea of what I’d like to see. I plan to book this myself (main flights first, then hotels and tours in popular cities, everything else might be much later to see if any last-minute deals come up).
Departing Melbourne Australia flying to Los Angeles (most likely on V-Australia) then flying around the states on South West (I’ve flown them before and they were OK, just need to keep myself entertained) or similar, I have tentative dates and have my favourite cities included but open to other suggestions.
Saturday, April 30 – arrive LA
Sunday, May 1 to Sunday, May 8 – drive up coast stopping at San Simeon (1 night) onto San Francisco (3 nights) for look around including Alcatraz (book early), down to Yosemite (3 nights staying nearby such as Foresta) taking a few short walks and visiting popular sites, then back to LA
Monday, May 9 to Friday, May 13 – a day or two around LA staying somewhere easy to access Hollywood and Santa Monica (LA Airport the best for this?), then 3-4 days at Disney staying at Anaheim (my preference is to stay just outside the Disney hotels)
Saturday, May 14 to Wednesday, May 18 – fly to Vegas, drive out to Grand Canyon Ranch (recommended by my sister and friend) via Hoover Dam for the night staying in a Tipi. Next day take a helicopter to Grand Canyon then drive back to Vegas for 4 nights of the usual Vegas stuff (lights, shows, staying up late). Not going as far as the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.
Thursday, May 19 to Saturday, May 21 – fly to New Orleans for 3 nights to enjoy the culture (music, night life) and look around the town during the day.
Sunday, May 22 to Sunday, May 29 – fly to Chicago (have visited here before), spend first night in Chicago. Then drive to Sandusky for 3 nights to visit Cedar Point. Then drive to Louisville for 2 nights and visit the world’s finest Bourbon distilleries. Drive back to Chicago and stay two nights (any recommendations where to stay? I was thinking somewhere near Midway airport when I arrive May 22 so I can get the hire car and leave the next morning heading south…when I return for the last few nights, stay downtown?)
Monday, May 30 to Wednesday, June 1 – Fly to Washington for 3 nights for a look at all the usual attractions including National Mall (but not White House tour as Aus embassy won’t help with sponsoring the application – damn, what do I pay my taxes for)
Thursday, June 2 to approx Tuesday, June 7 – Train to New York for six nights or more. Usual tourist stuff around NYC (towers, usual tours, Broadway, times square, parks…maybe a tour trip to Niagara Falls – any suggestions?)
From here until around Sunday, June 12 I plan to head back to LA (maybe via Chicago again, or straight to LA for a few more nights – would like to keep any flying down to 4-5 hours max in any one day) and then back home. End of holidays.
Cities I was interested in but haven’t made it on the itinerary: Orlando, Boston, Miami
I'm after feedback and opinions on my 6 week US trip in May/June 2011. I previously posted here outlining my 2-3 month trip through SE Asia and North America but have decided to stick to some US cities instead and do Asia the year after.
My budget is mid range accommodation (not backpackers or hostels unless private rooms) and treats (reasonable tours but not luxury). I am happy to walk around for hours, and enjoy thrills (theme parks) and the occasional historical site, museum etc. I am aware of the distance between cities and the time spent flying, so I’ve set aside full days for transit between cities.
I’ve been doing plenty of research (using sites like Wiki Travel, Trip Advisor and Virtual Tourist) and have a basic idea of what I’d like to see. I plan to book this myself (main flights first, then hotels and tours in popular cities, everything else might be much later to see if any last-minute deals come up).
Departing Melbourne Australia flying to Los Angeles (most likely on V-Australia) then flying around the states on South West (I’ve flown them before and they were OK, just need to keep myself entertained) or similar, I have tentative dates and have my favourite cities included but open to other suggestions.
Saturday, April 30 – arrive LA
Sunday, May 1 to Sunday, May 8 – drive up coast stopping at San Simeon (1 night) onto San Francisco (3 nights) for look around including Alcatraz (book early), down to Yosemite (3 nights staying nearby such as Foresta) taking a few short walks and visiting popular sites, then back to LA
Monday, May 9 to Friday, May 13 – a day or two around LA staying somewhere easy to access Hollywood and Santa Monica (LA Airport the best for this?), then 3-4 days at Disney staying at Anaheim (my preference is to stay just outside the Disney hotels)
Saturday, May 14 to Wednesday, May 18 – fly to Vegas, drive out to Grand Canyon Ranch (recommended by my sister and friend) via Hoover Dam for the night staying in a Tipi. Next day take a helicopter to Grand Canyon then drive back to Vegas for 4 nights of the usual Vegas stuff (lights, shows, staying up late). Not going as far as the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.
Thursday, May 19 to Saturday, May 21 – fly to New Orleans for 3 nights to enjoy the culture (music, night life) and look around the town during the day.
Sunday, May 22 to Sunday, May 29 – fly to Chicago (have visited here before), spend first night in Chicago. Then drive to Sandusky for 3 nights to visit Cedar Point. Then drive to Louisville for 2 nights and visit the world’s finest Bourbon distilleries. Drive back to Chicago and stay two nights (any recommendations where to stay? I was thinking somewhere near Midway airport when I arrive May 22 so I can get the hire car and leave the next morning heading south…when I return for the last few nights, stay downtown?)
Monday, May 30 to Wednesday, June 1 – Fly to Washington for 3 nights for a look at all the usual attractions including National Mall (but not White House tour as Aus embassy won’t help with sponsoring the application – damn, what do I pay my taxes for)
Thursday, June 2 to approx Tuesday, June 7 – Train to New York for six nights or more. Usual tourist stuff around NYC (towers, usual tours, Broadway, times square, parks…maybe a tour trip to Niagara Falls – any suggestions?)
From here until around Sunday, June 12 I plan to head back to LA (maybe via Chicago again, or straight to LA for a few more nights – would like to keep any flying down to 4-5 hours max in any one day) and then back home. End of holidays.
Cities I was interested in but haven’t made it on the itinerary: Orlando, Boston, Miami