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I'm going to the US
And need advice on places to visit
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Navegador 2010-07-29, 03:55 #1
User title: Descobridor dos sete mares
since Jan 2007 · 513 posts · Location: Brasil
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Subject: I'm going to the US
This is more of a call to our U.S.-based appletalkers, though anyone who's visited the country can contribute.

I'm heading stateside on the 14th of September to attend a cousin's wedding in Newport, RI on the 17th. During the week from the 15th to the 22nd I'll be escorting my mother and some other non-english-speaking relatives around New York (city & state) or maybe New England. Then I'm dropping them off at the airport and I'll be free to roam the States for the following two weeks.

Thing is, I have no idea of what to do during that time, apart from a vague idea that I should rent a car (well, keep the rental we would be using) and drive south. I was thinking about driving down the east coast & visiting some of the southern states, but as I said that's still a vague idea, so any recommendations (including re: places to stay that don't cost an arm and a leg) are very welcome.

I'll be doing this by myself, so there's no fuss and no need to be anywhere near any shops etc. (I'll be doing my shopping on Amazon and shipping the goods to my last hotel. I don't think Brazilian authorities even let people back in who've been to the US and haven't bought heaps of electronics and assorted knicknacks for a third of their Brazilian prices).

That's it. Thanks in advance for your ideas!
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Gamoe 2010-07-29, 11:26 #2
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Sorry I haven't been available on chat, Nav.
Just shoot me an e-Mail. I'll be on break starting this weekend.
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Navegador 2010-08-02, 05:10 #3
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Cool, thanks Gamoe.

Any suggestions from the rest of the gang?

Also, what's a cheap place to rent a car - I'm planning this as a road trip after all.
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Gamoe 2010-08-02, 15:15 #4
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Quote by Navegador:
Also, what's a cheap place to rent a car - I'm planning this as a road trip after all.

Avis is very widespread (and highly advertised) in the U.S. Not sure if they're necessarily the cheapest, though.
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Oisín 2010-08-02, 15:51 #5
since Feb 2006 · 1230 posts · Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
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Around these parts (=basically all of Europe), Avis are among the more expensive options, with Sixt and Hertz being much cheaper. Local rental outlets are of course the cheapest, except if you need to rent the car in NY and return it in FL, for example, in which case local outlets tend to have outrageous one-way fees.
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Navegador 2010-08-02, 16:38 #6
User title: Descobridor dos sete mares
since Jan 2007 · 513 posts · Location: Brasil
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Yeah. I think I'll actually fly to a few cities and rent a car there if needed. My ideas so far: NYC obviously (no car), Chicago (maybe?), S. Francisco (definitely), some other city and then Miami and back to NYC. That's a lot for 15 days but who knows when I'm back in the States.
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Oisín 2010-08-02, 19:33 #7
since Feb 2006 · 1230 posts · Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
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Unless you need to leave San Francisco and go to other places around the Bay Area, you don’t really need a car there, either. Buses and the BART/MUNI system work quite well, and the city’s not too big, so you can actually walk most places (if you’re a keen walker, that is).

If you do want to go outside the city and explore the Bay Area, though, a car will be most useful.
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Speckledstone 2010-08-03, 03:54 #8
since Feb 2006 · 954 posts · Location: Chicago
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Unfortunately US mass transit doesn't hold a candle to most (every?) other country's systems so, yeah, unless you plan to stay strictly in the metro areas of even the larger cities, a car is probably going to be needed. As to what would be the cheapest, I can't help you there (never had a need). As Oisín said, it would probably be best to pick a major nationwide rental so you don't have to worry about any company-specific boundaries / return fees. Avis, Hertz, Budget, Enterprise and National (in no specific order) are the biggest names I can think of off the top of my head.

But before I make any sightseeing suggestions, what are you intending to see, Nav?

Are you looking to see cities or more natural environments? You could do either, or both, but if you narrowed it down a bit I might be of more help.
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Gamoe 2010-08-03, 08:53 #9
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Seems a lot to pack into two weeks! Let us know on your developing plans.
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Navegador 2010-08-09, 17:54 #10
User title: Descobridor dos sete mares
since Jan 2007 · 513 posts · Location: Brasil
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In reply to post #8
Quote by Speckledstone on 2010-08-03, 03:54:
But before I make any sightseeing suggestions, what are you intending to see, Nav?

Are you looking to see cities or more natural environments? You could do either, or both, but if you narrowed it down a bit I might be of more help.

I think I've narrowed it down to NY, Chicago, S. Francisco (could change that one) and Miami. In NY and Chicago I'm interested in the cities themselves - experience some of the city life, see the museums and landmarks, plus the usual waterfront walks etc. I'll be without a car in NYC and most likely without a car in Chicago.

As for San Francisco, I'd like to see the city and the surrounding Bay area, so I might do a bit of driving. So it's a mix of nature and city.

In Miami, I'm more interested in visiting nearby natural parks and the Florida Keys, the beach, etc. I'm not so keen on city itself. (Sorry Gamoe, it's just that I've been there before, like NYC Boston and DC, but of these NYC has so much to see).

I'm checking air fares on Kayak.com and it's amazing how much cheaper they are when compared to those in Brazil. I'm not so sure about accomodation though so if you guys know any good hostels (already know a great one in NYC) I'd like to hear about them!

Cheers
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This post was edited on 2010-08-09, 20:44 by Navegador.
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Navegador 2010-08-09, 20:42 #11
User title: Descobridor dos sete mares
since Jan 2007 · 513 posts · Location: Brasil
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Right, just bought the tickets. I'll be in Chicago from 22/09 to 26/09, then in S. Francisco from 26/09 to 30/09, then in Miami from 30/09 til 03/10. Then back to NYC to catch the flight back to Brazil on the 5th.
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Gamoe 2010-08-10, 22:41 #12
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In reply to post #10
Quote by Navegador on 2010-08-09, 17:54:
In Miami, I'm more interested in visiting nearby natural parks and the Florida Keys, the beach, etc. I'm not so keen on city itself. (Sorry Gamoe, it's just that I've been there before, like NYC Boston and DC, but of these NYC has so much to see).

Hey don't worry, I'm not too keen on it myself! And I haven't gone to the keys in a long while! There's lots to to there. We can have a drink at Sloppy Joe's.

Quote by Navegador on 2010-08-09, 20:42:
Right, just bought the tickets. I'll be in Chicago from 22/09 to 26/09, then in S. Francisco from 26/09 to 30/09, then in Miami from 30/09 til 03/10. Then back to NYC to catch the flight back to Brazil on the 5th.

I was about to complain about you staying over only a day till I realized your date format was different. This is good, because while I'll be taking classes already, we have a full weekend to visit the keys or wherever you'd like to go. And of course, you don't have to worry about where to stay while you're here. e-Mail me any details, as we seem notoriously bad sometimes at catching each other for chat.
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Speckledstone 2010-08-11, 00:27 #13
since Feb 2006 · 954 posts · Location: Chicago
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In reply to post #11
Quote by Navegador on 2010-08-09, 20:42:
...I'll be in Chicago from 22/09 to 26/09...

I'd offer up my place for you to crash, but I'm going to be out of town the majority of that week. Although, you probably wouldn't want to stay here anyway... The suburban public transit is abysmal where I live and trying to find a way into the city each day, and out again each night, would waste far too much of your time. You'd probably have to take a cab to the nearest train station in order to make the trip into the city.
I don't know of hostels in Chicago, so I can't help you on that front, but, I've got a nephew that works in the hotel industry... I'll see if he might be able to get you some kind of discount if hotels are your only option.

I'll be back in town Friday (24th) afternoon, so if you want to meet up Friday evening and/or Saturday (I can't make it too long of a night on Saturday... I work Sundays) I'm all up for that.

I haven't got the time right now, but I'll put together a list of things you may want to see/do in the next couple of days.
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Navegador 2010-08-11, 04:46 #14
User title: Descobridor dos sete mares
since Jan 2007 · 513 posts · Location: Brasil
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Quote by Speckledstone:
I'd offer up my place for you to crash, but I'm going to be out of town the majority of that week. Although, you probably wouldn't want to stay here anyway... The suburban public transit is abysmal where I live and trying to find a way into the city each day, and out again each night, would waste far too much of your time.

Thanks for the offer and the heads up! In fact, I'm going to Chicago on the recommendation of several friends who loved the city but were also unanimous to point out it's a bit difficult to get around.

Quote by Speckledstone:
I don't know of hostels in Chicago, so I can't help you on that front, but, I've got a nephew that works in the hotel industry... I'll see if he might be able to get you some kind of discount if hotels are your only option.

Thanks Speckledstone! I'm actually considering staying in hostels not only because of cost but also because they tend to be good places to meet fellow travellers. Well, at least that was my experience in South America, I'm not so sure if they're such a great idea in the US... So I'm considering hotels too. We'll see in NYC where I'm definitely staying in a hostel that's been highly recommended by some friends.

Quote by Speckledstone:
I'll be back in town Friday (24th) afternoon, so if you want to meet up Friday evening and/or Saturday (I can't make it too long of a night on Saturday... I work Sundays) I'm all up for that.

Cool, let's see if we can make this work. Don't you work Saturdays as well?

Quote by Gamoe:
We can have a drink at Sloppy Joe's.

Sounds good. Count me in. As for the Florida Keys and all, that's something I'd definitely like to see, though I'm open to suggestions too. It's only a weekend in florida so I'd like to make the most of it.

As for S. Francisco/Bay Area, does anyone have any places I should definitely see?
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Oisín 2010-08-11, 07:39 #15
since Feb 2006 · 1230 posts · Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
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^ You mean apart from the Golden Gate and the Presidio? ;)
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