North American Travel Advice

[Ernie]

Hey there,


I'm looking for your opinion and advice on my trip to the U.S!

I'm from Australia and I'm going on a 2 month backpacking holiday this August/September. I staying mostly in hostels and catching a lot of Greyhound busses and budget airline flights.

So far my itinerary consists of:

-Arrive in NYC: stay for 10 days
-Philadelphia: ~5 nights
-Washington: ~5 nights
-Fly to Chicago: ~5 nights
-Fly to Vegas: ~3-4 nights
-Los Angeles: ~4 nights
-San Francisco: ~5 nights
-Portland: ~5 nights
(length of stay all very approximate and subject to change)

Along the way I intend on going to the Grand Canyon, and Yosemite.

I've done a fair bit of research on each city and have a huge list of things I want to see and do in each one, however I'm mainly just looking for your thoughts on my trip? Any extra advice/tips?


A few questions for all of you North American's, and even people that have travelled:

-Any amazing cities you think I've missed and should consider?

-What's the average cost of a meal from a food cart? Say, a burger? A kebab? Pizza?

-What are some certain foods that I absolutely must try? Even food from supermarkets, what are some of your iconic supermarket meals? I have seen things called "Twinkies" or something in movies, but have no idea what they are haha.

-What are your general thoughts on Australians?

I really look forward to your feedback, cheers guys

 

[Heads447]

I live in the Bay Area (15 mins away from SF). Beautiful city, but everything is so expensive. I'm not sure what you're in to, but definitely check out twin peaks if you get the chance

 

[Rebirth RSPS]

Consider coming to Miami, its beautiful here and not like anywhere else in North America.

/ Austin, Tx is also an amazing city for live music and partying!

 

[nodnarbusn]

Austin, Tx

While Austin is king of the music scene in TX the hill country and even Texoma are absolutely gorgeous. A lot of people sleep on the diversity of Texas's ecosystems, we've got prairies, beaches, tons of lakes, desert, beach front, hill country, wetlands/swamps and the largest forests in all of the continental US.

 

[Saluki]

If you want to stay in the Midwest a bit longer, you can learn a lot of history in St. Louis if you're into that kind of thing. Food is pretty cheap around the area. Midwesterners are very friendly. My thoughts on Australians are positive. Everyone's got their own thoughts, but I enjoy anybody until I have a good enough reason not to. So yeah, check out St. Louis and go up in the Gateway Arch if you can get the chance.

 

[b1b]

ny: get a 7 day metro card and on day 7 plan out how many times you'll be taking the bus/subway and see if it's worth buying another 7 day or paying per ride. food cart is like 5 dollars for rice+lamb (or chicken)+salad. the hipster-y bars are gonna charge you like 5 bucks for a pbr lmao, look for happy hours that do 5-6 dollar shots+beer. girls will love your accent. don't feed the panhandlers on the trains pls.

snacks/food you might like: pop tarts (cookies n cream), ho hos, in n out (most people agree it's overrated but you should still go), dollar pizza in manhattan,

p.s. fuck greyhounds lmao. they attract the trashiest people, the stops/stations are sometimes shady as fuck. it's not too bad for short distances, but if you're going from like ny to chicago in a greyhound, you might have a bad time.
p.p.s look into zion national park, washington isn't worth that long of a stay especially since you're ignoring some other parts of america like texas/new orleans

 

[Ernie]

ny: get a 7 day metro card and on day 7 plan out how many times you'll be taking the bus/subway and see if it's worth buying another 7 day or paying per ride. food cart is like 5 dollars for rice+lamb (or chicken)+salad. the hipster-y bars are gonna charge you like 5 bucks for a pbr lmao, look for happy hours that do 5-6 dollar shots+beer. girls will love your accent. don't feed the panhandlers on the trains pls.

snacks/food you might like: pop tarts (cookies n cream), ho hos, in n out (most people agree it's overrated but you should still go), dollar pizza in manhattan,

p.s. fuck greyhounds lmao. they attract the trashiest people, the stops/stations are sometimes shady as fuck. it's not too bad for short distances, but if you're going from like ny to chicago in a greyhound, you might have a bad time.
p.p.s look into zion national park, washington isn't worth that long of a stay especially since you're ignoring some other parts of america like texas/new orleans

Alright man thanks for this. What do you suggest if not Greyhound busses?

 

[b1b]

Alright man thanks for this. What do you suggest if not Greyhound busses?

amtrak is expensive, certain one way flights can be super cheap if you get lucky on deals, there are other bus companies too, but you'll probably end up on at least one greyhound bus. it's not the end of the world but yea

something about greyhound specifically as a company that disgusts me. the way their stations are run down, they have pickups in shitty parts of town (tfw have to sit and wait for hours with drug dealers, bums, and degenerates circle you), they do things FCFS so you might not get a seat if they overbook and aren't in line early.

you'll be alright if you keep your shit with you and make sure nobody takes your stuff from the bottom of the bus. they have sockets and wifi. just go in knowing there are other bus companies, that necessary precautions must be taken and you'll be fine

 

[IndiSindi]

whats a pan handlers?

 

[Ernie]

amtrak is expensive, certain one way flights can be super cheap if you get lucky on deals, there are other bus companies too, but you'll probably end up on at least one greyhound bus. it's not the end of the world but yea

something about greyhound specifically as a company that disgusts me. the way their stations are run down, they have pickups in shitty parts of town (tfw have to sit and wait for hours with drug dealers, bums, and degenerates circle you), they do things FCFS so you might not get a seat if they overbook and aren't in line early.

you'll be alright if you keep your shit with you and make sure nobody takes your stuff from the bottom of the bus. they have sockets and wifi. just go in knowing there are other bus companies, that necessary precautions must be taken and you'll be fine

Alright man thanks, you've put me off greyhound pretty much haha. I'll have to do some research to find some other bus companies

 

[b1b]

Alright man thanks, you've put me off greyhound pretty much haha. I'll have to do some research to find some other bus companies

they're the most affordable+leave at most times+you might not have white trash/bums on your bus or station
I think you'll be fine, don't be entirely put off them lol, im just one sour grape

whats a pan handlers?

people coming up to strangers/walking through the trains and asking for money. some of them do little dances or sing. different than musicians playing in the train stations