Opinions req'd for New York-LA trip
 

I am currently considering taking an extra special holiday early next year. The link takes you through to the relevant brochure page of the one I am seriously considering, but in summary:

- A trip with Trek America which involves both hotels & campsites
- 19 days, starting in New York and ending in LA
- 12 nights in hotels, 6 nights at camp sites (in both cases sharing with a member of the same sex)
- All camping equipment provided except sleeping bag (& optional mattress)
- Max tour group 13 people aged 18-38

I don't want to put off planning a holiday, hoping I meet someone this year.
I don't want to go on a package holiday.
And I don't really want to travel alone in a foreign country (even the US).

So by my reckoning this would be a great solution. I would rather GO somewhere, DO something than lie on a beach somewhere, even though I could do it in great luxury for half the price.

This covers a remarkable amount of ground, and at the very least I'd see a lot of the country. I'd appreciate an opinion from "the natives" on the places visited/ whether the trip would be worth it?

Looking at the itinerary, you are definitely covering a LOT of ground. There are only five places where you spend a full day (DC, New Orleans, San Antonio, Big Bend, and Grand Canyon.) The rest of the time, you will be spending most of the day sitting on a bus, watching the scenery go by. That could be a lot of fun if you enjoy the company of the group. Or it could be really bad if you don't. There are several days in Arizona, which look good. Tombstone through the Grand Canyon. Nice scenery.

Do you like sitting on a bus?

I'm certainly a good passenger. Originally I was looking at train journeys, but it just seemed too complicated in the end.

My only question on that front would be whether I got on with the group or not. It would be an expensive form of torture if I hated them all, but perhaps with the stakes so high I would simply have to work at enjoying their company no matter what they were like.

I knew someone who used to work for Trek America as a guide. The tours are fantastic, and he always had a lot of good things to say about the people that came on the trips.

- 0 days/nights in NYC ??
- 2 days in San Antonio ??

Wouldn't be my style but then what is. How much do they want for this venture?

Well, if the tour starts in NYC, you can get there a day or two early to see the NYC sights before the tour starts.

I've been to New York already, and I'll be arriving the day before the tour starts - it's not on the itinerary, but with a 07.30 start I think it's the only solution!

Trip, flights & insurance - $2446
NY and LA hotel - $180
Spending money, food and ALL optional extras - $1300

Total - $3926
although this includes options such as a helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon, a Vegas show, Mississippi steamboat ride etc, which I may not take up.

Oh, hell...you've got to see a Vegas show. Nothing sleazier or more tawdry than that. Makes the French can-can dancers look like high art by comparison. A trip on the Mississippi can be cool or a total waste of time. Depends on where and how long it goes. In all probability, it is a short jaunt on a largish body of brown water surrounded by trees and industrial facilities. I'd definitely do the helicopter trip over the Grand Canyon, though...they hardly ever crash anymore. :D Seriously, it is probably the best way to actually see it, short of hiking into it.

Doesn't sound like a bus. Probably an extended body van. Lot of miles, lot of sitting, no toilet.....with strangers. :cool:

why not just do it yourself? come over, rent a minivan, and drive it to LA. stay off the freeways, stop at small towns, see sights. 10 days is enough. if you have a good friend with you, you could sleep in the van every other night, or camp to save hotel $$. see my tour thread.

If you got 3-5 friends to pay this $4000 I would gladly take the 19 days and tour you myself.

Hell i'd do it for $3999.99 !!!

Yea, but I would put some of the money into food and lodging.

I know it's a lot of money, but I've sat down & worked out the finances and I can manage to save it - it will also keep me on track re healthy living as it's cheaper to live on fresh fruit & veg than beer & takeaways.

I understand it would be cheaper to do it myself, but the whole point of this is I couldn't make this trip with any of my friends. Not only are they in stable relationships & unlikely to get away with disappearing for 3 weeks, but they simply don't share my passion for road trips. They've been baffled by the fact I've been on coach holidays before - as far as they are concerned the journey is the thing you get out of the way before you start the holiday. Whereas I am alreay on holiday the minute I leave my flat.

The idea of setting off alone across America doesn't scare me half as much as the idea of driving. I'd do it in the UK - I drove in London for 3 years so I'm not a timid driver. There's just something about being alone and abroad with everything else that entails, that makes me think handling a foreign road system would take the pleasure out of things.

Also, I'm not sure if I can hire a vehicle. I certainly can't in the UK - they will only accept a credit card in the same name as the driving licence.

I'm still thinking it over and I will carefully consider your opinions. And thanks for the link Lumberjim - I can't face doing it myself but I will read your experiences with great interest.

Doing it alone wouldn't be much fun I wouldn't think. It sounds a little pricey but it also sounds like one of those things you'll be glad you did for the rest of your life.

Try to take more showers than LJ did.

I can see how it would be a lot of fun. I don't normally travel with groups, but I went on a week long guided hike in New Zealand with my wife, and it was really fun. The group was filled with like-minded individuals. We all got along. There were more singles in the group than couples, but everyone felt part of the group. That was 12 years ago, and I still remember the names of most of the people in the group even though we never kept in touch with any of them.

This tour will probably be full of people like you. After all, they wanted to take this tour, just like you. You'll at least have that in common.

I think you could have a really good time doing this. I personally would be most excited by the western leg of the trip, because I think it's prettier scenery, and you will be spending a lot of time looking out the window, so scenery is important. The East Coast will be grey and dreary in the winter, and not much to look at. I don't know how New Orleans is doing these days. I think the tourist French Quarter was mostly spared by the flood, so I bet it will be fun too.

It would be very helpful if they had a map of the route the tour will take. That would tell us a lot about what you might expect. But I'm sure they take you to all the good places along the way. That's their job.

I think you should do it, as long as you understand it's a lot of sitting in a van/bus.

As a Brit in the US, I say do it if you can afford it. I wouldn't because I hate buses -I'm a crap passenger. But we have done road trips across the US and what some Americans fail to appreciate is that in Britain you cannot sit on a bus anywhere ever and see things like: No hillls in any direction, sand in every direction, big red barns everywhere, straight road dead ahead and into the horizon..... whilst it may be dull to you lot, it's pretty exotic to us. In the same way you like windy streets, black and white timber houses with straw roofs and guards in silly uniforms outside Buckinghame Palace (who are not called Beefeaters).

So go for it, if it's what you fancy.

Hey Sundae, I'm taking the family to Vegas in September and it appears I'm scheduled for more business trips to LA. While these usually involve almost no free time, let me know when you expect to be there.

If you hit Vegas at the right time, you and Lookout can join us for a BBQ at the new timeshare at the Flamingo.http://www.cellar.org/images/smilies/beerchug.gif

Thanks to all for your advice.

Glatt - I asked if I would get a more detailed itinerary after I booked, but apparently it is flexible, depending on the guide and the wishes of the group. Only the overnight stops are organised in advance and even these may vary from hotel to hotel and campground to campground depending on the guide's previous experiences. Glad to hear you enjoyed your tour anyway.

As Monster says, the sheer foreigness of America will make the scenery interesting to me even if it does look dreary to people who are used to it. Hell, I'm even excited about the fact shopping is a rota's activity - I'd love to be let loose in an American supermarket!

Richlevy - I'm looking at leaving Washington on 6 Feb 2007, so will be in Vegas 22nd February. I'm not sure whether you'll be in the region around this time, but I'll let you know much nearer the date!

I'll shush about this now, but if I book I'll let you know, and of course I'll be bubbling over with plans & requests for more advice about this time next year....

Everything after San Antonio (which is a great town -- the riverwalk rules, IMHO) is in the desert. If you've never seen it, it's a great experience. You will either discover your inner desert rat and wish you could spend the rest of your life there, or you'll take a Dramamine and cover your face after the first 100 miles of endless cacti, roadkill, and blinding vistas of rock.

In February, you should get decent weather, too. Freezing at night, but maybe 70 in the afternoon.