USA West Coast or Maimi

[lost in espace]

I need a little bit of help here with regards to our USA trip, nothing is booked apart from cheap flights with Norwegian to NY. We can go anywhere do anything.

11 year old boy, 13 year old girl, wife, me. Flights booked for 17 nights to New York, return from NY. Depart 13 August.

We will catch the train to Washington after a couple of days in NY for a quick look around.

From there I can get cheapish flights to LV where we can hire a car and fly back to NY from LA, £150 drop off fee

Or we can just fly to Maimi and drive around there, maybe fly back from Orlando to NY. This sounds the easier/cheaper option with a bit more relaxation BUT August in Miami will be hot, humid, wet and possibly hurricane blighted.

[pushthebutton]

$150 drop-off fee from LV to LA sounds extreme. I haven't even paid a drop-off fee between those two.

Have you checked other rental companies?

[lost in espace]

That was with Alamo, I got a quote from a broker recommended on here http://www.autoeurope.co.uk/ and couldn't see a drop off fee will have to ring them.

Thanks

[Puggit]

Miami

August in Florida will be hot and humid as you say. August in LA should be pleasantly hot and dry.

August in Nevada will be extremely hot and dry

[300bhp/ton]

lost in espace said:

I need a little bit of help here with regards to our USA trip, nothing is booked apart from cheap flights with Norwegian to NY. We can go anywhere do anything.

11 year old boy, 13 year old girl, wife, me. Flights booked for 17 nights to New York, return from NY. Depart 13 August.

We will catch the train to Washington after a couple of days in NY for a quick look around.

From there I can get cheapish flights to LV where we can hire a car and fly back to NY from LA, £150 drop off fee

Or we can just fly to Maimi and drive around there, maybe fly back from Orlando to NY. This sounds the easier/cheaper option with a bit more relaxation BUT August in Miami will be hot, humid, wet and possibly hurricane blighted.

IMO Miami is not an overly nice place. It's not grotty exactly, but has a somewhat hostile feel about the place and is busy every where. Very latino influenced too, so much so, some shops will not speak (or claim to not speak) English.

The Gulf coast is a far nicer place. I particularly like Sarasota and the surrounding areas. West coast USA is very nice, but hugely different to Florida. Still touristy, but a little less friendly. Culture and scenery are hugely different. However, its worth remembering NY to LA is getting on for a similar distance as Lon to NY is. So depends how much traveling you want to do.

Los Vegas is an even. But if you plan to enjoy the casino's, then it's not exactly a child friendly environment. They are hugely strict on under 21's or anyone who looks under 21. So much so, that anyone under that age can't even stand and watch someone else playing on the one armed bandits. You can only walk through. that said, the Grand Canyon is not so far and that really is worth visiting.

[GCH]

lost in espace said:

BUT August in Miami will be hot, humid

You have clearly never been to NY in August then....it is both of the above.

[Sheepshanks]

GCH said:

lost in espace said:

BUT August in Miami will be hot, humid

You have clearly never been to NY in August then....it is both of the above.

We went to LV one August as part of a West Coast tour and basically couldn't go outside - I know it's supposed to be dry but I've never experienced such heat. And we're regular Florida visitors.

I'm loath to advise as everyone is different, but I'd be minded to focus on the West Coast - LA, San Diego, San Francisco type of thing. Depends a bit on the kids - if you were doing a road trip between those places then that's quite a bit of driving.

[chopper602]

lost in espace said:

That was with Alamo, I got a quote from a broker recommended on here http://www.autoeurope.co.uk/ and couldn't see a drop off fee will have to ring them.

Thanks

We picked up a car in Vegas and dropped it off in SF. With 'Dollar' there is no fee around those areas (It was an California plated car I took in LV).

The west coast, although very hot when we went last summer, was far more pleasant than the heat in Florida, we even required long sleeves in San Fransico!

[gregs656]

My choice would be the west coast every time.

However, if I were you I may be tempted to stick in the north east - maybe do a loop up to Cape Cod, Niagara falls, down to Washington DC then back to NYC.

[lost in espace]

Thank you everyone, very helpful and considered replies. Will update when we make a decision, the north east is quite a good idea!

[Stu R]

Consider the Pacific North West if you really want to travel - it's hard to beat if you like scenery and one of my favorite regions in the US. But... there are some stunning places in the North East that'll mean less time wasted. Highly recommend upper NY state, Vermont, Adirondacks etc.

Edited by Stu R on Saturday 17th June 07:51

[lost in espace]

Now booked onto a flight from New York to Fort Lauderdale, we are going to do a round trip via Naples, up to Tampa, a week in an apartment in Orlando to endure theme parks, onto Cocoa Beach for the the space museum then back to FLL. About 13 days to do all this.

Need to book a car now. Someone here recommended AutoEurope which has the best prices for a Nissan Rogue, or for another 60 quid I can have a Chevy Tahoe. Can't get close to the prices elsewhere.

[mikal83]

Wouldn't the kids prefer beaches etc rather than sight seeing.....or a combination of the 2. Bit o culture with NYNY, then the Washington sights, Jamestown, Gettysburg, (we enjoyed it), then theres the Virginia beaches or further down Myrtle/Charlestown/Savannah, then back to wherever via Hotlanta!

[lost in espace]

mikal83 said:

Wouldn't the kids prefer beaches etc rather than sight seeing.....or a combination of the 2. Bit o culture with NYNY, then the Washington sights, Jamestown, Gettysburg, (we enjoyed it), then theres the Virginia beaches or further down Myrtle/Charlestown/Savannah, then back to wherever via Hotlanta!

Plenty of beaches in Florida, despite the heat. I did argue for a road trip but other half not interested in all the driving.

[djc206]

lost in espace said:

Now booked onto a flight from New York to Fort Lauderdale, we are going to do a round trip via Naples, up to Tampa, a week in an apartment in Orlando to endure theme parks, onto Cocoa Beach for the the space museum then back to FLL. About 13 days to do all this.

Need to book a car now. Someone here recommended AutoEurope which has the best prices for a Nissan Rogue, or for another 60 quid I can have a Chevy Tahoe. Can't get close to the prices elsewhere.

Quidco offer 7% cashback with Autoeurope.

I booked car hire for the states a few days ago and found Expedia to be the cheapest, currently 10% cashback if you click through quidco.

[lost in espace]

djc206 said:

Quidco offer 7% cashback with Autoeurope.

I booked car hire for the states a few days ago and found Expedia to be the cheapest, currently 10% cashback if you click through quidco.

Thanks djc, must remember quidco good shout and will have a look at Expedia.

Cheers

Edited to add Expedia £100 more than Autoeurope :-/

Edited by lost in espace on Thursday 20th July 10:59

[mikal83]

lost in espace said:

mikal83 said:

Wouldn't the kids prefer beaches etc rather than sight seeing.....or a combination of the 2. Bit o culture with NYNY, then the Washington sights, Jamestown, Gettysburg, (we enjoyed it), then theres the Virginia beaches or further down Myrtle/Charlestown/Savannah, then back to wherever via Hotlanta!

Plenty of beaches in Florida, despite the heat. I did argue for a road trip but other half not interested in all the driving.

Yes I know, I'm a Floridian!

[lost in espace]

mikal83 said:

Yes I know, I'm a Floridian!

Ha, thanks :-)

[bakerstreet]

If you going to Ft Lauderdale, then Daytona has to be worth a trip

Clearwater and St. Petes can be a nice contrast to Orlando and worth a visit.

[lost in espace]

bakerstreet said:

If you going to Ft Lauderdale, then Daytona has to be worth a trip

Clearwater and St. Petes can be a nice contrast to Orlando and worth a visit.

Thanks, all on my list with the Space Centre top of it.