Tell me about Travelling in the US

Next Summer i will spending a month or two studying in Boston, that's providing i can get the funding.

But i plan to do a bit of traveling whilst i'm there, maybe meet a few people, see the sights or what not. But i'll be honest, i know nothing of being on my own in the US, i know nothing about the transport and cost of living etc.

Obviously i can't branch out too far due to the budget being tight, but i'm sure i'm well within reach of most places within the east coast.

1. Is it easy to get around?
2. Where are the best places to go?
3. Is it costly moving around and living over there?

Any general advice is great, as you can probably tell, i'm new to all of this "On your own in a big country" stuff.

I'm afraid I can't be of too much help in the travel area, as I don't travel much, but there are Greyhound buses that go most everywhere and are fairly affordable. Last I heard, you could go anywhere in the US for $80, but I don't know if that still holds true, or for how long it will with fuel prices still on the rise. Up and down the east coast there are also trains, but I know even less about them. No clue about taxi-cabs and the like, or even much about rental cars.

As far as best places to go... How about a nice little place called Callaway Gardens, in Pine Mountain, Georgia? I've got a yearly pass. :D I'll throw out some other suggestions in a bit, but you really should come visit me!

Motels average anywhere from about $35 a night on the cheap, not-so-great end to upwards of $120 a night in the pretty-good-to-very-nice range. Other than that... Like I said, I don't travel much.

Public transportation isn't that great in the United States, because almost everything is far away from everything else, but greyhound buses are usually worth it.

Hotels and Motels are a bit more expensive then they should be, if you are planning on spending many nights in america, choose one type of hotel and stick with it, I know Comfort Inn gives discounts and special rates to repeat users. My uncle travels alot and always stays at comfort inns, they usually have a deal like; if you stay two nights, the third one is for free. I'm not sure about other hotel chains, but go to the front counter and ask about special deals. Its worth it.

Boston sucks. All of the roads were made in like colonial times (the last time the British saw them) so they are very confusing to drive. Everyone is confused about where to go and the few that aren't confused honk ALL THE TIME. I live in Chicago and I've been to New York and I have never heard as much honking and seen as many angry people as in Boston. But I assume you won't be driving so it shouldn't matter. That was just my rant. The accent is also very annoying.

That said. The schools there are fantastic and fun to visit. If you get bored you can just look at some other schools. Boston College has the best campus I have ever seen. Of course that is very subjective.

I am not sure where you are from, but if the cost of living is anything like London, it is a lot cheaper to live here.

Oh, and find the next showing of Blue Man Group and go (it plays in New York and I assume Boston also). I am not sure if that is international.

Second the Blue Man Group, those guys are amazing.

Greyhound is probably your best bet for cheap transportation, though it takes a while to get around that way. Public transit in cities varies considerably and is mostly poor quality--I live in one of the few exceptions, Cleveland, but I have no idea of the situation in Boston. The only other US city I've seen a decent transit system is NYC.

What are you hoping to see? Cities? NYC and DC are probably within reach for you, and definitely worth a walking tour. Natural wonders? I have no idea what's right in that area. Your best bet is probably to make connections through where you're studying--you'll probably find people willing to show you around Boston or even make some daytrips to show off their favorite places. You won't have time to explore even much of Boston in a couple months, so you'll have to prioritize what you want to see.

my advice is grey hound or train... there's not shit for public trans in the US. but good luck. i would like to do a similar thing. except i would like to go to europe from the us.

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Originally Posted by lysergic

my advice is grey hound or train... there's not shit for public trans in the US. but good luck. i would like to do a similar thing. except i would like to go to europe from the us.

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That's not entirely true--for public transit within cities, the Northeast is the place to be, though it will vary from city to city. Getting around nationally or regionally, you're right--Amtrak runs a skeleton crew (though again, the Northeast is where it's best), Greyhound is habitually late, and car rental, charter buses or flying will cost an arm and a leg.

If you check out Greyhound's website, tho, they run some great deals between major NE cities--I've got a short trip coming tomorrow and was looking around, and I think roundtrip Boston-NYC was 20-30 bucks.

Yeah buses in the states are not like those in Europe... In the US, buses are generally considered to be for really weird, homeless, bums type of people. :P When I was studying in Ireland with a group of Americans, seriously every blonde girl's mother called up the school and bitched about how her daughter had to take the bus from the school to downtown Dublin, as if it was a crime to subject children to that. :roll: Just goes to show how differently that mode of transportation is seen.

But yes, Greyhound is a good one.

LS pal, you live in ENGLAND. :P That place is twice as expensive as the US, at the best of times. YOU HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. ;)

Oh as for places to go, I suppose downtown New York is a must. Neenee probably still can't stop talking about his experience. If you found you had the opportunity to go across the country to California, that'd be sweet too.

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Originally Posted by Mes Tarrant

Yeah buses in the states are not like those in Europe... In the US, buses are generally considered to be for really weird, homeless, bums type of people.

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:damnit:

Actually, it's pretty standard in US cities for college students to take the bus. Most universities in large cities have agreements where city busfare is discounted or included in tuition, and even many highschools do likewise. As someone who often catches the train around 3:30, I can assure you that many, many American youth are quite confident (and noisy XP) taking public transit. Especially now with soaring gas prices and the push toward 'greening,' a transit system that students and professionals are willing to use is a mark of pride for US cities, and more common in the Northeast, where LS is headed, than anywhere else. Again, I don't know the situation on the ground in Boston, but I suspect you'll be fine.

Oh yes I do agree with you in terms of students/college campuses. I certainly used the bus all my four years.

Come by and visit phoenix, its beautiful here :D

Aside from the 113 degrees