Travelling to the States in October

Forums › Off topic › Travelling to the States in October - tips, advice?

Lizard1977

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#127143 31-Jul-2013 14:59

I'll be travelling to the States in 10 weeks, for a four week exchange through the State Department, and I've got the option to stay on for a short while afterwards (at my own expense, of course). Having never been to the States before, this is a golden opportunity that I'd be foolish to pass up. I'm hoping to harness the collective knowledge, wisdom and experience of seasoned Geekzone travellers to make sure I get the most out of this...

The official program has one week in Washington DC at the start, two weeks in Dubuque, Iowa, then the final week back in DC. Because I will have limited funds, I think it makes sense to do sightseeing in New York City, which is reasonably close to DC. I'm looking for tips/advice about travel, accomodation, and technology:

Travel - train or plane from DC to New York? Train's only 3 hours, but it looks like baggage might be an issue. Plane is faster and baggage is probably easier to accomodate. Any thoughts?

Accomodation - having only ever experienced New York through the marvel of TV and film, I've no idea about the place, particularly about neighbourhoods to avoid. I'll probably be travelling on my own for this part of the trip. What are the places to avoid? Any hotels that people recommend? Any sights (especially of a geek/tech nature) that I should check out while I'm in DC/Iowa/NYC?

Technology - I'll be taking my iPhone 4, an iPad (first gen, wifi only), and probably a laptop. I've been told that wifi will be available for most of the official program, but I'm also thinking about the post-program trip, especially for calling/emailing my wife back home. When I was in the UK last year, we got a micro-sim with a 15 pound/month prepay option, with unlimited data. The States looks more complicated, with more carriers and different types of plans. Data is probably most important, using either Viber or Skype for calling, with good coverage. I'm also interested in tethering my iPhone for the iPad/laptop to use as well, but I understand that costs extra in the US. Anyone have any thoughts or advice about this? Where's the best place to go to get a SIM card?

I'm also interested in snapping up cool gadgets while I'm over there - thinking about things like the Roku 3, Chromecast, Leap Motion, or other new gadgets not easily available in NZ. I'm also crossing my fingers for more Haswell-based tablets/hybrids, as I'm thinking about getting something in that category. Any advice about this field of things? I know that anything I buy will probably need a NZ plug adaptor, but are there other problems I need to be aware of? What are the best stores for gadgets/tech? Are there any cool gadgets I should look out for? What about cool gadgets/apps that I should take with me?

Generally, I'm interested in any advice or suggestions people want to share, so I can get the most out of this trip...

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#869346 31-Jul-2013 15:16

I had a play with a Leap Motion yesterday, very cool....not sure what I'd use one for...but for some reason I seemed to think I needed one:-)

Matt East

dipper

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#869349 31-Jul-2013 15:28

Take the train- Amtrak is a great service
and is comfortable with Penn Station being right in the middle of midtown
Manhattan (if you fly in in to JFK there is a flat 45usd plus tax and tip fee …about
65usd for a cab). Add to this the train is cheap …I have always found internal
flying in the states expensive esp after you add on your bags and it takes a
long time to go through secuirty.

Manhattans accommodation is expensive,
tripadvisor will be able to provide you with some good recommendations but be
ready for a shock if you are staying in either midtown-Manhattan or down in the
financial district.

As for Areas to avoid, I have spent some
time when on holiday from Central Park down and have never felt more save in a city, lots
of cops around all hours.

If you get a chance head up to Boston, you
can use Amtrak to head up, a very cool vibrant city with MIT and Harvard as two
university that are attached to it and it has a lot of American history also.

Washington DC is an interesting city (I
have been to the Air and Space museum a couple of times and have lost track of
time each time, looking forward to heading back there again next year!) but I would
stick to the center of the city as there is a lot to see around “The Mall”. If
you are paying for accommodation in DC try looking at Crystal City area as it
is actually in Virginia but the underground runs out there and is very efficient
and cheap for of transport.

Other options for accommodation are
priceline or hotwire, I have used priceline before and if you do some digging
on other site you can work out the hotels being offered.

Have a great trip

billgates

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#869351 31-Jul-2013 15:30

Travel Insurance

Do whatever you want to do man.

eracode

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#869362 31-Jul-2013 15:37

It's probably obvious but do you know about ESTA?

https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/

Can be easly overlooked and travel agents often forget to tell people.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

wellygary

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#869368 31-Jul-2013 15:48

eracode: It's probably obvious but do you know about ESTA?

https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/

Can be easly overlooked and travel agents often forget to tell people.

He's on a State Department sponsored exchange, they might even make him jump through the hoops and get a J-1 Visa, so an ESTA is not applicable

http://j1visa.state.gov/programs/international-visitor/

wongtop

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#869369 31-Jul-2013 15:48

We travelled from DC to NY by train a couple of years ago - I think it is the way to go and I wouldn't fly over this distance in the States.

As mentioned by others, accomodation in NYC is expensive.

For New York we took a look at Times Square, Central Park, Broadway, Empire State and Statue of Liberty. Book in advance for the statue - otherwise the queues are massive. The world trade centre site was just a big construction site when we were there and was a bit dissapointing to be honest, but may be worth a look now. There is a former elevated train line that has been converted into a park, which we didn't get to, but I understand is quite popular.

As for DC, as mentioned by others there is a whole lot around the Mall, the various Smithsonians as well as the White House, congress, monument, war memorials, etc. We didn't get out to the big air and space mueseum out by one of the airports, but even the one in the mall was good.

Oh yes - the travel insurance - took our daughter to the doc as we thought she might have strep throat - the bills kept coming for months, and came to something like US$600 for the equivalent of a GP's visit.

ajobbins

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#869372 31-Jul-2013 15:58

I'm off to NYC in a few weeks. We found a hotel (Best Western) just across the Queensborough bridge in Long Island City that was about $100/day cheaper than anything half decent in Manhattan. The area is apparently OK, but there is a big area of project housing next door. We're budgeting on taxi's to/from the hotel to Manhattan if we don't feel safe, but it's about a $12 taxi to central park from the hotel, so it still is going to be significantly cheaper than a Manhattan hotel.

Hotel is 1/2 a block from a subway station, too and apparently it's about 4 minutes to central park on the subway. I'll let you know what it's like when we get back (late August).

For connectivity, I've grabbed a couple of T-Mobile SIMs off eBay and they arrived this week. Will activate them when we land in the US (as no roaming means they are useless until we get there).

As you're there for a month (or more), AT&T is probably a better option.

1 tip: take a 4x way power board from NZ and just get a single US plug adapter. Just don't plug in any 230v only devices ;)

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wellygary

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#869404 31-Jul-2013 16:45

ajobbins: 1 tip: take a 4x way power board from NZ and just get a single US plug adapter. Just don't plug in any 230v only devices ;)

Although 230 V devices tend to survive such a mistake better than 110V devices plugged into a 230V socket :)

youngs

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#869412 31-Jul-2013 17:16

wellygary:
ajobbins: 1 tip: take a 4x way power board from NZ and just get a single US plug adapter. Just don't plug in any 230v only devices ;)

Although 230 V devices tend to survive such a mistake better than 110V devices plugged into a 230V socket :)

Found the three pin US adapter for the NZ 4 way multi board useful while at hotel. Also a two pin US adapter plus using your charger for on the go as many of the sites and cities where power was available for smart phone only had two pin electrical socket. Also have a power pack for the iPhone that was useful.

Jarno

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#869455 31-Jul-2013 18:26

I've found it to be really handy to use a US power cable for the laptop, instead of an adapter. Adapters tend to be bulky, and when you are sharing a multisocket or multiboard with other people with weird adapters, space becomes problematic. Don't be that guy that blocks three sockets with one plug!

Kiwifan

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#869553 31-Jul-2013 20:34

You won't go far wrong with the advice given above. We stayed near Times Square last October and as mentioned felt quite safe even walking home 12 blocks from a show and bar at 1am. We thought we did rather well for a couple of country bumpkins not used to the nightlife. We "tried" to look as though we belonged there and kept phones/wallets away until we were in shops or restaurants etc.

Air travel in The States is quite different from here in NZ, you tend to get yelled at a lot even if you haven't done anything wrong. I think it's just a reflection on the vast numbers of people they have to process. Don't base your opinions of Americans on a; Customs Officials or b; anyone working for an airline, the rest (we found) are very friendly esp once they know where you are from.

We did book in advance for the Empire State building and were glad we did but not for the Statue and waited for nearly two hours in the lines plus Security. A trip to Ground Zero is moving if you have the time.

Take care, have fun!

DrCheese

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#869610 31-Jul-2013 22:10

Dubuque?? It's a dull town on the banks of the Mississippi River. I lived two-hours away by car in Madison, Wisconsin, for five years in the 1990s. I can't think of anything worth doing there. You could take a paddle wheel riverboat cruise, I suppose.

If you get some time off, take a trip to Chicago which is about four hours east by car. Great shopping on North Michigan Avenue. Or head north east to Spring Green, Wisc., and visit Frank Lloyd Wright's home, Taliesin, and House on the Rock, if you are interested in prairie-style architecture. Wisconsin Dells, the "water park capital of the world" is in the same general direction.

Washington and NY will be much more interesting.

Cheers,

David.

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#869644 31-Jul-2013 23:34

if you're game check out www.airbnb.com

allan

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#869699 1-Aug-2013 08:36

In July 2011, we stayed in "The Jewel facing Rockefeller Center" (it's actual name), this cool little hotel on 51st Street. It was newly refurbished then and I see the room rate has gone up a bit since, but free wi-fi, USB charging ports, iPhone media dock etc. Smallish rooms, but we were only in them for sleeping.

In addition to comments above about things to do, we also bought a New York Pass, which was a great way to get into lots of different places with a substantial saving over paying individually. The hop-on/hop-off bus deal was a great way of getting about and getting your bearings too. Be prepared for airport level security in places like the Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty etc. It can add significantly to your expected time spent.

It certainly is the city that never sleeps and we were amazed at parents with little kids who had them out and about at midnight. It's a great place, you will enjoy it. Oh and for Central Park, hire a bike to get around it, but beware the guys trying to sell you a cheaper deal, only to discover that their bikes are blocks away....

Lizard1977

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#869930 1-Aug-2013 13:24

wellygary:
eracode: It's probably obvious but do you know about ESTA?

https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/

Can be easly overlooked and travel agents often forget to tell people.

He's on a State Department sponsored exchange, they might even make him jump through the hoops and get a J-1 Visa, so an ESTA is not applicable

http://j1visa.state.gov/programs/international-visitor/

Correct. Just finished the Visa application yesterday. Boy - that's an experience! I laughed (at the security questions), I cried (at the horrendously detailed requirements for the photo), it was the pinnacle of bureacratic mumbo-jumbo...

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