HippY Posted September 6, 2015 Report Share Posted September 6, 2015 Hi guys It seems that I will have enough funds to go to New York, rent a car and drive around that area ( Toronto, Detroit, Pittsburgh and New York again, Chicago is not likely sadly) in March with some cheap hotel (Travelodge like) on the way The catch is, probably I can go alone, as my friend has no money, my family will be elsewhere. The other option is the same but around Los Angeles, although the main reason behind New York is that I want to meet with a friend in Toronto Question is for the "experienced" people here: Should I go for this kind of long trip alone or should I wait more, it will be a year the least to go there with my friend? I have no idea how US can be alone and it is a bit scary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bing Posted September 6, 2015 Report Share Posted September 6, 2015 Don't do it on your own, America is a fooking big place and is not as easy to get along with folk as they make out the telly. The touristy bits are ok and quite friendly but normal rural America is a bit less so. Stick to the populated areas and you should be ok Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
max-t Posted September 7, 2015 Report Share Posted September 7, 2015 Share the experience with someone pal, it's always better. Yeah you might drive each other up the wall after a while, but it's definitely better than being alone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muel Posted September 7, 2015 Report Share Posted September 7, 2015 Don't do it on your own, America is a fooking big place and is not as easy to get along with folk as they make out the telly. The touristy bits are ok and quite friendly but normal rural America is a bit less so. Stick to the populated areas and you should be okI know a couple who went touring round America on motorbikes and said the exact opposite. They were shocked how often people offered to feed and house them for the night along the way. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bing Posted September 7, 2015 Report Share Posted September 7, 2015 I'm speaking from my own personal experience, then again I was in Texas. Got family out there who have been there about 2 years and they said it's not as easy as they thought. No social things to do at all without travelling miles or spending shed loads of cash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dann2707 Posted September 7, 2015 Report Share Posted September 7, 2015 I'd do eastern Europe alone due to the hostels or whatever. I'm sure there are loads in America but i wouldn't do it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bikeperson45 Posted September 7, 2015 Report Share Posted September 7, 2015 America's very spread out. I'm all for doing things alone but everyone always forgets New York is a state and not just the city, going from New York City to Toronto is a pretty solid drive on your own. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadManMike Posted September 7, 2015 Report Share Posted September 7, 2015 I'm pretty confident, but I wouldn't go alone. I'd love to do a road trip in an old school yank convertible, but I'd only go with a mate. Driving through Las Vegas in a pimp 60's car would be so damn cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forteh Posted September 7, 2015 Report Share Posted September 7, 2015 ? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Harrison Posted September 7, 2015 Report Share Posted September 7, 2015 Should I go for this kind of long trip alone or should I wait more, it will be a year the least to go there with my friend? I have no idea how US can be alone and it is a bit scary. Go on your own and enjoy the freedom to do whatever you want. Whilst the tabloids and people down the pub will have you believe the world is a horrible nasty place crawling with murderers and scam artists waiting to kill you, the truth is that it's quite the opposite. You're young and healthy, go and do it. Get the car and just drive. I went on adventures on my own in the US and had an amazing time - showed up in Buffalo, one of the most rundown, shady looking places you'll find, turned up in some bar and had the craziest night ever - in fact it was one of the best of the whole trip. Chances are if you put it off then it'll never happen. Conditions will never be perfect, friends often drop out and flake (my neighbours daughter was due to go to Asia with some friends, they all f'cken flaked on her, she went anyway by herself and had an awesome time, didn't want to come back). Also the comments above about sticking to the cities, well that's just ridiculous. Often you'll find the real people worth meeting way out in the middle of nowhere. A friend of mine was alone hitch-hiking in Laos and ended up staying at farms, helping people work the land. Where you want to be is a million miles away from spoonfed tourists in their little bubble of safety. F'ck all that, get the car and go and have an experience that'll be worth telling your grandkids about. Oh yeah and another friend of mine took his motorbike through Iraq last year, into Iran. Just hopped on the bike and went. Ended up camping out with druggies in some wadi in the desert, got invited to stay at strangers houses, did all sorts of shit, said it was amazing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HippY Posted September 7, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2015 I'd do eastern Europe alone due to the hostels or whatever. I'm sure there are loads in America but i wouldn't do it Ohh yeah, you plan to go to Hungary Lets meet up in a week or two, im from there i could give you some adviceAmerica's very spread out. I'm all for doing things alone but everyone always forgets New York is a state and not just the city, going from New York City to Toronto is a pretty solid drive on your own. It is like 9 hrs, i was already checking it. Actually i am planning it for the past half a year or so Go on your own and enjoy the freedom to do whatever you want. Whilst the tabloids and people down the pub will have you believe the world is a horrible nasty place crawling with murderers and scam artists waiting to kill you, the truth is that it's quite the opposite. You're young and healthy, go and do it. Get the car and just drive. I went on adventures on my own in the US and had an amazing time - showed up in Buffalo, one of the most rundown, shady looking places you'll find, turned up in some bar and had the craziest night ever - in fact it was one of the best of the whole trip. Chances are if you put it off then it'll never happen. Conditions will never be perfect, friends often drop out and flake (my neighbours daughter was due to go to Asia with some friends, they all f'cken flaked on her, she went anyway by herself and had an awesome time, didn't want to come back). Also the comments above about sticking to the cities, well that's just ridiculous. Often you'll find the real people worth meeting way out in the middle of nowhere. A friend of mine was alone hitch-hiking in Laos and ended up staying at farms, helping people work the land. Where you want to be is a million miles away from spoonfed tourists in their little bubble of safety. F'ck all that, get the car and go and have an experience that'll be worth telling your grandkids about. Oh yeah and another friend of mine took his motorbike through Iraq last year, into Iran. Just hopped on the bike and went. Ended up camping out with druggies in some wadi in the desert, got invited to stay at strangers houses, did all sorts of shit, said it was amazing. I would stay "around" that area, Chicago might be the furthest i would go That is my biggest problem, i do not want to go alone, but I have no other choice, as I have been at quite many places in EU, and now i want to go somewhere far and that is expensive... I can afford it now but noone else Arent you the guy living in Asia chasing asian girls by accident? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Harrison Posted September 7, 2015 Report Share Posted September 7, 2015 That is my biggest problem, i do not want to go alone, but I have no other choice, as I have been at quite many places in EU, and now i want to go somewhere far and that is expensive... I can afford it now but noone else Arent you the guy living in Asia chasing asian girls by accident? Not many of them were by accident! When I first went to Asia four years ago it was on my own and I was scared, didn't know what the hell it would be like over there. And actually the first trip I did was the one to the US in 2009, and I'll admit I was pretty nervous about that. (Funny thing is I'm still in touch with the waitress from that bar in Buffalo : ) From what I've read before you've stepped out of your comfort zone with a few things, taken some risks, and this is generally where we expand our horizons. Who knows you may meet some amazing female hitch-hiker and end up on some crazy adventure! Or find a like-minded person with a good idea and start a business together. The thing is there's no telling how it'll end up, no scripting it - that's what makes it such a great opportunity, and at the very minimum you'll come home having had a unique trip that, in some way, will change your perception of life. For me it made me determined to find a way to travel and explore on a more permanent basis - for my brother he enjoyed doing the same kind of trips but decided that ultimately that wasn't for him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uk24 Posted September 8, 2015 Report Share Posted September 8, 2015 All depends If you need company or happy by yourself, driving isn't a problem unlike England they are pretty friendly and don't mind you cutting in if you picked the wrong lane or need to do a U-turn, it is a big place so don't underestimate how much driving you would have to do, my personal opinion is trips like those are best when shared but that's just my opinion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HippY Posted September 8, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 8, 2015 Not many of them were by accident! When I first went to Asia four years ago it was on my own and I was scared, didn't know what the hell it would be like over there. And actually the first trip I did was the one to the US in 2009, and I'll admit I was pretty nervous about that. (Funny thing is I'm still in touch with the waitress from that bar in Buffalo : ) From what I've read before you've stepped out of your comfort zone with a few things, taken some risks, and this is generally where we expand our horizons. Who knows you may meet some amazing female hitch-hiker and end up on some crazy adventure! Or find a like-minded person with a good idea and start a business together. The thing is there's no telling how it'll end up, no scripting it - that's what makes it such a great opportunity, and at the very minimum you'll come home having had a unique trip that, in some way, will change your perception of life. For me it made me determined to find a way to travel and explore on a more permanent basis - for my brother he enjoyed doing the same kind of trips but decided that ultimately that wasn't for him. On topic, i got a cute korean girls number who will move to Sheffield for uni! I think i just got the last push, as i just got some money that is enough for the flight and car for few days,so there will be furious planning in the next few weeks The question was mainly on travelling alone as my friend wont be able to come with me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Harrison Posted September 8, 2015 Report Share Posted September 8, 2015 Go and watch some Korean porn for inspiration. The world awaits. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny Posted September 9, 2015 Report Share Posted September 9, 2015 A friend of mine has done new york 5+ times, san fran, la, washington, yosemite and many more places on his own no problems at all.If your an outgoing person who doesn't have issue talking to strangers you'll have no problems at all.They speak 'english' which is half of the problem going places. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HippY Posted September 9, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 9, 2015 A friend of mine has done new york 5+ times, san fran, la, washington, yosemite and many more places on his own no problems at all. If your an outgoing person who doesn't have issue talking to strangers you'll have no problems at all. They speak 'english' which is half of the problem going places. @Tony Harrison Okay, then decisions were made, the planning phase begins, trying to fit in a budget It seems like if I rent a car wisely ( for like 4 days), get my return flights from Leeds to New york return( cheapest) and do 5-6 hrs drivings( as said by google, except from Washington to Toronto, then to Chicago 8 hrs each) then it is doable for reasonable price! Thanks guys for your help, now I am a more confident, as I mainly heard negative things about US ( or way too good, if that makes sense) so I was not sure whether it is doable Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Harrison Posted September 9, 2015 Report Share Posted September 9, 2015 now I am a more confident, as I mainly heard negative things about US Often this'll be from people who've never been, had some shitty college trip or did a transit stop in LA or somewhere. You're going to have a rad time, I'm envious! Some rental firms need a credit (rather than debit) card, and you'll obviously want your UK license. Might be worth going to the post office and getting an international permit for £6 or whatever it costs. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haydon_peter Posted September 9, 2015 Report Share Posted September 9, 2015 I would have missed out on so many things in life if I hadn't done them because a friend was unable to join me or dropped out. Seeing as it's your first trip would you be more comfortable doing some sort of organised tour? Whatever you do hostels are a great way to force yourself to meet people, look at reviews and make bookings through http://www.hostelworld.com/ 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HippY Posted September 11, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 11, 2015 I would have missed out on so many things in life if I hadn't done them because a friend was unable to join me or dropped out. Seeing as it's your first trip would you be more comfortable doing some sort of organised tour? Whatever you do hostels are a great way to force yourself to meet people, look at reviews and make bookings through http://www.hostelworld.com/ yeah, hostels definitely will be useful plan is slightly modified, this time coming from colorado, looking at Salt Lake City, then GRand Canyon and then Las Vegas and up north Tickets to New York will be bought in a month time, after I see the dates and other bits for uni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guillermo Marin Posted September 11, 2015 Report Share Posted September 11, 2015 You don't need more people to enjoy that trip, to travel alone is great too, i do it often. Go there and have fun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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