Road Tripping in the USA!

[[TW]Fox]

If you want an eye watering one-way fee, I couldnt find a firm with a one-way fee of under £2000 for Sydney to Perth

 

[[TW]Fox]

I hope you hired a 4x4 for that trip (and any west coast trip tbh)!

Err sort of, I had an Audi Q7 in the end

 

[[TW]Fox]

Are there any companies who do super early morning pick up from LAX?

They are almost all 24 hours at LAX.

 

[[TW]Fox]

You've underestimated the distances involved here. Monument valley is overrated and a long way from Vegas or Joshua tree. As for the Grand Canyon you'd be better off flying there for a day trip from Vegas.

 

[[TW]Fox]

July is probably the worst possible time to go - flights will be a ripoff as will cars etc. Go September.

Could probably do a 2 week trip in September for the price of a week in July!

 

[[TW]Fox]

...but I want to have Canadian coverage too and no UK providers have that for any sensible cost,

Included in Vodafone global roaming plus isn't it?

 

[[TW]Fox]

Turo is a good option for rental cars in LA, rented a mustang GT 5.0 convertible for 2 days, cost was about £146

That is a hilariously large amount of money to rent a Mustang.

 

[[TW]Fox]

Just booked up for Canada in September into October. Flying into Calgary, pick up hire car. 1 week in an air BnB apartment in Canmore, lots of hiking and exploring. 2nd week driving to Jasper and staying in Alpine Village (looks incredible). Going to be a very active holiday...well honeymoon. On the way home we are going to stop I'm Vancouver for 3 nights as well. Can't bloody wait.

Careful with October - weather can be very variable and if the snow begins it might stop quite a few of your plans. Canadian hire cars do not have winter tyres, IME.

Car hire much the same as in America in terms of included insurances?

No - there is generally an excess on Canadian rentals.

 

[[TW]Fox]

I think I ended up with Avis as the least expensive way into something that didn't suck.

 

[[TW]Fox]

Hi guys, following on from my post a few pages ago, is this drive doable in a day if I pick up a hire car at LAX at 4-5am?

Well versed in driving long distances as drive between Scotland and Essex every couple of months in a slow 3.5tonne van which normally works out being 8-9 hours.

Pointless.

 

[[TW]Fox]

It's pointless because the road is really slow going and there is plenty to see. It's a total waste of a good opportunity. Spend a night at Monterey on the way up.

 

[[TW]Fox]

I’d rather spend more time in one place and properly explore

So why drive one of the most iconic roads in the world at breakneck speed?

Are you then going to spend 4 days in San Francisco too?

 

[[TW]Fox]

It’s amazing that people are saying not to bother

Nobody is saying that. We're suggesting he takes more time.

 

[[TW]Fox]

Unless you can't avoid it, don't go in August. It's cheaper to avoid it and the weather is nicer. September is good.

 

[[TW]Fox]

Typically rental in Canada is more like it is elsewhere in the world - CDW is included but with an excess, rather than zero excess as with US rentals booked in the UK.

So, just buy excess insurance from a third party.

 

[[TW]Fox]

The other big issue is exchange rates. Everything US trip related is more expensive because of that, too.

We just about managed a California trip on 3k but it was 9 years ago at $1.60 : £1.

 

[[TW]Fox]

effectively giving us a full day and half there. Is this overkill?

Yes. But sure why you'd really need much time there at all let alone 2 nights. The attraction here is driving the Pacific Coast Highway.

 

[[TW]Fox]

Don't forget the long haul airlines have now adopted the low cost model, those headline prices are hand baggage only so by the time you've upgraded to a proper ticket it's rather more money.

 

[[TW]Fox]

That is a good deal, especially given the exchange rate at the moment.

 

[[TW]Fox]

The Cadillac is the worst car but somehow seems more suited to a US road trip.