Holidays in America?

Tell you what though. The 80s were probably the best time to visit the states when Freddy Laker got the airfares down. Living was really cheap there (favourable exchange rates). Motel rates decent (you could get 3 people in one room), happy hour free food in bars, petrol a quarter of UK prices etc). Now an American vacation is eye watering expensive.
 
Last edited:
fanatic1 said:
Tell you what though. The 80s were probably the best time to visit the states when Freddy Laker got the airfares down. Living was really cheap there. Motel rates decent (you could get 3 people in one room), happy hour free food in bars, petrol a quarter of UK prices etc). Now an American vacation is eye watering expensive.
Click to expand...
Any different to a holiday anywhere else? And petrol is still a quarter of the UK price!
 
fanatic1 said:
Tell you what though. The 80s were probably the best time to visit the states when Freddy Laker got the airfares down. Living was really cheap there. Motel rates decent (you could get 3 people in one room), happy hour free food in bars, petrol a quarter of UK prices etc). Now an American vacation is eye watering expensive.
Click to expand...
And New jork was murder central whilst tourists in Cali were targeted via car hire plates.
 
hammocity said:
I’ve been to the States 7 times and have yet to come across “friendly police and security”. The immigration officers have to be amongst the most rude people I’ve ever encountered anywhere in the world.

I’ve never given them an excuse to be so unfriendly but the worst one was in Vegas, the Immigration Officer said to me “I’ve been looking at your criminal record, what did you get arrested for?” I asked what are you talking about, he then went on to say I’d been busted for drugs and firearm offences, I was 58 at the time and thought what a peculiar line of questioning bearing in mind I’d successfully completed the ETSA application prior to travelling, absolute drongo.
Click to expand...
There's always some arseole about in any walk of life, as you will find from some stewards at the Etihad, but if you've been to the US 7 times, and everyone you've met in that capacity as been rude, then maybe it's down to you?
 
fanatic1 said:
Tell you what though. The 80s were probably the best time to visit the states when Freddy Laker got the airfares down. Living was really cheap there (favourable exchange rates). Motel rates decent (you could get 3 people in one room), happy hour free food in bars, petrol a quarter of UK prices etc). Now an American vacation is eye watering expensive.
Click to expand...
You can still get motel and hotel rooms with 2 massive beds in them. There's still plenty of happy hours. Petrol is still cheaper. Food prices have rocketed though, I'll give you that.

New York is comparable to London with prices. Its a destination, much like Florida, San Francisco etc etc...

Off the beaten track though, in small town America, it's very much business as usual.
 
Superace said:
There's always some arseole about in any walk of life, as you will find from some stewards at the Etihad, but if you've been to the US 7 times, and everyone you've met in that capacity as been rude, then maybe it's down to you?
Click to expand...
Definitely not, you're advised not to make small talk or be flippant with police and security so I keep chat to the minimum. The arse hole at Vegas was the worse one but none of the others were friendly, just doing their job I suppose but had better experiences elsewhere especially the Far East and Eastern Europe.

There’s loads of anecdotes on the internet about the severe attitude of US immigration officers towards visitors.
 
Prestwich_Blue said:
I've just booked to go over again next month while I'm between jobs. Staying with an old colleague & friend in Philly for the weekend, fitting in trips to the USAF Museum in Dayton, The Neil Armstrong Museum in Wapokaneta and the NFL Hall of Fame in Canton, seeing my son and daughter-in-law who also live in Cleveland, and fitting in a visit to Pittsburgh at some point. And all that in 12 days!
Click to expand...
Well if you will be in Cleveland, a visit to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame must be on the cards surely, PB?
 
FogBlueInSanFran said:
As a yank I can say I would be a trifle worried as a non-white person with a funny name from a dodgy country at immigration, but otherwise things here for tourists are fine. Plus the dollar is down the tubes. I can understand the boycotts (especially by Canadians) — your money; spend it as you like. I’ve visited 47 states and each of the largest 50 metros by population save two (Cincinnati and Norfolk/Virginia Beach) so feel free to ask. IMO most underrated city is Pittsburgh, and most overrated is Orlando.
Click to expand...
Agree on both counts.
 
Mad Eyed Screamer said:
Just avoid the Deep South and red neck territory and you’ll be fine
Click to expand...
No one hitch-hikes or picks up riders anymore, for obvious reasons; the days of On The Road are long gone. But on my first time in the U.S. in 1969 it was still possible, in fact in California it was easy, and with a Greyhound Bus "rover" ticket in my pocket to fall back on I saw a lot of the country. The only trouble I had was near Mobile, Alabama. No one was stopping and along came two rednecks in a pick-up truck, Confederate plates on the front and hunting shotguns on the seat. They circled back around for a closer look and took exception to my (then) long hair before advising me that if I was still there later they'd put more holes in me than Nature intended. It was some years before "Deliverance" but they were that sort of fellas. I was heading to the safety of town to get the Greyhound when a chap in a sleek convertible pulled up to say he'd seen the British flag on my backpack and how he loved the Queen, he was sorry for my spot of bother and "not all us Southerners are like that." I got in gratefully. It was ten minutes before his hand was on my knee and I got out again, with that line from Dylan (though I'm mis-quoting it) "Stuck inside of Mobile with thee" playing in my head. Two kinds of Southern hospitality on the same evening and I sampled neither.
 
Well I came for an American "holiday" back in 1986 at the behest of a nice Jewish girl from New York to attend her graduation. Had a wonderful time in NY. Anyway, to make a long story short, we got tired of one another fairly quickly so she sent me up to Boston to visit friends, as it seems all of Ireland was there that summer. So I went up and promptly met my future (and still present) wife. And moved here permanently in '89. It's a great country; even with the Orange Menace in charge and I can absolutely understand why people don't want to visit with the immigration clampdown; especially anyone of colour. I'd be nervous too. But don't let it stop you from coming over. The ordinary Americans are as friendly and welcoming as ever. And there is so much to do and see here. Plus the exchange rate is really good for visitors right now.

So what are you waiting for? ;)
 
AliBobbyJ said:
No one hitch-hikes or picks up riders anymore, for obvious reasons; the days of On The Road are long gone. But on my first time in the U.S. in 1969 it was still possible, in fact in California it was easy, and with a Greyhound Bus "rover" ticket in my pocket to fall back on I saw a lot of the country. The only trouble I had was near Mobile, Alabama. No one was stopping and along came two rednecks in a pick-up truck, Confederate plates on the front and hunting shotguns on the seat. They circled back around for a closer look and took exception to my (then) long hair before advising me that if I was still there later they'd put more holes in me than Nature intended. It was some years before "Deliverance" but they were that sort of fellas. I was heading to the safety of town to get the Greyhound when a chap in a sleek convertible pulled up to say he'd seen the British flag on my backpack and how he loved the Queen, he was sorry for my spot of bother and "not all us Southerners are like that." I got in gratefully. It was ten minutes before his hand was on my knee and I got out again, with that line from Dylan (though I'm mis-quoting it) "Stuck inside of Mobile with thee" playing in my head. Two kinds of Southern hospitality on the same evening and I sampled neither.
Click to expand...
To be fair he did warn you he loved queens.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Unread Posts

Don't have an account? Register now and see fewer ads!

SIGN UP
Back
Top