Holiday Planning - USofA

[2blue4u]

I'd like to ask about the experiences of others to help with some holiday planning for 2015. We normally take lots of short hols, 7 or 10 days, but we'll be free to take longer holidays in 2015 and after.


1) Car Hire. Point to Point car hire can be very expensive, compared to round-trip hire, but I've found a HUGE variation in prices. Can anyone share their experience of Point to Point hire in the US. We're looking at Dallas-San Fran - over two weeks or possibly 16 days.

2) Mobiles. With the cost of using mobiles abroad falling, and the use of voip and wifi apps, I haven't bothered going down the 'buy-a-local-sim' route. But I feel I'll need to do this for a longer N American trip. Can anyone share their experience in getting a US sim to use in their own phone - with data - for use in the US and Canada?

Thanks for reading.

John

 

[StewartR]

1. I've done several self-organised fly-drive holidays in the USA. I've always used Holiday Autos for the car hire, because their all-inclusive packages are so much easier to understand than US car hire companies with their myriad of extras, waivers, etc. But one nice side-benefit is that they often allow point-to-point hires at no extra cost.

 

[Mikesphotaes]

When we did Chicago to LAX last year it was an extra $500.

I think the cheapest extra charge was $250 and a wee check on Avis just now showed $750 !

We didn't get charged any extra this year but that was LAX and drop off at San Diego.

We Don't bother with phones on holiday.

 

[viv1969]

point to point car for me has been NY to SF and yes it did cost.
Obviously shorter distances do cost less.
The cheapest way with a mobile is to go to walmart (et al) and but a throwaway mobile for the duration and send the number to folks.
I've lived there. I've travelled there.
Cheapest way I ever got a car was to buy one on arrival (rent-a-wreck), but that was for three months.

point to point look for a less than mainstream company.

Above all enjoy. despite what some may tell you it's a stunning country.

 

[2blue4u]

Thanks for your replies and the info. Very promising news on point to point hire so more research required.

Thanks

John

 

[Ricardodaforce]

3 UK have scrapped roaming charges for the USA. So if you are with them, then you can use your existing allowances when over there.

 

[skysh4rk]

3 UK have scrapped roaming charges for the USA. So if you are with them, then you can use your existing allowances when over there.

Three also have this same arrangement in Hong Kong and it gave us access to our unlimited mobile data while travelling, which was great.

Note, however, that you can only make calls and texts ordinarily permitted by your allowance within the UK (i.e., calls/texts to UK numbers), otherwise you'll be charged for roaming (so you wouldn't be able to call USA numbers using your allowance).

 

[Ricardodaforce]

Three also have this same arrangement in Hong Kong and it gave us access to our unlimited mobile data while travelling, which was great.

Note, however, that you can only make calls and texts ordinarily permitted by your allowance within the UK (i.e., calls/texts to UK numbers), otherwise you'll be charged for roaming (so you wouldn't be able to call USA numbers using your allowance).

You'd be able to Skype/Facetime as long as internet was part of your allowance.

 

[skysh4rk]

You'd be able to Skype/Facetime as long as internet was part of your allowance.

Yes, agreed. Putting a bit of credit on your Skype account would also allow you to call normal US landline and mobile numbers.

 

[2blue4u]

Yes, Skype and Viber are great with wifi access. If I'm having to pay for data on a mobile then I may as well pay for the call in the first place. I was thinking more about the cheapest route to data for satnav, other apps and uploading images.

 

[skysh4rk]

Yes, Skype and Viber are great with wifi access. If I'm having to pay for data on a mobile then I may as well pay for the call in the first place. I was thinking more about the cheapest route to data for satnav, other apps and uploading images.

Well, Three UK would give you access to data for sat nav in the USA. Even if you aren't currently a Three customer, I think even pay-as-you-go customers can access the free roaming deal provided they have topped up before leaving the UK. Given how expensive phone/mobile tariffs can be in the USA, this might not be a bad bet.

 

[Ricardodaforce]

Yes, Skype and Viber are great with wifi access. If I'm having to pay for data on a mobile then I may as well pay for the call in the first place. I was thinking more about the cheapest route to data for satnav, other apps and uploading images.

As I said, if you are a 3 customer all of that (assuming you have data as most of their tariffs do) would be included.

 

[2blue4u]

3 sounds too good to be true. I've just checked - no tethering USA yes but not Canada. and you cannot use it for more than a month or they switch you off

The 3 option might be OK as part of a solution.

 

[Ricardodaforce]

3 sounds too good to be true. I've just checked - no tethering USA yes but not Canada. and you cannot use it for more than a month or they switch you off

The 3 option might be OK as part of a solution.

Ah you never mentioned tethering.

 

[StewartR]

3 sounds too good to be true. I've just checked - no tethering USA yes but not Canada. and you cannot use it for more than a month or they switch you off

The 3 option might be OK as part of a solution.

And you never mentioned going for longer than a month, either!

 

[2blue4u]

Tethering is not really a big issue. I'm probably expecting too much to have a single solution to cover everything.

 

[skysh4rk]

Tethering is not really a big issue. I'm probably expecting too much to have a single solution to cover everything.

I think that tethering will cost you a pretty penny in the United States. Mobile data itself is generally more expensive than here as well, which makes the Three roaming deal a very attractive offer.