USA Itinerary 2021 - thoughts please

coochiechic on 16/02/2020 - 11:33
Last edited 29/02/2020 - 22:08

Hubby and I are heading to the USA in March 2021- 21 days flying in and out of NYC (JFK). We're mid 40's and travelling as a couple. We are spending the first 6 nights in Chelsea, accomodation is organised and the list of things to do in NYC is long.
The rest is not booked at this stage. We both each had a 'must' on our list, mine was NYC and his is Las Vegas. So after the first 6 nights in NYC, here's our plan.

Fly to Las Vegas, 3-4 nights ideally casino hotel on the strip. Hubby is keen on gambling, fights , Freemont St etc. We'll have no problems finding things to do. Happy with uber etc for transport.
Pick up a car (one way hire), drive LV to Phoenix (or maybe even Tuscon) over 7 days. Interested in Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon, Williams, Sedona, cactus museum etc. We're both very keen on just driving with a rough itinerary and seeing where it takes us. Accomodation either hotel or airbnb, minimum 4 star.
Fly Phoenix back to NYC (JFK)
Stay in Brooklyn for the last few nights, close to Dumbo area. Maybe here https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Hotel_Review-g60827-d6542529-…
I'm mindful that it will only be the last week of March and places like Coney Island etc are still closed, so looking for suggestions for that area too.
I realise it's a bit of criss-crossing but that's all part of the experience for us.

Interested in thoughts, experiences, stories and suggestions.

Travel

Comments

  • Cheeper on 16/02/2020 - 11:53
    +1

    Niagra Falls is amazing and not far from NY.

    • coochiechic on 16/02/2020 - 16:36

      boat rides under the falls don't start until April unfortunately

      • jjjaar on 16/02/2020 - 17:36

        My first trip to Niagara I didn’t do the boat because it was November. It was still stunning. Though, I was on the Canadian side.

      • Ameowzon on 17/02/2020 - 21:51

        I'm leaving NY on April 19. When are the boat rides starting?

  • iforgotmysocks on 16/02/2020 - 12:10
    +1

    Hubby is keen on gambling

    https://www.gamblinghelponline.org.au/

  • coblos on 16/02/2020 - 12:13
    +1

    Brooklyn - Go to the Barclay Center and watch an NBA game. I think you would enjoy the experience even if you have no interest in basketball.

    Mar 4 - vs Griz
    Mar 6 - vs Spurs
    Mar 8 - vs Bulls
    Mar 18 - vs Wizards
    Mar 21 - vs Celtics
    Mar 23 - vs Magic
    Mar 25 - vs Clippers
    Mar 28 - vs Cavs
    Mar 30 - Blazers

    • Ameowzon on 17/02/2020 - 21:53

      Madison Square Garden vs Barclay Center… Go!

      • coblos on 18/02/2020 - 10:23

        Does say NYC to-do list is long, looking for suggestions Brooklyn area.

        But agreed, even when the Knicks are bad MSG over Barclays.

  • AJW on 16/02/2020 - 12:40
    +2

    We were half way through our USA trip and we flew from Orlando to Washington DC, then drove to NYC.

    Washington DC was not on our original itinerary but it was a great place to visit for 24 hours, we crammed in a day and night tour of all the monuments…so many to see.
    I loved NYC, Vegas and we did the Disneys on both sides, but the Washington DC visit was one of the highlights, for a place we nearly passed by.

    Even better without kids, ours enjoyed DC but nothing topped the amusement parks for them
    Edit: the basketball comment above reminded me of the baseball game we went to - fantastic atmosphere and we met some nice locals too

  • Agarwal on 16/02/2020 - 12:53
    +2

    Bellagio is a decent hotel on the strip, all Vegas hotels get more expensive on the weekend though so try to get there during the week.

    You could probably download the MyVegas apps on your phone, and facebook to see if you can earn enough points to get a free night or two.

  • Donaldhump on 16/02/2020 - 12:58
    +1

    Food for thought, Could fly back to Washington and get Amtrak back to nyc, it’s cheap from memory, and dc is cool
    One way car rental might kill u between lv and Phoenix.
    Could drive to alberqueue if your breaking bad fans
    Also I’ve hockey in Brooklyn is cheap along with the nba if it’s on
    It’s a shame you didn’t fly back home from la or similar

    • Ameowzon on 17/02/2020 - 21:54

      I'll be doing the Amtrak from Washington to New York. Any tips, or need-to-know?

      • Donaldhump on 19/02/2020 - 20:21

        not really just remember it was quite cheap, i guess just book in advance

  • sahh on 16/02/2020 - 14:05
    +2

    Highly recommend “sleep no more” immersive theatre experience in New York. Cost an arm and a leg but I thought it was worth it

    • dust on 16/02/2020 - 17:58
      +1

      +1

      If you go though, would recommend reading Macbeth beforehand and splitting up for your partner. Leads to a better experience and you can share different things that you saw!

    • Zazer on 17/02/2020 - 07:51

      Never seen this before, just looked it up and looks interesting! Not exactly sure what it is though, can you explain a bit?

      • sahh on 17/02/2020 - 08:28

        You’re in an old 3 level hotel converted to different “sets”, there are groups of actors performing different parts of a story in these sets (Minimal dialogue) and you watch them on the side - you wander around the building to watch other parts of the story so each persons experience will be different depending on where you go.

        A better explanation of it:
        https://sightdoing.net/sleep-no-more-explained/

        The experience goes for 3 hours and definitely wear sneakers or at least flat shoes!

  • pingualien on 16/02/2020 - 14:55

    watch hamilton

  • dust on 16/02/2020 - 17:58
    +2

    I was not a huge fan of Vegas. Would recommend spending more time in the nearby national parks instead (Zion, Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, Bryce Canyon).

    • matrix83 on 17/02/2020 - 08:02

      I agree 100%. Easy drive from Vegas to Zion.

  • billy3000 on 16/02/2020 - 19:25
    +1

    We had plans to drive one way from Vegas as well (to san Fran) . After much careful planning and car rental options it was just too risky and expensive with the insurance and cheaper to fly.. I think air Alaska Vegas to san Fran was $89 each. Also 2 nights in Vegas was well enough for me.. Good to go and see.. Certainly never again. Loved new York and will do some more + east coast on the next trip. Make sure you go to the met in new york!

    • DrRalph on 18/02/2020 - 16:22

      'After much careful planning and car rental options it was just too risky and expensive with the insurance and cheaper to fly.'

      You need to do some more research. Car hire in the US should be well under $100 per day including fuel and insurance.

      I've driven over 50,000 km in the last 10 years across the US, not at all sure how you define 'risk'.

  • BigBirdy on 17/02/2020 - 08:58
    +1

    Your itinerary sounds like … an American flying over Sydney to get to Perth for a few days, then flying to Sydney for a few days, then back to Perth, then flying over Sydney to return to America. See the problem?

    If you haven’t booked air tickets, why don’t you fly into one coast and out the other, with one directional flights across the country to connect them? If you’ve already booked to NY, spend your holiday around the east coast, with Atlantic City for the gambler, and save the west coast for a future trip.

  • offthetap on 17/02/2020 - 09:03

    if you're staying in Brooklyn head to a brewery called Other Half and sip on some of the most delicious IPA's and Hazy Beers in the world

  • Diji on 17/02/2020 - 09:23
    +2

    Trump tower

    • Ozpit on 17/02/2020 - 10:39
      -2

      Why stop there? Fly down to DC and knock on the White House door. You might get to shake the Don’s hand.

  • alexwar on 17/02/2020 - 11:32

    On NY:
    - High Line Walk
    - 911 Memorial and Museum
    - Brooklyn Bridge
    - Intrepid if you like planes
    - See a Broadway Show
    - Weather dependent (meaning how cold is in March) , hire a bike and go around Central Park

    • Ameowzon on 17/02/2020 - 21:58

      I have 11 full days in NY, living in southern Bronx. What's the best way to see New York? Subway? Sightseeing Pass? Hop-on/hop-off?

      • alexwar on 18/02/2020 - 16:18

        Google Maps and Subway, you can do everything using both

      • DrRalph on 18/02/2020 - 16:23
        +1

        Do NOT do this 'Hop-on/hop-off' Complete waste of time/money.

        Extremely easy to walk and use public transport and/or uber.

  • tulip99 on 17/02/2020 - 16:31

    Definitely go to Vegas. I've been a few times. If you're in the US and hubby really wants to go there, then go. There's tons of things to do there even if you don't gamble. I would recommend a Strip hotel, not downtown/Fremont St but it depends how much gambling he wants to do as minimum bets are usually lower in the downtown casinos. You can catch a bus from downtown to the Strip or Uber/Lyft/Taxi.

    I loved staying at the Luxor last time but that was years ago. The breakfast buffet at Golden Nugget was amazing but the lunchtime buffet was mostly leftovers from breakfast.

  • TransportPosters on 17/02/2020 - 23:24

    If you pass through West Chester, PA, check out the American Helicopter Museum. That is amazing, if you or your hubby are into helicopters at all. Probably not.

    http://americanhelicopter.museum/

  • coochiechic on 20/09/2020 - 13:19

    More than six months since I posted this and now it's all just a bit of a hopeless dream thanks to covid and unrest in the USA.
    We were soooo excited :(

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