[tekno]

Hey

I'm considering travelling from San Francisco to New York via Chicago and was wondering if anyone has done this before?

I plan on having £2K for 1 month with some travelling in California. Would this be enough bearing in mind that I will be backpacking and not looking to lead a lavish lifestyle when out there.

Cheers

[M4LLY]

Sounds about right (although get at least a couple hundred more as an 'emergency fund' should anything go horribly worng on your journey.

[Bellissima]

also think about couchsurfers.com for accomodation!!!!

[No Man]

(Original post by tekno)
Hey

I'm considering travelling from San Francisco to New York via Chicago and was wondering if anyone has done this before?

I plan on having £2K for 1 month with some travelling in California. Would this be enough bearing in mind that I will be backpacking and not looking to lead a lavish lifestyle when out there.

Cheers

How are you traveling from Chicago to New York? Because apart from the Appalachians, there's nothing between those two places.

[tekno]

(Original post by No Man)
How are you traveling from Chicago to New York? Because apart from the Appalachians, there's nothing between those two places.

I'd fly probably. Would be hoping to use AmTrak from San Fran to Chicago though.

[navarre]

You're skipping the South West? Are you nuts?

California, Arizona and Nevada are beautiful states with a great deal to see and do in them. Texas is also a must do (though I appreciate it's rather out the way for someone travelling to Chicago).

[fiona344]

(Original post by No Man)
How are you traveling from Chicago to New York? Because apart from the Appalachians, there's nothing between those two places.

Are you kidding? The North East is the most densely populated region, there's loads to see there, depends what you want to see. Besides the Rockies what is there between San Fransisco and Chicago? It's a long way through mostly flat plains from Northern California - Chicago.

EG from Chicago the next state over is Indianna, home to the Indy 500 race, Michigan has car museums, also a nice place to chill at one of the lakes, Ohio is home to the biggest and best amusement park in the world. If you're there in Autumn, watching a collage football game would be a great, authentic American experience, and it's pretty popular in this area. Going eastwards from here veer north to go via Niagara Falls, or south via pittsburg; home to Andy Warhol and close to Falling Water, Central Pennslyvania is Amish country, Philadelphia is very historic.

OP those are amazing cities you've picked! $2k should be enough for a decent month in the US.

[michaelo]

I'm planning NYC- Chicago- Denver- San Francisco- L.A. via amtrak next year. canny wait!

[tekno]

(Original post by michaelo)
I'm planning NYC- Chicago- Denver- San Francisco- L.A. via amtrak next year. canny wait!

Hey man. That's pretty similar to what I'm looking to do although in the opposite direction. How long will you be travelling for and what sort of budget have you got in mind?

[michaelo]

This is a really rough idea that i sort of came up with a couple of weeks agp when talking to some other people...

Flights; multi city will from Heathrow(just an example i live in yorkshire btw) to New York then LA to Heathrow will cost us no more than $750

Trains; About $500 but hopefully less with the student card thing

Accommodation; Hostels vary from $30 to $50 depending on the city we go to. Lets say 40 nights at $40 thats $1600

Everyday costs; I have seen a figure which says bare minimum of $25-35, but i would suggest about $50-80. If we can cook on our own food on the most part this will save a lot of money. Plus some days we may just chill and just eat and walk around and just explore, other days we might wanna do some expensive stuff so lets say average of $60 so about $2400

Going for approx six weeks and that comes to £3300, but i'm pretty sure i haveoverestimated the hostels and general day to day costs

[tekno]

(Original post by michaelo)
This is a really rough idea that i sort of came up with a couple of weeks agp when talking to some other people...

Flights; multi city will from Heathrow(just an example i live in yorkshire btw) to New York then LA to Heathrow will cost us no more than $750

Trains; About $500 but hopefully less with the student card thing

Accommodation; Hostels vary from $30 to $50 depending on the city we go to. Lets say 40 nights at $40 thats $1600

Everyday costs; I have seen a figure which says bare minimum of $25-35, but i would suggest about $50-80. If we can cook on our own food on the most part this will save a lot of money. Plus some days we may just chill and just eat and walk around and just explore, other days we might wanna do some expensive stuff so lets say average of $60 so about $2400

Going for approx six weeks and that comes to £3300, but i'm pretty sure i haveoverestimated the hostels and general day to day costs

I priced a return flight from Dublin to NY at £500, a flight to LA at around $100 and an AmTrak ticket at about £350. Would be aiming to bring as much spending money as possible but say £2000 = $3200, which works out at $76 a day for accomodation, food and activities. It would be such an adventure!

[michaelo]

i know man!!

how old are you and when you going??

[ctilley]

(Original post by navarre)
You're skipping the South West? Are you nuts?

California, Arizona and Nevada are beautiful states with a great deal to see and do in them. Texas is also a must do (though I appreciate it's rather out the way for someone traveling to Chicago).

I agree! if you are in California its a no brainer to see Arizona, Nevada, etc! there are really cheap ways to do it on a budget-check out this company Go Trek USA they do really cheap short trips of this area-super fun!

hope this helps!