: USA Holiday – What is cheapest option for accommodation and travel between cities?
I am planning a trip to the US. I am a student and have a tight budget. What are the cheapest accommodation options and also the cheapest ways to travel between cities?
Answers and Views:
Answer by Art Vandelay
you can find hostels in some of your bigger cities, but i would suggest you book those before heading out, otherwise bring a small tent and take advantage of some of the campgrounds across the country. cheapest way to travel is by bus, but even that isnt so cheap anymore.
hostelworld.com and hostelbookers.com are useful websites for finding and booking beds in youth hostels just about anywhere. Unfortunately hostels seem to be a bit sparser in the US than in some other countries, but you should definitely be able to find places in major cities, and a fair number of other spots along the way. Motel 6 is generally the cheapest national chain, and websites such as priceline.com can be useful for finding good deals on hotels.
Greyhound (greyhound.com) is the largest bus company in the US and can generally get you from point A to point B pretty cheaply. Southwest Airlines (Southwestairlines.com) is the major US low cost airline–it’s also worth checking out yahoo travel to search for cheap flights. Amtrak (amtrak.com) is the major national rail service.
STA Travel (statravel.com) can also be a useful resource.
Answer by Tiayou will have to look online and in travel agents for a good deal. good luckAnswer by NOLA guy
Other answers are correct and hostels are not as common or usually as good in the USA as in Europe, but they do exist and this is an example:
https://www.indiahousehostel.com/
There are low cost hotels and motels in most places. Check sites like TripAdviser for guest ratings & comments.
Consider joining SERVAS, which offers vetted local contacts in many places and can be an alternative to staying in hostels/hotels:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Servas_Open_Doors
Both Greyhound (bus) and AmTrak (train) offer passes.Greyhoundd goes to many more locations than AmTrak, but the bus is not a comfortable way to travel long distances so plan your trip in segments:
https://www.greyhound.com/
https://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak/HomePage
Citizens of about 35 countries can travel to the USA for up to 90 days at a time as a tourist or for some business purposes by registering for ESTA > before < their trip begins. The cost is US$ 14, which is similar to the fee for Australian ETA program.
https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/
https://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/without/without_1990.html
Registering is accomplished online, you don't need the details of your trip, and the confirmation is valid for multiple trips to the USA over two (2) years so don't wait until the last minute.
Print the confirmation – or at least record the number – and keep the information with your passport. Having a return or onward ticket leaving North America is a requirement, so have a copy of your airline itinerary at passport control.
Check with your health insurance to find out if it covers you in the USA. If yes then take proof of coverage with you. If no or not sure then get trip medical insurance, which is cheap and sold by airlines & travel agents. The USA has wonderful medical care but it isn't free or even cheap. Please do not skimp on this as an otherwise-silly accident could turn into a crisis if you don't have medical insurance.
If you are planning a long visit then DON'T schedule your departure day for the 90th day (any part of a day in the USA counts as a whole day, so if you arrive at 23:59h on the 1st and leave at 00:01h on the 10th it is 10 days in the USA). Schedule your departure not later than the 88th day as there are no (zero) provisions in the Visa Waiver Program for someone to voluntarily extend their stay. If you miss your flight due to something Immigration might consider avoidable (ex. flat tire on the way to the airport) they may ban you from using the VWP in the future.
Answer by .1) Motel
2) Driving
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