What to do and not do when traveling to American from Australia?
Posted by Little-bigfun@reddit | AskAnAmerican | View on Reddit | 148 comments
Hi we will be traveling to the US 2 weeks min. We need day to get to Dallas (about a 15 hour non stop flight) Two days there. Transit to Cleveland. 3 day festival and then to New York for 4 days, fly to LA, 3 days. 1 day back flying to Australia. Anyone have any tips on traveling? What do we tip? Best places to eat? Best places to see in the locations? What not to do? What to avoid? Thank you
Laughingfoxcreates@reddit
Cleveland? Really?
Little-bigfun@reddit (OP)
No good? Haha
Laughingfoxcreates@reddit
Just kind of surprised lol.
evergladescowboy@reddit
Concur, of all the cities one could visit they elect to visit Cleveland?
Little-bigfun@reddit (OP)
Partner likes heavy music and there’s a festival there with his favorite bands lol
Laughingfoxcreates@reddit
Fair enough. How do you feel about flaming bodies of water?
Little-bigfun@reddit (OP)
I tend to stay away from the moshing lol
Laughingfoxcreates@reddit
Could be a rock and roll fan. Or like burning rivers. 🤷♀️
BionicGimpster@reddit
Are there specific things you’re hoping to see in Texas, Cleveland (festival?) , NYC or LA? It’s a lot of travel compared to time on the ground. What time of year are you traveling? One of the things my Aussie coworkers loved to see was college sports- especially college football. It was a culture shock.
Little-bigfun@reddit (OP)
Thanks we would love to see college football but we going mid July
BionicGimpster@reddit
You might enjoy a MLB game if the Texas Rangers are in town. Not quite the same as college football, but could be a good time.
Other than that, and going to see a Rodeo, I personally see no reason for Dallas. I’d fly in to LA. Then La to Cleveland. LA is cool if you like Hollywood type stuff or want to hit a theme park. You could also drive to Vegas (4 hr drive) and the Grand Canyon (another 4 hr drive).
NYC has everything except outdoor adventures. Broadway, great restaurants, museums, etc.
coysbville@reddit
We definitely have those though. I feel like most New Yorkers spend more time outside than pretty much any other city. If you mean nature, we have Van Cortlandt Park, Forrest Hill, Inwood Hill, Rockaway Beach. Coney Island, and if that's not enough for you, the metro north will get you upstate in 30 minutes, and the LIRR to Long Island in less for more secluded vibes, but Van Cortlandt is mad secluded the further in you go
coysbville@reddit
You'll be in the middle of the MLB and MLS seasons, so if you like baseball or soccer, you could catch that. Dallas has the Rangers and FC Dallas. NYC has the Yankees, the Mets, Redbull NY (though they play in the NY metro area in Jersey), and NYCFC. LA has the Dodgers (current World Series champs), LAFC, and LA Galaxy. Cleveland has the Guardians
Katdai2@reddit
Americans do not use the c-word and find it highly offensive.
Most of us don’t know the “Seppo” thing and when you explain it to us, we mostly just think it’s dumb.
Australia is only a little bit larger than the continental US, which maybe helps give context to why everyone is suggesting you eliminate at least one city from your trip. A lot of hotels and car rentals do not like to rent to those under 25, so decide if that will be a problem.
coysbville@reddit
From my experience, oh yes we do, but obviously it can be taken with offense if the room is read incorrectly. There is a time, a place, and people for everything
Elegant_Bluebird_460@reddit
That's an ambitious schedule. I would highly suggest sticking with one or two cities. You won't be able to explore much with so little time, and you are going to be exhausted. You could easily spend 2 weeks in NYC without getting a good handle on the area.
Tip 20% at seated restaurants, taxis, and bartenders. A couple dollars is fine for coffee or counter service.
Little-bigfun@reddit (OP)
Ok Sydney to Dallas is most affordable and one flight. And the festival tickets already booked. So is LA or NYC more worth it?
Elegant_Bluebird_460@reddit
NYC for sure. You would certainly be able to have a good time in LA but NYC has everything in the world right at your fingertips. You will be able to explore more of American culture and food. And you can do it all on public transportation without fighting the infamous traffic situation in LA.
I would look into seeing something on Broadway, or any other live entertainment. You will have near endless options.
Puzzleheaded-Jury312@reddit
NYC has mountains and deserts now? Damn, how did I miss that? 🤨
payscottg@reddit
Ah yes, the desert. The thing Australians come to America and are dying to see
Puzzleheaded-Jury312@reddit
Spoken like someone who has never actually seen a desert.
Dandylion71888@reddit
Australia has deserts though…
Puzzleheaded-Jury312@reddit
Yes, it does. How silly to think that someone from Australia might be interested in the differences.
Dandylion71888@reddit
Look they can only choose one. I would choose NY and the east coast any day over LA that’s the argument the other person was making. There is significantly more to do. I’ve lived in NY, grew up going there regularly and still have done everything I want to do both in the city and state. I’m good on LA though. Would rather go other places either in the US or abroad for mountains and desert.
Puzzleheaded-Jury312@reddit
I've lived in both NY and CA. If they can only choose one, I'd do west coast any day. This is where we just disagree.
Dandylion71888@reddit
They’re already going Dallas to Cleveland. Why go all the way across the country to the west coast to LA and lose a ton of time when they aren’t flying out of the west coast. Logistically it makes 0 sense. NY is much closer and has options for stops in between vs LA that they would realistically have to fly and it would take them longer to fly to including airport time than it would to just rent a car to NY.
Puzzleheaded-Jury312@reddit
Yeah, such a huge time difference flying to LA that they should just rent a car and drive from Cleveland to NYC instead. Totally makes sense.
payscottg@reddit
Cleveland to NYC is a 7 hour drive vs a direct flight from Cleveland to LA is 5-7 hours. And that’s just the time in the air.
Puzzleheaded-Jury312@reddit
Those times are... optimistic. Driving 450 miles in 7 hours vs flying 5 hours is pretty much a wash.
payscottg@reddit
That’s 5 hours in the air. And that was the lowest number I could find. If you’re getting to the airport at the recommended two hours ahead of time, plus the time it takes to deplane and get out of the airport, then finding transportation to wherever you’re going you’re looking at an 8 hour travel time assuming you get the quickest flight and there are no delays.
Dandylion71888@reddit
So including airport time they can spend min 8 hours flying to LA or spend the same time driving to NY and be able to stop at cool places along the way. They could fly to NY as well, that would be 4 hours less time spent in transit.
My goodness I would never want to be on a trip you’re planning. Lot of wasted time because of nonsensical preferences.
Puzzleheaded-Jury312@reddit
I wouldn't want to be on yours, either, sweetie. As for preferences, you get the meaning of the word, right?
Dandylion71888@reddit
I do. Doesn’t mean they aren’t nonsense.
Zoe_118@reddit
How about being constructive instead of acting like a child? Give reasons why you think OP should visit LA instead of NYC. Valid ones, not "deserts and mountains"
payscottg@reddit
I think deserts are great, but probably not what someone coming from a country that’s 35% is looking to see
Puzzleheaded-Jury312@reddit
Maybe, maybe not. You sorta skipped the mountain thing, though.
Nothing wrong with NYC, it's just not all of the US.
ABelleWriter@reddit
The Catskills are only 100 miles from NYC. Depending on roads/speed limits that is about 2.5 hours. Someone could make that round trip drive and get in a good day there in one day.
NYC is an excellent choice
payscottg@reddit
Because it was more concise and funnier.
No one is saying NYC is all of the US, but if OP is planning on visiting the US and has to pick between LA and NYC, NYC is going to be the more unique experience
Puzzleheaded-Jury312@reddit
Elegant_bluebird said exactly that, actually, which was a big part of my point.
CinderRL@reddit
I would second this. You can explore so much of NYC using public transit fairly quickly. In LA it is more spread out and takes a long time to get around.
battlebarnacle@reddit
Agreed.
Next time come to California. You can make a whole vacation out of California - wine country, LA, San Fran, beaches, mountains, forests, etc… maybe a slog to Las Vegas, Nevada if that is your thing.
Little-bigfun@reddit (OP)
Oh yes so keen on Boradway. I think NYV is the pick. Thank you
LamesMcGee@reddit
LA is a very influential city, but as far as tourism and the amount of stuff to do you'll want to spend as much time in NYC as possible.
TheBimpo@reddit
Right, but then you're flying again to get to Cleveland. What about flying to Chicago? Chicago is a wonderful place to visit and you could take a train or cheap+short flight to Cleveland.
SumpCrab@reddit
NYC. No question.
CPolland12@reddit
While in Dallas, eat Texas bbq, tex mex, and Mexican food.
NYC is easier to get around and see more than LA, so I would spend more time there.
GOTaSMALL1@reddit
Why are you coming and what do you like to do?
We have lots of options and this will help us narrow it down.
I mean... I'd recommend you fly to LA... Rent motorcycles and spend a few weeks riding around the West, seeing Natl Parks and sleeping in the dirt. But that's what I like so probably not a lot of help.
Little-bigfun@reddit (OP)
Well we are going to see a music festival but I would like to see the great sights like Niagara Falls and love history. You guys have some cool civil war history. But also want to see the lights of NYC and see a broadway show.
Dandylion71888@reddit
Niagara Falls is nowhere near NYC (the NY side of the falls which isn’t nearly as good as the Canadian side). It’s a 6.5 hour drive without traffic and stops from Manhattan or 3+ hours from Cleveland but is not in the direction of NYC so you’re adding more time to your trip.
Look at a map, really plan how you’re getting from sleep destination to sleep destination and time it will take. Then from there, you can plan what to see based on proximity. Don’t just assume things are close because they’re in the same state.
Jafffy1@reddit
There is always traffic. Particularly anywhere NYC. Fly or take a train to NYC.
Dandylion71888@reddit
Or return the car outside of NYC and take the train in the rest of the way.
Jafffy1@reddit
Without a doubt!
You do not want to drive in Manhattan EVER.
Dandylion71888@reddit
Yeah it’s not my favorite thing to do. I’m from the Northeast so I’ve done it plenty but my recommendation was more about going to see different things and utilizing time more wisely.
curlyhead2320@reddit
True, Niagara Falls is a bit out of the way because you have to head a little north, but it only adds about 2 hours compared to driving directly from Cleveland to NYC. 7.5hrs direct vs 9.5hrs by way of Niagara Falls (traffic and rest stop free). Not bad at all if it’s something they really want to see.
Dandylion71888@reddit
Yeah, fair point. They should still map everything out, I think maps make everything seem closer than it is until you plan actual transit.
Jafffy1@reddit
Niagara Falls is amazing but it is a rather bleak poor area particularly the American side. NYC is both the greatest and worst city in the world. Definitely go but find a tour group to see all the sights in a short time.
If you like civil war history you will mostly out of luck in Cleveland and New York. I would recommend Washington DC and Gettysburg for a civil war buff. Boston Massachusetts is THE city for revolutionary war buffs. Both are “smaller” cities and are much easier to see the sights. Dallas isn’t really a tourist destination, I think even Texans would agree, go to San Antonio or Austin.
Avoid driving as much as possible, the American interstate system is kinda boring after a few hours and traffic is insane. Fly from Cleveland to Niagara Falls, then fly to NYC. Don’t waste time in a car. Have a great time. And embrace the tourist traps you will encounter.
evergladescowboy@reddit
Most of the Civil War happened several hundred miles away from where you’re intending to go. Truthfully I’d consider touring battlefields to be a much better use of time than getting mugged and stabbed in an urban shithole so I’d revamp the trip to focus on that, but you do you.
GOTaSMALL1@reddit
So the festival is in Texas or is that why you're going to Cleveland? If Texas... My suggestion would be to forego Cleveland and just spend the time on the NE coast. See some historical sites, maybe another historical kinda City (Philly or Boston I'm thinking) and go to NYC to soak it in and see a show.
Not being an East Coaster that's not my wheelhouse... But the general advice is to tighten up your destinations as much as possible so you can road trip or take a train.
Youve seen the inside of an airplane. Don't spend your time here doing more of that.
Good luck and have fun!!
tsukiii@reddit
Have you already bought your tickets for everything? That’s a lot of time spent in trains/airports/planes. I’d recommend going fewer places and taking more time to explore in each. Like maybe just the festival and NYC/surrounding areas.
Little-bigfun@reddit (OP)
N we haven’t. Thank you. NYC more worth it than LA?
tsukiii@reddit
NYC is a significantly shorter flight from Cleveland, and you’ll never run out of things to do there. I’m a West Coaster and I like LA, but not enough to do a cross-country flight in the middle of a vacation for it.
tee2green@reddit
I think they’ll have to do NYC to LA on their way back anyway.
maxman1313@reddit
But their time will just be the layover time, not the several hours entering/leaving LAX, plus the transit time travelling to and from their lodging, that's a half day each direction, cutting a day off of their 3 day time frame.
tee2green@reddit
I see your point. I also think there’s an itch to visit a place and set your own eyes on it so you can give it a fair opinion.
Plus I hate NYC so I would still recommend a couple days elsewhere. Maybe Boston or DC.
mayoneggz@reddit
As someone who lived in LA for 8 years, I also agree. Go see NYC.
Los Angeles is cool and has a lot to offer, but it’s not great to visit if you have limited time. The best stuff is really spread out and you are almost obligated to rent a car.
cathedralproject@reddit
California is great, I was born and raised there, but it feels more similar to Australia in many ways. NYC and New England might feel more different for you guys.
CupBeEmpty@reddit
It’s more about limiting travel time. NYC is a short flight from Cleveland and you will definitely not run out of things to do there.
I’d mostly be worried you’ll get rushed or burnt out from constant traveling. Spend some time in one place.
G00dSh0tJans0n@reddit
Well in my opinion NYC and LA are way over rated and I hope to never have to go to either again but if that's your thing then you might like it. NYC to LA is an all day or all night flight so you lose a whole day of vacation doing that (all day once you factor in time spent getting to airport, security, waiting, luggage, etc.)
MorkAndMindie@reddit
NYC is easily better than LA, IMO
SemanticPedantic007@reddit
You can't fly directly from Australia to that part of the USA, it's apparently too far. You can do the West Coast or Texas.
tsukiii@reddit
Connecting flights exist.
moonwalkinginlowes@reddit
The post says it’s a “non-stop” flight.
molten_dragon@reddit
I'm not sure why people are downvoting you. You're right, there aren't nonstop flights from Australia to the US east coast.
unique2alreadytakn@reddit
Similar to an american flying to perth, then cairns, then brisbane, then back to perth. Both countries are big.
btmg1428@reddit
You know your itinerary is borne out of naïveté if two days in Sydney, transit to Cairns to stay there for 3 days, then to Perth for 4 days, and then to Melbourne for 3 days sounds ridiculous to you.
Just to give you an idea of what you're working with, the distance from San Diego to Washington, DC is equivalent to the distance from Perth to Brisbane.
TsundereLoliDragon@reddit
Uhh...sure it's not too late to ditch Cleveland and Dallas?
MCM_Airbnb_Host@reddit
Just got back to Chicago from a work trip to Dallas. It is just about the last city I would recommend to someone visiting from over seas.
MCM_Airbnb_Host@reddit
Skip Dalas entirely.
Roid_Assassin@reddit
By LA do you mean Los Angeles or Louisiana?
If Los Angeles - Universal Studios is better than Disneyland. If you like casual activities, when my mom and I took a trip there we rented bikes and rode them along the bike trails that go along the beach, then stopped to see the “Venice” neighborhood with canals everywhere, there were lots of places where people were skating and stuff too if you like that.
Tip 20% of the bill as standard at a sit down restaurant - anything where you sit down, they take your order, wait on you, and give you a check after you leave. More than 20% is great service. If they give unapologetically bad service you can tip less than 20%. Giving no tip is only appropriate if the server called you fat and hacked a loogie in your food.
If you pay for food as soon as you order it, you do NOT need to leave a tip. There will usually be a tip option on the screen but it is NOT offensive to not get one as the workers are making at least minimum wage without tips.
You should google how to tip at hotels since that all depends on what services you’re getting and how fancy of a hotel it is.
BuildNuyTheUrbanGuy@reddit
No one means Louisiana when they say LA.
curlyhead2320@reddit
Is there a specific reason you’re going to Dallas? Family or an event? If not I would cut that out and fly directly to Cleveland or NYC. 5 days NYC and 4 days LA, or vice versa. 3 locations is more manageable than 4.
FYI last summer I did a 17 day trip to Italy, covered 5 cities/locations with 3-4 nights in each place and it was great but absolutely exhausting. Plan in some down time or relaxing activities, if you’re running around on your feet all day you’ll be dead tired.
Little-bigfun@reddit (OP)
For some reason Qantas flies directly from Sydney to Dallas and for some reason it showing way cheaper than Sydney to LA. Plus I thought would be cool to see Texas as something different? Is LA worth the extra amount?
TillPsychological351@reddit
My perception of the Dallas metro area (admittedly, maybe a little out of date, I was last there in 2010) is that much of it looks like it was built last week. It looked nice, but in a "nice to live there" kind of way, not "nice to visit", particularly if you don't have a car. It probably looks nothing like the Texas of your imagination.
But I guess if Dallas was your best airline option, you could make it work.
Little-bigfun@reddit (OP)
I guess I was just imagining cow boy hats and country music with line dancing 🤣
moonwalkinginlowes@reddit
Oh yeah Dallas will be disappointing then haha
TillPsychological351@reddit
More like sprawling modern suburbs and corporate campuses.
moonwalkinginlowes@reddit
Dallas isn’t the Texas you’ll want to see
tee2green@reddit
Dallas is an extremely boring city. It’s basically a commercial area in the middle of a flat, humid forest. I don’t think you’re going to find much history or culture there.
Austin is a much more interesting city in TX. Or if you must do the Dallas area for some reason, Ft. Worth is a better version of Dallas.
payscottg@reddit
If you want to see Texas, Dallas would not be first on my list. It might be more “quintessentially Texan” but San Antonio, Austin and even Houston are much more tourist-friendly Texas cities in my opinion.
Also, you say it’s “cheaper” to fly to Dallas but is that taking into account whatever method of travel you’re using to get from Dallas to Cleveland? I assume you must be driving or taking a train (is there a train that even goes from Dallas to Cleveland??). But that’s a long trip. That’s a whole lost day right there
superkt3@reddit
I think the issue is there are no direct flights from Australia to Cleveland, so they have to either fly to Dallas or LA and navigate on from there.
curlyhead2320@reddit
NYC recommendations: The Statue of Liberty. Times Square. See a Broadway show if you’re into that. The Met or MOMA if you’re into museums (the Guggenheim is smaller but also has a nice collection and architecture). In the summer (I think May-Sept?) the Met rooftop is open with an exhibit and has great views, included with admission fee. Central Park - if you do see the Met (which is located on the eastern edge of the park), you can walk from there down to the southern edge (30-45min) - pass by the Lake - which has paddle boats for rent - and Bethesda fountain, and along the Mall. I also love the Ramble, a wooded area with just north of the Lake with twisting paths and benches along the lake shore - doesn’t even feel like you’re in a city. The High Line is a nice walk along converted elevated train tracks, and starts by the Vessel in Hudson Yards. If you’re into shopping Fifth Ave especially around Rockefeller Center has tons of flagship stores, SoHo has more a more boutique vibe.
curlyhead2320@reddit
I’ve never been to Dallas or Texas. If it was me I’d spend the 2 days elsewhere unless there’s something specific you want to see. The barbecue and Tex-mex would be great. But you can also get Tex-mex in LA. At least with this list of Dallas tourist attractions, you can find comparable things in NY or LA unless you’re into JFK or cattle sculptures.
Scrappy_The_Crow@reddit
The point about eliminating Dallas is that it's 1,200 miles (1930 km) between Dallas and Cleveland. You'll either have to pay for a flight and spend a day traveling or rent a car and spend two days driving.
Kwitt319908@reddit
Cleveland is a fun city! Clevelander here! You will get a semi-big city feel, without the size of Chicago or NYC. There is plenty to do. Rock and Roll HOF, Art Museum, Little Italy, Lake Erie etc. If you are going in the summer be sure to go to the Botanical Gardens. Also get tickets to the Guardians (baseball team). Akron (Lebron James's hometown) is about 40 min away. You can hit up Stan Hywet which is amazing! I am not as familiar with the restaurant scene anymore in Cle, but you will find lots of luck on google I am sure.
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Boogerchair@reddit
This is a horrible idea
Little-bigfun@reddit (OP)
Why?!!
Boogerchair@reddit
You’re doing way too much. And I also get the idea from your itinerary that you don’t realize there are way more things to do and experience in the US than you think.
As much as Americans get chastised for not knowing the features of other countries, I’ve never once travel somewhere and thought I could see it all in a few weeks. Pick a general area or two at most and find the things that interest you there.
Little-bigfun@reddit (OP)
Think we will just go to LA, Cleveland then drive to NY and try see Niagara Falls :)
moonwalkinginlowes@reddit
Niagara Falls from the American side is not worth the trip. The Canadian view is way prettier.
Kwitt319908@reddit
Cleveland to Niagra isn't bad its about 4 hours. Keep in mind Niagara and NYC are like 6 hours apart. So it may not be doable in a day.
LordDarry@reddit
Niagara falls is about a 7 hour drive from NYC. Cleveland to NYC is a full day.
TheBimpo@reddit
It's a full day's drive from Cleveland to NYC. You also want to dump the rental car as soon as you hit NYC, don't try to keep the car while visiting the city. Driving is a nightmare, parking is extremely expensive.
another_throwaway_24@reddit
Not to mention Niagara falls is nowhere near NYC and you'd need a car to get up there
capsrock02@reddit
You do know NYC to LA is a 6 hour flight, right?
AKA_June_Monroe@reddit
I know Australia and the US are almost the same size but Americas population now more spread out.
https://thetruesize.com
Do you really have to go to Dallas? Why not fly into NYC, head west and fly out from LA? You could spend 4 days in each place might be more doable.
HardyMenace@reddit
I'm a big fan of trying out local fast food (Supermac's is the current 1st place holder) when I travel, but I've found from people I've talked to visiting NYC that they hate American cuisine, but they only eat at Applebee's, Chipotle, Hard Rock Cafe, etc... Branch out, go down some side streets, don't be afraid to ask for suggestions. I spent two weeks in Belgium recently and 90% of the time I didn't leave Brussels. I found absolutely amazing restaurants, cafes, and breweries outside of the touristy areas and I feel like I didn't even scratch the surface.
sweetEVILone@reddit
Don’t holler the word “c u n t” in public. I know y’all use that like we use the f-bomb but you’d get nasty looks in the US
rawbface@reddit
Another awful vacation with nothing but transit. You guys should just let us plan your trips. This itinerary is nothing but diesel and stress.
Appropriate-Food1757@reddit
Tip the waiters 20 percent. Tip valet 10-20 bucks should the need arise, they take Venmo usually. Tio the bellman at the hotel like 10 bucks if you use one for luggage. Tip curbside check in by at the airport if you use one 5-10. Tip Uber drivers and food delivery people too. Nobody else needs a tip.
Where to eat in LA and NY and what to see there is tough. There’s just a lot there. In Dallas I would check out Fort Worth and the stockyards for some cowboy action one day. Go to Billy Bobs for drinks it’s the “World’s Largest Honky Tonk” and has an indoor rodeo arena.
BakedBrie26@reddit
Tipping
20% of subtotal at restaurants and bars $1-2 at coffeeshops if they make your drink 10-15% to cab drivers 15-20% to nail techs, hair stylists, massage therapists, and similar
Ignore pretty much any other thing that asks you to tip. Just because contactless asks for a tip, doesn't mean you have to. The ones above are expected at this point. A tip at a corner store, just click skip.
20% is just moving the decimal place to the left one and doubling it
That is a lot of traveling across the country. You really packed it in.
Only 4 days in NYC and 3 in LA is gonna be tight, so it really depends on whether you want to hit the big tourist spots or do something else in these places. You don't really have time for both.
NYC is dense and LA is spread out so it would be helpful if you mentioned the areas of these cities that you will be in.
As for Cleveland, seems like you won't be in town much, but I do like the Art Museum and you can get a hotdog with bechamel sauce and fruit loops on it at Happy Dog.
WoodyM654@reddit
Love the Happy Dog shout out! I’ve played there a couple times, and had ridiculous hot dogs of course.
Puzzleheaded-Jury312@reddit
The Cleveland Museum of Art is totally worth it. We also have some pretty awesome historical sites and Metroparks, depending on when OP is coming.
That said, the LA area is a whole other thing; with beaches, cities, desert and mountains all within a few hours drive. I think it would be hard to do LA and NYC on the same trip, and do justice to either.
Special note for OP - Outside of fast food (and fine dining), the portions served in US restaraunts are huge compared to Australia. At any sit down restaraunt, maybe get an appetizer to share and split an entree. You can always order more food.
ZaphodG@reddit
Driving on the left side of the road would be bad.
Not tipping in a bar or restaurant and then going back the next day would be bad. “Bartender. This beer tastes like piss.” “That’s because we pissed in it.” — Cheech Marin movie quote in Desperado.
dwintaylor@reddit
MTA App, download it now, it will make traveling around using the subway so much easier. You don’t even need the address of the place you’re going to, just input the name, it will add walking directions to/from the closest subway stop. It will also offer you a few different options with travel times. I never got lost using it.
G00dSh0tJans0n@reddit
Make sure you tip 20% for bartenders, waitstaff, taxi/Uber.
MushroomPizaz@reddit
Are you going to Ink?
Little-bigfun@reddit (OP)
Yes. 🙌
TheBimpo@reddit
Keep in mind that the festival is more than an hour away from Cleveland, it's not even in the Cleveland metro area. Traffic and getting into the venue will add more time, plan on at least 2 hours if not more.
You'll want to use the festival website for advice on lodging, you do not want to be heading back to downtown Cleveland after spending all day at a festival.
RazorRamonio@reddit
Personally, I think you’re doing too much. That’s a lot of travel + all the things associated with it.
Little-bigfun@reddit (OP)
What do you recommend as we would be flying from Sydney to Dallas and then have a festival is Cleveland my husband says is a non negotiable lol I want to see a good city. What’s Dallas like?
RazorRamonio@reddit
Dallas is aight. It’s a tri city metro, but there’s not much in the way of nightlife as of my last visit a couple years ago. Honestly, I’m from CA, but I would probably cut out the LA portion unless there’s something specific you’re going there for. I mean, your itinerary is entirely doable. It’s just that’s a lot of travel, and that can be stressful.
Little-bigfun@reddit (OP)
Thanks we are going to cut out LA and just do NYC. So happy I asked on here before booking lol
TheBimpo@reddit
You don't need to stay in NYC the entire time. It's a short and cheap train ride to Philly, Boston, DC, etc from there. You'd be cheating yourself to spend 7-10 days in NYC and not bother jumping an hour train to hit another city.
Doing NY and LA is like doing Sydney and Perth.
Oliver_Dixon@reddit
Dallas has night life
RazorRamonio@reddit
Next time just come to California and spend 10 days here. Won’t be long enough, but you could get a lot done.
The_Real_Scrotus@reddit
If Dallas and Cleveland are nonnegotiable then I'd maybe do NYC as your third location and skip LA. Cleveland to NYC isn't too bad, you could even drive it and do a short road trip if you wanted. Gettysburg isn't far out of the way and neither are Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.
Little-bigfun@reddit (OP)
Thanks this is a good idea I guess we lose a day at the airport anyway might as well see some sights!
Jujubeee73@reddit
Look up recommendations for how far in advance to get to the airport when leaving the US. For bigger airports, some recommend to arrive 2+ hours before your flight, sometimes longer for international flights. I’m not familiar with Dallas’ airport recommendations, so look them up.
Tip at restaurants. 20% is standard. You don’t have to tip anywhere else even if a screen at checkout asks for a tip.
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Patient_Number_4922@reddit
This sounds absolutely exhausting. I would not do this route.
Colseldra@reddit
I would not do that, you can spend a huge amount of time in one area
If you're rich and don't care go for it, but I wouldn't do east coast and west coast on the same vacation
I'd suggest checking out the national parks rather than the cities
There are some cool looking environments and it's cheap asf besides the travel
MrLongWalk@reddit
Do not lecture the locals, most of what you think you know about us does not reflect reality.
Do not just eat McDonalds and gas station food and then bitch about the quality of American cuisine.
NotZombieJustGinger@reddit
Do LA or NYC but I’m gonna beg you not to do both. It doesn’t matter that you extended your time by a couple days. Doing both is a truly terrible idea.
If, and only if, you guys love scenic drives and can afford to rent a nice car: go to LA. I’m from there and while I personally love LA and have a ton of favorite spots, it’s just not great for tourists because there is so much driving. If you love insanely scenic drives though, it could absolutely be worth a couple day trip driving up and down the coast, through the mountains, and stopping at a couple nice places.
On the other hand, if you want to see a lot of stuff, whether that’s touristy famous stuff or cool museums and shops, go to NYC. Because of the transit system and the geography, it’s just more conducive to a short trip.
bonzai113@reddit
Avoid discussions about politics and religion. People get too heated about both and it’s a good way to ruin a good trip.
PremeTeamTX@reddit
20-25% for bartenders and servers. If you go to a BBQ place around Dallas, tip the counter folks there, too. A few places I'd suggest for food would include Hurtado BBQ in Arlington or Zavalas BBQ in Grand Prairie, Rodeo Goat(burger joint) in the Design District, Jimmy's Italian Grocery(sandwiches) in East Dallas, and Lucia (Italian). For a few things to check out around town, the Holocaust museum, art museum, book observatory (JFK), a Stars or Rangers game(depending on when you're coming in). If you wanna make the fairly short jaunt out to Ft. Worth, the stockyards, zoo, and Billy Bobs. Something to avoid, Deep Ellum past 10.
coysbville@reddit
I'm confused why you wouldn't fly to LA first, then Dallas, then, Cleveland, then NYC. You'll be making a circle as it is
Little-bigfun@reddit (OP)
I think he wanted to work the time zones better lol so it’s not as big of a shock? I don’t know lol
Scrappy_The_Crow@reddit
Jet lag is minimized going west. Your itinerary as in your OP is:
Dallas > Cleveland = 1 hour east
Cleveland > NYC = no change
NYC > LA = 3 hours west
Little-bigfun@reddit (OP)
Thank you! 😊
Scrappy_The_Crow@reddit
You're welcome.
coysbville@reddit
I don't see how that helps. You would be going from Central (Dallas) to an hour ahead (Eastern/Cleveland/NYC) and then three hours behind (Western/LA). If anything that would further contribute to jet lag and shock as a result of time difference
broadsharp@reddit
You’re wasting too much time traveling. A few days in each place will be disappointing. Let alone all the headaches associated with all the travel.
The continental U.S. is the size of Australia. So, imagine your plans set at home.
You would be way better off spending two weeks enjoying one geographic location. Like Dallas to San Antonio to New Orleans for example
Oliver_Dixon@reddit
Agreed
Oliver_Dixon@reddit
I would recommend watching crocodile dundee 2 before the trip. It may help you avoid some of his mistakes
Scrappy_The_Crow@reddit
Don't do the thing that Australians (and Germans, FWIW) do frequently here in this subreddit:
Theironyuppie1@reddit
Don’t talk about race. It’s super complicated here. Stay away from Trump convos. Everyone has lost their sense of humor and critical thinking skills on both subjects.
Our coffee situation isn’t as good as Australia. If you are a snob like me have plan. You will be fine in NYC and LA.
We have great beer not to be missed. Pizza is complicated but it range from chain crap to truly transcendent.
NYC is clearly the best pizza. Otherwise Katz deli has been open for 100 years for a reason. I guess a $40 sandwich should be good. But it could feed 4 people. The oyster scene in NYC is pretty great. I like Masion Premier. Go to Brooklyn.
I grew up close to Cleveland. west side market is good. Cleveland is good at ethnic European.
I really like LA. But I think Australia has a lot of what California has. The sushi is particularly on point.
I hope you have fun.
kmoonster@reddit
The US is a bit bigger than Australia as a whole. Similar in size to Europe, plus the Mediteranean, and a chunk of the Middle East.
Your itinirary is something like: flying in to Adelaide, then hang out in Brisbane before a casual afternoon in Melbourne, a weekend in Perth, and a few days in Tasmania
Or alternatively: fly in to Milan, then a weekend in Warsaw, see the sights in London for a couple days, go to Baghdad to brush up on my Arabic and eat some hummus before flying home.
Is there any way you could adjust your itinerary to be more regional to the city (cities) your event is in? Flying is 2-3 hours at the airport before your flight plus time to get bags and pick up a rental car or uber to your hotel after your flight. Dallas - Cleveland is 1900 kilometers, not something you can "just transit over". They are not adjacent metro areas with an inter-urban train line. For comparison, Perth to Adelaide is 1600km.
Places to eat will vary by city, once you have your itinerary you could ask in the subreddit for that state or city, or use a review site like Yelp or GoodEats, or look for a local newspaper/zine that has restaurant reviews (these are pretty common; my midsize city has three such papers and we're nothing notable).
Local advice is often good for sightseeing as well, and will vary depending on whether you like history, art (and what kind of art), nature, engineering, politics, etc.
In Cleveland, Cuyahoga Valley National Park is worth visiting in my opinion but...again, that will vary highly based on your time, abilities, interest, whether you'll have a vehicle, etc. Cuyahoga Valley National Park - Wikipedia, and of course the lake itself is well worth a visit as are any lighthouses in the vicinity.
The only "don't" activites are: don't discuss politics, don't start a bar fight, don't be an ass or do dangerous shit in general