Aussie Couple Road Trip

[Lifemagician]

That is why I stay at hostels. It is most disappointing when you strike one where there really is not a 'hostel atmosphere'.

I can highly recommend the USA hostels, especially the one on Schrader in LA. I stay there everytime I am in LA. Secure, clean and comfortable. Lots of activities and a vibrant atmosphere. If staying for several nights (can't remember how many), they refund part of your shuttle cost from LAX. It is in a great part of town, and even as a senior female travelling alone, I have never felt intimidated walking the streets, both day and night. Not far from the subway and busses. Sundays there is a Farmers market only about four or five blocks to the east.... Ivar St, from memory. Park overnight across the road in a secure facility for (I think) $10. And the Gay and Lesbian Coalition is across the road. I am sure you wanted to know that. LOL

Book early... I have once missed out.

I have not stayed in their San Francisco hostel, and stayed twice in the one in Las Vegas. That one is OK, but not as great as LA, and not in a good part of town. Upside is that they do have a swimming pool and secure parking.

And just a little off the topic... but relevant. If you are members of the NRMA make sure you take your membership with you. This will give you free access to all tourist information and needs from the AAA, such as detailed maps of the State and of Urban areas, as well as road information and trip ticks if desired.

[BlueCuzco]

Three words for you: Blue Ridge Parkway. The scenic highway is the most visited national park unit in the United States. It extends from the Oconaluftee Entrance of Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the south to the Rockfish Gap Entrance of Shenandoah National Park 469 miles to the north. From Shenandoah you can city hop your way up to NYC. The Southern Appalachian area around the southern end of the parkway deserves some focus. The majority of the mountains are in western North Carolina, spilling over into Tennessee, North Georgia, and the northern fringe of South Carolina. There's also the completely separate geological system of the Cumberland Plateau stretching from the northern to southern border of East Tennessee.

Where the Cumberland Plateau tapers off, Lookout Mountain begins, and the Tennessee River finds it's way through the mountains to the west, travelers find Chattanooga, Tennessee, in my opinion the best jumping off point for the Smokies and all other ranges to the east. Chattanooga offers plenty of scenery but also offers a beautiful riverfront, Civil War history (second biggest battle of the war), and unexpected attractions like the Tennessee Aquarium.

[Aussie Couple]

Hi RHDrive,
Our travel agent has orgainsed the van for us.. It is a 5 berth (massive) but this is cheaper that a 2 berth (which we originally asked for).
It is costing us about $3000 for the month with unlimited km's and no one way fee so you guys should be able to get it a bit cheaper (maybe) if you are able to take it back to your pick up point. The company is Cruise Campervan in LA

[UKCraig]

Cruise America?