4 weeks to travel from LA to NYC in June 2014

[NY-MIKE]

The cost to rent an RV one way is prohibitive, and I don’t know of too many companies that will rent a one way, or even a two way trip to a person with an international license, ie, England. The liability for these companies are extremely high, because there is no jurisdiction over an accident, fire, theft of the RV- if you decided to get on a plane and go home without satisfying a judgment in an American court of law. Your best bet for your money is to rent a car/van with a hitch, when you get to your primary starting point, buy a cheap sleeping trailer camper with accommodations. Once you have completed your trip, you can sell the camper to any use trailer lot and return your leased car/van to its proper leasing company. Mission accomplished and you didn’t spend unnecessary monies because you came from England. When you get back to NY, you have to buy me a beer. Cheers mate!

[Southwest Dave]

I don’t know of too many companies that will rent a one way, or even a two way trip to a person with an international license, ie, England.

Hi Mike, welcome to the RTA forums ! I'm afraid that's incorrect on both counts.

In fact, all the big RV rental companies rent to overseas visitors with an International licence [in English] no problem at all, one way or return trips, so I'm not sure where you got that info.

[Mark Sedenquist]

Not only standard practice.... it's about 55% of the total market! International visitors to the USA actually constitute the majority of non-commercial RV renters in the USA.

Mike, have you personal experience that you'd be able to share on this issue? We've never even heard of the kinds of problems you've alluded to and, in fact, we know of hundreds of successful RV rentals made by international visitors over the last couple of decades.

Mark

[Midwest Michael]

Your best bet for your money is to rent a car/van with a hitch, when you get to your primary starting point, buy a cheap sleeping trailer camper with accommodations. Once you have completed your trip, you can sell the camper to any use trailer lot and return your leased car/van to its proper leasing company.

I'll let Dave and Mark's posts on the many international visitors who rent RV's with no problems speak for themselves, but that's only half the issue.

I don't know of any rental car company that will allow you to tow anything without violating the terms of the rental agreement. Along those same lines, you're not likely to find any rental car available that would have a hitch, and obviously, you can't install one yourself on a rental car.

There's also the issue that purchasing a travel trailer would be quite problematic, as it is going to be extremely difficult to get such a trailer licensed for highway use without being a US resident. Plus, purchasing any big ticket item, like a travel trailer for a short term visit means buying retail and selling wholesale, and thus very expensive.

Like Mark and Dave, I'd be curious as to what you are using as the basis for your information, because it seems quite backwards.

[glc]

You will probably find rental vehicles that have hitch receivers, but you are not allowed to install a drawbar and use them. The only way to legally tow with a rental vehicle that I know of is with a U-Haul/Penske moving truck. I do know that Enterprise, Hertz, and Avis specifically prohibit towing with non-commercial rentals.

[scomac]

Thanks for all the input everyone. I do know that an RV rental is entirely possible but do prefer the ease and comfort of a car. The fuel cost is what I have in the back of my mind, 15mpg for 1000's of miles will soon rack up a huge bill!

I have been toying with the idea of a full loop around the US, going on some suggestions, starting and finishing in NY, via California. The month timeframe will be set by the flights, so in essence we could arrive in NY, spend a night there, pick up the car when we leave the city and spend the following 4 weeks cruising America. As long as we get back to NY for our return flight, everything is ok.

Is a completely unplanned road trip, for that length if time, a good idea? Being free, with no itinerary, does appeal but, from the more experienced of you, have any of you taken this approach? Any good or bad points?

Thanks
Scott

[Lifemagician]

Is a completely unplanned road trip, for that length if time, a good idea? Being free, with no itinerary, does appeal but ...

It is the way I travel most of the time.

The good points to my way of thinking are that you can make your decisions, on the day, in the car. Stay a few more days in a place which particularly interests you. Move on from a place which disappoints. Or just follow an interesting sign. Best of all, go some place the locals mentioned; a place you may not even have heard of. And lots more.

On the reverse side of the coin are those places you'll inevitably miss, those places others will insist you should have seen. If you can live with that, and make it your trip, and not what others expected you to do/see, go for it.

This works best if you have a good knowledge of what is where. What there is to see and what you are happy to bypass. It necesitates having good maps to study both before, and during your trip. Keep in mind that no one can see it all. Make notes of places you'd like to have seen, or checked out further. These will be the basis for your next trip. There will be a next time. The US is that type a place.

It is however virtually essential to book accommodation when travelling over public holidays and definitely for 'special' accommodation, such as within national parks.

Lifey

[Southwest Dave]

With a lot of time to research places of interest and possible routes etc I always find it helpful to jot down notes of things I find interesting and take them with me on the trip. I know I will not get to see everything, but it helps towards a bit of spontaneity 'here' and 'there' in a partly planned manner. I am usually limited with time when I visit the US and try to make every moment count with careful planning, yet still leave parts open to change and always allow time for the 'surprises' you find along the way. [No matter how careful you plan you will be amazed at just how much you stumble upon by getting off Interstate] How I try and work this out is by booking lodgings in the popular places I 'must see' [such as the National parks] in a way that keeps me on track with getting to the 'finish line' on time for my flight home, but leaves the days in between open ended. There is so much to see, if I didn't book some places in advance I might not get out of the first State ! lol

For me it's a 'win win' situation that gives me the best of both worlds, part freedom and part security of knowing I have a bed for the night in the popular areas I want to spend quality time at. If total freedom appeals to you, then go with it by all means, you will always find a bed for the night somewhere.

[CAnative]

Hi,
Since you have Sequoia (in Ca) on your list you may want to consider visiting Yosemite National Park if you like mountain scenery. Whether you travel by RV or car you might want to pin down some dates to make reservations in popular areas with limited accommodations such as national parks.
Jessica

[scomac]

There are a couple of hotels I would really like to stay in, mainly for their location and views. I have contacted one of them, The View Hotel in Monument Valley, who have said all they require is 5 weeks notice to get a room, however looking at their website they seem to be fully booked already for the entirety of next year. Has any one on here had any experience at this hotel? If so, what was it like and what were the prices? I am not expecting it to be cheap by any stretch of the imagination, I can see it as the ultimate tourist trap, but for the right reasons.

Are there any recommendations on hotels in NP's (Sequoia and Yosemite?) from forum members, or literature I could look up to help in decision making?

(I know there seems to be large gaps between my replies but I am planning a charity Skydive at the moment as well!!)