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With careful planning, a vacation in America can cost slightly more than a two-week trip to Europe, but it doesn't have to cost a fortune. And if you don't have a car, you can use other means of transportation or walk.
I recommend planning your trip to America at least six months in advance—that way, you can find the best flight deals. I have been using three resources to monitor deals for a long time: tripmydream, Orbitz, and Fly4free. If the dates are not critical, you can combine different options for times, days of the week, and departure locations, and test different routes.
I planned my trip for September, but bought tickets in February for $500 with a route through New York and Los Angeles. Internal flights and transfers cost another $150. The trip lasted 18 days, including flights.
Days 1-5. New York
This was my third trip to New York, and each time it reveals something new to me. I recommend walking around the city—the distances are certainly not short, but this is the only way to see how diverse and interesting this city is. And you'll save a lot of money.
What immediately strikes you is that this city really never sleeps! On the second day of our stay in New York, waking up at 5 a.m. (hello, jet lag), you discover that New Yorkers are already awake at this hour. That's because time is money, and the working day here starts very early. Don't be surprised if you find that most coffee shops open at 6 a.m.
By the way, do you know how to tell a New Yorker from a tourist in a crowd? Real city residents ignore traffic lights and boldly step out onto the red, as if that's how it should be. Drivers are used to this and patiently let pedestrians cross.
I recommend taking a walk around these areas:
Chelsea is one of the most expensive areas of New York City, with creative, trendy restaurants, galleries, and parks. I recommend checking out Chelsea Market and Highline Park.
Soho is an ultra-trendy area of New York, which is full of expensive shops, cafes, and restaurants. Shopaholics will definitely find something to do here.
West Village – this neighborhood has its own special charm! It is a modern and lively area, somewhat reminiscent of Europe. Definitely a must-visit.
Dumbo is an elegant neighborhood in Brooklyn with panoramic views of Manhattan, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the Manhattan Bridge.
Hints & Tips
During the summer season (May-September), visitors can enjoy free kayaking with views of Manhattan.
At The Loeb Boathouse in Central Park, you can rent a boat and take a romantic trip on the lake.
Highline Park
This park, just over 2 km long, is located in Chelsea on the site of an old elevated railway. It is a cozy island of beauty and greenery 10 m above the ground in the middle of the concrete jungle.
Roosevelt Island and Four Freedoms Park
Roosevelt Island is an island between Manhattan and Queens, accessible by cable car via the Queensboro Bridge. There are practically no people and no transportation, and from there it seems that Manhattan is just a stone's throw away. In 2012, Franklin D. Roosevelt's Four Freedoms Park was opened on the island. Admission to the park is free, and you can admire Manhattan from the other side while taking lots of photos without crowds of tourists.
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A chic rooftop bar with one of the best views of Manhattan! To get to the rooftop, bring your passport or other ID—you won't be allowed in without it.
Essen
A chain of buffets where you can grab a quick and inexpensive bite to eat or take food with you. Food is sold by weight, regardless of what you choose. There is a wide variety of salads, side dishes, and hot dishes.
Days 6-9. San Francisco
The Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz are far from all that the city has to offer. The raging ocean, towering cliffs, incredibly beautiful landscapes, and the freshest seafood — that's what San Francisco is all about. And then there's the fog Carl a local celebrity without whom it is impossible to imagine this city. Before traveling to SF, be sure to consider the local climate—it's perfectly normal to wear boots and a coat in July! The wind in this city is simply piercing.
In addition to the tourist-filled Pier 39, take a stroll through Golden Gate Park, admire the Victorian houses in Alamo Square, and walk along the Embarcadero waterfront. Be sure to take a ride across the Golden Gate Bridge on an open-top bus — it's quite the attraction!
Here's a secret location for the best photos of the famous bridge: head from Sea Cliff along Baker Beach, then to Marshall's Beach. Descend the rocky, winding path to the beach, and voilà!
Hints & Tips
Hog Island Oysters Co Restaurant
I recommend this restaurant to all seafood lovers. You've never tasted oysters as delicious as these!
Buena Vista
They say Irish coffee was invented right here! Once you get to know the local climate, you begin to understand why—there's no other way to keep warm here.
Days 10-12. San Diego-La Jolla
San Diego is less touristy and bustling than Los Angeles. It is clean, well-maintained, comfortable, and easy to get around on foot.
In some places, it resembles Spain — this is especially noticeable in Balboa Park. Walking around the park, you completely forget that you are in America.
There is a Japanese Friendship Garden, an organ pavilion, many museums and theaters, as well as the world-famous San Diego Zoo. The park also has an international village museum, which consists of 33 houses from different countries around the world.
I recommend setting aside a whole day for a walk in the park.
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The town of La Jolla, located near San Diego, is worth mentioning separately. You can get there from San Diego via Uber for $8.
This place is unique because it is the only place where you can observe sea lions and sea lions at arm's length. You can watch them lazily basking in the sun for hours and occasionally catching the waves of the raging ocean. They are already used to crowds of gawking tourists — some even pose for the camera. But they quickly remind particularly annoying photographers who is boss: the animals move very quickly, so it is not recommended to get too close to them!
Days 13-17. Los Angeles. Malibu
You don't have a driver's license and you're going to Los Angeles? You won't survive, they said :). It wasn't my first time in LA, and I knew what to expect. Los Angeles is so huge that it's simply impossible to get around on foot, even if you really want to and don't mind spending the time and energy.
What we call Los Angeles — is actually Los Angeles County, which includes more than 80 cities, including Beverly Hills, Venice, Santa Monica, and others. So I advise you to carefully and responsibly approach the selection of accommodation and planning your route in LA.
At that moment, I thought, "God Save Uber!". In America, there's a wonderful service called Uber Pool, which allows you to split the cost of a ride with a fellow traveler and significantly reduce the cost of getting around the city. Trips cost an average of $7-10, and up to $20 for longer distances.
I recommend paying special attention to Melrose Avenue. The area is brimming with trendy cafes, restaurants, stylish clothing stores, and is also dotted with a multitude of beautiful murals!
Malibu
You can only get to Malibu by car or Uber, as in our case. I had been dreaming of seeing the famous Malibu beach and lifeguards, just like in the TV series we watched as children, but in reality, it is no different from other beaches in Los Angeles—except that the waves are much stronger and there are many more surfers. Unfortunately, we did not see any lifeguards like in the TV series.
I'm not kidding about the strong waves! Before you know it, a wave will quickly cover your belongings, as happened to my sneakers, which floated away into the Pacific Ocean while I was trying to take a nice photo.
Hints & Tips
A California cuisine restaurant overlooking Malibu Beach. Exquisite cuisine, friendly staff, above-average prices. Be prepared to spend at least $50 per person for dinner (main course + drink). The restaurant was selected for the 2018 Diner's Choice Award by Open Table.
They say that local celebrities often have breakfast here :). We didn't meet anyone there, but we liked the place — reasonable prices, large portions, very tasty breakfasts, and delicious Peruvian coffee.
Read also
Welcome to America: Top 20 attractions in the USA
Day 18. Los Angeles
To bid farewell to Los Angeles, visit Santa Monica Pier, where you can enjoy the most beautiful sunsets. For those who enjoy taking beautiful photos, please be advised that you will need to be ready to take photos within five minutes. The sun sets very quickly here. That's it, our trip along the West Coast has come to an end. It was bright and unforgettable. But I know I'll be back here again and again – I left my sneakers in the ocean, and that's stronger than a coin :).
Useful resources for planning a trip to the US
Orbitz or Expedia – American websites for booking flights. I recommend them for purchasing domestic flight tickets.
TimeOut – an online magazine about entertainment and cultural life in the city.
Airbnb "Neighborhood Guide" – I recommend reading it if you want to see the city through the eyes of the locals.
Greyhound is an American bus carrier. Cheap and cheerful.
Open Table – online table reservations for cafes and restaurants.
Yelp – restaurant and cafe reviews.