New York

[Niall Quinn]

Yeah, hotwire at short notice is a great gig. I got a great hotel on the Chicago loop for $90 or so.
Accomodation is brutally expensive in New York though - maybe just pitch a tent in Central park after dark.
for what it's worth, my baseless list of urban delights in Americana:
1 charleston, sc
2 San Diego, ca
3 Chicago, il
4 San Fran, ca
5 Murfreesboro, tn
and the nastier nooks:
1 Philly, pa
2 albuquerque, nm
3 Dayton, oh
4 Orlando, fl
5 Los Angeles, ca

[LostInSpace]

Hey lads, heading to US in summer again for a 2 1/2 weeks, done the Wildwood thing 5 years ago and was too drunk to remember most of it.

I have the hotel booked for NY for the first 7 days, was planning on heading to Washington DC for 3 days and then onto Atlantic City for 2 days (Sat/Sun), then back to NY for the rest.  Have any of you done this trip before?  Did you rent a car or get the train? I havent the hotels booked for DC and Atlantic City yet, would you advise stopping off in Philadelphia for a few days as the train will be passing through there 3 times on my current trip itinerary. I havent train tickets booked either.  Any general suggestions/recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

[3000 miles away]

lost in space, i think your best bet is to rent a car at jfk when ur leaving new york for your travels to DC, preferably with car hire 3000 there the cheapest ive worked with, its 4 hours to DC from New York and Philly is on route, just off I,95 if u wanted to stop there, not a whole lot to do there in all fairness, you could also look into going to six flags,new jersey, very good rollercoasters and water slides in 2 different parks, then on your way home from DC u could do Atlantic city, good fun if u like a flutter at the casinos, any more questions feel free to ask.

[magpie seanie]

Used Car Hire 3000 myself to rent cars in the UK and they were grand. Far cheaper than other ones that were available.

[LostInSpace]

How much of a benefit do you think renting a car would be to getting the train?  I know that most of the hotels will charge you to park your car overnight so X 5/6 days plus car rental (cheapest on 3000 182.00), i think the costs would even out.  If we were going to be dining out and experiencing the nightlife then having to drive the next day. I would say the train would be better.  Any thoughts on this?

Also, would there be tolls on the route down to DC?
How did you find driving in around NY, in comparison to europe?  Much more difficult?

[Carmen Stateside]

Price a return ticket on Amtrak to DC.  Car will work out alot cheaper.

[LostInSpace]

NY to DC to AC to NY is $280 for 2 people

[LostInSpace]

An the car rental was 182 sterling - When you add in Fuel ( I realise its not that much) Car Parking - Possible tolls etc.

[new devil]

Check out Megabus.com..very comfortable buses and only $40/50 return to DC

[Canalman]

Would bus it myself........... trains as already stated are  fierce expensive. Personally, would NEVER hire a car in America if I wanted to enjoy the nightlife and drive next day. Wouldn't like to be dealing with a cop after even the smallest of accidents.

AC is a kip of the highest order, a good Irish bar there though just off the boardwalk surrounded by vacant lots. Well worth a visit.

Philly, well worth a day or two (max). Must do is a visit to Eastern State Penitentiary (relax it is closed). See Capone's cell etc. Main Amtrak station is Art Deco where the first murder scene in Witness was filmed.

Give Baltimore a miss. Nothing really of interest there imo.

[southdown]

Any legal eagles out there know if I can use my legal qualifications in either NY or Chicago (qualified in England and Wales). 

[FL/MAYO]

Any legal eagles out there know if I can use my legal qualifications in either NY or Chicago (qualified in England and Wales).

I believe to practice law in the US you have to pass the bar exam for the state you want to practice law in.

[J70]

Check out Megabus.com..very comfortable buses and only $40/50 return to DC

Took Bolt Bus to DC last autumn. $38 each for the two of us. Very comfortable too and they have wireless internet access, although it was a bit spotty.

[J70]

There are tolls on all crossings between NYC and NJ. Then you're looking at tolls on the NJ Turnpike. I'd imagine there are also tolls crossing into Delaware and then on through to DC.

I drive to West Chester PA once or twice a year, and its about $15-20 worth of tolls each way from NYC. DC is twice the distance.

[J70]

Edit: NJ-NYC crossings.... tolls are on the trip into the city only. All else is both ways though.