Request for assistance planning USA holiday

[Wannabee]

Hi all,

I am after a bit of advice from those more familiar with US status runs to provide advice on a route to cover where we wish to go on or US holiday in Sept 2011.
We arrive LAX 07 Sep 11 0945 and depart LAX 21 Sep 2230.

For our rough plan we would like to cover in order of preference (if time permits), New York (general sights), Orlando (Kennedy Space Centre, Universal Studios, Disney World), Washington DC (White House, any other recommendations?) and Las Vegas (we have been there before so would be a nice to do but not essential.

I believe that these destinations feature high on the YUPP/KUPP circuit and while the purpose of the trip is not a status run (not my choice unfortunately), it would be nice to earn as much as possible while not taking excessive time to the detriment of the holiday.

I am after suggestions of routes and also any other worthwhile things to do at destinations. It is our first time in New York so would really like to maximise that.

Thanks for any help you can give.

 

[BAM1748]

I certainly don't think you have enough time to look at more than one east coast site and get back to Vegas for some relaxation.

In Washington I enjoyed my visit to several Kennedy graves (John, Jackie, Robert and one child I can't remember off the top of my head) over some of the other sites.

Why not just spend the entire trip in New York otherwise you'll be churning through your days there standing in airport security lines!

 

[Wannabee]

Why not just spend the entire trip in New York otherwise you'll be churning through your days there standing in airport security lines!

Yes you are probably right. Our holidays tend to not be much relaxation. We are happy to give Vegas a miss (as fun as it is). We did west coast last year so happy to concentrate on east coast. Happy to even have one night in Vegas on way back to LAX.
Thanks for the tips on things to see

 

[wywk]

Hi all,

I am after a bit of advice from those more familiar with US status runs to provide advice on a route to cover where we wish to go on or US holiday in Sept 2011.
We arrive LAX 07 Sep 11 0945 and depart LAX 21 Sep 2230.

For our rough plan we would like to cover in order of preference (if time permits), New York (general sights), Orlando (Kennedy Space Centre, Universal Studios, Disney World), Washington DC (White House, any other recommendations?) and Las Vegas (we have been there before so would be a nice to do but not essential.

I believe that these destinations feature high on the YUPP/KUPP circuit and while the purpose of the trip is not a status run (not my choice unfortunately), it would be nice to earn as much as possible while not taking excessive time to the detriment of the holiday.

I am after suggestions of routes and also any other worthwhile things to do at destinations. It is our first time in New York so would really like to maximise that.

Thanks for any help you can give.

I have been on holidays to all the places you mentioned except Washington DC. Now my idea of a holiday is not having to rush around on a tight schedule (as in on tours) and have enough time in each place to appreciate it.

I can say that to fully enjoy Las Vegas, you need at least 4-5 days there and same for New York. I did a full week in NY and that wasn't enough. In Orlando, if you want the full theme park experience, I did 9 days there and that wasn't enough to see and enjoy everything, we had to be selective in what we wanted to see. As for LA, I am not much of a fan, I did 2 days there on the way back to Sydney, took one of those hop on/off tours to see the main attractions and that was enough, but some people love LA and may disagree.

If you only have 2 weeks, I'd say spend a week in NY and a week in Las Vegas. But if it's a family holiday with kids, then Orlando for 2 weeks may be a better idea

 

[The Rok]

Kennedy Space Centre is a full day tour, Universal Studios a full day, Wet n Wild a full day, Disney World 3 parks + MGM Studios 5 days MINIMUM, New York, well I dont really like NY but I was there two weeks and still didnt get to see 1/10th of it...

Im with wywk, if it is a kids/family holiday I would do the two weeks in Orlando.

 

[Fantic125]

I would allow at least 5 days to visit New York. We stayed on W29th, between 6th & 7th. Walking distance to Penn Station, and a few minutes walk to the closest Subway station.

In that time we visited places like Central Park, Guggenheim museum, Natural History Museum, Ground Zero, Staten Island ferry past the Statue of Liberty & return (or visit the Statue), The old Customs House & American Indian Museum, Wall Street & downtown area. In the evenings visit the Empire State Building or Rockerfeller Centre just before dusk & be there for the sunset, visit a Broadway or Off-Broadway show and Times Square.

We caught the Amtrak from New York to Washington rather than flying - more relaxed, you got to see more of the country-side and time-wise took about the same as it would to fly.

We had 4 days in Washington and felt that was about right. The White House we couldn't get near (fenced off a considerable distance) but we walked around Capitol Hill, through the Supreme Court, Shakespeare Library, Jefferson Building, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, etc. And there's all the Smithsonian Museums as well.

You won't be bored at either city!

 

[Wannabee]

If you only have 2 weeks, I'd say spend a week in NY and a week in Las Vegas. But if it's a family holiday with kids, then Orlando for 2 weeks may be a better idea

Thanks for that but just to clarify, we have seeing/doing holidays and relaxing do nothing holidays (normally coughet or Fiji with Hawaii being a bit in between the both styles). We don't mind being flat out doing tours and seeing new things.

We did LA, Anaheim, San Francisco and Vegas last year so happy to not spend any time at these locations. There is also just the two of us travelling, no kids.

Thanks to the other posters too, we may just concentrate on Orlando and NYC. So any tips of maximising SC earn?

 

[wywk]

Thanks for that but just to clarify, we have seeing/doing holidays and relaxing do nothing holidays (normally coughet or Fiji with Hawaii being a bit in between the both styles). We don't mind being flat out doing tours and seeing new things.

We did LA, Anaheim, San Francisco and Vegas last year so happy to not spend any time at these locations. There is also just the two of us travelling, no kids.

Thanks to the other posters too, we may just concentrate on Orlando and NYC. So any tips of maximising SC earn?

You can do a stop in Chicago between LA and NY. It is a really nice place to visit, lots to see, beautiful city, amazing architectures and great blues bars which you can really enjoy as a couple. I was there for 4 days in March and had an amazing time, you don't hear much about it but it was a really nice surprise. It made me think of a cleaner and more organized version of NY! I heard Boston is really nice too, although I can't say much about it as I haven't had a chance to visit.

 

[Blackadder]

As far as Washington DC is concerned, you can forget about the White House as tours are restriced and have a application process of going through your local senator, usually 12months+ in advance.
Can get a glimpse of the White House from the fence, or head across the road to the White House visitor centre.
Grayline have some good day tours that will take in the Capitol Building, Washington Monuments,Smithsonian etc.
Also if you are looking to go further afield from DC, can take a tour/drive to Gettysburg and/or to Old town Alexandria and Mount Vernon (the home and resting place of George Washington)