Ok guys! AMERICA! please help plan Quints US Adventure!

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OK, we have TWO scenarios:

Arrive to New York on friday 27th. Must get to Cape Cod for 28th. Wedding on 29th. Where do we stay in New York before heading out to the cape?

OR, arrive to Boston on Friday 27th, and must get to Cape Cod on 28th. Where do we stay in Boston before heading out to the cape?

Leave from New York 13th June.

Where do we go in the 14 days?

Can we cheaply fly to Orlando and visit Disney World? If so, how? Where do we stay?

Preferably spend the final weekend in New York before flying back on monday 13th.

HELP!

I would go to Boston. I love it.

Can't remember the name of the hotel I stayed at but would love to stay at Nine Zero if I ever go again. Depends on your budget I soppose.

it was the Lenox hotel I stayed at. Very nice.

Boston - its fabulous. I've been there a number of times, and theres always been something new to enjoy.

The Lenox is very expensive, but looks very nice.

Cmot, like what? I cannot work out anything to do...

I'd definitely fly into Boston, not NYC. I'd say it's at least a 5+ hour drive from NYC to Boston and there's no way I'd want to do that the day after I've arrived.

You don't say what month you're doing this. Keep in mind that the Cape is an extremely popular destination in the summer so drive times can be increased significantly.

There's a very good forum on tripadvisor that can help with things to do: www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60745-i48-k1930510-Read_this_first_Welcome_to_the_Boston_forum-Boston_Massachusetts.html

The Children's Museum, Science Museum, New England Aquarium, whale watching (depending on the time of year), Duck Tours (on an amphibious vehicle), Freedom Trail (about a 2 mile walk), walking & a meal in the North End, there's tons to do. Fenway Park - if you can get tickets to a Sox game - they're hard to come by.

There's other stuff an easy drive - Lexington & Concord and Walden spring to mind.

There's an excellent public transportation system. Some hotels will charge $$ for parking.

You can fly fairly cheaply from Boston Logan to Orlando. The big discount airlines include Southwest and Frontier, both of which fly from Boston to Orlando.

I'm not a Boston expert by any means - though DS & I will be spending a couple of months staying with my inlaws this summer .

Enjoy!

I got a very good deal at the Lennox but I was already in the country and the exchange rate was so much better than it is now.

The museums are good (I think the science museum is a bit dated, but some good stuff), we loved the duck tour, I like just wandering round, eating lobster (I adore Red Lobster), going to the North End etc. Hire a car, then drive round a bit further out - do Salem etc.

One time I stayed at the Holiday Inn on Boston common which was not v exciting, but v good value

So, maybe 7 days there in total, and if I had time, I'd go to Washington and spend time there rather than schlepping to Orlando (disclaimer - I don't like theme parks) - have always wanted to do the Smithsonian museums. Its also dead easy to drive out of Washington into beautiful Virginia

Would fly into Boston if you need to be in Cape Cod the next day (NYC is about 5 hours by car/train away from Boston).

Southwest do fly into Orlando from Boston but there are no airline fare discounts for children. Also I would check their policy with regards to hold baggage as they may charge you for a second piece of bag for the hold.

Also Ryanair use Southwest as their business model!. Mr O'Leary is a big fan of Southwest.

Ok,

Flying into Boston 27th May. Have checked dates for Sox game. (cheers)

Staying in/around Boston / Cape Cod until 3rd June.

Thinking of flying to Orlando to Disney world and stay there from 3rd june to 7th June. Fly to New York on 7th June, stay in / around New York until 12th June.

Does this sound like a good plan?

Is there anything else in Florida aside from Disney world? Is it worth visiting anywhere else? and stay longer in Florida and less in New York?

We are going to be so broke after this.....

We stayed at the Omni Parker House when we were in Boston, great location and very civilised.

I'm with CMOTdibbler and just wouldn't go to Florida. There's so much more to USA than theme parks (but then I'm not a big fan of them either).

Which month are you planning to go? Have you children too?

QS

How old are your children roughly?. I ask that as well because if they are 10 years of age or older adult admission prices to the theme parks are charged.

Also internal flights within the US are not as cheap as they once were (particularly if you flew out of one airport and return to a different one). I would consider a Boston and New York two center holiday; plenty to do there for all ages.

Quints I wouldn't do Florida (Disney is slightly better than Paris but a lot more expensive) and even out of school holiday time it will be heaving, we stopped on our way through to Key West in Nov and it was so crowded it was hard to get around. There is Sea World, although they aren't doing the shows with people in the water anymore after the death of a trainer last year. If you had a car in Florida you could go to Tampa and do Bush Gardens. If you are doing NY and Boston (which are both great, but I prefer Boston) and you wanted a third place (other than the Cod, which is amazing) then I would hop down to DC the museums,tours and just general area is lovely. As CMOT says it is also easy to go the the beaches from there, the are around Virginia beach is lovely, although I think the COD does win, slightly less comercial. If you wanted your theme park fix then there is a Bush gardens in Jamestown, we avoided it and did the historical this is where we beat the English trail (to the amusement of my kids who had been in a US school for 2 years and were still able to point out the mistakes as far as the English history went). If you totally want to save money we drove from Key West to Washington DC in 4 days, bit manic but we had a deadline, suspect if you took a week to do it then it would be a little less hectic and there is lots to see and do on the way, Savannah, Carolinas etc

CMOT we did the Smithsonian with 4 kids (at the time 8 down to 18months) and it was great, my kids have been brought up to do museums and galleries so know how to behave in public and they loved it. The aerospace museum is also great for kids, it has a lunar comand module etc.

Oh and top tip for anyone going to the west coast, legoland in San Diego is EXACTLY the same as Windsor so would give it a miss, really upset my kids :(

Oh also just thought if you book all your internal stuff on expedia.com rather than .co.uk it is a lot cheaper, you just get an exchange rate fee on certain cards

Ah I went to New England for my honeymoon - we stayed at Nine Zero in Boston, twas fab. Cape Cod was also gorgeous, as was Maine and Vermont. With New York too, I wouldn't bother with Florida, tbh. It will be a let down after the other places.

Quint - how badly do you (or your children ) want to do Florida?

There is absolutely tonnes there - the Disney parks (4 theme parks, 2 water parks), Universal Studios (another 2 parks I think disclaimer my girls are too young for Universal, so not looked into it), plus Busch Gardens, and probably several others.

We are going for a week at Easter, and are not interested in the water parks, or Universal, and there is still too much for us to cover.

If you really, really, want Disney, then I'd say that 4 days is selling it short - sometimes less is more, and I htink you need to decide what it is you want form this holiday.

part of it is tied down for you with the wedding.

we did a 3 centre holiday in Oz a couple of years ago - we were there for 3.5 weeks though, and it still felt a bit frantic, tbh.

Which one means more to you as a family - New york (agree there is loads to do for everyone) or Disney?

what do you want more from the holiday, theme parks and a riotous time had by all, with glitz and glitter and all-american Disney magic all the way or culture, museums, and lots of fun around the sights? both are valid choices, but I think if you try to do both then you might end up coming away feelign dissatisfied at having "done" neither satisfactorily, iyswim?

The children are 5 and 9 - So in effect last year ds1 can benefit from a child rate at disney world then.

I have priced up the Orlando trip. With the early booking discounts and the 3 day pass, on a four night stay, including meals, and flights from Boston, TO New York, the cost will be in the region of 3000usd.....
I have not mentioned it to the kids. Would be mad to involve them in the planning stage!

Am I reading the websites right? Just to enter a national park you need a "pass", and a two day pass per person to national parks in Vermont is actually $149 per person... Just entry. That comes up to $600 just for park entry. In addition comes acommodation, bike hire, you name it. Blardy hell, we live in Norway, where taking a hike, or a bike into nature is totally free for all everywhere. I am shocked.

Considering that we live in the sticks, with fjords, mountains and high peaks, and cycle and hike throughout summer, I dont think this is what appeals the most.

No, give me "plastic fantastic" on our once in a life time trip to the US......

Plastic Fantastic it is then. Do have a look at Norway's land in EPCOT!.

Yes re last year at child rate for DS1 for Disney and the other theme parks.

Did you look at www.vtstateparks.com. Their website is quite informative.

BTW always carry some photo ID with you as it is helpful when making credit card purchases. The Americans will more often than not ask for photo id on such occasions!.

Ok to enter the national parks you need a day ticket or season pass, day ticket is $20 for the car and occupants season pass is $80 for the year, we had a season pass last year it was great. You get 2 names on it so if you put one of yours on it when you go to leave (knowing your not going to any more national parks) you can usually make a few bucks back on it. When you get to the park go to the ranger station first they do junior ranger programs and the kids get a ranger badge if they complete the booklet, all for free. We visited as many as we could in our 2 years there the kids loved it. You need id to get the pass but photo driving licence should be ok.

What does your husband do? Just asking as US gives big discounts for servicemen and civil servants, free day pass for whole family once a year to Sea World etc.. Oh and when out and about always ask for a discount, know it goes against the grain for most Europeans but the Americans will always give you a discount just for being cheeky and asking :)

oh, Vermont Wine tasting! THAT is up my alley....

Do you know if it would be possible to hire a campervan? Are campsites good? Would we end up with "trailer trash"?

The state camp sites are great and very cheap, we tented our way around whilst there. Hiring a campervan can be quite expensive though vistAmerica.com and I think trekamerica were the ones we saw the most of whilst there. If you avoid the yogi bear and koa campsites you should be fine (they are like butlins on steroids).

Did you think you needed lots of America the Beautiful passes? One pass covers 1 adult + 3 accompanying adults, no charge for children. You get it from the first time you need it, possibly in Cape cod.
If you got to Vermont I recommend here if you get near Ben and Jerrys
There is a US public holiday about the time you are there, so things could be busy. We have done a lot of touring and tended to just have a car and use Motels. I would recommend the book "Hidden New England". BTW I have spent a very cold time in Cape Cod one year at the end of May.

For just about twice what you quote for Disney, we are going for two weeks, including 14 days of Disney, this summer. Flying from the UK, and there are 5 of us, and 4 count as adults. The discount for children isn't very much.

I would put off Disney for another time and let them have a great time in New England.

Ben & Jerry seems fun!

So, wine and ice cream.

Think we have scrapped Orlando. Too expensive.

I have checked some campervan rentals, and it does not look great. But I dont think we are so keen to tent around New England! I am not that hardcore...

did you look at trailer tents, the rental on those is slightly cheaper, but you may struggle if you don't have a US driving licence as you are then towing something. We did our first 2 week trip on the road with just the car and motels, booked and planned it all in advance on expedia, you need to watch though some of the motel/hotel (small best westerns) were slightly trashy (take sleeping bags into room when you find out they rent the rooms out by the hour as well). You may also find that the cheaper motels will be quite full as the time you are going is the time when the majority of forces families will be posted and they tend to drive with all their stuff and kids. Remember the time you are going is actually not that bad a weather time in New England (we tented that time last year) so it shouldn't be wet and also not too hot, especially as you get away from the coast. A cheap 4 person tent in Wallie Mart :) will only cost you around $100 then the state parks (not national) are in the region on $8-$20 a night for the whole family (as a family of 6 this left us lots of spending money compared to motels). We took 10hours (long but not uncomfortable and at a easy 4 little kid pace) to drive from Boston up to a state park 15mins away from Niagara Falls, which was well worth the visit. We could have taken more time, there was lots of places on the way we would have loved to of stopped (thousand islands etc) but we were on a tight time schedule to get to Nova Scotia to visit friends who emigrated there. The other thing we found was with a tent most places has space if you didn't prebook but none for a campervan :)

Sounds like you are going to have a great adventure. Did you think about heading North from Boston up into Maine and Acadia National Park, that is really beautiful (although not sure if it is on the same scale as Norway and fjords )

We've always been okay for motels (except one dodgy one in Rhode Island, but then we'd hit near Casinos on a holiday). Do get the book I recommended. And do go slower than the people above. We did Maine (stayed in a lovely place call Rangley for a couple of nights, Motel Cabins on a lake front). But I think even that was too fast, and we did rush Arcadia. I would also recommend Williamstown Ma, which has a lovely Motel we have stayed in twice.

The more I think about it, Orlando appeals....

Dh just suggested renting a villa in Orlando, and go to the Kennedy space center. There will be a shuttle launch 9th of June. Much more thrilling than the Farnborough air show for sure....