If you could travel across the United States in a car with anyone, whom would you choose to travel with and why?
My favorite travel partner of all time, my husband!I can spend an entire week 24/7 with Ady, and have a blast doing it! We get along like a house on fire, and even if that 24/7 trip is accompanied by missed flights, flight delays, too much cold, and bad food, we’d still smile and treat it as an adventure.And I say this because I’ve been there, done that with him.Secondly, he loves driving. Like he actually feels refreshed when he drives. Even if it has been 4 hours in the car. He has actually driven the length and the breadth of the U.S with his parents and after having lived there for almost 4 years, he is very familiar with the best routes and terrain there.In addition to the above, we travel for 15–20 days every month (His work takes him to a ton of places and I work from home so I join him), and other than during the day, we are together, and we thoroughly enjoy it. I haven’t come across a more calm person than him, and that makes it a treat to travel with him.I dislike people who get hyper at the drop of a hat because of something like a missed flight, or a train delay. These things happen when you travel. And since the question is about a drive, well, Hello flat tyres!And speaking about this U.S trip, I’d land straight in New York and drive to Miami :)Sure, it’s 18 hours, and we’d take breaks and explore other cities in between, but then we’d be treated to this!Credit : Discotech
What do you wish you knew before you took a long road trip?
I do a big continental European road trip every year in my 1958 Porsche.My plan is to pack light, which I have to do because my car is small. I also plan the number of days I can do before my last set of clothes runs out, and arrange to be somewhere long enough (a couple of nights) to get my laundry done.I usually stay in AirBnB’s with hotels thrown in every now and then. I just like the simplicity of hotels sometimes, the human contact of Airbnb’s other times.Plan to spend more than you think. When I’m in holiday mood, I’m much more likely to squander. In Switzerland, which is very expensive, an extravagance can be very costly, so don’t wreck the holiday by feeling guilty about money. Plan on taking more than you’ll need and you’ll enjoy your trip more, and maybe even return home with something.Buy motorway vignettes (permission to drive on motorways, which there is a charge for in some European countries, though not the UK or Germany) up front if you can. Less stress. I bought mine for Switzerland in London, but the Austrian one I’ll have to buy when I get there. You’ll get fined if you don’t have one. Maybe.Find out what each European country you’ll be travelled or through requires you to have in the car for emergencies. It varies considerably. France, uniquely, requires you to carry a spare set of light bulbs and some disposable breathalyzers in addition to a fluorescent jacket, a first aid kit and a warning triangle. From the UK in a right hand drive car, all countries require headlight converters. These simple devices are required by law and common sense and are cheap and easy to apply. Under ten pounds. I did mine on the queue to get on the ferry.Make sure you have a plan for a complete beakdown. Make sure you know what papers to carry. Many countries require proof of insurance for instance. Make sure you are covered for international recovery back to your home. Make sure you are covered for health. In the UK this is a simple free card available via the gov.co.uk website.Get your car thoroughly checked for not just things that aren’t right now, but for things that may go pop while you are away. Brake shoes a bit thin? Get them replaced. Wiper blades smeary? Get new ones. Air con a bit piddly? Get it sorted. Same with tyres. And the spare. Then clean it really well.
Travel Poll: when people wish you a ''safe'' Journey.....?
its the thought that counts! :)
Has anyone ever traveled a long distance by train...specifically Amtrak?
I have made that exact trip many times, only going all the way to Galesburg, Illinois. It is quite easy (at least for me) to sleep in the seats, as they recline a LOT further than airplane seats and they have foot rests. There is both a dining car and a club car. The dining car may or may not still be serving dinner, depending on how late the train is. Yes, it will likely be late. You can always bring a sandwich or some such thing for your dinner on the train with you. In the club car you can get hamburgers, hot dogs, pre-made sandwiches, soda, chips and many other "snack" things. However, be prepared to pay a lot. The last time I rode Amtrak, the sodas were $1.50 each for a can. Sometimes there are weird people, but that's true anywhere. I've seen people have to be arrested (the conductor is the on-board law enforcement officer) at the next station stop. I've also been asked by a drunk to sit on his lap. However, I've also made friends who I wrote to for years after getting to know them on the train. The experience is largely what you make of it. I would suggest bringing a pillow and a blanket. They had out pillows, but they're small and have those disposable paper covers. It can be very cold at night. Dress in layers, as it can also get very warm. The temperature is very unpredictable. Don't check your luggage. There's really no reason to. There's room on the bottom level for your large luggage so you don't have to lug it up the stairs. Then, you can take a small bag, sort of like a carry on, with a book, ipod, food, or whatever up the stairs with you. Have a fun trip!
Suppose you travel by boat, 100km distance, how many hours it takes to reach the destiny?
at what speed does the boat travel, is it a constant speed or does it have constant acceleration. All these valid information are not given, therefore impossible to calculate the time taken to travel 100km distance. There is a possibility of taking assumptions but should that should be given by YOU
Traveling for spring break on the East Coast (March '07), need to know American History places I should visit.
I would like to make this educational (American History) for my 4 kids as well as fun and still see the "must see" items that we are near; the kids are 16, 13, 9, and 4. We are going to fly from Utah to S. Carolina (we have family in York we need to visit) and travel up the coast in a rental car. We are planning to stop in DC, Philly, and New York but we've never been there and don't know how much time to plan. If it was just me I think I could spend the whole week in DC visiting museums but the kids would get bored with that. I heard a couple of hours in Philly to catch the independance hall and liberty bell and a half day in New York for the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and then a drive through the city since we are there. Can anyone offer any more suggestions. Is Boston worth going to? Again, I am looking for American History while not boring the kids and any other great site that is close. We only have 5 days. Weather and any "must eat" places recommendations also.
What’s something you wish your country would have?
High-Speed RailAustralia could really benefit from high speed rail (bullet trains). I’ve been on the bullet trains in Spain, and they are excellent.Multiple Australian governments have investigated high speed rail in Australia, with the main proposed route being between Sydney and Melbourne. The first planning of high speed rail was during the Hawke Government in 1984, using France’s TGV trains to connect Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney.Artists Impression of French TGV train in AustraliaIt was estimated to cost $2.5 billion, but was deemed economic and rejected.This really irritates me. It would have huge benefits for the government and people, with revenue from tickets and easy transport for people. Instead of taking 2 hours and 16 minutes by car from Newcastle to Sydney, it would take only 39 minutes. From Sydney to Brisbane, instead of 10 hours and 19 minutes by car, it would take 2 hours and 37 minutes. Instead of 9 hours and 7 minutes by car, it would be 2 hours and 44 minutes by train.We’ve got the money for it, and a majority of people want it. If Spain can do it, even Uzbekistan, why can’t we?AVE 112 in Spain