Travling South East US this summer! - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

buddle · 04-26-2005, 12:20 PM

Just looking for some tips on how to travel cheap around New Orleans, Austin TX, Memphis, Nashville, Miami area! We are two, but not old enough to rent a car (25years right?). Interresed in all kinds of deals! Any tip is greatly appriciated. Also, anything we should NOT miss in this area?

rune

maleficent · 04-26-2005, 12:39 PM

Some rental companies will rent to drivers under the age of 25, as long as you are over the age of 21, and have a valid driver's liscence. There's almost always a surcharge though. Check ahead and book the reservation well ahead of time. Usually places like Alamo and Dollar have fewer restrictions. (I know a colleague with a DUI on his record can only rent from Dollar)

That's a big part of the country you are travelling between, you might be able to do it on Amtrak (trains)/Greyhound(buses) to avoid the driving, and you could probably get a pass for however long you are going to be around.

How long are you planning on spending? Any idea how long you were planning on spending in each destination? Where are you flying into - and flying out of? I'd definitely pick up a travel book for Southeast US, or check with AAA (the auto club, for help in mapping out a trip) for some ideas.

buddle · 04-27-2005, 12:32 PM

Both of us ar 19, so no car unfortunately!

Have been looking at Greyhound and Amtrak. We are flying in to New Orleans after a week in NYC. I see that there is a trainline from New Orleans to San Antonio, but I could not find any trains going there?

We are gonna use whole of July month + a few days travling just the south east, hope thats enough to get a glimpse of things

Any info on busspass/trainpass or any other tips are appriciated!

sapiens · 04-27-2005, 12:39 PM

A good place to stay in Austin is the Austin Motel. It's a relatively inexpensive for downtown refurbished tacky motel on South Congress (a popular area for young people). Each room has a theme (the Great Wall of China, etc.). It's also a very short bus ride to sixth street (lots of music).

<link>http://www.austinmotel.com</link>

Redlemon · 04-27-2005, 01:01 PM

Definitely try the off-brand car rental places. My wife and I were either 19 or 20, don't recall which, and had no problem at Ugly Duckling car rentals on vacation.

greytone · 05-02-2005, 06:54 PM

I know there is a train line from New Orleans to Atlanta (and that continues to Washington DC). Unfortunately that is about the only train route in the Southeast. There may be a line down the East Coast to Florida, but if so, it does not cross over inland.

To give you some scale, it is a full days drive from New Orleans to Atlanta. Nashville is 4 hours north of Atlanta. Miami is a very full days drive south of Atlanta. Austin is a full days drive the other way from New Orleans. It is quite common for Europeans who come here to be surprised by how far these cities are from one another and how hard it is to get around without a car. Greyhound is a way to get around without spending air fare, but it is very slow. Consider Southwest airlines from New Orleans to Austin.

In any case, you will be able to see and experience more than I was able to in my one day in Oslo. I did enjoy the few hours I had there in 2000. Maybe someday I will get back.

buddle · 05-05-2005, 04:26 PM

We are looking at alternative car-rentals, but hard to find in this area online. Any tip is appriciated! While we're on it, any good festivals og events I should see this summer?

Btw,

If you are ever comming back to Norway, get out of Oslo

Norway is not Oslo in my opinion, Norway is nature.
Theres nothing like the autum/summer/spring/winter in the inlands, especially if you like walking and enjoying the scenery.

Ill take you on a tour when you come back

This is Gaustatoppen in Telemark, about 3hour drive from my hometown.

maleficent · 05-05-2005, 04:53 PM

July 4th is the US Holiday, Independence Day... whereever you go, there'll will be a barbeque and fireworks...

CMH · 05-05-2005, 04:57 PM

I wouldn't waste time in the south. Spend your time in Texas. Austin is a fine city. I'm not trying to troll or toot my "Texas horn", I'm just calling it the way I see it from living in both places.

buddle · 05-08-2005, 03:26 PM

heh, actually Austin is a place we're going

a buddy of mine has moved there so gonna spend some time there! any good things around there to do?

greytone · 05-08-2005, 03:53 PM

It has been years since I have been to Austin, but if I remember correctly there are an endless number of good bars filled with coeds on Sixth Street.

04-26-2005, 12:20 PM	#1 (permalink)
buddle Upright Location: Norway	Travling South East US this summer! Just looking for some tips on how to travel cheap around New Orleans, Austin TX, Memphis, Nashville, Miami area! We are two, but not old enough to rent a car (25years right?). Interresed in all kinds of deals! Any tip is greatly appriciated. Also, anything we should NOT miss in this area? rune __________________ im in love

04-26-2005, 12:39 PM	#2 (permalink)
maleficent Junkie Moderator Emeritus Location: Chicago	Some rental companies will rent to drivers under the age of 25, as long as you are over the age of 21, and have a valid driver's liscence. There's almost always a surcharge though. Check ahead and book the reservation well ahead of time. Usually places like Alamo and Dollar have fewer restrictions. (I know a colleague with a DUI on his record can only rent from Dollar) That's a big part of the country you are travelling between, you might be able to do it on Amtrak (trains)/Greyhound(buses) to avoid the driving, and you could probably get a pass for however long you are going to be around. How long are you planning on spending? Any idea how long you were planning on spending in each destination? Where are you flying into - and flying out of? I'd definitely pick up a travel book for Southeast US, or check with AAA (the auto club, for help in mapping out a trip) for some ideas. __________________ Free your heart from hatred. Free your mind from worries. Live simply. Give more. Expect less.

04-27-2005, 12:32 PM	#3 (permalink)
buddle Upright Location: Norway	Both of us ar 19, so no car unfortunately! Have been looking at Greyhound and Amtrak. We are flying in to New Orleans after a week in NYC. I see that there is a trainline from New Orleans to San Antonio, but I could not find any trains going there? We are gonna use whole of July month + a few days travling just the south east, hope thats enough to get a glimpse of things Any info on busspass/trainpass or any other tips are appriciated! __________________ im in love

04-27-2005, 12:39 PM	#4 (permalink)
sapiens Junkie Location: Some place windy	A good place to stay in Austin is the Austin Motel. It's a relatively inexpensive for downtown refurbished tacky motel on South Congress (a popular area for young people). Each room has a theme (the Great Wall of China, etc.). It's also a very short bus ride to sixth street (lots of music). <link>http://www.austinmotel.com</link> Last edited by sapiens; 04-27-2005 at 12:41 PM..

04-27-2005, 01:01 PM	#5 (permalink)
Redlemon Devoted Donor Location: New England	Definitely try the off-brand car rental places. My wife and I were either 19 or 20, don't recall which, and had no problem at Ugly Duckling car rentals on vacation. __________________ I can't read your signature. Sorry.

05-02-2005, 06:54 PM	#6 (permalink)
greytone Junkie	I know there is a train line from New Orleans to Atlanta (and that continues to Washington DC). Unfortunately that is about the only train route in the Southeast. There may be a line down the East Coast to Florida, but if so, it does not cross over inland. To give you some scale, it is a full days drive from New Orleans to Atlanta. Nashville is 4 hours north of Atlanta. Miami is a very full days drive south of Atlanta. Austin is a full days drive the other way from New Orleans. It is quite common for Europeans who come here to be surprised by how far these cities are from one another and how hard it is to get around without a car. Greyhound is a way to get around without spending air fare, but it is very slow. Consider Southwest airlines from New Orleans to Austin. In any case, you will be able to see and experience more than I was able to in my one day in Oslo. I did enjoy the few hours I had there in 2000. Maybe someday I will get back. __________________ I was there to see beautiful naked women. So was everybody else. It's a common failing. Robert A Heinlein in "They Do It With Mirrors"

05-05-2005, 04:26 PM	#7 (permalink)
buddle Upright Location: Norway	We are looking at alternative car-rentals, but hard to find in this area online. Any tip is appriciated! While we're on it, any good festivals og events I should see this summer? Btw, If you are ever comming back to Norway, get out of Oslo Norway is not Oslo in my opinion, Norway is nature. Theres nothing like the autum/summer/spring/winter in the inlands, especially if you like walking and enjoying the scenery. Ill take you on a tour when you come back This is Gaustatoppen in Telemark, about 3hour drive from my hometown. __________________ im in love

05-05-2005, 04:53 PM	#8 (permalink)
maleficent Junkie Moderator Emeritus Location: Chicago	July 4th is the US Holiday, Independence Day... whereever you go, there'll will be a barbeque and fireworks... __________________ Free your heart from hatred. Free your mind from worries. Live simply. Give more. Expect less.

05-05-2005, 04:57 PM	#9 (permalink)
CMH Upright	I wouldn't waste time in the south. Spend your time in Texas. Austin is a fine city. I'm not trying to troll or toot my "Texas horn", I'm just calling it the way I see it from living in both places.

05-08-2005, 03:26 PM	#10 (permalink)
buddle Upright Location: Norway	heh, actually Austin is a place we're going a buddy of mine has moved there so gonna spend some time there! any good things around there to do? __________________ im in love

05-08-2005, 03:53 PM	#11 (permalink)
greytone Junkie	It has been years since I have been to Austin, but if I remember correctly there are an endless number of good bars filled with coeds on Sixth Street. __________________ I was there to see beautiful naked women. So was everybody else. It's a common failing. Robert A Heinlein in "They Do It With Mirrors"