Trip Report - USA

[Renato1]

Well after visiting New York, Washington, Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas and San Francisco in the last month, I offer the following observations.

1. All those stories I've heard over the years about food being inexpensive with huge servings, were total rubbish. Much better value where I live in Australia.

2. Hamburgers - tried dozens of hamburgers. With the exception of Stan's Famous Hamburger at Stan's Restaurant in Washington D C, none of them were as good in taste, value and quantity of meat-wise, as the ones I buy in any of the four shops that sell hamburgers near where I live. But I'll always have great sadness that I'll never eat another one of Stan's Famous hamburgers again.

3. Prices of clothes, fragrance, jewelry, accomodation etc was dearer than in Australia, unless one went to outlet stores, often hidden in out of the way places, like the Tejon one we visited today in the middle of a desert.

4. With the exception of Las Vegas, all the other places we visited were, experience-wise, very much akin to visiting another Australian State capital. Unlike visiting Europe or Asia, there seemed to us a very strong similarity between the US and Australia.

5. Las Vegas was unique, but to us seemed mainly a hideously expensive money extraction place. Astounding was how everyone, children included, had to walk through the casino gaming floor in order to go anywhere.

6. Interesting also was when one visited places like Disneyland and San Diego Zoo, which have hefty prices to get in, and ripp-off prices for food when inside. The number of African Americans and Hispanic Americans are noticeably less inside those establishments than one typically observes outside them.

7. We arrived in San Francisco quite accidentally during the Gay Pride weekend. It was amusing for my wife and I to often be the only straight couple walking down the stree (our hotel was near the gay Castro district). And it was quite lively, the whole area was in party mode.

8. The only decent, good value hot dog I had was from a street vendor who was Barbcueing them last night. All others were junk compared to what one typically gets in Australia.

9. American drivers seemed to me to be far more courteous than what one typically experiences in Europe, and I think somewhat more curteous than in Australia.

10. There are noticeably more homeless people on the streets begging for money or talking to themselves than one sees in Australia.

11. Smokers are lepers, with far more restrictions than back in Australia - can't smoke in most parks, can't smoke at a table outside any building, in San Francisco smokers have to smoke on the curb etc etc.

Anyhow, those are my observations.

Agree? Disagree? Am I overgeneralizing from visiting too few places in the US?
Regards,
Renato

 

[PLANT]

Been to all and can understand your observations.... Au dollar is down..... Did you get in and out and shakeshack burgers?

 

[Ralphie]

Thankfully my experience with over there has been very different. I've found much better, cheaper and generous food options over in the US than here. I've certainly found that clothing is significantly cheaper and better quality too, or if the price is akin, the quality is significantly better. (I'm a plus size woman - the range is so much better over there.) Also can't agree on the cities being very similar to Australian cities. Would agree they are more similar than in Europe, but I feel very aware I'm in the US. Disneyland feels a much cheaper day out than one at my cities royal show.

Completely agree on the drivers though!

I am biased perhaps though. I adore visiting the US.

 

[Hvr]

I've been to all the places you mentioned above except Washington (assume DC not state). I find they are totally different to Australia but familiar through television, movies etcetera.

Places such as Mt Rushmore, Niagara Falls (yes I know it's also part Canadian), Hearst Castle and other iconic US sites could never be compared to Australia. We are unique and discrete countries which whilst similar in many ways are different in many more ways.

Agree with you about food.

Poverty is entrenched in certain segments of the US population which is a product of their political system with the canard that if you are poor and ill it's your own fault and should pay the price.

The outcome is that if you're poor and mentally ill you're generally ignored by the medical system and left to live on the streets or in the prisons.

As for smokers being treated like lepers, well about time. I wish it would happen here so I don't have to smoke as I walk down the street, sit in a park or enter a building.

Having said this it was interesting to read your experience and look forward to reading your future posts.

 

[ozjuice]

I just got back from LA, Vegas, Mammoth, San Fran & Monterey.

I found food to be more expensive by quite a bit especially when tips are taken into account although portions are often just ridiculously too big.
Clothes can be a fair bit cheaper IMHO especially in the big chains where you often get a foreign discount. Just ask!
Agree on the drivers, i did 3000 Miles and only really saw one aggro driver and a few hoons. but generally nobody seemed too fussed even when in high traffic.
The biggest killer for me was the price of a good hotel, especially in Frisco....Wow so expensive. Also Drinks in Vegas seem to have doubled, we got charged $25 Aus dollars for a glass of red wine or coughtail.
Yes homeless are very common.
Shame about the dollar really.

But still freaking love the place and will be back in august!

Yosemite Rocks!!!

 

[drron]

Guess you didn't do too much driving.The cheap food with big helpings is outside the major cities.Outlet shopping no problem when on a road trip.
But as well top dining is often way cheaper than Australia.When in NYC we always go to le Bernadin for lunch.Price has gone up to $US85 for 3 courses-with an extra 2 thrown in.Much superior and even with tax and tip much cheaper than anything remotely similar in Australia-3 Michelin stars,4 NYC times hats,in the top 50 restaurants in world since inception,zagat top restaurant in NYC for the last 9 years and Anthony Bourdains favourite NYC restaurant.We have been 10 times already.

 

[earlyriser]

I'd estimate that I have purchased 95% of my clothing from the States over the last ten years - you just need to know where to look and when to look (sales, coupons etc). Yes, outlet malls, particularly premium outlets are excellent if you plan them into your trip. There are also many stores that heavily discount stuff from the department stores.

I think NYC and SF are excellent and nothing like Australian cities but as is touched upon by other replies, the real gems of the US are the National Parks and mountains. Yellowstone, Teton, Yosemite and the entire states of Washington, Alaska, Utah and Colorado are simply breathtaking and we have nothing that even comes close IMO.

Food has gotten a little more expensive but I still find it easy to get good value. There also seems to be an explosion of convenient healthier options which will probably take off down here in 5 or so years.

 

[sausagefingers]

I disagree on almost all points except for the drivers, homeless people and that vegas is a way of extracting money.

 

[Milboo]

If you spend an entire trip comparing what you're seeing/ doing/ eating etc to back in Australia then what's the point in travelling?

 

[VPS]

Vegas was the cheapest hotel I stayed in the whole month I was in the US and you didn't just have to walk through the casino to get to your room but through smoke everywhere - don't remember noticing the smoking issue anywhere else because I'm a non smoker and intensely dislike smoking - I didn't really like Vegas anyway but the smoking topped it off

Food - a variety - had some great meals for reasonable price and some overpriced cough meals but I've had the same at home

Found everything quite different to Oz and Europe so disagree on that point but hey we're all different and different things press our buttons

 

[Freq Flier 2013]

I loved the buffalo burgers. Can't get them in Australia.
Clothes - I purchased brand names at 90-95% off in their end of winter sale. Very happy.
Food was similar prices to Australia after tips and taxes, but much larger service sizes.

 

[jastel]

I travelled a few years back when the dollar was at and above parity so given things would now be 25% more expensive I can see some of your points.
It seems as though you were in large cities mostly...the prices there are always higher, same as they are everywhere in the world...go out to the smaller towns and you get better value and service IMHO.
I prefer simple food and roadside dinners and chains are everywhere for good value...hate 5 star slop that I cant pronounce, cooked by some cough telling me what I should like at $$$$$.
Vegas and Disney are money pits but you gotta do them once...or twice.
Except for the lack of speed cameras and "big brother devices" the drivers there were the same as here and Europe...some good some terrible.
But gas is sooo cheap cross country driving is a pleasure...except for the big cities.
Agree about the homeless, got asked for money plenty of times but no hassles if you said no...unlike here.

I'll be back, still 24 states left to see....if only the $A would go up a bit.

 

[Dr Ralph]

Clothes in the US are still very cheap. You just need to know where to look and how to work the coupons/internet sign up vouchers.

 

[Renato1]

Been to all and can understand your observations.... Au dollar is down..... Did you get in and out and shakeshack burgers?

Thanks. For some strange reason, I unfortunately missed out on trying In and Out burgers. I would have had to drive off freeways to get to them, and they were never where I was staying.
Renato

 

[Renato1]

Thanks for your responses everyone. It is too fiddly to reply to you all on this phone. I shall get back to you when I get home in a day and a half.
Regards,
Renato

 

[Atleastonce]

I love USA. I have travelled to USA when the Aussie dollar has been 54 cents and above parity. When it was mid 50 cents I travelled with three young children and although things cost more I felt they were still very close to the Australian prices then. My simple comparison is a can of coke. I don't generally choose at trip based on exchange rates but on experiences. I disagree with most of the observations except the drivers.

 

[Muppet501st]

We were back in NYC in Feb this year, and found clothes to be of better quality and on sale, and not just like our Aussie sales. 80% sales +. We did a heap of shopping in Macy's, probably end of season stuff. My wife still found a lot of makeup to be cheaper then home. Though looking at some charm bracelot things, they were more expensive then back home.
I still found eating out in NYC slightly cheaper then back in Aus. Werent eating at high end restaurants, just little ones just out of TS.
We first visited the states back in August 2012 , Aussie $ was nearing 1.10 us, and we had to purchase additional bags to bring home all the goodies we were buying. We found the outlets in Florida and Vegas to have the best shopping.
Cant agree more with the drivers, which surprised me with the amount of traffic they put up with in most big cities.
One big thing which stands out for me, is how much "friendlier" the people are, that are working in the jobs with direct customer contact. Just worlds apart from aussie service industry.

 

[earlyriser]

We were back in NYC in Feb this year, and found clothes to be of better quality and on sale, and not just like our Aussie sales. 80% sales +. We did a heap of shopping in Macy's, probably end of season stuff. My wife still found a lot of makeup to be cheaper then home. Though looking at some charm bracelot things, they were more expensive then back home.
I still found eating out in NYC slightly cheaper then back in Aus. Werent eating at high end restaurants, just little ones just out of TS.
We first visited the states back in August 2012 , Aussie $ was nearing 1.10 us, and we had to purchase additional bags to bring home all the goodies we were buying. We found the outlets in Florida and Vegas to have the best shopping.
Cant agree more with the drivers, which surprised me with the amount of traffic they put up with in most big cities.
One big thing which stands out for me, is how much "friendlier" the people are, that are working in the jobs with direct customer contact. Just worlds apart from aussie service industry.

Great post and I totally agree. It is also worth noting that NYC has no city sales tax for clothing and footwear under $110. You can also get a 10% off international visitors pass at Macys with your passport. I had a great time there in late January as did the South American teenager checking out in front of me that took an empty suitcase with him to the store.

 

[irv]

It is interesting how different people conceive places, suppose that's what makes us individuals. We had our first visit to the USA 10 months ago, not sure if this is the OP's first visit but whilst we experienced some of the same issues, I don't necessarily agree with all the sentiments expressed.

My observations were food portions were much larger in the USA than we are used to, many time we shared a plate as there was enough to feed both of us, quality like home varied from place to place but generally was good.

Generally we don't eat fast food such as hamburgers, however had one in Vegas that was the best one I have tasted in years, there will be good places and ordinary places for buying food, no different in Australia. Experience wise it is a very different place to Australia, they are proud of their history, they preserve their older buildings, there cultural mix is different to ours and the people are generally polite and helpful, not like a number of our major cities where some people would rather get hit by a bus than assist a tourist.

I also found if you were hunting for bargains they were better value than what you get back home, especially clothing and footwear. I actually bought a pair of walking shoes, an Australian brand for about 3/4 of the cost back home, and that was with a poor exchange rate.

Homeless people are a problem in the major cities, bear in mind the population is so large it is much more noticeable. As a previous poster noted the poor are not treated well there, we have a much more compassionate society in my opinion.

I think it is hard to compare apples with oranges as it is a completely different society to ours, different cultures and attitudes, however isn't that what travel is all about, to experience those things.


My two bobs worth

 

[Muppet501st]

The tour guide in Sanfran told us, that other states give their homeless people one way tickets to SF, as they provide better assistance and the climate doesn't fluctuate either way much during the year.