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On mobile use, check, check, check. A lot of it has changed in the last 12 months. Most UK networks had some free roaming in US but they have all phased that out now. I know because I was looking at the time my contract was up for renewal. If you have an old contract you will still have whatever terms were on that, if you have renewed recently you will have new terms and the roaming inclusion is massively curtailed. The best for regular travellers is now Vodaphone which give unlimited free roaming in 120 countries or something - but thats about £40 per month SIM only... A colleague "assumed" they were covered for roaming and picked up £345 roaming charges in less than a week... There's usually an add on or option or bolt on or something which will sort you out
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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Other things - check with your bank, credit card, etc. becuase some of these offer cheap or even free travel insurance.
Understand your car insurance options, even with well known rental companies. One one hand if you don't have the right insurance you can be personally liable for all manner of costs if you are in an accident, but OTOH they will try sell you every insurance under the sun. Check it out before you go, I have seen people at the car rental desk who are right off a flight and being confused and bamboozled into buying all manner of stuff.
Also double check the rules of the road in the states you are visiting. Where do you turn right on red, where does a cop pull you over from behind and where do they pass? Where do they expect you to stay in the car and where do they expect you to step out. That sort of thing.
A lot of this is getting simpler now which is nice.
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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Another thing to check is which States use toll roads. Florida has a lot. These can soon mount up. Some hire companies will offer the use of their electronic Dart style tags. We probably saved a bit of money on our last trip doing this as we drove 1700 miles.
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Thanks akku and mrbounce. I've been looking at phone use and all I've ended up is confused. I need to dig deeper. We used to have travel insurance via the Nationwide but they finished it last year. First job is to get a credit card for the added protection it gives.
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Proton Jumbuck-deceased :-( 2005 Kia Sorento the parts hauling heap V8 Humber Hawk 1948 Standard12 pickup SOLD 1953 Pop build (wifey's BIVA build).
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Thanks akku and mrbounce. I've been looking at phone use and all I've ended up is confused. I need to dig deeper. We used to have travel insurance via the Nationwide but they finished it last year. First job is to get a credit card for the added protection it gives. Regarding phones, and your ultimate return to “normal” though I would hazard a guess, nothing will be normal after this trip…… Consider or look into these bolt on type, pay as you go data and phone packages. Travel insurance, god forbid you ever need to use it, is another HUGE rip off, so if you can get it cheap, like with banking, it may be cheaper than my last trip.
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Paul,
We use 'Just travel' for our worldwide year long travel insurance, costs us £213 for 2 people inc winter sports (which adds a chunk).
Another option for phones is to just buy a pay as you go monthly contract sim card in America.
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Paul, We use 'Just travel' for our worldwide year long travel insurance, costs us £213 for 2 people inc winter sports (which adds a chunk). Another option for phones is to just buy a pay as you go monthly contract sim card in America. Phone also known as Burner iirc so when searching, it sometimes helps knowing the local slang.
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16grit
Part of things
Posts: 214
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Regarding the plan to buy a return ticket when it suits, this may not still be the case but I seem to remember an Airline / US entry requirement to be able to show evidence of your intention to leave the country in the form of 'proof of onward travel' when you ENTER. Its five or six years since I was last on the west coast so perhaps someone with more recent experience could clarify if they know the current requirements?
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Just checked,yes proof of onward travel is required. First change of plan.
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Proton Jumbuck-deceased :-( 2005 Kia Sorento the parts hauling heap V8 Humber Hawk 1948 Standard12 pickup SOLD 1953 Pop build (wifey's BIVA build).
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jamesd1972
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,910
Club RR Member Number: 40
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Trip to USAjamesd1972
@jamesd1972
Club Retro Rides Member 40
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For car hire insurance I use an annual excess cover policy from questor insurance (sure other people offer it) at about £50. If you do anything you pay the excess then claim it back. Well worth it. Travel to the USA for work and can echo ChasR in terms of San Fransisco, would add the Cable car museum to the list as well. I find driving in the USA relatively easy as the roads are big but probably pays to have a dig into the road rules as 4 way stops, give ways, yellow lines etc. are all very different to the UK / Europe. People drive faster than here - posted limit is very much a minimum which is strange to deal with having lived in camera infested 40mph everywhere UK. Entry has got easier over the last year or so - just photo and passport check last time - but you need to be polite and respectful of anybody in authority. English sarky humour goes down badly at these points ! Pretty sure you will find life easier with an return flight booked. I've changed flights home before now and depending on the airlines this might not cost much to do. Its a good country with good people - enjoy ! James www.questor-insurance.co.uk/?ad=38749b82-e75f-474b-8d32-64390b2fc085&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=QuestorBrand&gclid=CjwKCAiAqt-dBhBcEiwATw-ggDipIfBcW5aH8Lmt-ewQsa8FJdOALU2jox3a_YQuHPpQ_1lVIw6TvhoCRkcQAvD_BwE
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Thanks James. Got to agree on all points there. I drove about 1500 miles last time we visited some years ago, even into Manhattan which was an experience! We never met an American we didn't like while we were there, helpful and personable.
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Proton Jumbuck-deceased :-( 2005 Kia Sorento the parts hauling heap V8 Humber Hawk 1948 Standard12 pickup SOLD 1953 Pop build (wifey's BIVA build).
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