Personal experience: how to travel cheap in California
'08.06.2019'
Source: News
Traveler from Ukraine Irina Savina recently returned from California. She says that for 10 days and 2,5 thousand dollars for two, they saw all the sights of the most expensive US state. Of course, if you live only in four-five-star hotels, eat exclusively in restaurants and take a taxi, then you can spend much more. But our narrator was interested only in exotic and nature, and overnight in a tent and motels became an additional highlight of the impressions.
How to get a visa in the United States
Ukrainians to visit the United States need to get a visa at the American Consulate in Kiev, writes Irina for News. The visa is not one of the simplest, but if you fulfill certain requirements for filling out a questionnaire, truthfully provided information, the consulate has a chance to get a ten-year US tourist visa of type B2. Such a visa allows you to travel around the country for six months. The cost of a US visa is $ 160 (for 10 years), the time from filing to receipt is from 7 to 10 days.
How cheap to get to California
California itinerary depends on which city your plane flies to. The main airports, where it is more convenient to fly from Kiev, are San Francisco and Los Angeles. Here fly airlines Air France, KLM, Delta. Tickets can be purchased for promotions from $ 330 in both directions with a transfer in Paris or Amsterdam. The ticket price includes baggage 23 kg and carry-on baggage - a small backpack up to 10 kg and a handbag (or laptop bag). As well as on-board meals throughout the flight, including desserts and alcoholic beverages.
Where to live in California
You can save as follows. First, take your tent and sleeping bags with you or buy everything on the spot. By the way, everything purchased can be returned to the store within 14 days - this is what even local residents often do when they go to relax in nature. Having the necessary equipment, according to US law, you can stop for the night in any place where the National forest is designated (and there is no forbidden sign “do not camp” in this place). This way you can spend the night for free.
Secondly, you can plan to stay in campgrounds. In California, a large selection of private campgrounds and there are state. Private campgrounds are more expensive than state: from $ 45 for a tent for two people plus parking cars. In public, cheaper - from $ 6 to $ 30. But they need to book accommodation in advance - for example, on the site www.parks.ca.gov/camping/.
On the subject: How to travel in America with a small child
Thirdly, you can stop for the night in motels. It has all the necessary amenities: a bed, a bathroom, a TV, a fridge and even a microwave (a very popular thing in American hotels). Such housing costs from $ 50 to $ 80 for a night for two. Sometimes a symbolic breakfast is included - toast, jam, coffee. You can book a motel through any aggregator, for example, www.booking.com.
If you do not plan to spend the night in advance, you can try to find an inexpensive motel using the website www.hotwire.com/hotels. It offers reduced price accommodation if booked the day after 15: 00. The discount can be substantial - up to 40%.
Food
It is better to buy groceries in the supermarket (the most popular Walmart) and cook on their own if there is such an opportunity. This is the most budgetary option of food - going to a restaurant can run from $ 40 or higher.
Remember that the cost of goods in the store, dishes in the menu of cafes and restaurants does not include local tax. In California, you need to add more from 7% to 13,5%. Moreover, in restaurants with service you will be asked to write a tip in the check (15 – 25% of the check amount) - this is considered the norm. In fast food, in principle, you can ignore the tip, although the graph in the check is present.
Rent a car in the USA
Rent a car in the United States, in principle, is no different from a similar procedure in Europe. To do this, you must have on hand the rights of international standard and a credit or debit card. There are a great number of rental offices, including representatives of European Hertz and Sixt. But it is more profitable to rent a car from local distributors - Alamo, Dollar, National. We chose Alamo for low pricing, a large selection of cars and the ability to pay rent from a debit card - just show the return ticket with a fixed departure date. Almost all rental cars - with an automatic transmission.
The cost of renting for 10 days will cost from $ 280, including insurance for the driver and passengers and insurance against scratches, cracks on the windows and minor scuffs. For full insurance, including the evacuation of a car after an accident, you will have to pay another $ 14 per day. But you can and refuse - we did not need full insurance, since both of us have a great driving experience and we know that American drivers behave adequately on the roads.
Roads and rules
Traffic rules in the United States are not very different from European ones, with the exception of a few nuances. Firstly, at regulated intersections (with traffic lights), it is allowed to turn right at a red light practically throughout the United States (by analogy with the rule of our “green arrow”). Where prohibited, there is a corresponding sign or plate with the words NO TURN ON RED.
Secondly, at unregulated intersections without traffic lights, there is almost always a Stop sign, at which you need to stop before the stop line. If there is a sign ALL-WAY or 4-WAY under it, then you are at an intersection of equivalent roads and the advantage in driving through such an intersection is with the one who first approached it. If several cars drove up to the intersection at once, all give way to each other and cross the stop lines in the order of the queue - according to the rule “first arrived - first crossed”.
Thirdly, you should not exceed the speed indicated by more than 10 miles per hour (in some states - 5 miles) - distances in the US are measured in miles, not in kilometers. But since the cars are made for American users, the speedometer in them is also in miles per hour. If the total flow of cars goes faster than the speed indicated on the sign - in this case it is better to drive in the flow or in the right lane so as not to interfere with other drivers.
Within the boundaries of large metropolitan areas there are dedicated carpool lanes. This is usually the left lane or two, fenced off or separated by a double solid marking line. The main rule is that you can drive it if there is at least one passenger in the car other than the driver. This rule is aimed at reducing the density of traffic, so that people cooperate when traveling.
Fourth, California has toll roads and bridges. There are not many roads, they are mainly concentrated around Los Angeles. Bridges - in the San Francisco area. Payment is made using a toll-card, which can be paid at the car rental company. But for ten days it makes no sense to buy it - it is easier to avoid toll roads and bridges, or pay at the entrance to a toll site or via the Internet. For example, we drove across the Golden Gate Bridge and paid $ 8 using a credit card at www.bayareafastrak.org - payment can be made within 48 hours of crossing the bridge.
On the subject: Ukrainian woman told how to stay in the US and get used to the new life
Refilling the car
Fuel in the United States is not sold in liters, but in gallons (1 gallon = 3,79 liters). Gasoline is called "gas", "gasoline" and also "fuel", diesel - "diesel". There are several types of gasoline: regular (87, Unleaded, or Regular); with a higher octane rating (89, Mid-Grade or Plus); premium (91, Supreme or Premium). For gasoline cars, 87 is enough - Regular, it is the cheapest: the cost per 1 liter is about $ 1, the price per gallon is from $ 3,4 to $ 4,8 (prices for May 2019).
Half of the filling stations operate on the principle of self-service: a card reader is built into the machine, just dial the required number of liters and insert a credit card. Please note: when paying in cash, if there is a cash desk at the gas station, the cost of fuel is cheaper than with a card. Price may vary from 10 to 20 cents per gallon.
Travel route
Our journey began and ended in San Francisco - we flew here and flew home from here. For ten days we drove about 2000 km on California roads. California is a state of wonderfully rich natural sights, which has everything to fill with impressions a ten-day trip.
We compiled a circular route from San Francisco along the Pacific coast to the south. Then, before reaching Los Angeles, they turned east to get to Death Valley, from there they went to the Sierra Nevada mountains, where they visited two national parks - Yosemite and Sequoia. And on the way they stopped in various cities, spent the night in motels and a tent, watched the animals in their natural habitat, met and communicated with the locals and travelers. In general, we got the most from a trip full of impressions.
Pacific coast
The California State Route 1 (or Pacific Coast Highway 1) winds along the entire coast of California - one of the most beautiful roads in the world. Travelers are accompanied by incredibly breathtaking views of the ocean and coastal cliffs. Literally every 1-200 meters along this route there are special “pockets” and observation platforms.
On a trip on this route you need to lay at least two, or even three days. We covered the distance in 200 km behind 9 (!) on Californian coastal beauty.
What to look at the track number XXUMX
Visit the lighthouses. Lighthouse Pigeon Point Lighthouse near the town of Pescadero - one of the most beautiful on the coast. On the territory of the lighthouse can be accessed for free, inside, unfortunately, is not allowed - the lighthouse is working. But romance can stay for the night in a cozy hostel at the lighthouse. The cost of living - $ 40 per night in the common room. Stunning views, the light of the lighthouse in the night and almost tame hares that gallop around the district, you will be provided.
Lighthouse Pigeon Point Lighthouse
Explore the beaches of Davenport. Here is a coastline rugged by rocks with beautiful bays. Particularly beautiful is the Akuliy Fin Bay, with a protruding rock in the form of an arch. Above the beach, there is an excellent Whale City Bakery Bar & Grill with delicious breakfasts and coffee (a glass of coffee - $ 3,5, muffins - $ 3,5, breakfast - from $ 12).
See fabulous houses in the town of Carmel. Each house here is like from Andersen's fairy tales: with ornate roofs, carved windows, balconies and magnificent cozy gardens, immersed in flowers.
Rush along the ocean along the arched bridges in Big Sur National Park. Virtually no one lives here, and nature is such that you constantly stop the car to see how the ocean crashes into the rocks. Literally behind every turn a panorama opens up more beautifully than what was seen five minutes ago.
Say hello to sea lions. Along the entire coast of California lives a huge number of sea lions. They feel very comfortable here - they are protected by the state, and some even managed to settle in the very center of San Francisco, on the pier №39. On the shore near the village of San Simeon live thousands of sea lions. Elephant seals also live here, another species of seal family. They can be reached at a distance of 10 meters - there are safe viewing platforms for tourists from which you can observe the life of animals in their native habitat.
Death Valley
After the cool coast, it is worth going to the arid and hot Death Valley - a national park located on the border of California and the state of Nevada. What is interesting about this place? Here is the lowest point of the North American continent. There are stunningly beautiful canyons and salt lakes, real desert and sand dunes. The cost of a seven-day visit to Death Valley is $ 30 per car, in which from 1 to 5 people.
When visiting the valley, stock up on fuel - there the cost of gas reaches $ 5,2 per gallon. Also take a little more water: there are few shops here - they are located at a distance of 50 – 80 km from each other.
What to see in Death Valley?
Golden Canyon Walk 2,5 km through a canyon in which all shades of yellow and red shimmer in the sun. The outcome of the route will be the Kafedral rocks, hanging like an organ in a huge cathedral. Attention: it is recommended to go to the canyon no later than 10: 00 - later the temperature rises extremely (to + 36 ... + 40 ° С), the body may overheat.
The BadWater Salt Lake is a huge white space, covered with salt crystals. On the lake dried from a heat hundreds of tourists daily walk. This is the place where the lowest point of the USA is located - minus 85. Temperatures here are extremely extreme, be sure to take a hat on the head and a bottle of water.
See the creeping stones. One of the biggest secrets of Death Valley is the curious movement of stones and boulders along the bottom of the dried-up lake Grandstand.
Visit the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes Desert. Huge dunes are located near the exit from the valley, you can run on the sand for an hour or two, make great photos.
Climb to the observation deck at Zabriskie Point. The stunning landscapes of Death Valley will leave the most vivid impressions.
Sequoia National Park
This natural park and reserve is located in the southeast of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. It is famous for the "Giant Forest", in which the largest sequoias grow, which are thousands of years old. You can see such trees here and in several other places in California. Sequoias surprise with their incredible size and power. A visit to the park is paid - $ 35 for 7 days for a car with from 1 to 5 people.
What to see in Sequoia Reserve?
There are several beautiful hiking routes in Sequoia Park. If you are lucky with the weather and there is no fog in the mountains, you can take a walk along the Trail of 100 Giants Trailhead among giant trees.
Feel like a small grain of sand, becoming at the base of the world's largest redwoods - she was given the name General Sherman. Incredible tree sizes: height - 84 m, trunk volume at the base - 31 m.
Yosemite National Park
Yosemite is a valley in the Sierra Nevada mountains, formed by an ancient glacier that has already melted. Green valley, surrounded on all sides by high cliffs, from which powerful waterfalls fall from all sides. The valley is incredibly beautiful, as if it had disappeared from the artist's picture, and at the same time such a place exists on Earth. And when you look from the observation deck at this miracle of nature, you want to rub your eyes - everything is so unrealistic. And while here you can safely reach by car - from San Francisco about three hours on the road. Visiting the valley paid - $ 35 on 7 days per vehicle, in which from 1 to 5 people.
What to see in the Yosemite Valley?
Visit the observation deck Glacier Point (Glacier Point). In the summer months you can come here on foot or by car. It offers stunning views of the valley.
Of course, go through one of the scenic mountain routes. For example, to Yosemite Falls, which brings its waters into the valley near the camping number XXUMX. There's also the beginning of the climb, which takes along with the descent of 4 – 7 hours. Not too complicated, pleasant track, along which you will see and hear the roar of the waterfall. Or go the easier route to the Niagara Falls (8 hours with the rise and descent). There are more people here, especially a lot on weekends, as this route is simple even for children and old people. So it is better to get out early on the trail. And take a raincoat with you - a waterfall rushes near the path, one hundred percent get wet.
Walking along the Yosemite Valley is the easiest option for outdoor activities. Along the way, you can see the famous El Capitan rock, take a walk on flooded meadows, where wild orchids grow, and even swim in a mountain stream overlooking the waterfalls.
