Will be picking up a hire car at LAX airport and spending a few days in the Venice/Marina Del Rey area before heading to Las Vegas..
Any major do's and dont's driving in the States?
What are the 'must dos' for visitors in the area.
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I wasna fu but just had plenty.
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have you got a portable Satnav?
just got a mate (i'm too thick with these things) to download a map of the USA onto my Tomtom (needed a new card as well)...so that when i visit Texas and California in April i'll be able to use it in the hire car
saves getting lost and stressed on unfamiliar roads
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A few thoughts in no particular order:
* Watch carefully for speed limit signs. Limits are far less guessable than in the UK and enforcement varies from town to town from non-existent to zero-tolerance. This is true all over the US - see Boss Hogg's Celebrity Speed Trap or the Bottle Rockets' splendid Radar Gun.
* Stay awake. Roads in rural Califormia can be eerily long, straight and quiet. I once drove, on the same day, 14 miles without having to turn the wheel and 23 miles without passing another vehicle.
* Carry plenty of drinking water and keep the fuel tank full.
* If you possibly can, take in some of Death Valley and/or Joshua Tree National Parks. Quite unforgettable.
Bon voyage!
>:---)
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Four way stops (actually work very well, but the first one can be a bit of a surprise)
Right turn on red light; I believe they are signed if you CAN'T do it, implying that you can the rest of the time
Passing either side on the Freeway: check BOTH mirrors before you change lanes
Have a good time, and report back after your visit; what are you planning to rent?
Tim{P}
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Mimsing is compulsory, speed limits ridiculously low even on the open road, plod extremely humourless for the most part and with limited understanding of the English language unless you are very lucky. Enjoy!
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Sat Nav would be good. IMO the road signs are not as good as in the UK. On some highways you do not get much warning that you are approaching the junction you need; you see the sign but if you're in the wrong lane you can miss the junction.
The point to note about right turns on red is that you can go but still have to give way to pedestrians.
Once I got going I didnt have a problem in Nevada/ Arizona but made a bit of a fool of myself at the pre-pay petrol station. I asked for $15 gas at pump 4, and was asked twice, "are you *sure* you want $15?", which I confirmed, yes please. When I went to fill the tank, it would only take $12 worth from nearly empty, and that was in a Ford Taurus, Granada-sized thing (10 years ago).
This site has California road laws:
www.caldrive.com/law.html
Finding out speed limits is a good idea. On some highways the limit can be 65 or 70mph. And can be higher in other states.
Have a good one, and yes report back to us!
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Remember that US gallons are smaller than yours!
So if you start worrying about really thirsty mpg figures ... DON'T!
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.. Any major do's and dont's driving in the States? ..
plenty of advice in previous threads, (try "forum search" button on the right, under your login name, and search for "driving florida" and "driving california" ) - : eg
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=9430&v...f
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=7100&v...f
as for "msut dos" for visitors, there is so much that it is hard to begin listing anything. you need at least two months to see california, and another two to do nevada, arizona, and utah. to get a flavour, pick up a holiday brochure for western-usa from your travel agent.
on your route, you should be able to see
www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/print/us.html
"Mt. McKinley is highest point in North America and Death Valley the lowest point on the continent "
if instead of your planned route, you were to go north from los-angeles to san-francisco, you could go via sequoia and yosemite national parks.
you will probably end up going again to see what you could not fit in first time round.
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Drive through Death Valley
Absolutely AMAZING
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Don't be too surprised at being pulled over for no apparent reason when on a non-interstate type highway.
From my limited experience in Arizona (not exactly Cali. I know) the police seem to stop & do licence checks etc.
more 'easily' . Be very,very polite to everyone on the road, many carry guns (I'm sure you are though)
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. Be very,very polite to everyone on theroad, many carry guns (I'm sure you are though)
Absolutely GWS, don't forget your gun. :o}
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and it may be a good idea to invest in one of these too: video.google.com/videoplay?docid=18826649011339298...0
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Thanks for all the info. Going at begining of April. Pre-booked a large automatic luxury 5 seater with aircon - model to be confirmed when I arrive.
Four way stops? Is that when the first person to arrive has priority, then the second, third etc. With my memory I'm bound to mess that up.
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I wasna fu but just had plenty.
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The four-way stops can be frustrating on long roads where there are lots of them - they need someone to show them what a mini-roundabout can do!
Turning right on red: I didn't know about this when I arrived but picked up that it was legal quite quickly but you MUST look out for pedestrians.
My credit card never worked at their 'pay-at-the-pump' machines. Annoying!
Death Valley is amazing although when we were right in the middle it was a little bit scary because it's so deserted. Keep your tank full. We drove through Yosemite too which was stunning.
Agree with above: don't start getting into road rage. These people have guns and you don't get one as standard with a hire car.
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When a green traffic light is changing to red in the UK, most drivers will stop if the light is orange.
In the USA, (in my experience) they will not. If you stop, you may cause considerable surprise to the driver behind you. I once stopped at a light that had just turned orange, and was nearly rear-ended by a rather large truck.
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I find my Amex card usually works at pay pumps if I just put 12345 or nothing in as my ZIP code. Sat Nav is well worth having - often in the US you can see where you want to get to but it involves 2-3 u-turns and exits to actually get to the entrance and it is nicer to have the sat nav work it all out for you.
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Oh and even if using a UK debit card always press "credit" on any payment points in shops or pumps otherwsie it will not work.
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Don't overtake a school bus when it's picking up / dropping off.
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most places require you to pay for fuel in advance....go in the kiosk and leave $20-30 and pick your change when its filled up.....filling stations seem to be a popular hang out for scammers and beggars
always carry your drivers license incase of a police stop
i find everyone in cali break the speed limit at all times....90 isnt uncommon on freeways , i just make sure im not the fastest driver and fingers crossed the fastest guy will get stopped, ive never been stopped in about 20 holidays there
make sure you check the rental car for damage ...get the guy on the gate to sign the form for any damage checked
watch out for pedestrains in car parks and such like...the wander out in front and expect you to stop, which is fine but just watch you dont run one over lol
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Turning right on red: I didn't know about this when I arrived but picked up that it was legal quite quickly but you MUST look out for pedestrians.
You also are also supposed to STOP, then go. But most Americans treat them like our Give-Ways
My credit card never worked at their 'pay-at-the-pump' machines. Annoying!
Think that's unusual - mine have always worked fine
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RIGHT LANE MUST EXIT .... on many freeway junctions the right lane traffic must exit, so move left in good time.
good idea to keep all doors LOCKED (many cars have automatic locking doors) at all times
in US made cars look out for the foot operated parking brake. I think most americans don't bother with them.
engine will only start when in P or Neutral
to move from P to D or R, you ned to put your foot on the brake pedal
to operate the interior light, rotate the exterior lights switch to the left of the steering wheel
freeway entrances and exits are usually signed as such, similar to motorways in the UK
signage is in miles and feet, not yards.
signage off the freeway is usually very poor and it is very easy to get lost - this can be a problem in places like LA (for instance near airport)
listen to the various radio stations, the choice is great and traffic updates are frequent
Go for drive along the PCH (pacific coast highway)
visit Beverly Hills
visit Hollywood
allow 4 - 5 hours to drive from LA to LV, more if a Friday / Sunday
visit the Hoover Dam, a short drive from Las Vegas - watch out for the time difference in Arizona!
The Grand Canyon too far to day trip by car from Las Vegas - plan an overnight stop
Most of the casino hotels offer free self parking,
I would suggest parking somewhere like Paris/Bally's and walking to Bellagio, Cesar's Palace etc rather than driving to each hotel, but beware the strip is a couple of miles long, and in the summer temperatures do reach over 100 F
see a show or two in LV, there are several 1/2 price booths which are good places to buy tickets at sensible prices
finally, in spite of all the comments about sat nav, it is not essential, just get a good map.
you might think I like the place, you'd be right, but could not live there, one earthquake was enough.....
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I forgot, many traffic lights are at the far end of the junctions, so watch out for the 'signal stop line' ie the white line on this side of the jucntion to stop if you have to.
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One of the things I noticed is people seem to speed more on urban motorways whereas out in the middle of nowhere people seem to pootle about at the speedlimit. Think it must be because it's easier to catch someone in a rural area for speeding. One thing I used for a general maxim is if the trucks are speeding then it's okay. If they are not then someone is around the corner. Truck speeds and car speeds out of town seem very similar in the US unlike here. Very few of their trucks are speedlimited but you see a ton of people driving very big motors (eg S class mercs) at a steady 60mph out of town.
Freeway exits sometimes are in close succession. Do look carefully as often there can be two or more exits from the same lane in the space of a quarter of a mile or less. They have some also where traffic joins from the left and not the right so learn to just look out for it.
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I second the call to visit Yosemite - expecially at the time of year you're going, the waterfalls will be in full flow, and very spectacular. If you're entering from the East though, don't be surprised if some of the passes are still blocked by snow. I ended up having to take a 7 hour detour!
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In the rush hour, traffic on freeways near LAX can be very very heavy.
Some freeway entry slips in LA have traffic light entry. Unlike the ones in the UK (eg around Birmingham), the LA ones only let one car through at a time. Very odd if you are not expecting them, and really bad for the environment because everyone comes to a halt and then has to accelerate very hard to get up to freeway speed.
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I agree with much that has been said. IMO you must go on the Pacific coast highway between LA and San Francisco, it is fantastic. Also I loved the Yosemete and Death Valley.
My advice is to hire an American car, the cops always seem to have stopped a Merc or a BMW. If you are looking for "gas" or a motel, they are always at motorway exits. I found Best Western motels very good. Have a look on their website before going and get a brochure at your first stop. Another tip is to get a coupon book at a gas station, they give you discounts at various motels, but keep it hidden untill they say that they have a vacency. If you are over 55 years old you can get a senior discount at most motels.
If you drink in the British manner I would have a few at several bars, they don't seem to like heavy drinkers, esp in Arizona and New Mexico.
Have a good time, if anyone asks if you have met the Queen or anyone else say yes, they love it.
One last tip, take an empty suit case and buy your clothes there, they are cheap and in plenty of sizes, esp large sizes. It is the only place where a shop assistant has called me a thin guy, I have never felt so pleased. (16 stone)
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