Despite the fact that entry into the U.S. is related to visa problems, thousands of Russians every year find themselves in this country: one - in the short term, others - for a long time, and someone - for good.Many people are attracted here by the local sights and the sea of opportunities for outdoor activities, from c abundance of unique natural areas and ending with well-developed tourist infrastructure. The only pity is that the budget traveler, usually limited.
Because the United States belongs to the countries with high wages, here is particularly relevant issue as to see more and pay less at the same time. Here are some tips that will help the lucky ones, get a coveted visa in the passport and enjoy the opportunities and do not spend extra money at the same time. Recommendations are based primarily on personal experiences of the author. And although they relate to travel to the U.S., in general, most of them work in any country in the world.
Immediately, I note that the United States you will probably have to travel by car. All other methods simply impractical. America - a country on wheels.
* Plan your trip. Detailed compilation of the route will help to save not only money but also time and nerves, not least on the road. Information on the United States are widely represented on the Internet, so use this resource possible. Find out how to get to interesting places, check for their work and entrance fees.
* Reservation of hotels, motels, campgrounds through travel agencies or through the same Internet (if you have the opportunity and time) to avoid the hassle, when it is already dark, the eyes of the driver's stick together and to look for, where to sleep. In addition, you will save gasoline and time, which would otherwise spend on a walk around the city in search of a suitable hotel.
* Embark on a journey not a season. Peak tourist season in the U.S. is in July-August. However, in my opinion, the best time to visit the southern and central parts of the country - late spring, and north - autumn. Reasonable choice of travel time will not only avoid the crowds of tourists, but also get significant discounts on airfare, lodging and entrance fees. You should not languish on the July heat at the Grand Canyon, if you have the opportunity to visit him in the late spring and at the same time enjoy the flowering of native vegetation.
* Travel to the company. It is not only more fun and safer, but more and more economical as it allows to share the cost of a car, petrol and accommodation. The hotel can rent a room at all, and the surcharge for each additional adult is about 10-15% of the standard cost. On average, one person turns out significantly cheaper. In addition, the U.S. sells an annual pass (annual pass) to the national parks (one pass is valid throughout the country) and separately in the reserves of local importance (in each state - a). In 2007, a National Park Pass is valid and in the territories controlled by other federal environmental organizations, and therefore has grown from 50 to 80 dollars, however, it entitles you to free admission to everyone who is sitting in a car with its owner. If you are traveling three-four, then, considering that to enter the nature reserves of various sizes taken from 3 to 12 dollars (in Yellowstone and Grand Canyon - $ 25 per car), the annual pass pays for itself after dating several of the them. And in a system of national parks of America includes 390 (!) Objects.
* Do not spend the night in the city center, and a motel on the outskirts or in the camp. Camping - the cheapest option (U.S. $ 5-15 per night). On the territory of most national parks have their own campsites, although in summer it is desirable to place them booked in advance. Passing on camping, you choose a space, leave the car and return back to the entry, to pay. Questionnaire put together with the money in an envelope, which drops into a special iron box.
* In my opinion, the best is the alternation of campgrounds and motels. Advantage of the latest - hot water, electricity, clean bed. However, many hotels are built air-conditioners in the windows and blow directly into the side of the bed, so you must be careful not to catch cold.
* Keep in mind that the motel price on weekends is higher than normal. The cost of lodging is often a light breakfast - coffee, tea, bread with mini-portions of butter and jelly. In almost all such institutions, with rare exceptions, there are machines for producing ice (ice machine). Americans carry with them large plastic boxes, thermoses (coolers), in which lay the ice and the products that can keep them longer. I'm not talking about a nice cool drink, taken from the cooler.
* If we can not get a campsite or motel, you can use the curb or roadside rest area where there are tents and tables (rest area). In this case, have to sleep in the car, because to put up tents and stop for more than 24 hours in such places is prohibited. Be prepared that not every night you disturb the road patrol. If the officer come up and ask if everything is OK, say you are very tired and unable to drive a car, you need a holiday. This is quite a good reason, and no one will put it into question. After all fallen asleep driver, who went into the oncoming lane - often the cause nighttime accidents.
* Get up early morning. Backfilled going home. Banal phrase "Time is money -" relevant in this case. Every hour saved will propel you to the purpose of the trip and will enable better enjoy the contemplation of the attractions. Recreation in the motel is actually not simply accommodation, and training the next day. In your power to make it more intense, and therefore get the most experience at minimal cost. Among other things, early rise will arrive within the scheduled item before it will gather crowds, familiar to popular destinations. In my practice there were cases when the morning the visitors even provide a small discount, but it is more the exception than the rule.
* Buy products in supermarkets. In small stores at gas stations the price is much higher. Going into the supermarket, remember that in America the rule of wholesale trade: the larger the package, the less will have to pay per unit.
* The products from the refrigerator check the date of manufacture - it may differ in exactly the same packages. Expired products you certainly will not find, but because you have to take them in the car, and the longer shelf life, the less likely that the food is spoiled. Take the package from the depths of refrigeration shelves, because the edge temperature is generally higher.
* Try to find the licensed products. They are made specifically for one system or another supermarket on the technology, similar brand c, the only difference in price. Two of these types of goods usually have a number to the buyer could choose - corporate product or license - the lowest price. For example, a brand licensed products (retail brand) for such a popular supermarket like WalMart, - Great Value, Sam's choice.
* Keep in mind that the value indicated on the price list does not include taxes, they end up is paying. In some states, food is not taxed. Alas, the chocolate in this category does not apply.
* Prepare food yourself or settle for sandwiches. Restaurants expensive, besides they take a lot of precious time. Why sit an hour or two at a restaurant where you can snack on the way to the car? If you decide to take advantage of catering - look for places where there is a buffet (buffet). There, for a fixed amount can fill the stomach of any number of meals, just to make anything. As a beverage for lunch preferred tea or juice instead of Coca-Cola - more like. Are combined and restaurants, where individual dishes to be ordered, and to them go salads and desserts in the buffet. If you still want to visit a restaurant, go there during the day and not night: many schools are much cheaper for lunch than dinner.
* Refuel in the cities. Petrol on the highway is usually slightly more expensive. Do not rush to refuel and at the entrance to town on the outskirts of money may also be overstated. There are, however, the danger of any town with a population of several thousand people unexpectedly slip and no bosses. Incidentally, almost all gas stations have free toilets. At the same time buying anything unnecessary. (I'm in the U.S. paid toilets do not meet - or at gas stations, no stores.)
* The cheapest gasoline, perhaps, in Texas and New Mexico. The farther away from them, the higher the price of fuel. Keep this in mind when deciding where to refuel again, and do not forget to follow for filling the tank.
* Choose the right place to park. In the centers of large cities (in the downtown, as they are called Americans) are a huge problem - to find a place for cars, is particularly acute, this manifests itself in the evening. All parking along the roadside is not enough that paid, so more and are occupied, and it is in the center of attractions are concentrated. Arriving in the city with which I would like to become better acquainted, I try to ride through the streets, assessing the situation and looking after the paid parking - most often a garage in a few levels. This tactic allows you to navigate on the ground (see that where there are) and choose park cheaply. But I leave the car in the center only in acute shortage of time. Enough to pull in a small distance (10-15 minutes) - and much easier to park.
* By the choice of parking should be treated very cautiously. American downtown - is not only a center of offices, but also a place where homeless people pulled together. In my opinion, it's safer just to park at the supermarket and eateries such as McDonald's (there's more crowded, and parking large) or near solid schools (they have security cameras and guards). Do not leave the car in residential areas, especially near the apartment buildings.
* Use what's free. At major freeways and urban open special centers for visitors (visitor centers, travel centers), where they offer hundreds of free promotional brochures and maps with information on attractions. Stand with booklets are available in hotels, while not necessarily spend the night there, you can simply go and collect an armful of literature, it is in order and it should be.
* Museums, parks, galleries, beaches have both paid and free. Learn about the latest in advance and more, because in many cases, and in free institutions can get experience at the highest level. Recall, great collections of the museums in Washington. Moreover, even in paid museums are free days.
* What should not do. Sorite not on the road - for it provides harsh penalties. Do not violate traffic regulations. Signs on U.S. highways do not put in order to bribe the police were shooting from the violators, and to protect the movement. They help drivers prepare for what awaits him in front (for example, to reduce speed before a sharp bend). Any accident in the road, even if the insurance to be costly. Do not count on Hitchhiking - if anyone stops to pick you, then most likely it will be a road patrol.
* Do not leave documents and that the ability to attract the attention of potential thieves. Keep away from the eyes of cameras and handbags, even if they do not have anything important and expensive.
* Do not overestimate their physical strength, especially during attacks on nature. For an ordinary visit to the doctor (for example, to get a shot against tetanus, or impose a band-aid) will pay U.S. $ 80-120 price hit a hospital is measured not in hundreds and thousands. If you are not too good health, take care in advance about insurance. It is, incidentally, covers not all the costs of treatment. Therefore, Do not over, eat well, try to observe the usual mode, be alert so as not to poison food, and in any walking, take your own water, sunscreen and a hat.
Here, perhaps, that's all. I hope the difficulty of obtaining visas can not alienate your desire to visit the United States. There is something to see. Finally let me remind the old English proverb: «Nothing ventured, nothing gained», - that in the Russian version is: "nothing ventured, nothing gained" or "nowhere to go - will not find anything." Someone to whom, and to us tourists, it's understandable.
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