Why the USA?

Why the USA?

1) It's cheaper than Europe

2) It's different than the usual UK-and-Europe OE that my friends have done

3) It's awesome.

Money has been a factor with our trip. We are on the one income with two kids etc so we're not swimming in it. This trip was kinda made on a whim so we have been saving like mad since booking it. I'm the queen of doing things on a budget though, so we've made it work :-)

Getting to the Los Angeles, USA from New Zealand is cheaper by about $500 than going to London, UK, per return ticket. Also the exchange rate is better for the American dollar (about 0.79) compared to the euro/pound. It's also kinda easier too; one country, only two languages, just the one visa etc, which all saves a bit of money.

Out of my friends who have been on their big 'OE', pretty much all of them have flown to the UK and explored Europe. That's pretty cool, but I like doing things that are different. The States has always fascinated me, there's a lot of stuff from there in our culture, and it's such a HUGE place with so much to see. New York, Hawaii, LA, Vegas, Grand Canyon, The South, New Orleans, The White House, Miami...the list goes on and on

I'm also interested in finding out about the typical American stereotype. The stereotype of an American tourist is not that flattering, but I bet ya there's more to it than that (like there usually is with stereotypes). We see a lot of America on TV and in the movies...I can't wait to see 'Is that real?', 'Is it really like that?'

It seems a pretty safe destination to go to and kind of 'easy' too. Travellers from NZ can get a Visa Waiver, so that's a big hassle gone, they speak English (and Spanish in some places, which I know enough of to get by) and they seem quite friendly. The only thing that's quite different is tipping! In NZ it's rude to give someone money for just helping you out, while it sounds like in the States it'd be rude NOT to!

Doing the research has been really fun. I've spent many an hour absorbed in a travel book, imagining myself over there, and deciding on our itinerary. There's only so much you can plan though, and none of it compares to actually being there. Not long to go now!