West Coast Roadtrip

[Haunted]

Hey everyone,

I'm going on a trip to the west coast of the US from the UK next week for around 2 weeks, and will be driving from LA->San diego(with a night in Tijuana)->Vegas<->The Grand Canyon while I'm there.

I've never driven on the right hand side of the road before, so I was wondering if anyone had any advice, especially for LA. I also know laws vary by state, so I'm hoping someone could let me know if there are any particularly odd road laws that I'd need to bear in mind.

Other than that, I know all of the obvious ones, but if anyone has any advice for "must do" things, or less known things that're pretty awesome in any of the places above, that'd be awesome.

Edit: Theres two of us going, and we have a budget of up to $160 per day after accomodation(which is already sorted)

Thanks in advance!

[wipers]

Kill a few hookers in Vegas.

[Sepukku]

Hey everyone,

I'm going on a trip to the west coast of the US from the UK next week for around 2 weeks, and will be driving from LA->San diego(with a night in Tijuana)->Vegas<->The Grand Canyon while I'm there.

I've never driven on the right hand side of the road before, so I was wondering if anyone had any advice, especially for LA. I also know laws vary by state, so I'm hoping someone could let me know if there are any particularly odd road laws that I'd need to bear in mind.

Other than that, I know all of the obvious ones, but if anyone has any advice for "must do" things, or less known things that're pretty awesome in any of the places above, that'd be awesome.

Edit: Theres two of us going, and we have a budget of up to $160 per day after accomodation(which is already sorted)

Thanks in advance!

When it gets to 2+ lanes wide in a given direction, right lane is for normal driving, left lane is those going fast / passing slow cars in the right lane. If you are in the left lane and you hold up people behind you and you dont get in the right lane again so they can resume zooming down the road, youre just the worst.

[Dariscus]

there are not really many laws that you would have to worry about being different from state to state, outside of speed limit laws varying by town/state and open road speed limits are higher always posted enough you will/should now how fast to go. generally 5mph over the speed limit is acceptable and not going to get you in trouble unless you are doing something else stupid.

if you are interested in history or old "ghost" towns, Oatman, CA is a neat side tour you can take on the way to Vegas. it's an old mining town in the hills, in Arizona there is the old Route 66 that leaves Kingman and goes north before Turning back south to connect to the interstate, while on that road check out the Grand Canyon Caverns, not associated with the Grand Canyon or any federal park service but still a cool attraction on the way to the big hole in the earth lol

enjoy the trip!

[BaneTheBrawler]

yeah. and when traffic is merging from the right, you should move into the left lane to let them in. then move back over after a bit. which honestly i think is probably the same, just mirrored. just dont forget where you are; cars are america's #1 mode of transportation so EVERYONE drives. and we carry a lot of cargo on the road. major mistakes can be punishing.


also don't change lanes in an intersection, especially when turning. if you're in the right lane making a left turn, when you complete the turn you should end up in the right lane. if youre in the left lane making a left turn, you should end up in the left lane (of the ones available in that direction, anyway- if there's only one lane youre fine). if youre in the right lane making a right turn, you should turn into the right lane. a lot of people do this wrong and ITS THEIR OWN DAMN FAULT WHEN I CUT THEM OFF.

[synistar]

Since you're from the UK, there's Zion National Park 2.5 hours north of Vegas. Might be too far out of the way for a 1 day turn-around trip.

Also never pass traffic in designated truck lanes. You'll piss off a bunch of truckers.

[BaneTheBrawler]

oh yeah. never piss off truckers


in fact, truckers are the ideal role-models on the road. if youre not sure what to do, do what the truckers are doing. if you're worried about weather or whatever, follow a trucker. just, yknow, not too close. if you can't see their mirrors they can't see you.

[gt_killa]

if you want party it up in SD go to Pacific Beach, most of the young crowd hang here nightly, as well as downtown..If you want look at stuff then there's Old Town, Mission Beach..Foods are in Balboa/Clairemont/Convoy area..My fav spot for sushi is Sushi Diner, and for Thai there's Amari Thai, Korean you definitely have check out dae jang geum..Bars are drinks are in downtown, good vibes.

[Haunted]

Thanks for all the advice so far, sounds like its mostly similar to here, except for the huge roads through cities, and just the other way round, so hopefully it won't take too long to get used to.

We're giving the car back the day after we go to the Grand Canyon, so won't really have any time to take any other trips outside of Vegas after that, so that will most likely count Zion out, but all the suggestions sound pretty good so far, will definitely try and fit a couple of the detours into the journeys to Vegas and the Grand Canyon. Its always good to know good places to eat/drink/party etc, so I'll definitely be noting them down to take with me, and if anyone has any for the other places that'd be awesome.

Does anyone have much experiance with Tijuana? Everything I've read about it either says its the most amazing place in the world, or how much of a horrible time people had, and theres not really much in the middle of those extreams, but i guess people don't write about an "ok" time away.

Thanks again guys, you've been a lot of help so far!

(oh, and obviously we've already put time aside for the hooker killing in Vegas!)

[Jefe]

Going to TJ? Visit Rosarito, you can thank me later. There's plenty of stuff to do/check/drink/eat. I highly recommend the godlike sea food.

[Osede]

There might be no one mention about it. You had to stop, before you proceed to turn right (turn left for right hand side driver as in UK) at the traffic light, even thought it is green light. I have few friends got fine by police in michigan and new york area before they straight away turn right at traffic light with green. Some area you may turn right on red light some area may not allow, just pay attention to the sign.

[Moss]

What? You don't have to stop to turn right on a green light.

[gt_killa]

What? You don't have to stop to turn right on a green light.

^ . at least in Cali you don't. no sure bout other states.

[The Stig]

Not really useful info but for educational purposes based on what I learnt from those police chase shows, US cops will attempt to PIT (precision immobilization technique) you if you happen to be on the run and won't stop! lol

And if they manage to offroad and stop you, prepare to be zerged.

UK cops will chase you until the end of the country if you're good enough!

[Sepukku]

^ . at least in Cali you don't. no sure bout other states.

PA you dont have to stop to turn on green either

[BaneTheBrawler]

ive never heard of having to stop for right turns on green. thats what green is for. on red and yellow? yes absolutely. but not green.

[Fodder]

If you're renting the car, opt for the insurance coverage provided by the rental company that allows you to walk away from any damage. When you get rear-ended by an illegal alien with no insurance you won't get left holding the bag like I did last time I was in LA. IMHO the 20USD/day is well worth not having to deal with any of it. SoCal is one of the few places I'd opt for the coverage.

If it's your thing, have your camera handy when you're driving through the desert, you can get some cool shots of the moon, sunrises, sunsets, scenery, etc., whatever your fancy is.

Also, don't take any fresh fruit on your travails around SoCal. There are numerous checkpoints you have to go through (and I'm not just talking about the US/MX border) where they pester you about it and confiscate it should you have any. It's just easier all around if you don't have anything to declare.

[Byrd]

ive never heard of having to stop for right turns on green. thats what green is for. on red and yellow? yes absolutely. but not green.

Sometimes you might have to yield for pedestrians while making a right turn on a green light.

By the way, if you're ending your trip in Vegas, just drop the rental car off when you get there. You'll be drunk and walking or taking a cab most of the time you're there unless you are specifically leaving the city to do something else.

[Mad Dog Ben Richards]

i can't speak for LA LA land cause i never been but I used to live in vegas

Palms, Rio, and Hard Rock were the best. all off the strip so almost no kiddie family vacation crap at those places and more locals. ghostbar and voodoo lounge at the top of palms and rio which are across the street from each other. The girls at the pool at the hard rock during the day... hey now! Rio has this cover band with the pussycat dolls dancing around in panties and shit and they play zep and ac/dc and all sorts of good rock and it was 50 bucks and free drinks. Mystere at treasure island is the best Cirque show IMO also but that is more expensive.

also... single deck super fun 21 at the stratosphere. they only place that still has it that I know of. can double down after any hit or splits and you can surrender and get half your money back at any time when you know your done including after double downs when you get a 2 or something that sucks. all you give up is black jack pays 1:1 instead of 3:2. oh did I mention it's one deck....