[rob6712col]

We are using alamo.co.uk for our car hire and it has come in quite cheap.

Travel insurance we are using AAMI and again for 5 of us for 45 days is only $445 so pretty happy with that.

NYC accomodation, we have booked an apartment via airbnb also. It is illegal to book an apartment in NYC if it is less than 30 days and/or it is unhosted (the owner doesn't live there) and/or it is in a block of more than 4 apartments. So if it is in a block of less than 4 apartments it is legal. Just be careful as there are ALOT of scammers on apartment rentals. With airbnb they hold the cash until 24 hours after check in so if there is no apartment then you can get your money back. BUT there are alot on airbnb that want you to give additional information and pay outside of airbnb payment system Don't do it, they are trying for identification fraud asking the questions on medical conditions etc.

Our transfer from our apartment back to JFK is actually with super Shuttle. Costing us $79 for 5 of us and this includes the tip and tolls. I know some others were not keen on super shuttle but for that price we will give it a try. it is quite hard to find something large enough for 5 people plus luggage as we don't fit in taxis!!

[Holidaysfor8]

Rob6712col - Thanks for all the info, Im going to have a look at airbnb I've used vrbo before but not heard of this one till people were talking about it today on here. Are you staying in manhattan area?

[Peanut]

It's 3am and I'm sitting in my Ds's room because of nightmares and he "can't go back to sleep without me". This is why I'm not that worried about getting sleep on the plane, I rarely get to sleep a full night anyway. Aargh.

(So what do I do but start thinking about our America trip and come on here, obsessed much...?!).



This post has been edited by Peanut: 13/08/2012, 03:24 AM

[traceybrown]

II also travel with injection pens, humira for me. I have always called the customer service center and let them know. Never had anyone bat an eyelid going through security. Make sure they are in your hand luggage. Ypu don't want to loose them! If they need to be kept cold take a digital thermometer with you. Most airlines will tell you that they can't store them for you but can top up ice etc. I use a frio wallet and ice.

[carls888]

We are also buying car seats over there. But I was told by another traveller to ask the hotel you are staying at if they have any as many travellers just leave them at the hotels after their trip.

Is the driver protection insurance included in a normal travel insurance policy? We are using our CItibank Select insurance but I will need to check now if that's all we need.

It's underwritten by Zurich so should be OK I hope!

Does anyone know?

C

[rob6712col]

Holidaysfor8 - yes we are staying in Manhattan on Madison Ave, one block from Central Park near the Guggenheim. We have a 2 bedroom apartment on the 4th floor - they call it the penthouse apartment!! It is not massive but will do us. It is costing us about $350 per night.

As we are taking 3 suitcases but one of them will be empty when we leave we have decided to buy the cushion seat boosters and take them with us in the "empty" case. We will eave them over there when we leave. We are going with 7,5,5 yr olds so legally we only need them in LA anyway but will keep them in Orlando etc. We pick up our car at LAX and drive to the hotel in Hollywood so won't have the chance to buy boosters beforehand.

[~*Bec*~]

Whats the age restrictions on car seats LA-San Fran?

Has anyone stayed at the Beacon on the upper west end??

I also bought the family NEW YORK (DK) book and love it thankyou to who ever it was that recommended it

Still playing around with dates as the kids cant have more than 20 consecutive school days off so im trying to make the most of my time ....

[Peanut]

rob6712col, your apartment sounds great! I was worrying about when we'd buy the booster seats too. Luckily our friends in NYC have offered to pick them up for us, so we'll get them before we need the car.

Bec, you're welcome! My copy of that book is well thumbed already, lol!

[1fornow]

As an average how much are you all paying for car hire?? I've booked a hire car for our LA leg (including car seat) for roughly $35 per day.

I might have to keep an eye on this and review it before the balance payment is due

[rob6712col]

Bec - everything I have read is they need to be in a booster till 7 years of age in California

The Beacon has some great reviews and to be honest if it had been available when we are NYC I would have booked it but unforutnately we are there when the NY Marathon is on and everything booked out really quick.

Our school has the same 20 consecutive school days off thing too but it just means that you have to lodge a letter with the principal outlining the educational benefits of the trip. No problem here with getting that approved at all. Probably because our principal had just taken his kids out for 6 weeks to travel to Europe! Just check with the school.

1fornow- I have just calculated our car hire back to AUD as we pay for it in GBP but we are paying $33 per day for a SUV. No car seats included. So depending on what type of car you are hiring I think that is pretty good.