Travel Documents!

Passport! Those who have one check the expiration date not to be less than six months from the date of your trip. In case the expiration date is close we recommend you to renew it immediately. Those of you who do not yet have a passport time to gain one! Collect all the paperwork needed and get a passport! Also remember to check you have white pages for the US visa! Have a photo of the passport on your phone or a printed one.

Visa!

In the USA you will need ESTA. Enter the ESTA website and once you have passed all the necessary data carefully, you just give some time for it to be approved. The Whole process is done electronically and will take you about two hours. It Costs about 15euro and lasts for one year. Photocopy your approval.

roatrip usa

From – to the airport!

Park Around airports in case you want to move in the comfort of your car, leave the car in a safe place and find it clean when you return, with very little money! For those of you who want more comfort, do not have a vehicle or you will be with great company we recommend Uber, will leave you and will receive you safely, quickly and comfortably outside your gate.

Accommodation!

New York Is famous for the high cost of staying there, so it may be difficult to find the ideal accommodation for you. However, especially if you are traveling with company we recommend Airbnb, Hostel and of course couch surfing! Do not stay out of town, coz you have to feel the vibes of the city, but make sure that you are close to a metro stop to be more flexible. Photocopy your reservation.

Airport!

Big airports are really big so pay attention! Especially Those of you who have never been in such an airport, you may need even an hour to move from one gate to another. Calculate your times correctly and in case you have a transfer to another airport, pay attention because other rules apply in each airport and you may need to print new boarding passes. Before you fly, be sure about which airport you are landing to organize your transition to your accommodation and back prior your flghts. It is wise to keep  all boarding passes-check ins photocopied as well.

usa travel

Check In!

It Goes without saying that we do electronic check-in before our flights, but if the airport does not support automatic procedures you may have to wait in line to leave luggage and show your cards. You May even need to have your boarding passes printed! So either case have them printed with you.

Luggage!

Make Sure your baggage and hand luggage limits are those refferes on the tickets you have purchased. Beware because overweight and extra baggage especially in USA cost enough money. To reduce the cost you can travel with a backpack up to New York and add luggage to the inbound flight! That’s what we do!

Travel Applications!

Uber, Google Maps offline, maps me, whats up, Jump bikes  etc. Be Sure to save all the points of interest you want to visit, your accommodation etc. Download maps to navigate even without internet connection. Save your credit card to Uber so you don’t waste time when you use it.

usa travel

Credit Cards!

You are in the US, in the metropolis of all cities, forget the cash and use plastic money, only! You Achieve better parity (normally…)! Take with you another card, you never know… Make Sure you have a high credit limit, high enough and tell your bank where to ypou are about to travel (some banks need this info). Take some cash with you (only a few though). Dollar is not one of our favorite currencies in terms of travelling and unfortunately the exchange rate with euro is not very pleasant at the time! Make sure before you travel that you know all the currency rates!

Entering the country!

Upon the arrival at the airport there is a series of standard procedures in order to pass the control! No need for exaggeration. There are automated procedures and a mini interview that goes like what is the reason for your visit etc. Make Sure you’re serious and response to the questions properly so that you get to finish up soon.

Travel itinerary!

With this one you will need your own good online search (via an updated travel blog like ours ;-)), or through a travel guide or with a travel agency to book a tour! Its not that difficult, get  pen and a paper and start palnning! Once you are done pass all points of interest on Google Maps and then calculate times and distances, now there you are you have your itinerary ready! If  time wont allows it that you walk, you just get some Jump bikes that will get to the next point conveniently!

usa travel

Travel Insurance!

In the case of the USA, travel insurance it is not obligatory, but it is something that is  good for you to have  especially on long journeys. Besides you will find it very useful to have travel insurance, once needed. Try a famous travel insurance company such as the Mondial assistance etc.

Tipping!

You’Re in the US, which means that everything  looks  and actually is more expensive! The same is true with the tips which  usually are not mentioned in the original prices at the menus nd many times its obligatory to leave tips. The percentages range between 10%, 15% etc. You should also know that tips are often collected for the wages of employees, especially in restaurants and cafés.

Internet!

As we mentioned in the Practical guide of RoadTrip in California, check out US Mobile and place your order to havea  number and internet connection everywhere in the USA!

Renting a car!

For those of you wishing to rent a car to take a trip out of New York, choose a well-known company which usually lets you pick up-drop off at different places that are more convenient especially if you depart from a different airport than the one you landed at. Choose providers like Alamo car etc.

The post ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE TRAVELLING TO USA appeared first on Nonstoptravellers.

As you may already understood we did a lot of preparation and came up to a very strict itinerary for our roadtrip in California, of course thats not something you all have to do when travelling but we guess it depends on where you travel and when! To be more specific… US is considered to be an expensive country especially for low budget travellers, so the more informed and prepared you are the less money and time you ll get to spend! This idea of travelling doesnt fit all your trips but surely worked out for us (also has to do with how many days you travel, we only had two weeks available…)

usa roadtrip

Mobile Card-Internet

There are various prepaid companies in America (eg. T-MOBILE). We did not locate these companies at any airport but found a lot in the streets of the cities we visited but we had it all done in a different way! US Mobile! Enter the website, ask them to send you a starter kit with SIM cards in one of the places you plan to stay in Usa! When you arrive ask for the package and activate in simple steps the package that best suits you! You won’t find a cheaper way than this one, honestly! Of course, in rough and desert areas there is no signal but don’t worry because there are tourists and locals everywhere for any help you may need!

roatrip usa us mobile

Parking

For those of you who ll rent a car, you will definitely be concerned about the parking lot. This is because while parking is available everywhere, the time allowed for parking is limited, eg. For two hours on Monday between 9.00-10.00 in the morning. Always consult the signs on every street! So either you move it all the time or you put it in a public parking lot! By saying public parking we mean $20 a day with extra charge for nightly parking! Do not risk it, they are constantly  municipality patrols who lift the illegally parked vehicles!

Gas stations

Here we laughed a lot, as you will laugh too trying to understand the self service system while you see that no one will try to help you! What you need to know is that you leave the car next to the pump of choice, go inside the store to pay and exit to start the filling process! You will be surprised that there is a really slow mood at the gas stations, where you can stay even for a whole quarter, because nobody is in a hurry! So arrange your times!

Uber

In USA, the use of Uber is widespread! They use all the services that Uber provides at very low cost, easily, quickly and without the stress of finding any parking, etc. You’ll see Uber-crowded cars going to work while taking care of the environment after sharing the route with other fellow travellers! Car pooling applies perfect to travelers like us! We’ve been able to discover whole cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco and Miami with the use of Uber with incredible ease and absolutely no stress, while enjoyed the sightseeing along the way!

roatrip usa

Tolls

Tolls? What tolls? There are no such things in Usa, or rather there are.. but don’t worry about it because everything is automatically charged in the car when it passes eg. from bridges, etc. (read your agency’s rules while renting a car!).

Car Rental

We chose the agency Alamo car, which has a free shuttle bus that picks you up from the airport, takes you to the parking lot and there after you complete the process of declaring your data you choose one of the huge cars that are parked there and you just take off for your roadtrip! At the end of your trip you leave it at one of the cooperating car rentals that are available in almost all the cities and you still leave with the same ease and the corresponding shuttle bus!

Red street lights

More generally, the driving consciousness of Americans is enviable! Do not rush, do not run, follow the rules and respect the other drivers! Your experience on the streets of USA will definitely be enjoyable and relaxing! If you have a red street light in front of you and you want to turn right while you are free from your left, just pass slowly!!

Extras:

• Credit card everywhere (but keep some change too)
• Do not be confused with different time zones from city to city
• Only stop at vista points-specially designed points on motorways to enjoy views
• Download a good app with maps like maps.me and offline Google Maps

We hope you find our tips useful and follow them when you are having this dreamy roadtrip in California!

The post ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW TO PLAN A ROAD TRIP IN CALIFORNIA appeared first on Nonstoptravellers.

Our travel suggestions for couples travel are published by Glow magazine and we present them to you as they are posted!

The travel destinations we recommend:

Our inspiration is endless, but we  chose some of the best travel destinations for couples of every type of travelers!

• On top of all couple travelling is no other than Paris. Paris is ideal for first time travellers especially for couples and a trip to historic districts of the city of lights seems perfect if you’re still in honey moon phase!
• Bali on the other hand, perfectly suited to lovers of exotic beauty and offers a unique experience amidst the lush jungle!
• Then, Cappadocia it is… Cappadocia is indicated for … love birds, followers of the aesthetics of the Orient. Romantic balloon ride is once-in-a-lifetime experience!
• Certainly, we must not forget California, for authentic road-trippers and a life journey that combines national parks, nature and cities all in one great trip!
• We couldnt miss mentioning Alsace in France, at the borders with Germany make it perfect for wine tasting, for grape enthusiasts or for those who just want to enjoy a tour in picturesque hamlets with enchanting décor and medieval beauty!
• Amazing Iceland is the must for nature lovers and for those who dream to live the experience of the northern lights of Aurora!
• To continue with we ll propose Cambodia for adventurous backpackers exploring available religious monuments and temples lost in jungles, for exotic fruits and a chance to meet one of the kindest people in the world!
• Of course Singapore is an incredible destination for the lovers of urban tourism and modern Futuristic architecture.
• Last but not leat…Jaipur in India for the admirers of the Pink City, of tour palaces of Eastern flavours and tastes and for the big bargainers who will enjoy negotiating at authentic bazaars!

Did you like our trips’ recommendation? Have you been in one of these trips? What will be your next ones? We hope you found the travel proposals interesting and you found the style that suits you and your partner best!

The post TOP TRAVEL DESTINATIONS FOR COUPLES appeared first on Nonstoptravellers.

One of the first things that comes to our minds when we talk about the USA, is definitely Hollywood! All of us pretty much have seen and loved Hollywood movie productions, series and tv shows! A huge film industry, countless stars, great ammount of money, glory and scandals and awards are only few of the elements that make up what we call the Hollywood movie industry!

And where exactly are all these productions filmed? At huge and expensive installations and facilities, one of which, probably the most famous, are the Universal Studios!

Universal Studios are located in Los Angeles and cover an incredibly large area! Its almost as large as a city we would say! In this “city” of Universal studios, old-historical production studios as well as sets of famous films and of course the Universal Studios Park where you can spend moments of relaxation and joyfull memories!

One day at Universal Studios

Basic rule number one! Start your day early! Especially if you only have a few hours at your disposal to spend at Universal studios, like us! Be at the entrance at 8.30, where there is already a long visitors’ queue!

For those of you who arrive by vehicle, you have to pay for the parking zone you choose, the closer the more expensive of course and then you have walk to the entrance!

For those who will arrive by Metro there is a free shuttle bus that takes you to the entrance!

It is understood that you must have purchased your tickets in advance according to the ticket you choose and have them printed! We chose the  One day general admission tickets which is the most common amongst travellers and personally we think it is not worthy to spend more if travelling without kids and costs 109 USD! We were looking for some experience of course but didnt have great expectations! Finally this feeling of ours was right! Dont expect too much! Its an amusement park perfect for kids and for all of you who have a playfull mood!

We also suggest if you are visiting Universal stuidios withfriends to split before the entrance into those who will wait at the main entrance and those who will wait at the tickets booths. Sometimes they open both entrances and it can get annoying having to fight with other people in order to survive!

Study the map before entering so that you ll know in advance where to run in case you are in a hurry!

Of course we were in a hurry  to join the classic tour that tends to get pretty kitschy nowadays. The tours lasts 60 minutes and for those of us who had only 4 hours to spend at Universal Studios it is important to join the first ride of the tour!

Apart from the classic tour, families usually run in to get in line for the train! In the beautiful and thematic village you can stroll, train, taste delicacies and experience some of the magic of Harry Potter, even entering small shops that take you to fairytale movie scenes, all accompanied by the corresponding music sounds!

universal studios

In general there are many activities you can try-enjoy:

In addition, you can pop in food, juices, ice creams, chocolates, watch movies, meet heroes from movies and experience scenes action! More generally, those who visit the Universal Studios with children will surely need a whole day to wander around!

For the rest, half a day is enough! Also take into consideration that the longer you stay in there the more you get to spend!

The main Highlight of Universal Studios for us was the Universal Studios sign which is located at the entrance  before the red carpet! The navigation is easy you will not confused but do not forget to take a picture before you go in because the exit does not take you back to that point! Don’t miss it!

This was just a glimse of the adventurous world of Universal Studios we hope to have brought you some of the magic vibes of the park always within reasonable thoughts and without any exaggerations!

The post UNIVERSAL STUDIOS IN HOLLYWOOD appeared first on Nonstoptravellers.

Route 66 extends from Chicago to Los Angeles (Santa Monica) and was the main east-West motorway in America for most of the 20th century while it was left in history thanks to a song that had been interpreted among others by the Bob Dylan!

Over the years, US 66 received many nicknames. Right after US 66 was commissioned, it was known as “The Great Diagonal Way” because the Chicago-to-Oklahoma City stretch ran northeast to southwest. Later, US 66 was advertised by the U.S. Highway 66 Association as “The Main Street of America”. The title had also been claimed by supporters of US 40, but the US 66 group was more successful. In the John Steinbeck novel The Grapes of Wrath, the highway is called “The Mother Road”, its prevailing title today. Lastly, US 66 was unofficially named “The Will Rogers Highway” by the U.S. Highway 66 Association in 1952, although a sign along the road with that name appeared in the John Ford film, The Grapes of Wrath, which was released in 1940, twelve years before the association gave the road that name. A plaque dedicating the highway to Will Rogers is still located in Santa Monica, California. 

Migrant farmers from the time of the great crisis called him a mother road and followed him west to California. Today the biggest piece left by the original Route 66 is in Arizona and is a hymn of nostalgia for those who want to discover a purest ERA!

On the main streets of Holbrook, Flagstaff and Williams cities there are still motels and restaurants with classic style Route 66 in a more tourist version though!

You can drive all year round on Route 66 but due to temperature we would suggest early spring or autumn that we went, especially for you who want to explore and the surrounding areas and valleys! Surely the program is always interwoven with the cost and time but certainly between 3-5 days in terms of the Arizona area, you will be able to see all the main sights of the wider region!

The distances are too long so get equiped with plenty of water, offline maps and of course make good prediction of petrol as well as the supply points, gas stations!

And since the classic Route 66 is so antiquated that it s not even used a lot by Americans, be careful coz your GPS may not find the route 66, so make sure you have it correctly located on your maps before travelling!

From the main sights of Route 66 beyond the roadside motels, there is the spectacular Grand Canyon! Moreover while driving you ll get the chance to meet many spots of historic gas stations, cafes and motels! Many private individuals, organizations, and towns have preserved portions of the roadway, businesses that throve on it, or collections of memorabilia. Its like travelling through time machine guys really! The colours, the signs… everything looks like the old glory days of Route 66!

Extra tip

You can also search for Indian scene type accommodation for a more Native American experience or even a camping experience for the most adventurous ones!

Basically if you choose to stay in the Arizona area only, you will only enjoy a part of the route 66 and not the whole obviously! It needs a lot of patience to reach the east Coast!

The post HISTORIC CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY ROUTE 66 appeared first on Nonstoptravellers.

Must Do’s in SF:

• Top of the Mark – Watch the sunset over cocktails at the famed restaurant at the Mark Hopkins Hotel.
• Walk along Crissy Field (1199 East Beach Street in Presidio)
• Enjoy a delicious “Super Burrito”– Try any taqueria between 16th Street and 25th Street in the Mission District.
• Bike or walk across the Golden Gate Bridge – Feel free to come by our shop at 782 Columbus Avenue for a discounted bike rate!
• Dolores Park – On a sunny day head here for some of San Francisco’s best people watching (Dolores Street and 19th Street -be sure to bring a picnic).
• Ferry Building Farmer’s Market – Head to the Ferry Building on Saturdays to see one of the country’s largest farmers’ markets.
• Attend a Giants baseball game at AT&T Park – (24 Willie Mays Plaza/2nd Street)
• Ride a Cable Car – ($7 per trip)
• Walk through the oldest Chinatown in the United States – (Grant Avenue/Bush Street)
• Golden Gate Park – Spend an afternoon walking or riding through one of the world’s largest man-made parks.
• Coit Tower – On a clear day take a walk up and enjoy the view!
• Ocean Beach – If it’s not too chilly, try to catch a west-cost sunset.

san francisco

Museums:

• SF MoMA – Modern Art Museum (151 3rd Street/Howard Street).
• California Academy of Sciences – Great for children and adults (55 Music Concourse Driver/Golden Gate Park).
• Cable Car Museum – 1201 Mason Street/Washington Street.
• Asian Art Museum – 200 Larkin Street/Mcallister Street.
• Exploratorium – Great for kids (Pier 15/Embarcadero)
• Legion of Honor – Fine art and beautiful views (100 34th Avenue/Lincoln Highway).
• De Young Museum – ticket includes same day admission to the Legion of Honor (50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive/Golden Gate Park).

Last but NOT least… for the food lovers:

Restaurant Recommendations:

Breakfast

• Dottie’s True Blue Cafe – 28 6th Street/Stevenson Street.
• Mama’s – 1701 Stockton/Filbert Street
• Sears Fine Food – 439 Powell Street/Sutter Street

Chinese Cuisine

• House of Nanking – 919 Kearny Street/Columbus Avenue
• Sam Wo Restaurant – 713 Clay Street/Kearny Street

Greek/Mediterranean

• Souvla – 531 Divisadero Street/Hayes Street

Latin Cuisine

• Pancho Villa Taqueria – 3071 16th Street/Valencia Street.
• La Taqueria – 2889 Mission Street/25th Street.
• Limon Peruvian – 524 Valencia Street/16th Street.
• Lolo – 974 Valencia Street/21st Street.

Italian Cuisine

• Sodini’s – 510 Green Street/Grant Avenue.
• Firenze By Night – 1429 Stockton Street/Columbus Avenue.
• Tony’s Pizza – 1570 Stockton Street/Union Street.
• Delfina – 3261 18th Street/Guerrero Street.
• Tommaso’s – 1042 Kearny Street/Broadway.
• Delarosa – 2715 Chestnut/Pierce Street.

Seafood

• Sotto Mare – 552 Green Street/Columbus Avenue.
• Tadich Grill – 240 California Street/Battery Street.
• Scoma’s – 1965 Al Scoma Way/Jefferson Street.

California Cuisine

• Zuni Cafe – 1658 Market Street/Rose Street.
• Straw – 203 Octavia Boulevard/Page Street.
• NOPA – 560 Divisadero Street/Hayes Street.

Steakhouse

• House of Prime Rib – 1906 Van Ness Avenue/Washington Street.
• Izzy’s – 3345 Steiner Street/Chestnut Street.

Indian Cuisine

• Chutney – 511 Jones Street/Geary Street.
• Pakwan – 3182 16th Street/Guerrero Street.

Indonesian Cuisine

• Borobudur – 700 Post Street/Jones Street.

Burmese

• Burma Love – 211 Valencia Street/Duboce Avenue.

Thai Cuisine

• Osha – 311 3rd Street/Folsom Street.

Vietnamese Cuisine

• Tu Lan – 8 6th Street/Stevenson Street.
• Slanted Door – 1 Ferry Building/Embarcadero.

Japanese

• Akiko’s – 431 Bush Street/Kearny Street.

Vegetarian

• Greens – 2 Marina Boulevard.

Fast Food

• In-N-Out Burger – 333 Jefferson Street/Leavenworth Street.

We trully hope that this info was helpful to all of you, both travellers and locals! Many thanks to Dylan’s tours team for the amazing tips! If anyone needs more San Francisco inspiration or wants to find a good guided tour, this is a great resource!

The post THINGS TO DO IN SAN FRANCISCO appeared first on Nonstoptravellers.

A tour in Los Angeles in an educating and entertaining way, conveniently stopping at key places of interest. On the tour, you will see the absolute best that the city has to offer from historic Hollywood, to glitzy Beverly Hills, to the Trendy Sunset Strip and everywhere in between!

After visiting LA Downtown and having checked the starts at Walk of fame and the amazing Dolby theater in Hollywood we crossed across the street and found ourselves in a beautiful place, easily recognizable by its vivid orange colour! Time to meet Proper Sightseeing and its team! Jackie, Tony and the best driver ever David were there to welcome us in the warmest way! Extraordinary vibes and passionate people eager to explain any details about the tour just to make sure that all passengers would make the most out of it!

The crazy orange bus is there for us and the adventure begins! You can start at any of the stops you wish and of course take your time sightseeing after hopping off the bus! You have the freedom to hop-on and hop-off as many times as you’d like. Sit back, relax on fully cushioned seats, and explore one of the globe’s most creative and expressive cities in a manner, and at a speed, that suits your interests!

We started our tour from the very first stop, but there more to explore since there are 13 stops in total waiting you to discover them all! So lets take a look:

Stop 1: PROPER/TMZ TOUR CENTER

First Stop is located close to El Capitan Theatre across the street from the Hollywood & Highland
shopping center. Come in & purchase your sightseeing tickets! The friendly staff we ll help you out!

Stop 2: ROCK WALK (GUITAR CENTER)

Second stop is a music shop with the largest chain of musical instruments throughout the US! This
location is best known to be a place where famous musical artists and bands have imprinted their hands.

Stop 3: LAUGH FACTORY/CHATEAU MARMONT

Third stop is recognized as “the #1 comedy club in the country” by USA Today. Great stop to enjoy a stroll down Sunset Strip & all the area’s most famous hotels!

Stop 4: COMEDY STORE/SUNSET STRIP

Fourth stop is where hilarious performances are held nightly. The popular late night show host, Johnny Carson, was one
of the first to perform here when it opened.

Stop 5: WHISKEY A GO GO

Fifth stop is an awesome rock band venue where you can catch rock music nightly! This venue is located on the
Sunset Strip, which is known for the famous wall-to-wall colorful billboard ads, notorious bars, nightclubs, rock clubs and more!

Stop 6: WEST HOLLYWOOD/PACIFIC DESIGN CENTER
Sixth stop is an award winning design center that showcases the best modern interior design. The city of
WEST HOLLYWOOD offers amazing food and beverage options.

Stop 7: 3RD STREET/BEVERLY HILLSMON-SAT:
Seventh stop is a connection stop is where you can check out Rodeo Drive and the beauty of the wellknown
Beverly Hills. This city is comprised of the most luxurious shopping, dining, and hotel destinations in the world.

Stop 8: BEVERLY CENTER
Eight stop is California’s hot spot for shopping with 8 floors, 160 stores, and brands such as Louis Vuitton, Gucci,
and Michael Kors inside. Nearby is LA’s famous Restaurant Row featuring notable restaurants such as The Original Lawry’s Prime Rib, Fogo de Chao, The Stinking Rose and more!

Stop 9: LA BREA TAR PITS/LACMA
Ninenth stop is where you can visit the Tar Pits Museum & the Los Angeles County Museum of Art- LACMA;
the largest museum in the Western US with over 100,000 sculptures, paintings, other fine works of art. Just a block away
from Petersen Automotive Museum’s rare car collection.

Stop 10: ORIGINAL FARMERS MARKET/THE GROVE
Tenth stop is where you’ll be surrounded by over 160 shopping stores & restaurants! The
Original Farmers Market features more than 100 restaurants, grocers, and tourist shops. North of the market is the famous
CBS studios, where The Price is Right, Dancing with the Stars, and American Idol are filmed.

Stop 11: MELROSE SHOPPING
Elenenth  stop is where you can walk down the street that made the show “Melrose Place” famous. Excellent
dining choices and wonderful local shopping makes this stop a must! Don’t forget to stop at Pink’s Hotdog stand where you can get one of the most delicious hot dogs in LA or even possibly spot a local celebrity getting their grub on. Make sure you bring cash if you want a hot dog!

Stop 12: PARAMOUNT STUDIOS
Twelveth stop is where you will get off if you made a reservation to do the Paramount Studio Tour. North of the
studio is the final resting place for Hollywood’s founders, stars, directors, writers, and performers at The Hollywood Cemetery.

Stop 13: HOLLYWOOD & VINE/PANTAGES THEATRE
Last but not least stop is the last stop before returning to stop #1. If you want to explore the Walk of Fame, see
the famous Capitol Records, visit the Pantages Theatre or see what’s happening in the area, get off here! This intersection used to be the Time Square of the West Coast and the main hub for what was happening in Hollywood

So travellers all you have to do is relax and explore the City of Los Angeles at your own pace on our fantastic Hop On Hop Off tour and spend time at the most famous locations! This team is full of energy and passion for what they do!

The Proper Sightseeing’s Hop-On Hop-Off tour was complimentary though all the opinions expressed above remain our own and they are based on our personal experience! Totally recommended!!! Many thanks for the amazing experience!

The post DISCOVER HOLLYWOOD AND BEVERLY HILLS BY PROPER SIGHTSEEING HOP ON – OFF BUS TOUR appeared first on Nonstoptravellers.

1.Los Angeles – Santa Monica

• 06.00 Wake up at Hollywood
• 06.30 Uber to Downtown LA – Breakfast accross the Bradburry Building – Bradburry Building – Open Market – Walt Disney Concert Hall – Skypace – The last bookstore – Grab some coffee
• 10.00 Uber to Hollywood – Walk of fame – Highland Mall – Dolby Theater – Hollywood sign – Chinese Theater
• 12.00 Ride Proper Sightseeing (Hop on – off bus) see the whole itinerary here
• 14.00 Beverly Hills – Rodeo Drive – LACMA
• 15.30 Uber to Santa Monica
• 16.00 Bike Center Santa Monica for more info click here – Santa Monica beach – Santa Monica Pier – Little Venice – Muscle beach – Boardwalk
• 20.30 Uber to Hollywood

2.Los Angeles – Malibu – San Barbara –  San Simeon- Bixby bridge – Big Sur – Karmel

• 06.00 Wake up at Hollywood
• 06.30 To Griffith Observatory  – Donuts for breakfast & black coffee
• 08.30 Universal Studios – grab a light lunch at Universal park
• 13.00 Maibu – Lululemon – Farm deck – Pier – Lighhouse – Pacific Ocean view
• 14.00 Santa Barbara – San Simeon – Elephants seals view – Piedras blancas light station – – Bixby bridge – Big Sur – Rocky point
• 22.00 Carmel by the sea

california roadtrip

3.Karmel- Silicon Valley – San Francisco

• 06.00 Wake up at Karmel – Donuts for breakfast & black coffee
• 06.30 Carmel by the sea –  Lone Cypress (or just other trees… free of charge) – Mission
• 10.00 To Silicon Valley
• 14.00 To Premium Outlets San Francisco – Lunch
• 20.30 San Francisco

california roadtrip

4.San Francisco

• 06.00 Wake up in San Francisco (Guerrero street)
• 06.30 Uber to Painted Ladies – Uber to SF Downtown – Civic Center city hall – Powel Station – Cable car turnaround –  Financial District – Ferry Building
• 12.00 Uber  to Fisherman’s Wharf – Pier 39 – Sea lions – Lunch at Bubba Gump
• 14.00 Jump Bikes to Ghirardeli chocolate factory – Golden Gate Bridge – Lombard Street
• 18.00 Cable car towards Powel Station – Try both 3 lines – Dinner

5. San Francisco – Wine country – Mendocino Country – Redwood Valley – Fair Oaks

• 07.00 Wake up – Cereal Bars for breakfast & black coffee
• 08.00 Uber to Dylan’s tours
• 09.00 Dylan’s tours – Original 6 hours City Loop Electric Bikes – For the whole itinerary check here (Golden gate park, Height – Ashburry, Golden Gate Bridge etc.)
• 15.00 Lunch – San Francisco to Wine country – Stop at Sausalito – Battery Spencer – Bonita Light house – Muir Woods
• 16.00 Wineries

california roadtrip

6.Wine country – Mendocino Country – Redwood Valley – Fair Oaks

• 09.00 Wake up – Breakfast
• 12.00 Wineries

7.Fair Oaks – Sacramento – Amador city – Sutter creek – Columbia State Park – Sonora – Jamestown

• 07.00 Wake up – Brunch by the Lake
• 12.00 Placerville – Shutter Creek
• 17.00 Columbia State Historic Park
• 18.30 James Town – Dinner

8.Yosemite National Park – Tunnel view – Bridalveil fall viewing point – El capitan meadow – Lower Yosemite Fall -Vista Point – Mirror lake – Tuolumne Grove Trailhead – Olmsted point – Whoa Nellie Deli – Mono Lake – South Tufa Area 

• 06.00 Wake up – Donuts again for breakfast
• 07.00 Yosemite Entrance
• 08.5 Yosemite Valley – Tunnel view – Bridal veil fall – El Capitan Weadow – Vernal falls – Mirror lakes – Lower Yosemite Fall – Tuolumne grove trailhead – Tenaya lake – Whoa Nellie Deli – Mono lake South Tufa Area
• 19.30 Mammoth lake – Dinner

california roadtrip

9 Mammoth lakes – Devil’s Postpile National Monument – Bishop – Lone Pine – Death Valley National Park (Devils Golf Course, Badwater Basin, Artist’s Palette, Zabriskie Point) – Las Vegas

• 06.00 Wake up at Mammoth lake
• 06.50 Devil’s Postpile
• 9.10 Bishop for gas and breakfast at Schats Bakery
• 10.25 Lone Pine – Badwater – Artist’s pallete – Devils golf course
• 14.15 Zabriskie Point
• 17.00 Las Vegas – Dinner

california roadtrip

10.Las Vegas – Route 66 California Highway – Hooover Dam – Grand Canyon – Grand Canyon Village and Navajo Point – Page

• 06.00 Wake up – Breakfast at Motel (oh yeah)
• 06.30 Welcome to fabulous las Vegas sign
• 07.50 Hoover Dam
• 08.20 Route 66 entrance
• 12.40 Grand canyon village – Bright Angel Lodge parking – Shuttle bus to Mojave – Maricopa – Powell – Hop – By car to Yavapai point – Mother point- Pipe creek vista – Yaki point – Grandview, Moran, Lipan, Navajo, Desert view watch
• 19.30 Page – Dinner

11.Horseshoe Bend – Antelope Canyon – Gooseneck’s state park – Glen Canyon Dam Overlook – Mexican Hat – Monument Valley

• 06.00 Wake up – breakfast
• 06.45 Horse shoe bend – Sunrise
• 07.45 Antelope Canyon Upper
• 12.45 Goosenecks state park – Mexican hat
• 15.00 Forrest Gump poin – Monument Valley
• Camping Night at Monument Valley – booked through airbnb platform

california roadtrip

12. Monument Valley – Monument Valley Safari – Las Vegas

• 07.00 Wake up
• 08.00 Monument Valley Safari
• 12.00 Glen Canyon Dam overlook – If theres is time see Toadstool Hoodoos – Kanab – Valley of state park
• 19.20 Las Vegas Airport

We hope you enjoyed our detailed itinerary and we would be very happy to know that you tried it yourself! The final total cost of airtickets, accommodation, transportation, Internet, water, food etc… was approximately  €3,700, not bad ha??? If some of you would like to send you an even more detailed itinerary with miles, the exact times etc. Send us an email via our contact form and we will be happy to share it with you!

Finally, we will be glad to have you in our travel company! You can subscribe to our newsletter here:

The post USA – 12 DAYS ROADTRIP ITINERARY appeared first on Nonstoptravellers.

We chose The Bike Center in Santa Monica, the perfect place for the lovers of cycling, for their years of experience and values in promoting a culture of sustainable environmentally friendly means of transportation such as bikes!

At the entrance of the Bike Center, two wonderful bicycles with the necessary equipment (helmets and locks) were waiting for us! That’s where we met four amazing people, the Bike Center team! Meet sweet Sandie, the most adventurous Sandra, eager-to-help Iggy and of course Ron the owner of the Bike Center in Santa Monica, who was rather helpful, friendly and willing to show us around The Bike Center, and share his ideas and values of using the bike as a part of our daily life! After having explored the Bike Center, they explained to us that their moto “Why not take the bike, instead of the car?” is more than just a moto, it’s a way of thinking and living!

They are actively participating in the transformation of Santa Monica into a community of bicycle travelling both for the tourists and the locals. They positively see the prevalence of cycling in the future offering, not only unforgettable cycling rides, but tours as well! The main aim of The Bike Center is to establish the use of bikes in everyone’s mind, whether it is for a tourist who wants to enjoy the wonderful beach through an interesting cycling experience, or for the locals who commute to and from their workplace! For this reason they have prepared special facilities with safety lockers, showers and storage lockers where the personal objects of cyclists can be safely stored!

In addition to bicycle and equipment rentals, The Bike Center in Santa Monica offers various tours and cycling experiences that feature Santa Monica and Los Angeles’ main attractions, which include tours that combine food tasting experiences, segway tours and walking food tours! The Bike Center covers all the needs associated with cycling! In addition to renting and selling bicycles and equipment, they offer a number of other services. Experienced specialists are there for you to help or advice you and let you know about their bike travel programs. And of course, while you are cycling or exploring the city on foot, your luggage and personal stuff is safe in the special lockers we mentioned above!

We did not join any tours, we chose to take a bike ride instead, but we got all the necessary instructions and tips from the tour expert Sandra, a real bike enthusiast who shared with us her favorite spots to live the experience in the best possible way! The California Incline bicycle path is a wonderful place where you leave the city and its roads through a unique circular descent by bike, and you find yourself suddenly in front of an extraordinary beach overlooking the Pacific Ocean! Wonderful and indescribable view… The feeling was awesome!

The Bike Center in Santa Monica is located in a fairly accessible area, near the Pier of Santa Monica and very close to the Metro station! The team is willing and ready to help you choose and customize the right bike for you or show you around the shower facilities, so dont you worry about anything!

The thing that also characterizes this team is the moto “locals too, not just tourists” and we hope this great team can inspire both locals and travellers to use bikes because it truly stands out by building a community of unique cyclists both in Santa Monica and Los Angeles!

A wonderful experience that we highly recommend to anyone of you who is lucky enough to travel to Santa Monica! For those of you who live or work there already, no further recommendations are needed. The Bike Center in Santa Monica and its wonderful team are waiting for you in their modern and friendly Bike Center to initiate you in the world of bikes! The team is more than eager to share its secrets and tips for a more sustainable way of travel! We fully support such efforts and it is a pleasure and an honour to be able to promote such professionals to the wide travelling audience!

Many, many sincere thanks to the Bike Center of Santa Monica for their kind offer to us! The bike ride was complimentary by The Bike Center of Santa Monica but all the opinions expressed above is our personal view which was based on our personal experience of the excellent service and quality bicycles that we got from The Bike Center!

The post THE BIKE CENTER SANTA MONICA “WHY TAKE THE BIKE INSTEAD OF THE CAR?” appeared first on Nonstoptravellers.

We woke up at 6.00 am and in one day tried to explore the whole city! Did we make it? Read further to find out!

With some goodwill, luck, planning and Uber help, we started from Hollywood and headed to downtown Los Angeles. There we wandered at the highlights of LA, including Walt Disney Theater, the Bradburry Building, the Open Market where you can grab a cup of coffee and enjoy a good breakfast to keep you strong during the busy day, MOMCA and the Last bookstore (definetely a new post will be released)!

los angeles griffith observatory

After we explored almost everything, have to admit that we were going kind of “fast forwardly”, we took an Uber ride again back to Hollywood and headed to the Walk of Fame, walking around the stars and finally got ourselves at the Dolby theater, the historic theater where the Oscar awards are hosted for the past years!

There you can find a small “bridge” that connects the two buildings of Dolby theater and take some views of the Hollywood sign! Actually there are a lot of spots for you to grab the perfect Hollywood sign photo and we ll share them with you later. Till then keep in mind that this sign is more than just nine white letters spelling out a city’s name it’s one of the world’s most evocative symbols, a universal metaphor for ambition, success, glamour for this dazzling place, industry and dream we call HOLLYWOOD.

malibu

Then we visited the Chinese theater famous for the Hollywood stars’ handprints and foodprints and after we met some crazy Batmen, Catwomen, Elvises etc. we passed across the street to relax and enjoy a two-hour Hop on off Bus tour from Ride Proper Sightseeing. A two-hour tour from Hollywood to Beverly Hills and beyond (we also made a stop at the unique LACMA museum)! This ride was a good opportunity to take a quick and stress-free look at some Hollywood secrets and gossips!

After we ve seen almost all of Hollywood, we headed on Uber to the seaside area of Santa Monica where the famous movie series Baywatch was shot!

Santa Monica is a coastal city west of downtown Los Angeles. Santa Monica Beach is fringed by Palisades Park, with views over the Pacific Ocean. Santa Monica Pier is home to the Pacific Park amusement park, historic Hippodrome Carousel and Santa Monica Pier Aquarium.

So what’s the best way to explore Santa Monica? The right answer is… on bikes! We chose The Bike Center Santa Monica, the perfect place for the lovers of cycling, with years of experience and the values of promoting the culture of sustainable way travelling and environmentally friendly means of transport such are bikes!

Find out more about the new Santa Monica project for sustainable travel and our adventures there!

It is almost 20.00 pm and it is time to return to our hostel at the Walk of fame safely with an Uber cab, to a quite expensive, small and not that clean room, with shared bathroom, and bass sounds from the clubs but… honey this is Hollywood!

Next day will find us early in the morning ar Griffth Observatory the famous place where La La Land was filmed and after that our next stop will be at the Universal Studios, the studios where thousands of films have been filmed, we will tour in the sceneries, we will see the studios where even today productions and series are filmed and we will become kids again! Read more about Universal Studios!

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