Hello,
I’ve already gone through some threads dating back to 2010, but opinions are pretty mixed...
What’s the verdict in 2025?
- We’re arriving for a 15-day trip on Friday, June 13, theoretically at 1:05 PM (AF22).
- Rental car (Toyota RAV4) booked with Alamo ("requested" starting at 2:30 PM).
- Room reserved at the Best Western Desert Villa Inn in Barstow (check-in "6/7 PM" listed...) that same evening.
Does this seem reasonably doable to those familiar with the area, for a couple in their seventies, or would it be better to stop sooner (but where?)—even if it means extending the drive to Williams the next day? 😕...
Thanks for your advice!
In terms of distance and time, it’s doable.
But personally, I’d never do it because of the fatigue.
Actually, it’ll be 5:30 AM for you when you get behind the wheel...
I usually stop within 1 hour of driving, as close to a highway as possible.
Are you heading straight to Williams the next day?...
From a distance and time perspective, it's doable.
I made the LA to Barstow trip a few years ago. It was seriously jammed, traffic wasn’t moving, so I had the bright idea to take the carpool lane. Big mistake: LAPD (or equivalent) pulled me over and forced me back onto the highway in the opposite direction—lost over an hour...
From a fatigue standpoint, I’d never do it personally.
Actually, it’ll be 5:30 AM for you when you get behind the wheel...
Oh right, sorry—I got the calculation backwards 😏
11:30 PM, indeed.
The jet lag from Los Angeles will probably hit hard 😄
Yeah, I can confirm that traffic jams are pretty much constant now...
Personally, I wouldn’t do that kind of drive after a flight. It wrecks me every time, and all I want to do is crash 😄
But hey, if he slept well on the plane, leaving around 3 PM from the rental agency still gives him plenty of time to get there, with a break if he gets tired... Up to him, I guess.
I’m correcting the time... 2:30 PM for you is like 11:30 PM at the rental agency 😉
Let’s say midnight when you leave the agency.
So it’s like driving late in the evening with a few hours of flying under your belt.
That means you’d be driving between midnight and 3 AM if we factor in the constant traffic jams in LA in the afternoon.
It’s true that our last road experience in Los Angeles was back in 2009, and traffic conditions may have gotten worse since then—especially on a Friday evening ...
My worst memory of traffic jams was actually in San Francisco trying to reach our hotel area near Lombard Street, but compared to that, L.A. didn’t traumatize me back then.
The time difference is definitely going to hit hard when we arrive, even with a slightly upgraded seat in Premium. And since it’s a daytime flight, getting a few hours of sleep seems pretty unlikely...
The info about "traffic jams being constant in L.A. in the afternoon" makes me lean toward considering a first motel before even leaving the city. Hoping for smoother traffic conditions Saturday morning, 6/14. 😉
Any suggestions for the best route to take to get to the 10 and then the 15 from LAX?
Have a good evening
Hi there! So, I always say it's better to be safe than sorry—flights can be delayed, there might be an issue with your luggage (happened to me once; my bags arrived on the next flight). For all these reasons, I now spend the first night close by to minimize any potential major hassles.
I’d lean toward spending your first night in Santa Monica—take a relaxed stroll on the beach. It’s also nice to unwind a bit after a long flight.
I don’t quite agree with most of the previous opinions—under certain conditions:
- This AF flight often arrives more or less early (but not always). Around 12:30–1:00 PM, immigration is usually not too crowded (but an hour later, it gets really busy). If you have a seat toward the front of the plane, it helps save time at immigration, even if you have to run a bit through the corridors.
- The shuttle transfer to Alamo is quick, with no wasted time (Alamo shuttles run frequently, unlike Hertz, for example).
- At Alamo, there’s usually no line or paperwork to fill out. There’s a board as you enter with your name on it. They’ll direct you to the row where the cars in your category are parked. You go straight there, pick one that suits you, take it, and show your credit card at the exit. It’s very fast.
- Traffic is still pretty reasonable at that time.
But after 3:30–4:00 PM, it gets much worse, at least until the Ontario area. Except on Saturdays or Sundays, when it stays manageable even in that direction.
And if there are two of you, there are quite a few carpool options for this route—it helps!
As for driving after arrival, it’s a personal thing.
Given the excitement of being back in America, for me (despite my 80 years 😕), driving for a few hours isn’t an issue.
Under these conditions, I’ve sometimes gone straight to Las Vegas or Needles on the day of the flight (I was younger then—I wouldn’t do it now).
But for Barstow, it’s really not a problem (plus, rooms there aren’t expensive)!
Of course, if the flight is significantly delayed, it’s much more tiring, and having someone else in the car is a big help.
So in my opinion, yes, it’s not unreasonable to plan your first night in Barstow, especially if you’re not alone in the car. You’ll probably even have time to do some shopping at the outlet factories to relax before heading to your hotel.
But it’s also really nice, if your schedule allows, to take a walk on the beach when you arrive—either toward Venice or Manhattan Beach—then head to a hotel east of LA later in the day. Traffic starts to ease up again around 6:00 PM.
JP
3.14
De l'Alaska à l'Arizona : contrastes. Voir https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=4396533#4396533
Dans la vie, le pire qui pourrait nous arriver serait qu'il ne nous arrive rien !
Hi there,
We’re still trying to figure out the best option for us.
Out of our 15-day trip, we didn’t want to spend more than 2 nights—3 max—in L.A. We’d already visited the Getty Center in 2009, as well as the Norton Simon Museum and Huntington Library in Pasadena. We also did the coastal route from Santa Monica to Malibu toward Oxnard before the active wildfires in the Pacific Palisades area these past few weeks... 😕
I deviated from my usual habit of sleeping near Pasadena, and I didn’t regret it because to get to Pasadena, you pass through Downtown, and it’s always a real mess starting around 3:30/4 PM.
To get as close as possible to I-15, you can stay between West Covina and San Bernardino.
The route from the airport is the 105, 605, and I-10... Then you’re directly on I-15.
That said, honestly, I don’t want to discourage you from going straight to Barstow. It’s doable. It’s just that I no longer make that kind of trip after a flight. I prefer to set off after a good night’s sleep—or even very early the next morning since jet lag often wakes us up super early.
One option: why not take your time arriving without pressure—go through immigration, pick up the car, then drop your bags at a hotel very close to the airport and head out to stretch your legs for 2 hours in Santa Monica or Manhattan Beach? After that, grab an early dinner and go to bed.
Because on the day of arrival, after about fifteen hours of travel (when you’re not starting from Paris), fatigue catches up fast. And with a 9-hour time difference, it’s easy to fall asleep by 8:30 PM on the first day.
On the other hand, the next day at 4 AM, you’ll likely already be ready to hit the road… alone!!
Since there’s no traffic in LA that early.
You leave at 4 AM, then treat yourself to a great American breakfast in Barstow before continuing on to Williams.
And don’t worry at all about hotels near the airport—the neighborhood has shed its old reputation. Since the construction of SoFi Stadium, it’s become a completely normal area.
Just be aware it’ll be a long day full of must-see stops—have you noted them all?
Hello,
Our departure is from Nancy, but we’ll arrive the day before at a hotel in Roissy, where we’ll spend the night before our flight and leave our car for about two weeks.
We’re still weighing our options based on all your suggestions. Thanks! 😉
Otherwise, our passports expire (validity limit, and the date of our ESTA issued in 2024 for an Alaska cruise in 06/24) on 06/29/2025. And our return flight leaves L.A. on 06/28 and arrives at CDG on 06/29... Tight but should be okay in theory. 😎
Hi there,
I think I’ll scale back my plans for Barstow a bit and stop for a first night in eastern Los Angeles, where I spotted a motel for 100 € in the Ontario area, just before the junction for the 15 N toward Barstow.
The next day, we could reach Williams in about 6 hours... 🤪
If the goal is to prioritize your arrival in Williams the next day, you should indeed get as close as possible to the I-15. I always take this approach when arriving because my objective is always to leave Los Angeles quickly (I know my friend StatesetMoi won’t agree with me on this point 😄).
Just be careful on the drive to Williams—it’s long and tiring, so take breaks along the way, even if you arrive late in Williams. It’s not a big deal since this little town is even prettier at night.
Anyway, it’s a day where you won’t see much besides Route 66 given the route. So take the opportunity to stop and explore.
There are plenty of nice little stops along Route 66. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate.
You can also ask StatesetMoi, who knows the area really well.
Hi! On the way back from Las Vegas, we actually stayed in Ontario at the local Best Western, which was honestly decent and not too expensive.
It’s also the only motel I found where you could do laundry by paying with a credit card instead of coins.
The little pool was nice too.
Maybe a little extra info to help me understand why Booking, through whom I booked my flight, rental car (Alamo), and first hotel, is suggesting an "early check-in" upon our arrival on 06/13/2025. Why, and what would that entail?
"Based on the estimated travel time, your arrival time might be outside the hotel’s check-in hours" regarding Alamo and the hotel.
- The AF flight is scheduled to arrive at LAX at 1:05 PM, and our Premium seats are toward the front of the plane.
- For picking up the vehicle at the Alamo counter, I indicated starting at 2:30 PM.
- For the hotel in Ontario (Sure Stay Hotel by Best Western Ontario Airport), I indicated arrival between 5:00 and 6:00 PM (about 1 hour 15 minutes by car with no traffic, but... 🤪)
* But if it starts at 3:00 PM, I assume the hotel check-in still operates late into the evening without needing to call if we’re delayed...
Thanks to experienced "Californians" for shedding some light on this 😉
PS: Following up on their message about a potential "early check-in," BOOKING added: "To ensure your arrival goes smoothly, request a late arrival." ...
Honestly, I’ll admit I don’t get it. I’ve always stayed in hotels at any time of day or night without any issues.
Last September, my flight was three hours late. I arrived at the hotel around 9 PM.
Best Western is a chain, and they usually have 24-hour reception.
You can send a quick message to the hotel to ask if arriving late is a problem.
You can even contact the hotel normally through Booking.
There should be a messaging system like on Expedia.
Otherwise, you can contact the hotel directly by looking up their address online.
But for me, there’s no problem arriving at any time of day as long as your room is booked. It’ll be assigned to you no matter what time you get there.
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Voyager avec des enfants › États-Unis · 10 replies
Nous arriverons en juillet avec nos 4 enfants et donc beaucoup de bagages (4 grosses valises, 2 sièges auto, poussette porte bébé, sac à dos et tente). Je me…
Hello! The itinerary is pretty much set for August 2026. Yeah, I know it’s gonna be *super* hot. But it’s the only time we can get away.
So, here’s the plan: Montpellier-CDG-Dallas.
Stay from July 31 to August 26, 2026:
Car rental – check,
Hotels – check,
Itinerary – almost check,
Photo gear – check,
Budget – check, 🤪
Meal planning – meh, we’ll see...
Walmart, of course, for the cooler when we arrive.
And now, without too much detail...
Fort Worth:
The Longhorns and the Stockyards;
JR’s ranch (for the missus);
Medal of Honor Museum – Arlington.
Houston and NASA Space Center:
See the Gulf of Mexico/America.
San Antonio and the missions.
Fort Stockton for an overnight stop.
El Paso via Guadalupe Mountains:
El Paso and White Sands.
Tucson and the Pima Air & Space Museum:
Tombstone, Bisbee.
Phoenix:
Still working on the program.
Sedona:
Round trip around the area via Flagstaff and Williams, or the Grand Canyon (already done) – we’ll decide on the spot.
Albuquerque:
Santa Fe,
Turquoise Trail,
Los Alamos.
Amarillo via Route 66:
Old Route 66 in the city;
Big Texas Ranch Steak 😏.
Dallas:
JFK Museum;
Perot Museum;
West End district.
And through it all – the road, the road, and more road!!!
We’ll adapt day by day based on our mental and physical state (we’re not exactly spring chickens).
Hello everyone! Really damaged due to flooding caused by runoff after forest fires (a total mess!), does anyone in this friendly forum have any updates on the Apache Trail between Apache Junction and Roosevelt Dam? Is there still a section of the road that’s tough to navigate?
We're leaving at the end of June and will be driving the route between Buffalo and Cody. We’ve already booked our accommodations and a rodeo in Cody, but during the day, we’ll be driving between the two and I’m unsure about the itinerary.
Which route do you think is the most pleasant, interesting, or scenic between:
- The northern route via Highway 14 with Sheridan, Lowell, etc.
- The southern route with Highways 16/20/14, passing by Loaf Mountain Overlook, Powder River Pass, Ten Sleep Canyon...
We’ll be in a car, so we should be able to drive on any road.
Thanks for your input!
I’m almost done planning our September road trip. After our 3-night visit to Sequoia, we’ll have a stopover night in Coalinga (to break up the drive). We’ll be staying two nights in Monterey and would like to stop along the way to visit one side of Pinnacles National Park. We’re torn between the West entrance and the East entrance, and we’d like to do a short hike of no more than 2 hours since we don’t want to arrive too late in Monterey.
This park is split into two distinct zones with no connection between them, and the mileage from Coalinga to Monterey is pretty much the same for both. Which area do you recommend visiting—east or west? And which route is the most scenic?
I’ve spotted two short hikes:
- East: Moses Spring to Rim Trail Loop
- West: Balconies Cliffs Cave Loop
Has anyone been there, or do you have another hike to suggest?
Thanks in advance, and have a great afternoon!
Marcalamar 🙂
After our first trip as a young couple to the West in 2007 (yes, that doesn’t make us any younger!), we’re planning to go back in 2028, but this time as a family of four! (We have two boys who’ll be 5½ and 13 years old in the summer of 2028.)
Our plan is to combine a few big cities (SF and LA, maybe San Diego) with national parks and state parks, mostly!
Ideally, we’d like to leave at the end of June and head back to France around July 19–20, so we can enjoy the first week of the Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Since we already did the "loop" in 2007, there are must-see places we absolutely want to revisit—and especially share with our kids: Bryce Canyon, Yosemite, and above all, the Grand Canyon, which is still the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen on Earth!
On the other hand, some places didn’t leave a big impression on us for various reasons, so we’re not making them a priority: Antelope Canyon, Monument Valley, for example.
We’re planning ahead, but might as well be smart about it😏
Do you have any tips for a fun and doable itinerary over about 20–25 days with kids, without rushing?
Hi everyone! 🙂
Just a quick question about King Canyon and Sequoia National Park.
Before our night in Miramonte, we plan to visit King Canyon. The next stop will be two nights in Three Rivers to explore Sequoia National Park. I wanted to go all the way to Roaring River Falls on the King Canyon Scenic Byway and then turn back to head to Miramonte. Since we’re coming from Oakhurst, Google Maps says it’s 300 km and 5 hours of driving. Since we also want to hike to see the sequoias (Big Stump Area and Grand Grove) before tackling the King Canyon Scenic Byway, the timing’s going to be tight. How far do you recommend going before turning back to miss as few points of interest as possible on the King Canyon Scenic Byway? Thanks for your advice, and have a great evening!
Marcalamar 🙂
Hi everyone!
After years of hoping, waiting, planning, then changing, saving, and searching for the best possible route... we're FINALLY off this summer for a 5-week road trip in the West.
I had planned a trip to Colorado in 2021 but canceled due to COVID, so with time passing and my eldest’s high school graduation approaching fast, I figured it was now or never!
Anyway, the itinerary has been modified and extended to please everyone (I’m no longer the only one making decisions!!)
Here’s our final route:
Day 1 - 7/12/2026 - Brussels / Los Angeles
Day 2 - 7/13/2026 - Los Angeles
Day 3 - 7/14/2026 - Los Angeles
Day 4 - 7/15/2026 - Los Angeles
Day 5 - 7/16/2026 - Los Angeles
Day 6 - 7/17/2026 - Los Angeles / Kingman
Day 7 - 7/18/2026 - Kingman / Grand Canyon
Day 8 - 7/19/2026 - Grand Canyon / Page
Day 9 - 7/20/2026 - Page
Day 10 - 7/21/2026 - Page / Monument Valley
Day 11 - 7/22/2026 - Monument Valley / Durango
Day 12 - 7/23/2026 - Durango
Day 13 - 7/24/2026 - Durango
Day 14 - 7/25/2026 - Durango
Day 15 - 7/26/2026 - Durango / Glenwood Springs
Day 16 - 7/27/2026 - Glenwood Springs
Day 17 - 7/28/2026 - Glenwood Springs / Moab
Day 18 - 7/29/2026 - Moab
Day 19 - 7/30/2026 - Moab
Day 20 - 7/31/2026 - Moab
Day 21 - 8/1/2026 - Moab
Day 22 - 8/2/2026 - Moab / Vernal
Day 23 - 8/3/2026 - Vernal / Grand Teton
Day 24 - 8/4/2026 - Grand Teton
Day 25 - 8/5/2026 - Grand Teton / Cody
Day 26 - 8/6/2026 - Cody / Yellowstone
Day 27 - 8/7/2026 - Yellowstone
Day 28 - 8/8/2026 - Yellowstone
Day 29 - 8/9/2026 - Yellowstone
Day 30 - 8/10/2026 - Yellowstone / Salt Lake City
Day 31 - 8/11/2026 - Salt Lake City / Bryce Canyon
Day 32 - 8/12/2026 - Bryce Canyon / Zion
Day 33 - 8/13/2026 - Zion
Day 34 - 8/14/2026 - Zion
Day 35 - 8/15/2026 - Zion / Las Vegas
Day 36 - 8/16/2026 - Las Vegas
Day 37 - 8/17/2026 - Las Vegas / Los Angeles
Day 38 - 8/18/2026 - Los Angeles
Day 39 - 8/19/2026 - Los Angeles / Brussels
Day 40 - 8/20/2026 - Brussels / Home
We’ll be alternating between house swaps, motels, and campgrounds. I’ve booked all the accommodations (except the campground at Bryce since sunset bookings open only 14 days in advance) and the first activities, as well as the most touristy ones.
I’m currently putting together my day-by-day roadbook and having some trouble planning certain days, like in LA or Las Vegas. Choosing hikes isn’t easy either—it’s tough to decide!
We’re really excited but could definitely use your help with choices and optimizations!!
Hello.
I’d like to travel along I-15N from San Diego to Las Vegas with my mom, who’s 67. We’ve explored Northern California and the California Coast over the past two years and now want to continue through the desert.
There are several attractions along the way:
- Mormon Rocks
- Desert Discovery Center and visit the Old Woman meteorite
- Joshua Tree National Park
- Mojave Desert
- Mojave National Preserve
- Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
- Silverwood Lake
My mom has back issues that prevent her from hiking or walking on trails with elevation changes. Is it possible to visit these places by car, or are the routes flat enough?
I’d love for her to experience the desert with an itinerary adapted to her condition. I’m also open to other points of interest that aren’t mentioned. We have 3-4 days for the trip, so we’re not in a rush—just want to explore.
I’d love to take a road trip and visit Nova Scotia. I’d appreciate some info on the best cities to see and the most interesting spots. The trip should last about 10 to 15 days, staying in hotels or motels. Thanks in advance!
We’re being relocated to Saint Pierre and Miquelon.
We’ll be taking the flight from Nantes to Montreal and then from Montreal to Saint Pierre.
Could you recommend a hotel near the departure terminal that allows dogs?
Hi,
My 16-year-old son is flying to Grand Rapids with other kids his age. There’s a layover in Detroit. There’s no unaccompanied minor service available. Is it pretty easy to navigate Detroit Airport to catch the connecting flight to Grand Rapids (domestic flight)? There are several of them who speak English well.
Thanks for your replies,
Good evening, everyone! 🙂
Just a few last questions to wrap up our Lake Tahoe visit plans.
**Parking:**
We’d like to walk to Eagle Falls and then Eagle Lake. I’ve spotted two parking lots that seem close to each other and give access to the trailhead. Where and how do we pay for entry to Emerald Bay State Park and Inspiration Point?
**Viewpoints on the East Side:**
Are most of the viewpoints (Balancing Rock, Granite Cave, Bonsai Rock, etc.) right by the road, or do you have to hike to reach them?
**Donner Memorial State Park:**
Is it worth making a detour to Truckee to visit this park and the Truckee historic downtown?
Hi there. I'm shocked by the price of the Upper Antelope Canyon tour—$175 for less than an hour… You might say, "if you can’t afford it…" But the real question is whether it’s really worth it, because $350 for two makes me feel like I’m getting ripped off. For those who’ve done both Lower and Upper, can you tell me if the price difference is really justified? Thanks
Hi everyone! 🙂
As you can see, we're heading back from September 6th to the 27th.
Everything’s booked for September—flights, accommodations, and the car. As I plan, I’ll be asking the experts for help. This is our second trip to California, but most of the stops are new to us.
We’ll start directly from San Francisco to our first overnight stop, Davis, before heading to Lassen Volcanic Park for 4 nights. Our flight lands at 12:50 PM.
Here’s our itinerary:
Day 1: Davis – overnight stop
Day 2: Red Bluff – exploring Lassen Volcanic Park (scenic drive to Lake Helen)
Day 3: Susanville – scenic drive through the park via the South Entrance, points of interest, and hikes
Day 4: Susanville – Cinder Cone and Painted Dunes hike
Day 5: Susanville – Warner Valley (hikes)
Day 6: South Lake Tahoe
Day 7: South Lake Tahoe
Day 8: Mammoth Lake
Day 9: Mammoth Lake
Day 10: El Portal via Tioga Road
Day 11: El Portal
Day 12: El Portal
Day 13: Oakhurst
Day 14: Miramonte
Day 15: Three Rivers
Day 16: Three Rivers
Day 17: Coalinga
Day 18: Monterey
Day 19: Monterey
Day 20: San Francisco
Day 21: San Francisco
Day 22: Departure
For hikes in Lassen Volcanic Park, I’ve planned:
Bumpass Hell, Cold Boiling Lake (Day 2)
Paradise Meadow (maybe not going all the way), Devastated Area, and the loop around Reflection and Manzanita Lakes (Day 3)
Cinder Cone and Painted Dunes (Day 4)
Devil’s Kitchen and Boiling Spring Lake (Day 5)
I’ve read there are trails to access the trailheads for Cinder Cone (11 km) and Warner Valley. Are these easy trails for an SUV?
Are there any other must-see spots or things we shouldn’t miss?
That’s where I’m at for now. Thanks for your replies, and have a great evening!
Marcalamar 🙂
I’m a total USA addict. I’ve already done several road trips, including the East Coast and West Coast.
I’m here today because I’m planning to go back for another road trip on the West Coast. Possibly with one of my sisters and a couple of friends. It’s still just a plan for now, but I’m working on an itinerary in the meantime. Ideally, I’d leave in 2026, but I don’t have the exact dates yet—maybe April-May or September-October.
My last trip to the West Coast was in September 2014. We went for 2 weeks, but this time it’d be 3 weeks. What made me want to go back was simply a colleague who just left today. As I’m writing this, he’s on the plane. I’m so happy for him, but now all I can think about is going back.
Since I recently went to NY, I noticed that prices have really gone up. I assume the same is true for the West Coast? For 2 people over 3 weeks, what budget should I expect? We’re the type to watch our spending and find great tips.
I think we’ll arrive in San Francisco like the first time and leave from either Los Angeles or Las Vegas.
Merci de me conseiller pour la réservation pour la plus belle vue faut il réserver une chambre dans l'hôtel ou choisir une cabane ?
Prendre le petit déjeuner ou pas ?
Que pensez vous du restaurant ?
Hello, if the off-the-beaten-path enthusiasts are still around 😉, I’d love some info on tackling these trails. I’m not super familiar with the rules, risks, or what to expect—I’m looking for firsthand experience from folks who’ve done it on their own once or multiple times.
Hi everyone!
I’m planning a week-long family trip to NYC in October 2026. The focus is on museums and soaking up the New York vibe. I’ve been checking Airbnb, but the prices in Manhattan are through the roof. Since I don’t know NYC well, is it "wise" to look outside Manhattan? Any neighborhoods you’d recommend?
After our first trip to the West, we’d love to go back to see other must-see spots!
The stay would be from May 11 to 20, 2026—it’s short, but hey...
M11: Lyon to Las Vegas (overnight in Vegas)
T12: Route 66 – overnight in Grand Canyon (GC)
W13: Visit GC – overnight in Page
Th14: Visit Antelope Canyon / Horseshoe Bend – overnight in Monument Valley (MV)
F15: Visit MV – overnight in Moab
Sa16: Visit Arches / Dead Horse Point – overnight in Bryce
Su17: Visit Bryce – overnight in Zion
M18: Visit Zion / Valley of Fire – overnight in Vegas
Tu19: Return flight
What do you think? Could we add one more night somewhere? We’re not big hikers, so we’ll mostly explore the parks using shuttles.
Also, we’re all set—passports are good. Do you think one classic Visa card and one premium Visa card will be enough for coverage?
Thanks so much for your feedback, and happy holidays!
Hi North America forum crew,
Just a little post that might interest some of you:
Travelers to the United States | Photo Now Mandatory Upon Entry and Exit | La Presse
I assume many of you already know, but the America the Beautiful annual pass, which was $80, will increase to $250 starting January 1, 2026.
So if you're planning to travel before the end of December 2026, it's in your best interest to buy your pass in December 2025, since it will still cost $80 and be valid until the end of December 2026 if you purchase it in December 2025.
This price increase only applies to non-U.S. residents.
Additionally, for those who planned to visit just one park, a $100 surcharge per person will apply to access a list of 11 national parks...
For example, if there are 4 of you in a car, you’ll have to pay $35 + $400,
which comes to $435 to visit one of the 11 parks on the list (I don’t have all of them... Bryce, Zion, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, etc.).
Total madness.
The goal is to push people who only visit one park into buying the annual pass.
Last point: free entry days are over for non-residents!
Hi everyone, I’m traveling to Los Angeles and would like to rent a vehicle at the airport. However, I have a Boursobank Ultim deferred debit card, so I’d love to know if it’s possible for those who’ve experienced this recently. Thanks for the info!
I’m planning a week in S.F. in April 2026 and I can’t figure out how to tell the cable cars—of which I understand there are three lines—apart from the trams, which I think number seven. I can’t find their individual numbers or routes anywhere.
Could someone shed some light on this for me? Thanks in advance.
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a wonderful 2026 full of amazing travels.
Cheers,
Régine
Hi,
I’m planning a road trip through the American national parks starting from Denver in June 2026.
The price of the pass is jumping from 80 € to 250 € on January 1st, 2026!!!
Is it possible to buy the pass online before the end of the year to lock in the 80 € rate? If so, where and how do I go about it?
Thanks for your tips.
Arnale
I’m planning a road trip for July 2026 in northern Florida. Could you let me know if my itinerary makes sense?
Day 1: Orlando
Day 2: Amelia Island
Day 3: Amelia Island
Day 4: Tallahassee
Day 5: Panama City Beach
Day 6: Panama City Beach (visit to Destin)
Day 7: Crystal River (stop in Cedar Key on the way)
Day 8: Crystal River
Day 9: Anna Maria (stop in Clearwater)
Day 10: Anna Maria (St. Pete)
Day 11: Anna Maria
Day 12: Orlando
Day 13: Orlando
Day 14: Orlando
Day 15: Departure
We just finished 9 days in the American West and wanted to share our experience because we had an amazing time.
I know some of you might ask, why use an agency? Honestly, we didn’t really feel like doing all the driving and planning, especially since we didn’t know the area at all. And since our English isn’t great, having French-speaking guides was a big comfort.
We found Emmanuelle and Isabelle, and wow, they were fantastic. It was just the two of us with them, so it was a truly VIP, ultra-personalized experience. They treated us like royalty from start to finish. These two live in Las Vegas and know the region like the back of their hand. They told us they’ve spent over 15 years exploring every corner of the American West, and it really shows. Their knowledge of geology, park history, and local anecdotes is just impressive. It’s nothing like someone reciting a memorized script. They answer all your questions and really adapt to what you want to see or do.
What we really loved: the vehicle was super comfortable, and the little details made a difference—like snacks and even a homemade cake! Though, to be fair, we devoured the cake right away, so that counts.
Since they know the sites inside out, they took us at the right times to avoid crowds. So we could enjoy peaceful picnics at Grand Canyon viewpoints without being packed in with 200 people. Plus, on top of the must-see spots, they showed us some hidden gems that were absolutely stunning—places we never would’ve found on our own. They’re true locals who know all the best tips.
The service was really personalized. They adapted to our pace and preferences, and we could stop whenever we wanted to take photos. It’s the luxury of being in a small private group—you’re not just a number on a big bus.
In short, we really felt like we were traveling with friends rather than professional guides. Everything’s included in the price (hotel pickup, meals, park entries, etc.), so the value for money is fair.
We loved it so much that we’re already planning to come back next year to explore other areas with them. I think we’ve caught the American West bug—it’s all we can think about, and we can’t wait to return.
If you’re looking for a French-speaking tour with real personalized service and guides who know the region like no one else, we highly recommend them. We had unforgettable moments. They also design road trips for those who don’t want a guide. And they handled our hotel reservations in Las Vegas too. If you want genuine advice from friendly locals, we’re giving them a 200% recommendation!
I’m currently looking for well-located hotels near points of interest in the cities below. I’ve found a few, but the prices are really high.
Could any of you share some great addresses in the following cities?
- Los Angeles
- Las Vegas
- San Francisco
Also, do you have a preferred airline for domestic flights? If so, which one?
