Moin dear camper friends,
we are a young couple from Hamburg and are currently planning our first motorhome trip together … a 3-week east coast trip through the USA. We hope for some input from you … some information, tips, tricks and experience. I (Steffi, 30 years old) have never been to the States (and hardly anywhere else in the world)
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), my treasure
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(Danny, 37 years old) has already been to Chicago twice and has been traveling all over the world.
Our trip should take place between September 18th, 2021 – October 10th, 2021 and our current planning is that we fly from Hamburg to Chicago, spend one night in the hotel “Airport Super 8” and pick up our camper the following day … about the Niagara Falls it goes to the east coast … along this to Miami and again the last night in the hotel (Collins in Miami Beach) and then back to Hamburg. The stops are Chicago, Aurora, Cedar Point (yes, I love roller coasters and have to go there
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), Detroit, Niagara Falls, Boston, Cambridge, New Haven, New York City, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Outer Banks, Myrtle Beach, Charleston, Savannah, Daytona Beach and then Miami including the Everglades. You can view our current route planning here:
rvparky.com/trip/5822354913755136
We may consider skipping one of the beach stops in order to have more time in Miami – how do you see that? And we are also considering whether we should / could fly off 2-3 days earlier in order to have a look at Chicago (from the hotel) before we pick up the camper and then spend another 2-3 days in the Bahamas at the end of the trip can … but more on that later
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We have already decided on the El Monte C28 for the vehicle because we didn’t like the vehicles at Cruise America that much – somehow so “old-fashioned” and not so nicely structured on the inside. Unfortunately there are no other providers for our start and finish point than these two. According to the route we have about 3500 miles, so Canusa offered us an unlimited miles package. Our first question about the vehicle: Do you know what exactly is meant by vehicle / camping and kitchen package? And Canusa and El Monte offer additional packages … Generator flat rate for 170 euros (instead of §3.50 per hour), kitchen equipment for 154 euros and the WiFi hotspot for 266 euros. What do you think? Do you need that?
Of course, we want to do a little at the numerous stops … what can you recommend us? 3-4 days are worthwhile (like Chicago, NYC, and Miami City Passes – have you used something like this – how was your conclusion? We have already researched all kinds of sightseeing points along our route, but are always open to new things – maybe you have yes still must-haves for us … maybe some brilliant excursions, the best restaurant ever …? And we thought about renting bicycles … unfortunately El-Monte doesn’t offer that. You know whether it is Are there rental stations where we can rent in Chicago and drop off in Miami?
If you still have tips for cheap campgrounds, let me know … that still seems to be a big cost factor. We already have Walmart on the plan, but from us on we have to fill up with fresh water and dump it. Do you have a tip for us how often / after how many days we have to plan this? And is that only possible on campgrounds? I read that you can do that at some gas stations? Especially in NYC we only found one “parking space”, a really expensive campground in Ney Jersey. We would also be very happy to receive tips for Niagara Falls, Washington DC, Outer Banks and Miami.
At the end of Miami, of course, we want to see the Everglades and do a tour with an airboat. Can you recommend anything? And – as mentioned above – we would like to go to the Bahamas and Pig Beach
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to swim with the pigs … Tips on flights, hotels and the like? Should you book this in advance? If yes, where?
Again briefly in detail … because we are considering whether our current offer from Canusa is good, or whether we should book everything “alone” ourselves. Or should you book with a provider now because of C **** a because of the possibility of withdrawal (which Canusa offers free of charge)? We also just read that Canusa made real problems with the repayment and only refunded the money after a lawsuit. We have even read about bankruptcy – now we are a bit insecure.
Everything together (i.e. flight, hotels and vehicle) should cost us 6067 euros …
flight mit British Airways:
BA963 AIRBUS 320 NEO
From 19.09.2021 07:30 (HAM) Hamburg
An 19.09.2021 08:15 (LHR) London
BA295 BOEING 787-1 DREAMLINER
Ab 19.09.2021 10:25 (LHR) London
An 19.09.2021 13:10 (ORD) Chicago
BA208 AIRBUS INDUSTRY A380-800
Ab 09.10.2021 20:45 (MIA) Miami
An 10.10.2021 10:25 (LHR) London
BA974 AIRBUS INDUSTRIE A321
Ab 10.10.2021 13:50 (LHR) London
An 10.10.2021 16:30 (HAM) Hamburg
Hotel:
Airport Super 8 Chicago OHare in Chicago / Elk Grove Village, IL (category: room with 1 king bed incl. Breakfast buffet) for 1 night
Collins Hotel in Miami Beach, FL (Category: Premium Double / double |) for 1 night
Auto:
Motorhome C 28 by El Monte with 2 adults from September 20, 2021 – October 8, 2021 including unlimited miles, all basic services as well as VIP coverage and the additional free liability insurance by CANUSA in the amount of EUR 2,000,000, including vehicle and camping package.
We hope that we haven’t killed you here and that we are right here in this sub-forum, otherwise please let me know
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best regards
Steffi & Danny
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