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If you are taking a trip from the east coast to the west coast or vice-versa, the preparation as well as the actual trip itself can seem quite daunting at times. That is why a few tips and trips to make life easier during your cross-country excursion can make all the difference in the world.
Before we get into the life hacks that youβll need for your US spanning trip, letβs start with the basics.
Preparation is key. Making sure that all of your arrangements such as hotel stays, and flights are coordinated with each other is critical. You do not want to arrive on the west or east coast 12 hours before your hotel check-in time. You could end up stuck at the airport with your luggage for that interim period which will be no fun and a waste of time you could be spending relaxing or sight-seeing.
Next, you will want to plan the major parts of your trip on the opposite coast are pre-planned. You do not need to plan every detail, but the primary parts of the trip should be set before you leave for the trip. Major sights that you want to see, events you plan on attending, and people you plan on visiting should be pre-determined. Things like where you eat or whether or not you spend a few hours at the beach or at the pool can easily be decided when the moment arrives.
Finally, you should make sure that you are ready for the unexpected. We know that does not sound possible, but what we simply mean is to have some extra flexibility in your budget as well as your schedule just in case something unexpected occurs during your cross-county excursion.
Life Hacks for Traveling from One Coast of the United States to the Other
- Make use of Airbnb and other services like it β Regular hotels can be quite priceyΒ . If you plan on moving around a bit and visiting different destinations, use Airbnb for a series of short stays in different places.
- Ship your car instead of driving it β Visiting the coast on the other side of the country can be complicated and draining as it is. Donβt make it even more so. Driving across the country is incredibly exhausting and you will not be able to enjoy the trip as much knowing that you will need to drive back once the trip is done. Renting a car while you are there can get extremely expensive pretty quickly. So, why not get your own car there without having to drive it. You can ship your car to the other side of the country with ease. This way you will not need to worry about driving for days immediately before and after your trip.
- Keep your schedule flexible and your eye on the weather β If you are visiting one coast, you will likely have several places that you will want to visit which could be fairly far distances apart. While you are flying there, check out the forecast for your trip in all areas that you plan on visiting during your trip. If you see the weather will be bad in one of your earliest destinations, plan on switching the date that you visit that place with another if possible.
- If you are traveling with kids, keep them in mind when you are planning the trip β When you have your children with you on a trip, it will be considerably more difficult to be flexible. So, remember the kids when you are planning the trip.
In conclusion, you should take the time and effort to plan your trip as thoroughly as you can but you should try and remain as flexible as you can when you are traveling from one coast to another. Do whatever you can to make your life easier including staying at Airbnbs, shipping your car and being ready for unexpected complications and expenses.
