Hello!

I’m currently in the process of planning a trip around the USA next summer, but I’m struggling to decide on exact plans.

I’m 23 and I live in Scotland, however my Dads side of the family lives near New York City. I’ll be visiting him for a few months in March, from where I plan on taking a few day trips to NYC and Philadelphia, a 4-day trip to Boston, and a 4-day trip to DC. So we can forget about those cities!

In May, I’ll be going on a larger trip for 1.5-2 months. I’ve made a rough draft of what I think I would like to do, which is included below. I don’t drive, so everything will be through flights, trains, and tours.

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• May 6th: Fly from Newark to Miami, Florida. Check into hostel.

• 7th - 9th: Full days in Miami. Airboat tour in the Everglades. Relax by the beach.

• 10th: Get the train from Miami to Orlando, Florida. Check into hotel. (No hostels ☹ )

• 11th: Day tour to Crystal River, Swim with Manatees!

• 12th: Day tour to Kennedy Space Center, pray a rocket launch is planned.

• 13th: Fly from Orlando to Las Vegas, Nevada. Check into hotel.

• 14th-16th: Tour with Trek America. Visit Grand Canyon, Zion NP, Monument Valley.

• 17th: Tour ends at 5pm. Check into Excalibur hotel.

• 18th-20th: Full days in Vegas. Attend the Electric Daisy Carnival music festival, and explore the strip.

• 21st: Day of horseback riding in the desert.

• 22nd: Fly from Las Vegas to San Diego, California. Check in at hostel.

• 23rd: San Diego Zoo! (I like zoos)

• 24th: Train from San Diego to Los Angeles, California. Check in at hostel.

• 25th- 29th: Full days in LA. See Hollywood, Universal studios, explore GTA in real life.

• 30th: Fly from LA to San Francisco, California. Check in at hostel.

• 31st-3rd (June): Full days in San Francisco. Cycle Golden Gate Bridge, see Alcatraz, day tour to Yosemite. (I don’t think getting there and back in a day via public transport is feasible?)

• 4th: Fly from San Francisco to Honolulu, Hawaii. Check in at hostel.

• 5th-8th: Full days on Oahu island. Relax for a couple of days, do an ATV tour of Jurassic Park filming locations, hike.

• 9th: Fly from Oahu to Kauai. Check in at hostel.

• 10th-15th: Full days on Kauai. See more Jurassic Park locations, scenic flight, kayaking, hiking, snorkelling, relax.

• 16th: Fly from Kauai to Honolulu, then Honolulu to Anchorage, Alaska. Check in at hostel.

• 17th-25th: Another Trek America tour. Including ice climbing, hikes, scenic flight/cruise, rafting.

• 26th: Fly from Anchorage to Newark.

Notable exclusions are Chicago (would like to visit, but not a priority. Do able as a future trip from my Dads house) and New Orleans (looks good, but also wasn't a priority. Doesn't seem like it would be too great if i don't have an interest in nightlife, drinking, or partying).

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Things I am interested in: Sightseeing, animals, natural wonders, photography/filmmaking, new experiences/adventures

Not so interested in: Partying/drinking, socializing/meeting new people, trying new food. (wouldn't be completely opposed to these things, just not something i'll be making a priority)

Budget: My budget has gone from £2000 to £4000 to £8000…

At absolute most I could spend £10000, but I’d like to stick closer to £8000.

For the trip detailed above, I’ve currently estimated £9100. That includes all flights (except the ones to/from Scotland), all accommodation, £15 a day for food, £5 a day for random expenses, all travel/travel passes, all activities. Also included pre-trip insurance, pre-trip gear, and a spare £300 for anything unaccounted for such as tips or taxes.

Im trying to keep costs down by staying in hostels where feasible and eating cheap food, but im still worried I’ll underbudget for stuff.

Here’s a table of my current estimates. (NYC is so high because of a planned helicopter flight over the city)

Timeframe: Ideally, I’d like to go as long as possible, but still keeping within my budget.

Im hoping to get a US passport before I leave Scotland, so there shouldn’t be any issues with staying in the country for too long.

Worries: Money, specifically under budgeting is a concern. I've not been on a trip to long before, i'm not sure what to expect for non food daily expenses. Im hoping £5 a day will cover it if i don't buy any souvenirs or do many unplanned activities.

Also, exhaustion. I did 5 days in Barcelona a few months ago, and by the 5th day i was exhausted. My schedule was busier than it will be at any point in this trip, however i've not really got much rest days in.

Willing to cut out: Florida i guess. Would love to see the Everglades, and i really want to swim with Manatees though. At best i could cut Orlando to 2 days, and cut Miami to 3 days. Would be more rushed, but would save around £300.

Also, maybe Alaska. I've always wanted to go, and i would LOVE to go ice climbing, would be a highlight of the trip, but it's a lot of money. Besides, when i picture Alaska, i've always pictures heaps of snow and northern lights, not grassy hills and a never setting sun as it is in the summer. If i don't go here, i could always visit again another day in winter for this experience (although you can't go ice climbing in winter as far as i can tell, which sucks).

If i cut out Alaska, i could add in a 8 day Trekamerica trip around the Big Island in Hawaii, a few days in New Orleans, a few days in Chicago (maybe even Niagara falls), and it would still probably take me under the £9000 mark. Very tempting. Would also mean i don't need to worry about clothing for colder weather.

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Anyways, any advice or suggestions would be appreciated! Still have a few months to plan, however i'd like to book some stuff in January. Hostels in places like Kauai seem to get booked quite far in advance, and i'd like to secure my places on any tours. The only thing booked so far is my hotel in Vegas over EDC weekend, so the rest is adjustable.