I'm planning on traveling around USA/Canada and would like some advise please!?

[youcantkillheroes]

Thanks for taking the time to read this!

My partner and i are looking to travel around the USA & possibly Canada as well, we haven't decided on exactly everywhere we want to go yet, but we want to go as many places as possible! we don't really have a time limit as both our jobs are flexible in time off, and obviously we would like to get around for as cheap as possible, but i dont want money to really be a deciding factor; we can always save up!

So far i am liking the idea of taking the train around,(I have been looking on amtrak.com) as i think we will see more and it will be cheaper then flying. We are 21 & 22 so i think i hire-car will be out of the question, but i am also not a confident driver either so i think driving on the wrong side of the road will be a bit traumatic for me! (We are from the UK).

Amtrak do a USA rail pass which can be valid for 45 days(18 segments) which seems like a good idea, however i dont know if 45 days is going to be long enough to see most of America with out feeling rushed?

also would hostels be the best type of places to stay?
Any information or advice would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you!!

 

[jellybeanchick]

Amtrak is very, very slow. To put it in perspective, it takes 24 hours on Amtrak to go from San Francisco to Seattle, which is about a 2 or 3 hour flight. Short flights on budget airlines actually aren't that expensive, and are comparable to Amtrak fare. Amtrak is only really worth it if you are terrified of flying, or your name is on a no-fly list, or you are taking a short trip on one of their commuter routes.

You are right that at your age, you will have a difficult time renting a car. Most rental agencies here will not rent to people under 25, or they will charge ridiculous fees. If you stick to visiting large cities, you should be able to get by with public transportation and the occasional cab.

Yes, hostels are a great option. They are cheaper and usually in the heart of a city. They generally are not in smaller towns, so make sure you do your research.