Los Angeles & Southern California - Andrea Schulte-Peevers [361]
SAMPLE BUS FARES
Reservations
Greyhound does not take reservations and all boarding is done on a first-come, first-served basis. Even buying tickets in advance does not guarantee you a seat on any particular bus. Show up one hour prior to the scheduled departure and chances are pretty good you’ll get on. Allow more time on Friday and Sunday afternoons and around holidays.
Return to beginning of chapter
CAR & MOTORCYCLE
Automobile Associations
For long road trips, an auto-club membership is an excellent thing to have. The American Automobile Association (AAA; 800-874-7532; www.aaa.com), with offices throughout the country, is the main auto club in the US. Many AAA services, including 24-hour emergency roadside assistance ( 800-222-4357), are also available to members of its international affiliates such as CAA in Canada, AA in the UK and ADAC in Germany. The club also offers free trip-planning advice and maps, plus a range of discounts on hotels, car rentals, Amtrak tickets, admissions etc. An alternative is the Better World Club (www.betterworldclub.com), which offers similar coverage and donates 1% of revenue to environmental causes.
Bring Your Own Vehicle
Requirements for bringing your car to the USA from Canada or Mexico are briefly discussed on Click here. Forget about shipping your car from overseas unless you’re actually moving to the US. Otherwise, it simply doesn’t make economic sense; you’ll be better off renting one.
Driver’s License
Visitors can legally drive in California for up to 12 months with their home driver’s license. If you’re from overseas, an International Driving Permit (IDP) is not compulsory but may give you greater credibility with traffic police. It may also be required for renting a vehicle, especially if your home license is not in English or doesn’t have a photograph. IDPs are easy to obtain. Just grab a passport photo and your home license and stop by your local automobile association, which will make you one for a small fee. Always carry your home license along with the IDP.
Fuel & Spare Parts
Gas stations in California, nearly all of which are self-service, are ubiquitous except in sparsely populated desert areas, where you should carry a filled gas canister as a backup, if possible. Gas is sold in gallons (one gallon equals 3.78L). At the time of writing, the cost for mid-grade fuel ranged from $3 to $3.50. Prices are generally a few dimes higher in national parks and remote mountain and desert areas. Find out where gas is cheapest at the daily updated www.gasbuddy.com.
Finding spare parts should not be a problem, especially in the cities, although actual availability depends on the age and model of your car. Always bring some tools and a spare tire and be sure to have an emergency roadside-assistance number (see opposite) in case your car breaks down.
Rental
CARS
As anywhere, rates for car rentals vary considerably by model and pickup location, but, with advance reservations especially, you should be able to get an economy-size vehicle from about $25 per day, plus insurance and taxes. If you belong to an auto club, ask about discounts. It’s also worth asking whether car rentals are eligible for frequent-flyer miles. Rates usually include unlimited mileage, but expect surcharges for rentals originating at airports and train stations, as well as for additional drivers and one-way rentals. Child or infant safety seats are compulsory (reserve at the time of booking) and cost about $10 per day or $50 per week.
To rent your own wheels you generally need to be at least 25 years old and hold a valid driver’s license and a major credit card. Some companies may rent to drivers between 21 and 24 for an additional charge (between $10 and $25 per day). If you don