Driving Route 66 next year - Any tips?

[spebgtsprint]

As the topic above mentions, me and three mates are all planning on doing a Route 66 trip next July/August.

Have seen a couple of organised trips in magazines and on the web etc.

Has anybody been on one of these organised tours before? (driving a Mustang convertible or a Harley)

Any thoughts/suggestions/costs involved would be greatly appreciated. And any good places recommened to visit etc.....

With the strong Aussie dollar, I am even tempted to try and buy a cheap 59 Cadillac Convertible to cruise around in, then try to import back to Oz at the end of the three week trip. (see how funds hold up)

Cheers

Colin

[chevypower]

the rental Mustangs have "rental" all over them, I always look for the barcodes . Seriously though, check out Williams, Grand Canyon South Rim, Grand Canyon Caverns, Lake Havasu City, and the Hoover Dam, and Vegas.

[spebgtsprint]

Thanks chevypower, as youre a local, do you recommend we organise a rental car when we arrive in USA (cheaper over there to organise than in Oz) and perhaps even try our luck at doing it all as we go (rather than an organised tour) booking accomaodation etc along the way??

Any tips/traps to watch out for would be appreciated. Oh, and any leads on cheap 59 Cady convertibles too would be great..........

Cheers

Colin

[chevypower]

Yeah i am not sure on classic/exotic rentals, but there is bound to be something like that in Vegas - Vegas is 90 mins south of Kingman AZ (Route 66), so I would keep using search engines for that. My best luck for current model cars has been Alamo, but that is using my own insurance to save money. Lake Havasu City, Kingman, and Flagstaff are easy towns to find accommodation. www.choicehotels.com also try Best Western, Motel 6 and Super 8. Usually you can find something last minute if you are like me and like to wing it. The small towns between those towns are not so great for accommodation, but they are not too far from each other. We had dinner in Williams a few months ago, and they thought we were nuts when I said we were staying in Kingman that night.... wasn't that bad. I think plan stuff you want to see and do so that you don't wish you had of done something you didn't get to, but if you want to be flexible in your itinerary, it is very easy to do that. You might also want to check out Havasupai Indian reservation, and camp down the bottom of the Grand Canyon. I haven't done it but my sister has, and everyone who I have talked to that has done it says it was worth doing.

[mcnews]

Take a detour to do the Natchez Trace, well worth it. Google a bit about it for more.

[joelsxr]

website ROAD TRIP USA, has some great info

[spebgtsprint]

Cheers for all the info fellas, Google will be flat out tonight! Will let ya's all know what I've found incase any of you can vouch for it or know of it.

[red80]

I just came back a few months ago. Go over with empty bags cause it is CHEAP to buy clothes and car parts. I only did part of route 66 but very cool. Don't miss Hackberry General Store, very cool stuff there. I got a pile of mid 60's and 70's number plates from here.

[mcnews]

I have an image of me doing a big rolling smoky on a Harley with the Route 66 sign in the background on the home computer somewhere, lol.

[spebgtsprint]

Originally Posted by mcnews

I have an image of me doing a big rolling smoky on a Harley with the Route 66 sign in the background on the home computer somewhere, lol.

Pics please???????? Chuck it up on here if you like!

Sounds good to go light luggage wise and buy heaps over there. the way the American economy is going it might be just as cheap as Bali soon

Cheers

Colin

[red80]

To give you an idea I got a brand new avenger carby from SoCal for $360 ish. Carb spacer $14, Gauges very cheap, T shirts from outlet shops are like $6. Nikes are about $70.

[kaniSS]

Stop by Radiator Springs and say hi to Lightning McQueen for me...

[deesun]

^^^^^ He might be off racing but I am sure Mater, Flo, Luigi,The Sarge, Guido and the gang will be around and you can stay at the Cosy Cone if you want some reasonably priced accom.

[chevypower]

Originally Posted by kaniSS

Stop by Radiator Springs and say hi to Lightning McQueen for me...

I thought Radiator Springs was based on Peach Springs, but I was corrected and told it was based on Holbrook AZ.

[sprint347dave]

drive on the right hand side of the road,,theres a tip for you,,haha

[gtxb67]

Originally Posted by sprint347dave

drive on the right hand side of the road,,theres a tip for you,,haha

and look to the left when crossing the road. driving on the right is the easy bit to master, but when crossing the road, looking to the right is a much harder habit to break

[spebgtsprint]

Originally Posted by sprint347dave

drive on the right hand side of the road,,theres a tip for you,,haha

Cheers mate, forgot about that! Oh, and another tip I have been given is "Don't pee against the wind." Phew, I feel so much better now, knowing what to expect in America.

If anybody has some more tips, they would also be greatly appreciated........ e.g. what are the winning Keno numbers at Vegas, how to count cards correctly etc.

[noosacuda]

My bro-in-law and i are doing the Route 66 trip in April,planning it now,so i'll keep a watch on this thread for hints and ideas.

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by red80

To give you an idea I got a brand new avenger carby from SoCal for $360 ish. Carb spacer $14, Gauges very cheap, T shirts from outlet shops are like $6. Nikes are about $70.

Go light, VERY light indeed. My brother and his wife returned from the states with 4 jam packed cases and 2 packed carry ons after departing oz with 1 large case between them and just a hand bag carry on.

Jeans, shirts, 17 pairs of shoes , jackets etc etc etc.

Know your baggage limits very well, they flew internally with a different carrier and had to pay a surcharge (lucky it was early in the trip and they were not very overweight)... yet... ;)

[ltd]

Take the time to talk to the locals even in places like gas stations, you'll love hearing history as well as attractions that aren't on the tourist maps.
If you're a non smoker make sure you book non smoking rooms, otherwise you'll end up with one that smells like an ash tray and has a squirt of air freshener.
Also, enjoy the fact that you can buy beer at a gas station.

[CAMS290]

"Tex" did it in a rental Coyote Mustang.
Here is his thread http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=11300939

[spebgtsprint]

Thanks alot for all the appreciated info. Getting excited about it even if it's 10 months away. Will definitely travel light. Was going to stock up on car parts, not clothes!

Thanks cams, will look at Tex's thread too. Thanks alot again guys, for all the info.

Colin

[Keepleft]

Ensure health insurance et al? . . . .

[sgt_doofey]

Originally Posted by Keepleft

Ensure health insurance et al? . . . .

+1 to this. Ensure that you have sufficient travel insurance as their medical system over there is really bad if you're not covered. Good travel insurance will also cover the excess should you prang the rental car, so check out those details as well and you could save some money on insurance on the rental car.
There is this discussion in The Bar as well about driving over in the US: http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=11340459

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by Keepleft

Ensure health insurance et al? . . . .

YES, NEVER leave our shores for another country without it.

I use www.tid.com.au and find them the best. I have a code for 10% off as well if you like ;)

"Winter2011"

Keep well away from 1cover travel insurance. Dodgy brothers!

Having said that, your travel agent will price match any quote you get. They use 'Covermore' which is also a good product.

Read the PDS / fine print of course.

[spebgtsprint]

Definitely will take you up on that guys!

Big drinking session happening to discuss trip this weekend..................

[spebgtsprint]

Has anybody used route66tours based in Brendale QLD? We got quoted $6000 per person twin share for 19 days, base Mustang & accomodation supplied (less own airfares)

Is it worth it or should we look at trying to organise this ourselves?????

Cheers

Colin