[mastasini]

Hi,

we will visit the USA in september 2015 and make a small round trip
it will be the area of las vegas to san fransisco to L.A. to the grand canyon (the order will be definitive when we arrive)

some questions - what is the weather like during that time?

maybe a stupid question but what budget should i make for food? we want to keep it low budget - normally we always take an all-in or at the minimum breakfast included but for america it was not possible. i'm just asking because for example as belgian i can get a beer for 1 euro in a pub while pubs in tourist places like brugge quickly go from 3 to 5 euro for a beer. i knowthere are fast food restaurants but any other good tips?

are there any special things to take into account? besides pick pockets any crime hot spots?

[Xerofall]

The Grand Canyon in September will be pretty nice. It might get a little cold at night, so you will need to pack accordingly.

San Francisco and Vegas can be a little expensive, avoid the tourist trap restaurants. The weather should be nice in September as well.

Yelp.com will show you local eateries and can be sorted by review and cost $$$ so you can easily find a great place. When I go to new places I search Yelp.com to find places to eat other than the typical Subway or McDonalds.

[Python_Puckman]

I was in Vegas for a conference around Halloween (weather was pretty warm, like 80 F). You MUST hit an In-N-Out Burger while you are there. There is one just off the strip on the other side of the highway. They have a secret menu, so Google it first

Also, don't play Blackjack at Mandalay Bay. I lost my freaking shirt there. My luck was much better at Luxor.

Haven't made it further west than that, so can't help you with California, except maybe what I saw during my layover in LAX. LOL!

[doawork]

San Fran is always $$$
Tolls to get in, tolls to get out, have to pay to park cause free parking is almost impossible to find and all food ranges from expensive to ridiculous. There are some deals but you would have to be a local to find them. So I would shift extra to your budget for this area.

Vegas, avoid the tourist stuff and eat at the smaller casinos for the food deals.

No idea about food at the canyon, I haven't been for 8 years, but when I first moved to AZ I went a lot but a lot has changed in the last few years. There are a ton of deals in Flag with all the food places serving college kids.

[Xerofall]

Food at the Canyon is $$$... I had to pay extra for a plastic fork at one place, I kid you not.

I ended up buying a metal fork at their little store for $8 bucks and it's my only souvenir from that place. (Utah's Canyonlands trumps the Grand Canyon 100%)

[mastasini]

hi, thanks for the information - seems food is a lot more expensive then in belgium

- can i find seven eleven in all these locations? (or some other brand of shops that have quick bites) when i was in asia these were pretty easy to find everywhere and cheap for a quick snack and they had a wide variety of food

[mastasini]

and on another topic - are there any good second hand toy shops :-)

maybe trade my european exclusive figures

[Xerofall]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mastasini

hi, thanks for the information - seems food is a lot more expensive then in belgium

- can i find seven eleven in all these locations? (or some other brand of shops that have quick bites) when i was in asia these were pretty easy to find everywhere and cheap for a quick snack and they had a wide variety of food

Yeah, lots of those types of stores. McDonalds, Burger King, Wendy's... all have budget menus.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mastasini

and on another topic - are there any good second hand toy shops :-)

maybe trade my european exclusive figures

I know in Las Vegas there's a toy store, the owner has been featured on Pawn Stars. The store is called Las Vegas Toy Shack but I'm not sure if they do trades.

[mastasini]

maybe a stupid question and i will probably see it when i'm there but do i also tip the waitress in Wendy's or MC donalds?

sorry but in belgium it's not really a habit to tip

i come to realise North america is the only continent i've never been (ok and i've never visited Australie) :-)

[Xerofall]

Typically, you do not tip fast food workers... they aren't considered waiting staff. They make a minimum wage higher than a waitress at a restaurant.

The American federal government requires a wage of at least $2.13 per hour be paid to employees that receive at least $30 per month in tips.

If wages and tips do not equal the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour during any pay period, the employer is required to increase cash wages to compensate.


A typical percentage of 15% of your purchase is the norm for tips. More or less depending on the quality of your service.