In 2016, I debuted my first cross-country road-trip in the USA where, suffice to say, things did not turn out as expected on several fronts, from incorrect bookings to almost-arrests, and a much-needed cash influx which had us sleeping in our car in a rest-stop.
In 2019, we shortened the distance and made sure to cover all our bases in order to avoid the pitfalls from the last vacation. This time, we achieved miraculous results. So here is a review on how it went, and how you can plan similarly for your next road trip in the U S OF A.
Choosing your vehicle: From the get-go, we knew there would be long drives. Plan accordingly by ensuring you have a valid international license (10 KD) and pre-book your insurance (the USA is a country ripe with lawsuits and fender-benders). Use the internet to your advantage and check multiple car rental companies. Some companies try to stick you with a one-way fee if your drop off is different than your pick up location. You can easily avoid this if you keep searching.
Data, Data, Data: All hail Google Maps! There is no denying the usefulness of the ability to quickly plug in your destination and have it automatically update based on traffic and wrong turns is a gift from the heavens. You need data, and thankfully T-Mobile has a great tourist package, which you can upgrade to unlimited data.
The long drive: Each state is also GINORMOUS. Our road-trip started from Denver, Colorado with a brief 4.5hr drive to our first hotel in Southfork. The longest drive was from Southfork to Las Vegas (11hrs, with only two stops in the middle – one scenic 4 state points, and one fuel & food). Our final drive was Vegas to Los Angeles (5hrs). When driving for prolonged periods, your best friends are as follows: Waze app (to warn you of speed limits and/or police), music (to keep you distracted), 5hr energy (to keep you alert). Focus on numbers to maintain your sanity, whether you count exits or the KMs to your next stop.
Pay your fines: The world is fickle, despite avoiding many of the pitfalls of the last trip, this time I was unable to talk my way out of a speeding ticket. You cannot pay online (creature comfort of Kuwait). For this you will need a debit card, a post office and a money order. Do not put off paying it, as it could possibly be a barrier to your entry in later years.
What you see and what you pay: Kuwait has left us unprepared for the greatest scourge of the world, TAXES. The price you see online is NOT what you end up paying, specifically for hotels at the time of check-out. There are always hidden costs here and there, so ensure you have more than enough moolah in your coffers.
Holy gratuity Batman!: Another scourge is gratuity. In Kuwait tipping is discretionary, in the USA it is expected. Your receipt will contain a rough guide for tipping, from 15 to 20%. Do yourself a favor and DO NOT convert to KWD. In some places (i.e. JFK airport) it is non-negotiable. You will find that gratuity adds up, needing one to approve a separate budget for it.
The Entertainment: Two important events occurred during this trip, with nostalgic ramifications worthy of a separate article at a later date; the first being attending our first concert of our favorite band, The Backstreet Boys, which just so happened to be the last of their Vegas residency. Despite taking place at the Zappos Theater (indoor, stage, seats), the ability to reminisce the lyrics we grew up to as children was beyond words. The second, Endgame. A farewell to the characters we spent 10 years watching on the big screen. That one had us sit through a 3hr long movie with a 2-year old. Fortunately, he passed out early, but not before earning us a few rude stares from fellow movie-goers when he kept roaring whenever a villain would appear onscreen.
Fuel for thought: As a general rule, the further you travel westward, the higher the price of fuel. There are ways to search for cheaper fuel within the city, such as gasbuddy. Be prepared to drive a bit for the best price, so do not wait until the last minute.
That being said, there are plenty of things to do in each State, from Universal Studios Hollywood to sky-diving near San Diego. Plan your trip, prepare your budget, leave space for overruns and enjoy your time!
Like the Rubik’s Cube, Ayman Nassar is multi-colored in his interests, from running to organizing races, stand- up comedy and internal audit, plus a little writing on the side. You can find him on YouTube or follow him on Instagram.
