If you’re heading west in the U.S. for your next vacation, you will have to be prepared for anything that comes your way. Whether you’re taking the open road or booking a flight to LAX, it’s important to have a foolproof plan to help you make the most of the time and resources you will be spending throughout the trip.
Whether you’re going with friends, traveling solo, or getting the entire family to accompany you on this journey to the West Coast, it won’t help to assume it’s going to be an easy trip. It matters to stay organized and ensure that you have everything you need to overcome costly problems and make the entire experience worth your while. Here are a few tips for a hassle-free West Coast adventure.
1. Give yourself ample time for planning
If you intend to travel to the West Coast for an extended leisurely stay, it pays to have a large enough window to pull everything together. It would be easier if you’re traveling solo, but it won’t be simple when you have others tagging along. The least you could do is to make last-minute preparations, especially when it’s already peak season for tourists in your destination.
Southern California cities like San Diego and Anaheim usually see an uptick in visits starting in May until they die down in September. If you delay your preparations, there might not be enough affordable accommodation options for you to check out.
Considering this, give yourself more than a month of lead time to prepare everything, from logistics to accommodations. This should provide you with enough space to shop around for flights and hotel rooms that fit your budget. Make sure to avoid planning your trip during your destination’s peak season. That way, you won’t have to deal with long lines as well as high fares and rates.
2. Come up with an itinerary
You won’t get the full West Coast experience if you limit yourself to a single destination, especially if you’re planning to stay for more than a month. For this reason, come up with an itinerary that could lead you to the best attractions in California, Washington, and Oregon. Do your research and be strategic when planning out routes. Make sure to arrange your transportation at different points of your trip. If you’re arriving via Seattle, take out a car rental Seattle Airport newcomers can use to see the city’s as well as the state of Washington‘s best sights.
While you’re at it, you will need to plot out possible stopovers along the routes taking you south to California. Aside from spending the night in major cities like San Francisco and Portland, look for drive-in hotels across different routes. Choose the ones that are closest to the attractions you want to see. Being organized this way will help you avoid the pressure of finding places to stay in areas that are far from any major city or town.
3. Pack smart
Considering the distance you will be covering throughout the trip, bringing too many items might not be practical if you want to experience all three Pacific States. Unless your entire trip focuses on one city, keep your luggage to a minimum. Take into account the activities you will be doing in each destination. If the main purpose of your trip is to go hiking in Yosemite National Park, bring only essential gear and consider the fact that you can rent additional equipment on-site.
When packing for a lengthy trip to the West Coast, it helps if you come up with a list of things you should bring along. Choose the right size of luggage bag if you’re planning for an extended stay of five days. For shorter trips covering multiple cities and towns, a backpack should be enough to keep you mobile all while ensuring you have everything you need for a comfortable journey.
4. Stay in with people you know
You may have friends and family members living in different parts of the West Coast who are willing to reserve a space for you to spend the night. You can always set aside cash for a hotel room or an Airbnb, but you could cut your accommodation costs and add more to your travel budget if you get to spend the night with people who are close to you. Reach out to them and see if they could arrange for an overnight stay at their place.
You can also try contacting people who are open to accepting couch surfers. Take this as an opportunity to get to know them more. It pays to consider the kind of community you’ll be staying in. If you’re not sure about your safety, you might as well move along and pay the cost of staying in a hotel. No matter the case, plan your accommodations more than a month before your scheduled arrival in the area.
5. Opt for free activities
If you’re worried about not having enough cash to make the most of your stay on the West Coast, keep in mind that there’s more to the area than Disneyland and Beverly Hills. Instead of spending most of your time in big cities, go for a nature tour in the outskirts. Visit national parks and, if not, check out public places like beaches and museums where admissions are free.
If you’re going to spend most of your time in places like San Francisco and Portland, opt for a walking tour and experience city life in these urban centers. Go where the locals go and ask for hidden gems only a few travelers will get to experience at no cost.
Endnote
A trip to the West Coast can become all the more satisfying if you overcome the stress-inducing challenges every traveler has to face. Use these tips and make the most of your adventure on this side of the country.
