For International Visitors - Chicago with Kids - page 281

People traveling by air from Canada, Bermuda, and certain countries in the
Caribbean can sometimes clear Customs and Immigration at the point of depar-
ture, which is much quicker.
3 Getting Around the U.S.
BY PLANE Some large airlines (for example, Northwest and Delta) offer trav-
elers on their transatlantic or transpacific flights special discount tickets under
the name Visit USA, allowing mostly one-way travel from one U.S. destination
to another at very low prices. These discount tickets are not on sale in the
United States and must be purchased abroad in conjunction with your interna-
tional ticket. This system is the best, easiest, and fastest way to see the United
States at low cost. You should obtain information well in advance from your
travel agent or the office of the airline concerned, since the conditions attached
to these discount tickets can be changed without advance notice.
BY TRAIN International visitors (excluding Canada) can also buy a USA Rail
Pass, good for 15 or 30 days of unlimited travel on Amtrak ( & 800/USA-
RAIL; www.amtrak.com). The pass is available through many overseas travel
agents. Prices in 2004 for a 15-day pass were $295 off-peak, $440 peak; a 30-
day pass costs $385 off-peak, $550 peak. With a foreign passport, you can also
buy passes at some Amtrak offices in the United States, including locations in
San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Miami, Boston, and Washing-
ton, D.C. Reservations are generally required and should be made for each part
of your trip as early as possible. Regional rail passes are also available.
BY BUS Although bus travel is often the most economical form of public tran-
sit for short hops between U.S. cities, it can also be slow and uncomfortable—cer-
tainly not an option for everyone (particularly when Amtrak, which is far more
luxurious, offers similar rates). Greyhound/Trailways ( & 800/231-2222; www.
greyhound.com), the sole nationwide bus line, offers an International Ameripass
that must be purchased before coming to the United States, or by phone through
the Greyhound International Office at the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New
York City ( & 212/971-0492 ). The pass can be obtained from foreign travel
agents or through Greyhound's website (order at least 21 days before your depar-
ture to the U.S.) and costs less than the domestic version. Passes available in 2004
were as follows: 4 days ($160), 7 days ($219), 10 days ($269), 15 days ($329),
21 days ($379), 30 days ($439), 45 days ($489), or 60 days ($599). You can get
more info on the pass at the website or by calling & 402/330-8552. In addition,
special rates are available for seniors and students.
BY CAR Unless you plan to spend the bulk of your vacation time in a city
where walking is the best and easiest way to get around (like New York City or
New Orleans), the most cost-effective, convenient, and comfortable way to travel
around the United States is by car. The interstate highway system connects cities
and towns all over the country; in addition to these high-speed, limited-access
roadways, there's an extensive network of federal, state, and local highways and
roads. Some of the national car-rental companies include Alamo ( & 800/462-
5266; www.alamo.com), Avis ( & 800/230-4898; www.avis.com), Budget
( & 800/527-0700; www.budget.com), Dollar ( & 800/800-3665; www.dollar.
com), Hertz ( & 800/654-3131; www.hertz.com), National ( & 800/227-7368;
www.nationalcar.com), and Thrifty ( & 800/847-4389; www.thrifty.com).