US work trip - flights/plans/accommodation etc.

[Touring Mars]

I'm planning to come to the US to work for a couple of months in September and October, and I'm looking to book a short holiday/stop-over somewhere to make the most of the trip.

I'd be leaving from the UK and flying to Chicago, arriving some time before 1st Sept (my provisional start date for work) and leaving Chicago at the end of October. I would then have a week or two to spend somewhere else, but if I could arrange a flight with a free stop-over somewhere, that would be great. I'm thinking about either Canada and/or New York mainly, but am open to all ideas

I have a few questions, though. Can someone on a UK passport take an internal US flight without any problems? I will be entering the US under a visa waiver program for visiting scholars, but I only have a letter from my host institution as proof of that, which is a bit sketchy, but I'm seeking confirmation on that.

Also does anyone have any tips or recommendations for places to visit/durations etc., bearing in mind that I will be limited to public transport?

 

[Exorcet]

NYC, Boston, or Washington D.C. if you can find your way to one of them.

NY being pretty densely packed and having subways everywhere might make the best choice since it will be easier to get around and not too difficult to find someplace to go.

There's also Mars.

 

[MatskiMonk]

Can someone on a UK passport take an internal US flight without any problems? I will be entering the US under a visa waiver program for visiting scholars, but I only have a letter from my host institution as proof of that, which is a bit sketchy, but I'm seeking confirmation on that.

I did Heathrow to NY (JFK), then NY (La Guardia) to Minneapolis (St.Pauls), to Wichita, to Oklahoma City, to Detroit Metro, back to London on a standard UK passport with no problems. I'm not even sure they checked the passports on the internal flights for any other reason than ID to check against the bookings.

 

[SVT Cobra GT]

I have a few questions, though. Can someone on a UK passport take an internal US flight without any problems? I will be entering the US under a visa waiver program for visiting scholars, but I only have a letter from my host institution as proof of that, which is a bit sketchy, but I'm seeking confirmation on that.

Yes. No problems. Once you enter the country from the UK and pass security you're taking an internal flight. I flew to Atlanta and then onto Orlando. Once I passed initial security I never saw my passport again until I was flying home.

 

[Pupik]

As long as you keep your passport with you at any additional airport stays, you'll be fine. I'm not sure how easy/difficult entering Canada will be for you, holding a non-US/Canadian passport, to be honest. Maybe with a lot of work-related permissions and signatures for temporary employment. After 9/11, their border security changed a lot from what I've heard (not that it hadn't in America).

Most of the Southern and Midwestern US is difficult to impossible to get around by public transportation, although even some smaller cities have a limited bus network for basic needs. Atlanta and Miami are exceptions, but nothing like the Northeast, or San Francisco, Seattle. The Orlando-area attractions have their own transport to and from the airport, mostly Disney if you stay solely in their resorts. Somehow, I don't think that's what you're interested in...

Heh, can you plunge for a rental car for a few days? You'll have to learn how to drive an automatic, though.

Edit: dam auto-carrot

 

[Touring Mars]

👍 Thanks for the replies so far everyone...

@Pupik I think visiting Canada on a UK passport is easy i.e. they have a similar visa waiver for UK citizens as the US does.

Seattle is another city I'd love to see, but I don't think I'd rent a car simply because I haven't driven for years.

-

On a slightly more unfortunate note, I just got word from NWU that they do not have any accommodation for me, so now I will have to rent privately or stay in a B&B for 2 months, both far more expensive and much harder to arrange. It is very disappointing, because it could mean that the whole trip is in jeopardy. - or at least I may need to consider visiting somewhere where accommodation is alot cheaper, like India, China, or Yorkshire.

Does anyone know of rental options in the Chicago area, or how much a decent apartment rental for 2 months might set me back, or if it is even feasible to rent privately (as a foreign citizen) at short notice??

 

[eSZee]

Any idea which neighborhood you'll be working in?

 

[Danoff]

This doesn't really fit your criteria at all - lacks public transportation and isn't on the way to anywhere, but Yellowstone is one of the main things that the US has that is unlike anything else in the world. You can see Manhattan, but it's a big city with a park in the middle. It's a long drive from chicago to Yellowstone (21 hrs).

Sorry to hear that the trip is in jeopardy, but if it does happen, the above is my suggestion.

 

[Joey D]

If you're going to be in Chicago you should hop the train to Grand Rapids on a Saturday. It's about a 2 hour train ride and it is Beer City, USA.

 

[Touring Mars]

Any idea which neighborhood you'll be working in?

Evanston, apparently...

This doesn't really fit your criteria at all - lacks public transportation and isn't on the way to anywhere, but Yellowstone is one of the main things that the US has that is unlike anything else in the world. You can see Manhattan, but it's a big city with a park in the middle. It's a long drive from chicago to Yellowstone (21 hrs).

Sorry to hear that the trip is in jeopardy, but if it does happen, the above is my suggestion.

I'd love to visit Yellowstone properly... I've been on a day trip to Yosemite/El Capitan, and it was incredible - but it probably is too far out of the way for me this time, but a great suggestion. The trip has never been 100% certain, but it has gone from being about 90% certain to about 50% now, sadly.

If you're going to be in Chicago you should hop the train to Grand Rapids on a Saturday. It's about a 2 hour train ride and it is Beer City, USA.

👍 That would be ace, I'll definitely keep you posted.

 

[Danoff]

I'd love to visit Yellowstone properly... I've been on a day trip to Yosemite/El Capitan, and it was incredible - but it probably is too far out of the way for me this time, but a great suggestion. The trip has never been 100% certain, but it has gone from being about 90% certain to about 50% now, sadly.

I hope it works out. And yea, Yosemite is amazing. Yellowstone is a bucket list item for sure. Yosemite is worthy as well.

 

[Crash]

I have a few questions, though. Can someone on a UK passport take an internal US flight without any problems?

Yup, your passport will be used on domestic flights to check identity at security, but you won't have to go through passport controls again and they won't ask for your visa at security for domestic flights.

Also does anyone have any tips or recommendations for places to visit/durations etc., bearing in mind that I will be limited to public transport?

If you're limited to public transportation, then you'll probably want to stick to a major city. Anything outside of a major city will generally have pretty appalling public transportation (read: you need a car to drive everywhere).

You may be able to get creative with the plane tickets and routing though. I keep hearing that Norwegian Air is starting service from Gatwick to NY and Gatwick to LA for something like 250 pounds one way (on 787s to boot!). It may be advantageous to fly one of those routes or find some really cheap route combination, then try to find and purchase early another cheap domestic flight.

Something similar was what I did when I did my Europe trip a couple years ago. At that time, for whatever reason, I found it to be significantly cheaper to land in Heathrow than it was to land in Paris, Frankfurt or Berlin, so I ended up starting and ending my trip in London rather than in another city, though the locations that I would have visited themselves didn't change (just the order in which I visited the different countries changed). The cost difference between landing at Heathrow vs another major Western European airport way way more than me booking train tickets/Ryanair separately to eventually get to the same destination.

I'm not sure how easy/difficult entering Canada will be for you, holding a non-US/Canadian passport, to be honest.

Can't he just say "The Queen something something something" and the Canadians will let him in? Isn't that how the Commonwealth works?

Seattle is another city I'd love to see, but I don't think I'd rent a car simply because I haven't driven for years.

That time is just about the best time to visit Seattle, though unless you plan on doing outdoor stuff (hiking, camping, exploring geography, etc.), Seattle can be seen and done in 2 maybe 3 days max.

Also, having not driven in years? Perfect time to rent a car then. You can't be that much worse that some of the people here on the road.

On a slightly more unfortunate note, I just got word from NWU that they do not have any accommodation for me, so now I will have to rent privately or stay in a B&B for 2 months, both far more expensive and much harder to arrange. It is very disappointing, because it could mean that the whole trip is in jeopardy. - or at least I may need to consider visiting somewhere where accommodation is alot cheaper, like India, China, or Yorkshire.

Northwestern University? I've seen it be called "Northwestern," but never NWU, and I think NWU would just confuse more Americans than "Northwestern"...

I don't have any info about rental options in and around Chicago itself, but generally, it is possible to rent for a short time for visiting scholars or short term stay people. You'll probably want to stay close to your primary campus anyways (which sounds like Evanston, but double check that you'll definitely be there most of the time as they have a secondary campus in Chicago proper). I'm not sure when Northwestern's school year is, but if you find that you'll be there during summer vacation, you may be able to sublet out someone else's lease, and that actually would probably be the cheapest option.

At worst, go on Cragislist and find a place. Though as a word of caution, I don't know anything about rental costs in Chicago or Evanston.

Anyways, if Northwestern doesn't work anymore due to cost, how about any of the other options that you talked about? Weren't you saying that UCLA (or Berkeley?) accepted you as well? Not saying other cities will necessarily be cheaper, but it's worth looking into if you can switch to another school (unless you like Northwestern so much that you'll only go there).

 

[Touring Mars]

Thanks @Crash, very helpful 👍 I need to contact accommodation at NU again to see if something becomes available - but they've said they don't have anything at the present time. I did get an invitation from UCLA, but I've already turned it down on the basis that the work at NU is far more relevant, even though the work being done at UCLA is incredible. I would be in danger of what one person called 'science tourism' if I went to UCLA anyway, which is really not the purpose of the trip. Besides, as you suggest, I'd have the same problem in LA as I have with Chicago i.e. expensive housing. I have contacts at Berkeley as well - I would love to work there, but again, it is exciting work but too far removed from what I am aiming to do.

 

[Barra333]

Getting into Canada with your UK passport is no problem. You will probably have to have something more than a letter from your host from the US though. At the very least, you will need to do this. Definitely get confirmation on that though.

As for your accommodation dilemma, ask your host to send an email around the department/institute looking for short term accommodation. Or better yet, write one yourself and ask them to forward it around. It was a weekly occurrence at my department in Australia. You might luck into someone looking for a house sitter, a few extra dollars to let out their spare room without a long term commitment etc.

 

[Touring Mars]

Great idea, @Barra333 - I was going to send an email to the group, but asking them to forward my email around the department/Uni is a better idea.

You're right about the ESTA - I will need that. Fortunately, due to the circumstances of my visit, I don't need anything else other than that, so once I sort out the accomodation issue, I'll be good to go. 👍

 

[Touring Mars]

Got my first responses from letting agencies in the Evanston area this evening - one apartment that I really like the look of is available - but at $137 a night, it is way too expensive. I'd be cheaper staying in the Hilton I'm looking at spending up to $2000 per month for a studio or one bedroom flat. If anyone with any experience of letting in the US has any tips, they'd be most welcome 👍

 

[TB]

I'm telling ya, dude. Work out going to NDSU and you'll have a place to stay and a ride to work.

- - - - -

Past that, looking into apartments that take month to month residents might be an option?

 

[Touring Mars]

Still no nearer getting a flat... in response to my enquiry to a local letting agent about apartments in Chicago "from 1st September" and "for two months", I got this:

"Christopher, we have no sublets available yet for August 1st. We will probably get some in the next few weeks, but none yet."

So my reply: "Thanks for your reply. Did you mean 1st September, as that's when I'd be looking to move in."

And his reply: "We don't have any sublets available September 1st, only August 1st. The sublets that I have are for 9/1 to 8/31 (only one month). Do those interest you?"


YES, because renting a flat for the month before I arrive is exactly what I asked for. I assume he meant 8/1 to 8/31 too, since renting a flat for minus one day is not what I asked for either - although does that mean they'd owe me rent??

 

[Omnis]

Chris, I'm going to give you the email address of my friend that's starting his PhD there. Perhaps he can help you.

Failing that, if you're really in a dire way I may be able to ask my cousins if they have a room for you. You'd have to commute a short way to campus though.

Cheap airfare: take Norwegian from Gatwick to FLL for like 3-400 bucks. Have a beer with me and chill on the beach. (It's Africa hot right now) Then hop on a Southwest flight from FLL to MCO MDW for 70 bucks.

 

[Pupik]

Why would he want to go to Orlando?

 

[Blitz24]

Why would he want to go to Orlando?

Disney World?

 

[Omnis]

Why would he want to go to Orlando?

Damn it. I meant Chicago Midway. MDW, not MCO.

 

[Touring Mars]

Chris, I'm going to give you the email address of my friend that's starting his PhD there. Perhaps he can help you.

Failing that, if you're really in a dire way I may be able to ask my cousins if they have a room for you. You'd have to commute a short way to campus though.

Cheap airfare: take Norwegian from Gatwick to FLL for like 3-400 bucks. Have a beer with me and chill on the beach. (It's Africa hot right now) Then hop on a Southwest flight from FLL to MCO MDW for 70 bucks.

Thanks very much Marc, I really appreciate that. I should be fine on the accommodation front, but I really appreciate the offer/help - I'll ping your mate an email anyway to see if he'd like to meet up, since I reckon we'll both be new at NU As for the accommodation, there is an easy solution - I can just book hotels, but it will end up costing a fortune compared to other possibilities, but at this rate the other possibilities are not looking great for one reason or another.

The cheap airfare tip is great, I'll definitely look into that option - I've never been to Florida! It is unlikely that I'll have time to stop over on my way to Chicago, however, as I will probably only have a day or two to spare, esp. if I do end up finding an apartment/room, but I'm definitely up for a week or two's holiday after my placement is finished!!

 

[Barra333]

Just be careful with the cheap airfares - your luggage allowance may be limited to a can of baked beans.

 

[Touring Mars]

Just be careful with the cheap airfares - your luggage allowance may be limited to a can of baked beans.

So long as I can bring a six-pack of Tennent's, I'm good.

I'm currently emailing people about sublets - what is the 'fall' or 'fall quarter' exactly, Sept-Nov or Sept-Dec? I know this sounds like a dumb question, but quarter suggests 3 months, but many ads say 9/1 to the end of the year.

It's actually quite alot cheaper for me to sublet a room for 4 months than it would be to stay in a hotel for 2, so I'm considering paying for a rented room for 3-4 months (pref 3) and leaving before the end of my lease... that's maybe not the wisest move, though - any thoughts anyone??

edit: Oh good, the University have just confirmed that they can pay for my trip upfront...

 

[Barra333]

I can't see why anywhere would have a problem with you renting (and paying) for 4 months and only being there for 3.

 

[Pupik]

So long as I can bring a six-pack of Tennent's, I'm good.

Putting fizzy cans or bottles into your luggage can have mixed results, due to the pressure and temperature changes inside the cargo hold. Best to find a really good bottle shop or a place that specializes in rare or unusual drinks. Or try the local flavors - Chicago probably won't disappoint you.

I'm currently emailing people about sublets - what is the 'fall' or 'fall quarter' exactly, Sept-Nov or Sept-Dec? I know this sounds like a dumb question, but quarter suggests 3 months, but many ads say 9/1 to the end of the year.

The school year is broken up into either quarters or thirds, usually called semesters (or trimesters), but it typically ranges from late-August to the second or third week of December. Some schools don't start their Fall Semester / whatevertheycallit until September comes along (post-Labor Day, typically). So you'd have to know when school begins and ends - probably best to get at least a week early to get acclimated.

I suppose you can always break the lease early, just paying the additional month even if it still is the best deal. Few, if any hotels are cheaper to stay at for months on end: there's one brand called "America's Best Value" which usually comes closest to cheaper rent dues, but it varies greatly from city to city. That, and they're quite dumpy and noisy, from what I've heard.

I hear the long-term hotel thing worked for Royal Tannenbaum, but that was indeed a rare case...

Damn it. I meant Chicago Midway. MDW, not MCO.

That's alright, my brain keeps processing "Monaco" for MCO, although the unofficial incorrect meaning is "Mickey and COmpany".

 

[TheCracker]

Don't forget to wear your handy Plasticine-block storing vest on every internal flight. 👍

 

[Barra333]

That's alright, my brain keeps processing "Monaco" for MCO, although the unofficial incorrect meaning is "Mickey and COmpany".

I was told it was Mickey's Corporate Office

 

[Omnis]

Just be careful with the cheap airfares - your luggage allowance may be limited to a can of baked beans.

It's only like 30 pounds to upgrade to a full size check-in, breakfast and dinner, and a seat reservation on Norwegian. I assume they would otherwise operate on open seating like Southwest. My friend went from FLL to Oslo and said it was fantastic.

TM, it might cost you a bit to get to Gatwick in the first place. In that case, you might also consider flying to the states out of Copenhagen or Oslo, etc.

FLL, MCO, and MDW are all on the same route on Southwest so you can fly into Orlando or Ft. Lauderdale and still get to Chicago cheaply. You could also just fly into JFK and then onto Ohare or MDW, but that's sort of more obvious. You might want to avoid Florida if we get slammed next month by the hurricane brewing out near Africa at the moment.