JUST BACK FROM 5 Weeks In USA

[marvel]

Hi everyone. Haven't been on the boards for a while, just got back from the USA yesterday. So happy to answer any questions, as I am not really sure I will bore people with a trip report.

We did Disneyland for 4 days and two weeks in Orlando, all up 5 full days at Disney, also Typhoon Lagoon, Disney quest, two day at Universal etc. Very sad to be back. Stayed at the Sheraton Park Hotel in Anaheim, and the sheraton vistana resort in orlando. Highly recommend both.

Shopped like crazy, came back with 2 suitcases each, we left with 1 each, but that was the plan.

Used both the AMex travel card and the Commbank travel card.

We also stayed in Vegas, New York and North Carolina. And flew internally with Southwest.

 

[Busy Busy]

Hi Marvel, welcome home! Coming back is the pits isn't it?! Go on and bore us with a trip report...I have started one and have written what seems like an epic and we haven't even checked into our first hotel yet!! It's a great way to remember your holiday!!

Well done on the shopping - we hit the premium outlets in Vegas and went crazy, buy a suitcase then fill the suitcase - what a great place!!

Looking forward to hearing more and more and more!!

 

[Anne_Aus]

Welcome home! I am also voting for a trip report... I don't think it would bore any of us.
Also have a few questions
Did you have any troubles with the travel cards? Do you have a preference?
Vegas/New York/ Orlando which one would you say is best for shopping? - though lets face it I am bound to shop at all places

 

[WAMUMOF4]

Welcome home Marvel i was wondering how long before you guys got home sounds like you had a great time!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Hope to hear details details soon. Welcome back!

 

[darren123]

Hi Marvel great to see you back looking forward to your trip report

 

[aussietravellers]

Oh goody, do we have another trip report on the way?

 

[marvel]

Thanks everyone, once I get over my post trip depression I will put a report together.

Anne- the only issue I ever had with the travel cards was paying for petrol at the bowser. It wouldn't accept the commbank card but the amex card worked fine. You have to put in 00000 for the postcode and it would not work on commbank. THe commbank is better if you travel elsewhere like Europe as you can have multiple currencies and transfer across when needed.

The shopping was mixed as it depends on what you are looking for. Previous trips we found heaps at the outlets in vegas, but this time had better shopping at various macy's stores during the constant sales. The one thing to keep in mind is that stores stock different goods in different states, so if you see it in vegas you might not see it elsewhere etc. I made that mistake with a Boss Jacket i should have bought in NY, thinking i could get it in Orlando but no luck.

One thing that I found was that if you have an Iphone or phone with internet with you, you can scan the barcodes of clothing and it will give you the latest price. I had macy's discount a coat by another $50 as it was further discounted on their own website.

 

[Jade+3]

Welcome home Marvel. I still have post trip depression after 3 weeks at home.

 

[Tara2004]

Thanks everyone, once I get over my post trip depression I will put a report together.

Anne- the only issue I ever had with the travel cards was paying for petrol at the bowser. It wouldn't accept the commbank card but the amex card worked fine. You have to put in 00000 for the postcode and it would not work on commbank. THe commbank is better if you travel elsewhere like Europe as you can have multiple currencies and transfer across when needed.

The shopping was mixed as it depends on what you are looking for. Previous trips we found heaps at the outlets in vegas, but this time had better shopping at various macy's stores during the constant sales. The one thing to keep in mind is that stores stock different goods in different states, so if you see it in vegas you might not see it elsewhere etc. I made that mistake with a Boss Jacket i should have bought in NY, thinking i could get it in Orlando but no luck.

One thing that I found was that if you have an Iphone or phone with internet with you, you can scan the barcodes of clothing and it will give you the latest price. I had macy's discount a coat by another $50 as it was further discounted on their own website.

How did you go with the iPhone ? Did you use an american Sim card or put yours on International roaming. Also how did you get data over there for it?
I have 2 at&t sim cards and rang AT&T and they told me can't use them in iPhone . Any advice?

 

[Snickals]

Welcome home
Am so jealous, sounds like you had an amazing trip!!!

 

[Mum from oz]

Welcome back Marvel! Hope to see a trip report once you're over those post trip blues!

 

[jacs1234]

Welcome home. I'm looking forward to hearing more about your trip. Did you have to download a special app for the Macy Barcode thingy?

 

[alicia1506]

would love to read a TR if you're inclined to put one together after the coming-home-blues wear off... sounds like an amazing trip.

we're leaving in a week for a California/NewYork/Orlando/Vegas trip and we plan on doing the same thing -- take 1 suitcase, come back with 2 stuffed with clothes... although most of our clothes shopping will be done in NY and at the Florida mall in Orlando.

 

[marvel]

wow, alicia, same trip we did. good choice with the florida mall, we shopped there the last few days in orlando and it was great. alot of our shopping was also USA food, candy, snacks etc, which you just cannot get here.

Tara, with the iphone, definetly stay away from roaming. I bought the sim card from travelgear in Australia, and the $50 pre paid plan they have that includes unlimited data. All up cost $89, and you put the sim in your iphone. Worked fine, the internet is a bit slow because our iphones cannot connect to their system to get the full 3 or 4g speeds. but it was fine. you can also but an actual phone in target or wallmart for $30 and transfer the sim card to your iphone if you wish.

Went into AT & T while in the US and they said they don't have prepaid plans at all that you can use on the iphone, but had micro sims for my ipad which was free, and for $25 got 2gig of data for a month, which was super fast. Highly recommend that, just be careful because one AT&T store was going to charge $25 for the sim card which is actually free from the bigger AT&T stores.

The app for the IPhone is called QR Code, just check under barcode scanner in the Iphone store, it is a free app. great little app, its for all stores and checks prices whenever they are available on the net.

 

[alicia1506]

wow, alicia, same trip we did. good choice with the florida mall, we shopped there the last few days in orlando and it was great. alot of our shopping was also USA food, candy, snacks etc, which you just cannot get here.

i knew we made the right choice doing it this way!!! we also plan on buying up food/candy/snacks etc that we cannot get here

we figured florida mall was the best place to do retail shopping, and we'll be there a few days after veterans day, so hopefully they'll have quite a few sales still on and we can get good discounts, without having to head out to the outlet malls

glad to hear someone else has also done something similar with a great experience

 

[australiankaren]

hey

welcome back

ok, more importantly...waiting for the TR...no time like the present

 

[jessiegirl84]

welcome home, looking forward to reading all about your trip

 

[Tara2004]

Cool thanks a lot