My little sis is travelling to American in a few weeks with her mates and
they are doing it on the cheap. Mostly California. Mostly hostels. Maybe
hitchhiking (sounds a bit dodgy). Maybe backpacking. Eating cheaply. I want
to ensure she is safe and is careful. Apart from going with her, anyone
have tips for me to share. She won't listen but I can plant a seed of some
sort.
Cheers, ROD

ROD wrote:

All of that is perfectly fine except for the hitchhiking, which she
should not even consider, period. It just isn't done in the US, so 99%
of normal people would be afraid to pick up a hitchhiker, and you take
your chances with the people who would.

There's no safety problem with backpacking, hostels or cheap food.
With a few people they would probably find it both cost effective and
convenient to rent a car rather than rely on public transport (which is
very limited in California).

Los Angeles has some dangerous parts, but they are far from anything of
interest, and most travellers would never encounter them. As long as
you don't drive around aimlessly there's really no problem.

ROD wrote:

DO NOT HITCHIKE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. This is a sure way to place
oneself in danger, ESPECIALLY FOR FEMALES. Additionally, most all
municipalities ban hitchhiking, she'll get in trouble with the law if she
attempts this.

If she wants to ensure that she returns to Oz in a coffin (or even ensure
that she permanently disappears) then hitchhiking is the SURE way to go...

ROD wrote:

Don't hitchhike. It's very dodgy, esp. in California.

In article <1155662363.043753.289360@b28g2000cwb.googlegroups.com>,
Iceman at oneofcold@yahoo.com says...

People hitchhike all the time in northern California. If you are in a
group of three or four it is relatively safe. Two young women is less
safe and more than four will not get rides due to lack of room. Advise
your sister to check the condition of the driver. If you smell alcohol,
say "no thanks."

PeterL wrote:

Writing from Southern California here - do not hitchhike. It's
seriously dangerous here - especially in certain areas. I don't mean
to scare her - and this is from someone who loves to live here - but it
seems like every week or so another woman is killed or missing. There
probably aren't as many as it seems, but as a native Los Angelena, I'm
careful who I speak to when I'm out and about.

"ROD" wrote in message
news:o9nEg.3924$Ji1.1123@trnddc05...

First

NO HITCHIKING - not only is it bloody dangerous its
also illegal in a lot of places. If she wants to travel on the cheap she
can buy a Greyhound Bus pass

"ROD" wrote in message
news:o9nEg.3924$Ji1.1123@trnddc05...

She should not, under any circumstances, hitchhike. Not only is it illegal,
but it is extremely dangerous. This is not the U.S. of the 60s and 70s .

In article , RodMorris@bigpondREMOVE.au
says...

OMG, no hitchhiking EVER. Can you hitchhike in Australia? Being a female
it isn't even an option in California. She and her friends should have
no problem with cheap eats and cheap places to stay. Hostels are
everywhere. Also, you might want her to check-in via email or phone
every now and again. That way it will make you and your family be a bit
more at ease. I know if one of my siblings went abroad and I didn't hear
from them every few days I would panic, especially given today's
headlines. There are plenty of internet cafes in the big cities and she ...

In article <4keio6Fboa24U1@individual.net>, PTravel at
ptravel@travelersvideo.com says...