Honeymoon on the Road

A road trip along the US East Coast, following the itinerary traced by Interstate 95 from New York City down to US 1, which ends at the Southernmost Point of Key West. A journey through the multiple cultures and different landscapes of the North American 'continent': from the skyscrapers of the Big Apple, past the monuments of Washington DC and the magical atmosphere of Orlando, all the way to dazzling Miami and the Caribbean palms of the Keys. TIPS: ON THE ROAD --- In the USA a credit card is practically mandatory. They ask for it everywhere and for everything. If you plan to travel by car, don't be afraid of running out of petrol on the road... there are service areas practically everywhere (every 3 miles on the toll-free Interstates, except on a few short stretches). Speed limits must be respected! but if you're 5 mph over, no problem...

any more and you risk arrest (...don't follow the example of the 'trucks', they drive like madmen!!!). Watch out for outlets outside the big cities, because there you can buy RL, Tommy Hilfiger and Nike clothes at great prices (...the rest is pretty much the same as at home...). In hotels it's advisable to tip 'left and right' (minimum $3, otherwise you get the cursing of the day...). In many restaurants the service (gratuity) isn't included in the bill but must still be paid to the waiter, amounting to 15-18% of the cost of the meal. New York ------ if you decide to go to New York and Miami for shopping, the second is cheaper. Technologically, though, NYC is unbeatable.

On Broadway I recommend Mary Poppins: buy your tickets at the individual theatres' box offices, it costs less! Beware of sitting down to a comfortable breakfast in the morning in those inviting little restaurants: Sarabeth's is fairly affordable; BLT Market (both Central Park South) is expensive (there a continental breakfast is around $45-50 per person). The MoMA is beautiful and interesting especially for the Van Gogh and Picasso paintings; for the Statue of Liberty, queues of about two hours. The best way to see Manhattan is on foot (the metro isn't as interesting as Paris's...), or take the Tourist Sightseeing bus (about $29 per person per day). don't miss the East River, a less commercial but very atmospheric area.. Go for a wander around Brooklyn, it's worth it to see Manhattan from the other side of the river.

You can see Washington in a full day, and Philadelphia too (both by train from NYC): very beautiful and full of history. Charleston ---- beautiful and worth visiting in a full day... it also has a beach area. Perhaps visitable while based in what can only be Savannah (Georgia). Orlando ----- go to a Disney resort, or if you want to save, go locally and take a resort on the spot; there's ruthless competition between the various ones and good services (I stayed at the Yacht Club Resort on Epcot BLVD (Disney) and on Intl Drive at another resort where I paid about $100 for a double. Don't miss Universal Studios and Adventure Island. Miami ----- strictly South Beach, I recommend the Loews Beach Hotel! Lincoln Road and Ocean Drive will keep you company for at least two full days. Then go to the Everglades and sleep in the resorts in the swamp (I didn't, but I'm told it's worth it).

Key West ---- drive the US 1, which runs across all the Keys with breathtaking Caribbean scenery. There you'll have the impression of not being in Florida: a place of a thousand contradictions that's worth 5-6 days between the sea and excursions to the coral reef and on the catamaran to admire the sunset from the sea. A good period is Christmas-Easter. The best resort is the Westin Key West Marina... don't waste time!