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Accommodation
HOTELS: There are many good traditional hotels. However, the majority are modern and part of national and international chains, often with standard prices. In general, the quality of accommodation is high, with facilities such as televisions and telephones in each room. For further information, contact the American Hotel & Lodging Association, 1201 New York Avenue NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20005 (tel: (202) 289 3100; fax: (202) 289 3199; e-mail: info@ahla.com; website: www.ahla.com).
Grading: Basic categories fall into Super, Deluxe, Standard, Moderate and Inexpensive. Prices vary according to standards.
Pre-paid voucher schemes: Several companies offer a pre-paid voucher scheme for use at various hotel and motel chains throughout the USA.
BED & BREAKFAST: This long established tradition in the UK is now spreading across the USA. B&B signs are not generally displayed by individual homes, but most homes offering this service are listed in directories, which may be purchased by interested travellers. ‘B&B inns’ have up to 20 or so rooms, and are distinguished from ‘country inns’ in that the latter offer meals in addition to breakfast; further information is abvailable from the Professional Association of Innkeepers International (website: www.paii.org). There are also numerous national and regional B&B associations.
RANCH HOLIDAYS: There are ranches all over the southern and western States offering riding, participation in cattle drives, and activity holidays in mountain and lakeland settings.
CAMPING/CARAVANNING: This is extremely popular, especially in the Rocky Mountains and New England. The camping season in the north lasts from mid-May to mid-September. Camping along the side of highways and in undesignated areas is prohibited. For information on campsites, contact KOA (Kampgrounds of America) (tel: (406) 248 7444; fax: (406) 248 7414; website: www.koa.com). The 24,000-plus campsites fall into two general categories:
Public sites: Usually linked with National or State Parks and Forests, offering modest but comfortable facilities. Most of them will have toilet blocks, electricity hook-ups and picnic areas. Campsites are usually operated on a first-come, first-served basis and will often restrict the length of stay. Advance reservations are possible at some national parks. Fees range from free to around US$20 per night.
Privately run sites: These range from basic to resort luxury. Most have laundry and drying facilities, entertainment and information services. Reservations can be made through a central reservation office in the USA. Fees range from around US$25-35.
Camping in the backcountry (a general term for areas inaccessible by road) requires a permit, available free of charge. Visitors are advised not to drink water from rivers and streams without boiling it for at least five minutes. It is also advisable to check fire regulations and inform the park ranger of the itinerary before setting out to a backcountry area.
YMCA/YOUTH HOSTELS: There are 74 YMCA centres in 68 cities throughout the USA. Membership is not necessary, but reservations should be made two days prior to arrival via the Head Offices. The YMCA offers centrally located accommodation at attractive rates coast to coast throughout the USA. Most centres offer single and double accommodation for both men and women and many also have sports facilities. For further information, contact YMCA of the USA, 101 North Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60606 (website: www.ymca.net). Youth hostels offer their members simple, inexpensive overnight accommodation usually located in scenic, historical or cultural places. Youth Hostel Association membership is open to everyone with no age limit and there are individual, family and organisation memberships. British visitors should take out membership in the UK before travelling. For further information, contact the American Youth Hostels Inc, 733 15th Street NW, Suite 840, Washington, DC 20005 (tel: (202) 783 6161; fax: (202) 783 6171; website: www.hiayh.org).
SELF-CATERING: Self-catering facilities, known in the USA as ‘apartments’, ‘condominiums’ (or ‘condos’), ‘efficiencies’ or ‘villas’, are also available.
HOME EXCHANGE: There are several agents who offer home exchange programmes between the USA and the UK.
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