From the airport to the city centre California
No matter which city you land in - San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, or Phoenix - the easiest way to get there is to pick up your rental car at the airport. If you choose to explore the American West without a car, you have several options for getting to your accommodation: shuttles, public transportation, or cabs and VTCs. The latter are more expensive, but also faster.
Arrival by train California
The Amtrak network provides good coverage of the western United States. It serves San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego in California, Salt Lake City in Utah, and Flagstaff and Tucson in Arizona. Connections to other major cities - such as Las Vegas in Nevada and Phoenix in Arizona - are provided by parallel networks. To find your destination station and train timetable, go to www.amtrak.com.
Public transport California
The appropriateness of using public transportation varies greatly from city to city. For example, while San Francisco is particularly suitable, the sprawling Los Angeles is difficult to cover by subway or bus. In addition, small towns are generally poorly served and, above all, poorly connected to each other. Nevertheless, the big cities can be won over by Greyhound, the most developed intercity bus service in North America. For example, San Diego is well connected to the rest of the country, especially to Los Angeles, which can be reached in 3 to 4 hours, depending on traffic. It is also possible to travel to other states, such as Nevada - about 10 to 12 hours to Las Vegas - Arizona - about 14 hours to Phoenix - and Utah - about 20 hours to Salt Lake City. Unsurprisingly, the fares are cheaper than the train.
Bike, scooters & co California
The beach towns of Southern California - led by the famous Venice boardwalk - are popular with bike, skateboard and scooter enthusiasts. In addition to the numerous rental stores, self-service bikes - following the example of Vélib' Métropole in Paris - are beginning to appear, such as Bike Share in Long Beach (www.longbeach.gov). A means of transport that will appeal to travellers without vehicles and those planning to stay longer.
With a driver California
It's hard not to find a cab or VTC - Uber and Lyft being the most popular apps - in the cities of California, Nevada, Utah and Arizona. Prefer the second option, as cab drivers generally charge higher fares, especially as you'll need to pay them a substantial tip at the end of the journey. However, if you're coming from an airport, compare their prices with those of VTCs - the latter can hold some surprises. Although they usually charge by the meter, they will be able to give you an estimate.
By car California
Renting a vehicle is - by far - the best way to travel the American West. Built for cars, the cities are easy to get to and directions are well marked, especially since an international license is not required. However, you'll need to be patient when parking outside of the paid parking lots in major cities like Los Angeles and Phoenix - among others. Also, pay close attention to parking signs, which are sometimes hung high and hidden by trees: their indications prevail when you park against a sidewalk with an uncolored curb.
Finally, while motorhomes can be a disadvantage in the city, they are extremely well suited to exploring the region's great outdoors, especially if you plan to hit the parks. Facilities are plentiful, and rental sites are becoming more and more common.
Accessibility California
The region - led by small towns - is a good student of accessibility for people with limited mobility and strollers.
Tourist traps California
As everywhere else, a golden rule is to not trust the touts, even if it is only to buy a ticket.
