I am from the UK and am traveling the USA/Canada for 3 month next year (March-June). I have information on both Greyhound and Amtrak prices but which is the best way to see the USA. I am on a budget and am planning on staying a Youth Hostels. If any one can help I would be most greatful.

Hi Hicazza.

The "Getting around the US" section at the front of The Rough Guide to the USA would be a helpful reference for you. If I knew more about your situation, I might be able to help more myself. The few things I can tell you are that Amtrak, though a much more pleasant mode of travel, is rather expensive (sometimes even as expensive as a flight), and that Greyhound is usually uncomfortable and often a little dodgy, especially in the midwest. Have you given any thought to renting a car? You often need them in larger cities that don't have great public transportation.

Best of luck!

I travelled round the USA for 2 months in 1995. At that time Amtrak were selling various kinds of railpasses (only available to foreigners). They were 45 days, 30 days or 15 days, allowing unlimited train travel during that time with no extra costs (such as seat reservations that you have to pay for in Europe) unless you got a sleeper. I had one and used it for 4 long trips : Orlando->New Orleans, New Orleans->Los Angeles, Los Angeles->San Francisco, San Francisco->Seattle. It proved VERY cheap, as the cost of the pass was less than the individual cost of a couple of the trips I mentioned ! You could buy the pass at any train station provided you had a non-USA passport. I also did some long haul Greyhound trips and they are B*A*D, to be avoided unless you have no choice. Amtrak is very comfortable, with big seats that fold almost all the way back, TV on board, observation cars, etc. The USA is a HUGE country (not like Europe), and wherever you go it's far, so comfort is a factor. Check out http://www.amtrak.com.

The Amtrak train is by far most relaxing and enjoyable. You won't be staring at highways and trucks the whole trip but rather seeing countryside and cows. The train stations are cleaner and safer.

Greyhound has a far more extensive network than Amtrak, and also offers passes, but - as the respondents above have said already - is not the most comfortable way of travelling, and some of their city terminals are in dodgy areas - so be careful!
A couple of other ideas: although air travel in the US is not the bargain basement everybody thinks it is, you might be able to buy a series of internal US flights in advance at a reasonable rate with the airline that flies you across the Atlantic - check with the airlines.
Also, have you considered driveaway? This is a system whereby you deliver a car from city A to city B, generally for free apart from a returnable deposit and the cost of the gas (petrol) after the first tankful. Many companies do it - the best known seems to be Auto Driveaway - check their website www.autodriveaway.com. I've done it myself and it's an excellent way of seeing a lot of country for very little money!

Good luck!
Pete