Hi
As said before, the states is not the only option. We are all probably confusing you even more but at the end of the day it is best to get as much info as possible. Have you considered South Africa for PPL and some hour building? The weather is good generally but you can get some really nasty thunderstorms and cross winds which will improve your flying skills. The training here is excellent and is more similar to the UK than the states is. Ive done my PPL here and some hour building and apart from one nasty experience with a JAA approved school, I have no complaints. Plane rental maybe more expensive here than in the states but once you factor in accomodation and living expenses it works out cheaper. Beer is also very cheap here. What more could one ask for.
Hope this helps
Ciao BL
