Did mine commencing Jan '06. Took 4 months total. Weather was terrible until late March. Booked 4 or 5 lessons per week and usually flew 2 or 3. The continuity helped a lot and I passed in 45hrs.
The USA route might look attractive, but you ideally need to do all the exams and R/T license before you go. Also, by the time you've paid for flights there/back, sorted out a visa and all the hassle that goes with it, then had to do some more lessons back in the UK to get used to proper weather and R/T you might not find it as cheap as it initially seems.