Los Angeles, San Diego & Las Vegas Tips...

Flummaxed

Hi Anglo1967,

Thanks for the tips, I will check out those websights.

Are you sure you haven't been spending too much time in Haight-Ashbury yourself lately!!?? Lol :rotfl:

This evening I've been checking out the Youth Hostel at Fort Mason website. In the distant past, I've always found that one can meet some interesting travellers at youth hostels and lots of information about places to go etc to be gleaned.

Thanks for all the advice

Flum

anglo1967

MyFathersDaughter-

I would sort out sccommodation b4 you go, as I recall theres not much onthe route - just a few restaurants & such, & this time of year youll be vying for space... The towns off the highway do exist, but Aug is really popular & prices could be all over the place because of the tourist factor (they can charge what they want). I dont know of a place except for the post ranch inn, but thats not to everyones budget, and its in big sur... www.postranchinn.com .

cfbc- SF is a nightmare for parking, too much traffic - think London space & prices. Ditch the car, rely on BART/ public transport & avoid the high fees. I only use a car there if I am going somewhere far (like the museums out of town), but if you plan it right you can take a bus there, too. Have you thought about contacting the SF tourist board? They should do you a quick map...

And when youre there, remember to not walk to Grace Cathedral after a big meal *bad idea**steep hils*

Also make sure you go to Carmel on the way... Clint Eastwood used to be the Mayor. Fab place..

Have a great trip to you both !!!xx
Flum- ur welcome xx


1. For Hwy1, I would think more people go from S to N, but its pretty much the same. I dont remember that there is much except for scene

Murphy_The_Cat

anglo1967 wrote: »

1. For Hwy1, I would think more people go from S to N, but its pretty much the same. I dont remember that there is much except for scene

North to South is going from cool/warm to hot. South to North is going from hot to cool/warm.
Other than that, same dog, same haircut !
Sorry, thats not true, if you're travlleing North to South, (because the Americans drive on the wrong side of the road), you'll really be hugging the coastline :eek::eek:

STSAVER

since driving in San Francisco has been mentioned on here, does anyone have any advice for me with car hire drop off in the city?

I've booked vehicle from San Diego (picking up next thursday), to drop at San Francisco airport the following Thursday. Have stipulated the San Francisco airport drop off as just don't fancy driving in San Francisco itself from what I have read about the place.

However, there are drop off points for Alamo in Union Square I believe, which isn't too far from where we are staying in hotel.

Is it worth the hassle of driving into the city to drop off the car or should I just opt for the stress and hassle free option of drop off at the airport then getting a cab to the hotel?

Baz_2

North to South is best, easier to pull off onto the vista points on the way as they sort of creep up on you round bends and such so you need to be quick to pull off etc which is harder having to go across the other side of the road. Also its a better view hugging the curb, keep sthe passenger interested. It gets even better at yosemite!

Do check the road is open though, it was shut around 3 weeks back due to fires.

There are loads of places to stay on the coast.

Santa Barbara
Cambria - Moonstone Drive is nice but it can get very foggy and cold in summer, also Hearst castle is a nice detour for a few hours, but book in advance if your interested.
Carmel/Monterray - If you have the money then check out Tickle Pink Inn for some stunning sea views from your room and a totally relaxing stay.

Heres a few threads on another forum that details pretty much your route.

http://www.roadtripamerica.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17835&highlight=highway

http://www.roadtripamerica.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17511&highlight=highway

excellent forum that one.

Baz_2

STSAVER wrote: »

since driving in San Francisco has been mentioned on here, does anyone have any advice for me with car hire drop off in the city?

I've booked vehicle from San Diego (picking up next thursday), to drop at San Francisco airport the following Thursday. Have stipulated the San Francisco airport drop off as just don't fancy driving in San Francisco itself from what I have read about the place.

However, there are drop off points for Alamo in Union Square I believe, which isn't too far from where we are staying in hotel.

Is it worth the hassle of driving into the city to drop off the car or should I just opt for the stress and hassle free option of drop off at the airport then getting a cab to the hotel?

If I was in your position I would drop off at Union Square.

By the time you have had the car a few days you will be much more confident, and its freeway all the way into the center of SF right next to where you need to be.

It would probably be more hairy taking it to the airport to be honest.

Also do use the "street view" function in google maps to find exactly where the alamo drop off point is. It gives you an idea of where you are going when you get there. I felt an awful lot better about drivingin SF when I had already seen a virtual picture of what roads I was using and what the buildings looked like where I needed to be.

I cant see an alamo in union square but the closest is this one

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=l&hl=en&geocode=6229882231241973515,37.787470,-122.407408&q=alamo&near=Geary+St+(Union+Square)&sll=37.795508,-122.406192&sspn=0.014175,0.026608&layer=c&doflg=ptm&ie=UTF8&cbll=37.786181,-122.409987&panoid=bbtsUxx_JMd7COEk76ghjQ&cbp=1,293.34209098134124,,0,-4.831731437552125&ll=37.790523,-122.408338&spn=0.014176,0.026608&z=15

STSAVER

Baz wrote: »

If I was in your position I would drop off at Union Square.

By the time you have had the car a few days you will be much more confident, and its freeway all the way into the center of SF right next to where you need to be.

It would probably be more hairy taking it to the airport to be honest.

Also do use the "street view" function in google maps to find exactly where the alamo drop off point is. It gives you an idea of where you are going when you get there. I felt an awful lot better about drivingin SF when I had already seen a virtual picture of what roads I was using and what the buildings looked like where I needed to be.

I cant see an alamo in union square but the closest is this one

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=l&hl=en&geocode=6229882231241973515,37.787470,-122.407408&q=alamo&near=Geary+St+(Union+Square)&sll=37.795508,-122.406192&sspn=0.014175,0.026608&layer=c&doflg=ptm&ie=UTF8&cbll=37.786181,-122.409987&panoid=bbtsUxx_JMd7COEk76ghjQ&cbp=1,293.34209098134124,,0,-4.831731437552125&ll=37.790523,-122.408338&spn=0.014176,0.026608&z=15

Thanks for the advice. Had noticed that the freeway virtually goes straight through San Francisco and then across bridge to Oakland, but just wasn't keen on driving into the city really.

Have had a look on the maps and suppose you could be right. Suppose it would mean we could drop bags at Hotel then return the car.

Alamo drop off on Union Square is here.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=l&hl=en&geocode=6229882231241973515,37.787470,-122.407408&q=alamo&near=Geary+St+(Union+Square)&sll=37.795508,-122.406192&sspn=0.014175,0.026608&layer=c&doflg=ptm&ie=UTF8&cbll=37.786181,-122.409987&panoid=bbtsUxx_JMd7COEk76ghjQ&cbp=1,293.34209098134124,,0,-4.831731437552125&ll=37.790523,-122.408338&spn=0.014176,0.026608&z=15



I'm actually now wondering whether it would be worth me looking to buy a Sat Nav whilst in the USA (one that works back here in the UK since I don't have one) as it could end up being very useful.

Then again, I just got my £3.99 AAA map today for California. ;-)

Baz_2

Yeah thats the same link I found.

As I said. You can actually do the drive using street view, all the way from the highway to the drop off, seeing what traffic lights and the junctions look like etc.

Piece of cake really. Save your time and money for the rest of your holiday. Plus if you're not happy with driving by the time you have got to SF then theres no helping you! :rotfl:

I would have thought SD will be just as bad, where do you pick up from btw?

STSAVER

Baz wrote: »

Yeah thats the same link I found.

As I said. You can actually do the drive using street view, all the way from the highway to the drop off, seeing what traffic lights and the junctions look like etc.

Piece of cake really. Save your time and money for the rest of your holiday. Plus if you're not happy with driving by the time you have got to SF then theres no helping you! :rotfl:

I would have thought SD will be just as bad, where do you pick up from btw?

pick up from the Airport in San Diego, but we're staying at the Holiday Inn On the Bay which is not too far from the airport really so should be easy enough to do that short drive whilst getting used to the car.

Reading about San Diego the driving aspect doesn't sound to bad, whereas everything I have read about SF just suggests that driving there is not good to do.

Murphy_The_Cat

Baz wrote: »

I would have thought SD will be just as bad, where do you pick up from btw?

I've never had any trouble whatsoever when driving around San Diego, but I think that SF is the definition of a car hating city !