Help Needed for USA West Coast Trip!

tingtong

markymoo wrote: »

i flew with bmi bmi (not a code share with united i mean), to Vegas before... absolutely awful..

i once flew United from Heathrow to NYC, and it was an average flight, nothing too special

M

Can I ask what was so bad about the BMI flight to Vegas ? We have flown with them twice from Manchester and found them to be pretty good, as have others on the Vegas thread.

trets77

tingtong wrote: »

Can I ask what was so bad about the BMI flight to Vegas ? We have flown with them twice from Manchester and found them to be pretty good, as have others on the Vegas thread.

i have flown BMI to vegas and they were fine. don't worry

tingtong

trets77 wrote: »

i have flown BMI to vegas and they were fine. don't worry

Not worrying as we've just returned last week, just interested to know why they were 'awful'. Would definately fly with them again.

_Andy_

funkyfin2000 wrote: »

hmmm reviews of the luxor arn't brilliant...

the MGM gran signature sounds better! Is that in the actual hotel or is it like flats away from the hotel? anyone know?

Not comparable at all. Luxor is a bit of a hole. Signature is much, much better and much better value (albeit more expensive)

tingtong

funkyfin2000 wrote: »

I would also like to trek along to Death Valley and Yosemite...any advice for rooms here?

Where can we get a car hire comparison site for america?

Wheres best to get internal flights from? Kayak? or do they have price comparison sites in america for internal flights?

Death Valley - We stayed at Furnace Creek Ranch which we found great

Yosemite - Blue Butterfly Inn - Really nice 6 bedroom B&B, fantastic location just 2 miles outside the park with good general store and brilliant pizza place next door

Car Hire - We used www.auto-europe.co.uk, very cheap and you can get quidco cashback I believe

Internal flights - Found Kayak to be the best for comparisons, if you can get a Virgin America, would recommend it

Hope this helps.

funkyfin2000

Cheers for all the help guys thats coming in, im gonna try and keep this thread updated with what we are doing...

at the moment we are really struggling to put the itinerary together without it coming out VERY expensive.....

How long would you spend at Yosemite? 1 night or 2? enough to do?

How long at Death Valley?

We are now looking to spend 1 or 2 nights at San Fran at the start (staying with our family in Pleasenton) then go to San Diego/LA (not sure where to stay) and do Universal Studios and SeaWorld..........and i really fancy doing SiX Miles theme park!!! It looks WELL ace...

Then the idea was to fly over to Vegas and stay probably at Luxor or MGM signature for 3-4 days (timing it for week days to keep it cheaper) and then probably fly back out of there towards San Fran again and then do Yosemite and Napa Valley.......then probably home..

What do people think? its the hiring of cars and flights that bump up the cost and then add your hotels on...

Thanks so far for the help guys and girls, really appreciate it.

BMI - TingTong - did you do the stop at chicago and then on to vegas? or was it direct. We have a 1hr30 stop and then on to San Fran.

Rich

sturll

funkyfin2000 wrote: »

Cheers for all the help guys thats coming in, im gonna try and keep this thread updated with what we are doing...

at the moment we are really struggling to put the itinerary together without it coming out VERY expensive.....

How long would you spend at Yosemite? 1 night or 2? enough to do?

How long at Death Valley?

We are now looking to spend 1 or 2 nights at San Fran at the start (staying with our family in Pleasenton) then go to San Diego/LA (not sure where to stay) and do Universal Studios and SeaWorld..........and i really fancy doing SiX Miles theme park!!! It looks WELL ace...

Then the idea was to fly over to Vegas and stay probably at Luxor or MGM signature for 3-4 days (timing it for week days to keep it cheaper) and then probably fly back out of there towards San Fran again and then do Yosemite and Napa Valley.......then probably home..

What do people think? its the hiring of cars and flights that bump up the cost and then add your hotels on...

Thanks so far for the help guys and girls, really appreciate it.

BMI - TingTong - did you do the stop at chicago and then on to vegas? or was it direct. We have a 1hr30 stop and then on to San Fran.

Rich

It depends in regards to Death Valley. If you drive down from the north past Scottys Castle you can drive through and to Vegas in a day.
It really depends. But dont forget, Death Valley is essentially a desert road about 250 miles long with a few things to see along the route.

I must advise a round of golf and a Burger though once you get to the centre

Dijoy

Try the Skyauction you can get some good deals there sometimes

funkyfin2000

yeah we are thinking of maybe missing out death valley now...

the missus if thinking of not doing so much driving......

So this is plan i have in front of me at the mo:

Wed - Pleasenton (No Car Needed as will go to San Fran on the Dart)
Thur - Pleasenton (No Car Needed as will go to San Fran on the Dart)
Fri - San Diego (Maybe Hire a car to get about LA/Six Miles Theme Park/Universal/Beaches/Sea World)
Sat - San Diego (Maybe Hire a car to get about LA/Six Miles Theme Park/Universal/Beaches/Sea World)
Sun - San Diego (Maybe Hire a car to get about LA/Six Miles Theme Park/Universal/Beaches/Sea World)
Mon - Vegas (No Car Needed)
Tue - Vegas (No Car Needed)
Wed - Vegas (No Car Needed)
Thur - Vegas (No Car Needed)
Fri - Vegas (No Car Needed)
Sat - Pleasenton (Hire Car for travel around)
Sun - Yosemite (Hire Car for travel around)
Mon - Napa Valley (Hire Car for travel around)
Tues - Pleasenton (Hire Car for travel around)
Wed - Fly out to Manc

tingtong

funkyfin2000 wrote: »

yeah we are thinking of maybe missing out death valley now...

Personally, after seeing the place, I would not miss out going through Death Valley, even if you don't stop over. The scenery in the place is pretty special. Also, the road through is probably better than almost any road I've driven on over here, so you can drive quite long distances (300+ miles) in a day if need be.

funkyfin2000 wrote: »

How long would you spend at Yosemite? 1 night or 2? enough to do?

As for Yosemite, there's enough to keep you going for a week if you want. Would certainly recommend at least 2 nights, as you will probably arrive late afternoon then when you leave it may well be in the morning. Having 2 nights gives you at least one full day to see the main points. The only problem you will have in April/May is that the Tioga Pass will almost certainly be closed so the drive from Death Valley will be a lot longer, rather than being able to drive right through the park.

funkyfin2000 wrote: »

BMI - TingTong - did you do the stop at chicago and then on to vegas? or was it direct.

Flew direct from MAN - VEGAS, 10 hours.