LA/California on a budget - have you been because I need help!

fatboyslick

Probably an oxymoron phrase, but the missus and I want to go to LA or California in June.

We naturally want a cheap holiday but want to avoid US Airways as they're TERRIBLE!

7 days inc flights and accom for about £600 is our budget.

EDIT - £600 EACH, so £1200 for flights and accom in total. Flying from Manchester, ideally.
£600 each does not cover spending money - just flights and accom each.

Any tips?

Thanks

PS if there's a more suitable thread please link to it

WolfSong2000

Hate to be a pessimist, but I can't see you managing it for your budget...flights alone will average £300 each, and neither California nor LA are particularly cheap places to stay. June is also one of the most expensive times to fly...you can try Flight Centre, as they were advertising flights to NY from £221 odd return, and then you could get an internal flight, but even assuming you could get that fare, which is unlikely if I'm being honest, you'd still have to pay for accommodation, which wont be cheap, either.

Maybe you could try looking at other places within the USA that may be cheaper...N Carolina may be one...has fan beaches, apparently. Just a thought, and good luck with your holiday!

SimbaSimon

I think your definitely going to need to find a bigger budget or different location. Even indirect flights can be around £300 each and that's before your hotel and spending money.

If you really want to visit the US and can't stretch your budget anymore then I'd suggest the eastern coast as flights can be cheaper. Alternatively Las Vegas offers some really cheap indirect flights and hotels but its still going to be pushing it for £600.

richardw

If you are flying indirect consider other CA airports such as ONT and LGB.
BUT I don't think you will get much for your budget and you may get a better holiday closer to home for your budget.

fatboyslick

Sorry - forgot to say it is £600 EACH - not between us!

richardw

What is the budget to cover?
Where in the UK can you fly from?

Pssst

We flew MAN to SFO via Chicago last year with American airlines for £350 each. The flight and service was great. I doubts you would do cheaper than that...booked well in advance.

traveller

Hi, If you can stay in a holiday inn over there you could book using the freinds and family discount code on this forum and that could save you quite a bit.

realised

I've booked my hols to California this june and managed flights, car hire and accom for about £1500 for two people.

Our flights are wih American Airlines at around £350 pp

We're starting in San Francisco and driving to LA stopping off inbetween somewhere (not sure yet lol)

fatboyslick

realised wrote: »

I've booked my hols to California this june and managed flights, car hire and accom for about £1500 for two people.

Our flights are wih American Airlines at around £350 pp

We're starting in San Francisco and driving to LA stopping off inbetween somewhere (not sure yet lol)

Hi

That sounds idyllic.

Where and who did you book with?

anudeglory

We've booked our hols in LA and have managed 12 days for £1321.97 total for two people and which also includes a one nigth stay at Heathrow along with parking for the whole time. We don't intend to drive whilst we are out there - that's just not a holiday!!


Virgin had a sale on flights LHR to LAX for 645.28 total for two people - I have checked and they are about 1600 each now.

We are staying in the Sportsman's Lodge - Universal City for half the time and I think we booked that via hotels.com with the £10 off a night discount which comes to £341.66 for 6 nights.

Our second stay is at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Anaheim which we booked through hotwire.com which was a secret 3.5 star deal which comes to £229.91.

The LHR hotel was also a secret hotel deal from lastminute.com and came to 55 for the night.

Parking was via Virgin via Purple parking and came to 50 for the whole time we are away.

Don't forget to use quidco - we forgot but for the lastminute.com hotel which got us £3.71 and wish we had remembered for the others.

My OH did most of the research and we looked at many many websites before going with the deals we did. Hope that helps a bit