LA, San Fran & Vegas + poss NY stopover - 10 day trip

dmg24

nw_man wrote: »

What is your Vegas budget and how long can you hold your nerve before you simply HAVE to book ?

MEGA deals to be had in Vegas if you know where to look and when to bite.

Have booked the MGM deal. I need to book internal flights so wanted to be sure that I had somewhere to stay! I agree though, I think prices in Vegas will hit rock bottom this year.

Having said that, I am holding out to book my two nights in San Fran. Prices have already started to fall, but not enough for my liking!

nw_man

I reckon you will find that the MGM deal is totally refundable.

We do this all the time in Vegas, book somewhere that looks a good deal, then cancel when we find a better one :rotfl:

In fact, last January we had reservations for 3 different Vegas hotels all booked for the same time period. :rolleyes:

We just cancelled the other 2 when we finally decided our preference.

Keep your eye on www.smartervegas.com

dmg24

nw_man wrote: »

I reckon you will find that the MGM deal is totally refundable.

We do this all the time in Vegas, book somewhere that looks a good deal, then cancel when we find a better one :rotfl:

In fact, last January we had reservations for 3 different Vegas hotels all booked for the same time period. :rolleyes:

We just cancelled the other 2 when we finally decided our preference.

Keep your eye on www.smartervegas.com

I think you're right - I'm so used to booking non refundable rates that I just assumed it wasn't. I'll keep an eye on smartervegas, but if you see anything better for late July (weekdays), you know where I am!

nw_man

dmg24 wrote: »

I think you're right - I'm so used to booking non refundable rates that I just assumed it wasn't. I'll keep an eye on smartervegas, but if you see anything better for late July (weekdays), you know where I am!

What exact dates ? I am looking for a friend so can look for you at the same time too :question:

dealhunter

arrghhh! I am re-typing my reply as it got lost! :mad:

Many thanks for all your replies/comments. :T

I think we'll leave NY out this time, since it can be done separately. I should have mentioned that we've both been before,
although 10 yrs ago - before we'd met. We both loved the city - so much to see/do.

Anyway, I have re-worked a rough itinerary, please let me know what you think!

DAY
1. Leave UK --> LAX / rest
2. Visit LA / Hollywood tour
3. Universal Studios (one day enough?)
4. Disneyland (one day enough?) ## 4 nights LA ##
5. Coach to Vegas
6. Day in Vegas ## 2 nights Vegas ##
7. Coach back to LA / rest (or poss hire car from Vegas and drive to San Fran?) ##1 night LA##
8. Hire car / drive to San Jose (stopover @ friends place) ## 1 night San Jose ##
9. Drive onto San Fran / drop car / visit Golden Gate Bridge + Alcatraz
10. Try and get in a 49ers match !
11. Anything else in SF? Fishermans Wharf? City tour? #3 nights SF ##
12. Head back to UK (either via LAX or direct from SF)

- Have I missed any essential "unmissables" out?

- Anything in the itinerary where I could save any money? e.g. going direct from Vegas to SF? :money:

I think this should all be achievable on the £1500 pp budget (includes all spending money). I think Flights/accomm/car hire to work out to :

Flights ~£350pp

Accomm ~£250pp - 10 nts @ ~£25 pp? Not fussed, generally a travelodge
equiv will be fine - heard bout motels/US travelodge/days inn/etc...

Car hire / fuel (2 days) ~£120

- Any recommended flight booking sites / hotel sites / car hire / cashback sites appreciated!

So, I think about £750 would cover it?

Many thanks!
DH

blindman

dealhunter wrote: »

DAY
1. Leave UK --> LAX / rest
2. Visit LA / Hollywood tour
Transport?
3. Universal Studios (one day enough?)
Transport? Yes one day is enough
4. Disneyland (one day enough?) ## 4 nights LA ##
IMHO I'd miss Disney One day may just be enough, depends on what you want to see\do. It will be rushed so why bother...
5. Coach to Vegas
6. Day in Vegas ## 2 nights Vegas ##
7. Coach back to LA / rest (or poss hire car from Vegas and drive to San Fran?) ##1 night LA##
8. Hire car / drive to San Jose (stopover @ friends place) ## 1 night San Jose ##
9. Drive onto San Fran / drop car / visit Golden Gate Bridge + Alcatraz
It's more cost effective to hire a car for longer periods than short ones
IMHO I'd hire a car form LAX on day 4 and miss out Disney...
Drive over Golden Gate to veiwing point\Marlin County drop car later that evening.
Pre book Alcatraz NIGHT tour here from UK.
10. Try and get in a 49ers match !
11. Anything else in SF? Fishermans Wharf?
Tacky
City tour DIY on foot\tram #3 nights SF ##
12. Head back to UK (either via LAX or direct from SF)


Any recommended flight booking sites / hotel sites / car hire / cashback sites appreciated

BTW
All of the above Q's and answers are on the Travel board

isplumm

Hi,

I would be tempted to fly between SF & LV & LA ... as it is a heck of a way by coach!!

This website http://www.discountairfares.com/lcostusa.htm gives a list of all the low cost airlines in US.

If you look at South Western, they fly from LV to San Jose .... at the moment you can get a one way ticket from $70 per adult.

The drive along from LA to San Jose is over 340 miles & that is not along the coast .... we drove some of the coast road & it does take a long time - it will take for ever along the coast ....

So I would be tempted to do the following ....

Fly LA to LV to SJ (or if want to go through Yosemite coach or car hire). You can then stay with friends in SJ & drive some of the coast road back to SF .... we drove some of the coast road & it does take a long time.

Also fly into LA out of SF ... shouldn't cost you any more .... airlines are used to this.

Also most car hire companies will allow you to pick up from 1 airport in California & drop off at another for no extra drop off charge.

Mark

nw_man

One day in Universal = fine.

1 day in Disney = rush rush rush !! They have 2 parks in Anaheim.

Bri1

OOP's just noticed the date on this thread Doh!!

I'm doing LA & San Francisco, flying in to LA them Back From SF, I think it was only about £20 more On Virgin Atlantic than just doing a LA return & a lot less time, petrol & travelling.

Get a front of queue ticket for Universal studios only about $30 more if you want to do in a day or if you buy from the US online a standard one day ticket for $77 gives you a second day free, but not if you buy on a UK site. this is the official site http://www.universalstudioshollywood.com/tickets.html .


This is where I bought mine at a slight discount on the day price $75 with second day free or $109 for front of queue one's but no second day on these, there is also an additional discount code to use on the site depending on how much you spend, http://www.kijubi.com/Detail-256/Universal-Studios-Hollywood-Discount-Tickets-Los-Angeles,California , http://www.kijubi.com/Detail-731/Universal-Studios-Hollywood-Front-of-Line-Pass-Los-Angeles,California , on both you just print our e-tickets after payment