LA + Vegas, need tips and recommendations!

pbright

wdyw wrote:

Is a day at Magic mountain worth it? Sure its a great park, but so is Alton Towers, 50 miles down the M6.

You abvoiusly havent been to six flags magic mountain then! Alton Towers cant't even be compared, there is nothing like it in Europe.

& of course dont go to a revolving restaurant...thats a crazy idea wdyw...but its good when you drive past it at the airport...it being one of a kind and a landmark. Obviously the plan is to get out of the airport ASAP, i was just saying that its not a bad airport as a poster said avoid it. An airports an airport, but in defence of it...its a great airport and great decend to it even if you are stuck in the middle....are you stuck in the middle fatboyisonadiet. The parks are nice, i have only been to yosemite but i think for your trip they are too far a drive.

So its 7days you have in LA, thats great...it means you dont have so much to cramm in 5days....so what else is it your looking to do....there is so many other things i did not suggest because i thought you were only going for 5days. Also the drive you will be missing out on because you are flying to Vegas you get a taste of on route to six flags. Even though its only a little over an hour from Hollywood, you drive through dessert land and for a strecth you get that "road-trip" feel. You are going to have a great time in LA, there is still so much i want to see and what i have did i miss so much. Where as, with Vegas...take it or leave it....i have did it once, dont feel the need to do it for a while, and theres substitute similar tourism products for it.....where as i have not seen anywhere similar to the Los Angeles experience.

Murphy_The_Cat

wdyw wrote:

Sea World, the Pacific Highway, Sequoia and Yosemite National Parks, Death Valley, we have nothing like them. Is having a meal in a revolving restaurant a better way to spend valuable time than seeing spectacular scenery (even if it does require a fair bit of driving)? Maybe it is, maybe it isn't. Everybody has different preferences.

Driving the Pacific Coast Highway from LA (yuck) To San Fransico, via Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo (then Amtrak Business class from San Luis Obisbo - Santa Barbara) , Hearst Castle, The Big Sur, Carmel & Monteray was an absolutely outstanding motoring experience and one of the best happiest holiday experiences of my life so far.

It took away the sour taste that LA had put there !

MTC

fatboyonadiet

Aaaarrrggghh, this thread is killing me! My head is about to burst!

Just to confirm, current state or plays is 10 - 17th in LA, can't count the 17th as that morning I go to Vegas and I land late on the 10th so cancel that day as well. So far a defo day at the beaches (driving to all 3) a day at 6 flags and the water park, and a day at Universal studios. One day shopping, don't know where yet. And a day doing sight seeing like the walk of fame and the chinese theatre (maybe catch a flick too).

Vegas is 17th to 20th but again because of flights can't count the 20th. One of the days will involve a trip the Grand Canyon either bus or copter depending on what my budget dictates. And a day walking the strip and hotel spotting.

pbright

nelly wrote:

if I ever go to vegas again which I doubt

I share your opinion Nelly...its great fun, they have 1product(hedonism-mass-fun) which is top of its market...but thats it. Once you have been, you are going back for the same...i read last week that it doesnt change. You are going for 3days...great...you might have the best 3days of your trip there...but spend any more time there at the sacrafice of LA and thats a Big mistake. Vegas has one great thing to offer, but you can get bored of it...your photos will all look the same. The more time in LA and its vicinity the better.

Murphy_The_Cat

fatboyonadiet wrote:

Aaaarrrggghh, this thread is killing me! My head is about to burst!

Just to confirm, current state or plays is 10 - 17th in LA, can't count the 17th as that morning I go to Vegas and I land late on the 10th so cancel that day as well. So far a defo day at the beaches (driving to all 3) a day at 6 flags and the water park, and a day at Universal studios. One day shopping, don't know where yet. And a day doing sight seeing like the walk of fame and the chinese theatre (maybe catch a flick too).

Vegas is 17th to 20th but again because of flights can't count the 20th. One of the days will involve a trip the Grand Canyon either bus or copter depending on what my budget dictates. And a day walking the strip and hotel spotting.

a tacky tour of the stars homes is well errr tacky, but good fun as well.

MTC

malid

fatboyonadiet wrote:

Aaaarrrggghh, this thread is killing me! My head is about to burst!

Just to confirm, current state or plays is 10 - 17th in LA, can't count the 17th as that morning I go to Vegas and I land late on the 10th so cancel that day as well. So far a defo day at the beaches (driving to all 3) a day at 6 flags and the water park, and a day at Universal studios. One day shopping, don't know where yet. And a day doing sight seeing like the walk of fame and the chinese theatre (maybe catch a flick too).

Vegas is 17th to 20th but again because of flights can't count the 20th. One of the days will involve a trip the Grand Canyon either bus or copter depending on what my budget dictates. And a day walking the strip and hotel spotting.

For shopping, you really don't need to take a day out as a lot of this could be done in the evening. Westminster Mall (on road heading for Huntgton Beach) is very good and open until late. Re site seeing, what you are referring to is in Hollywood so I would also recomment a trip to the cemetary (macabre I know) but quite interesting.

As you are short of time, try helicopter for Gran Canyon as bus will not give you sufficient time (or you could go back another time!). Hoover Dam near Las Vegas is definately worth a visit.

fatboyonadiet

Murphy_The_Cat wrote:

a tacky tour of the stars homes is well errr tacky, but good fun as well.

MTC

Someone else told me that but don't fancy it, don't fancy any of the tours to be honest, never done one on any of my previous holidays.

pbright

Shopping:

Has to be the Grove and the Beverly centre(both famous landmarks) in Hollywood, these places are big, beutifull and cater for both ends of the market.

Theme Parks:

You've made the right chocie there but the six flags water park is over-rated + it will tear into your day at the magic mountain...but then again if you go early in the morning, move fast and stay till the park shuts then thats what to do, you can probs get both in. Tip for Universal Studios: get there early and hit the popular rides first, whilst also getting fast passes for them later on in the day...the park is designed in a line almost, so you come to attractions such as Back to the future and you automatically take that in first.....dont....run past it and take the escalotors(the biggest escalator in the world built into the side of a hollywood mountain and the views from it...WOW http://garyshaboo.tripod.com/Descent.jpg )down to all the popular rides like the "Mummy", "Jurassic Park" etc & you can nab your fastpast here and come back again in the afternoon when the Q's are massive.

Beaches:

Santa Monica because its close and famous but if its sights and quality you want then head south on PCH taking in hunigton etc(fun in itself in your convertibile) to Newport, then down to Laguna http://www.lasbrisaslagunabeach.com/ (A must) for dinner. With 7days you should do the PCH but the southern beach PCH run as its called. With 7days, i wouldnt reccommend the PCH northen run to SF via carmel etc, although its great. As you have 6-7days in LA i reccommend a beach day at Santa Monica and you get there from hollywood via Beverly Hills so take that in on the way there/back. Have a ay solely in Hollywood at Manns, etc, and then a day doing the PCH road trip taking in all the beaches(a great day) + 2theme parks days, a day for shopping & chilling & i dont know what to reccommed you do during the other day...loads of options...hope my suggestions sound good to you....they wont dissapoint and you wont be one of these typical brit tourists like wdym who dislike the LA experience.

wdyw

Murphy_The_Cat wrote:

Driving the Pacific Coast Highway from LA (yuck) To San Fransico, via Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo (then Amtrak Business class from San Luis Obisbo - Santa Barbara) , Hearst Castle, The Big Sur, Carmel & Monteray was an absolutely outstanding motoring experience and one of the best happiest holiday experiences of my life so far.

It took away the sour taste that LA had put there !

MTC

Exactly what we thought as well MTC.

Though September can be hit or miss with the early morning sea fog. When I hit the lottery (and it better be a quadruple rollover!), I've got my house lined up , off 17 mile drive , just beside the 9th(?) at Pebble Beach.

Magic mountain - yep done that, nothing much different to Alton Towers. Queues just as bad 45-90mins ...hope you go on a quiet day!

Reasons to go to Vegas

1/ Its a place everybody should see once in a life time. You either love it or loathe it
2/ You can gamble 24/7 if thats your thing
3/ near certainty of hot temps, low humidity and sunshine

and the best reason....

4/ It's the perfect place to start a tour of Utah,Nevada,Arizona

Bryce Canyon (the most phenomenal landscape I've ever come across), Zion National Park, Death Valley, Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon, Lead Mead, Lake Powell, Moab, Canyon De Chelle, Monument Valley, Canyonlands, The Arches ....etc etc

Spend a few days in Vegas and then get out and experience what the region really has to offer.

pbright

wdyw wrote:

Magic mountain - yep done that, nothing much different to Alton Towers. Queues just as bad 45-90mins ...hope you go on a quiet day!

Thats your crazy talk again Wdym They cant be compared in the slighest,...so you dont like LA, and your coparing the magic that is "six-flags magic mountain" to alton towers which i was at last month!.....they cant be compared....the day i had at magic mountain was one of the most thrilling, exciting days of my life...to quote the LA times "Take the best ride from your favourite theme park, make it better: and there you have your avergade ride at six flags in valencia".

& dont worry about 45-90mins...again, this is wdyw's crazy talk....a weekday in September is pretty quiet for sure....i was there on a friday last september, at sunset you will be able to stay on rides such as goliath continously and watch the sun go down over the dessert from the top. X at magic mountain(been desribed as the best roller coaster in the world and cost $90million) might have along Q of half an hour but go early or late when the Q's are lower http://www.ultimaterollercoaster.com/coasters/reviews/x/img/sfmm_x_03.jpg

Also because of where your staying, never go to Hunington to shop unless your there anyway. Beverly centre and the Grove, and Melrose(just down from hollywood blvd) will cater for all your shopping needs.

Wdyw doesnt like LA at all, and compares Six flags magic mountain to Alton Towers.........i am thinking she is one of those typical brit tourists to Los Angeles that i was talking about earlier