California fly drive advice

ferf1223

If you're into roller coasters, stop at Primm on your way to Vegas - it's on I-15 so should be right on your route (about 40 minutes before you'll hit Vegas) and you can't miss it...one of the attractions there is the Desperado roller coaster which is one of the tallest and fastest in the US.

With a 225-foot drop down a 55-degree descent on the first hill...

It nearly killed me. Then again, so did the one at NYNY - I have pictures of the bruises on my back from that one being so rough.

Should have said - Primm has a group of 3 casinos and an outlet mall - it's not a theme park or anything, so easy to stop for a quick ride...last I saw it was about $8 per person.

Murphy_The_Cat

jaypr wrote: »

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Jason

Thanks Jason, I've just done that. :beer:
Plus, the price has now dropped to £89.99 + VAT, although they do sting you for £9.95 P&P.
But, if you enter SDFD in the Promotional Code box, the P&P becomes free !

Backbiter

Six Flags Magic Mountain is fantastic, and you'll get some amazing reductions online if you look. Try AAA (if you're an AA member) and others. We got in for $27 a head in August last year.

colinw

ferf1223 wrote: »

If you're into roller coasters, stop at Primm on your way to Vegas - it's on I-15 so should be right on your route (about 40 minutes before you'll hit Vegas) and you can't miss it...one of the attractions there is the Desperado roller coaster which is one of the tallest and fastest in the US.

With a 225-foot drop down a 55-degree descent on the first hill...

It nearly killed me. Then again, so did the one at NYNY - I have pictures of the bruises on my back from that one being so rough.

Should have said - Primm has a group of 3 casinos and an outlet mall - it's not a theme park or anything, so easy to stop for a quick ride...last I saw it was about $8 per person.

I think I will try that roller coaster out on my trip this year. Just looked at a clip on you tube and it's looks pretty scary:eek:

Beckymarshall07

I’ve been reading the posts with a great deal of interest – thanks for all the useful tips. Miles16v - how did you get your currency at 1.76!?

Me and hubby have aspirations to go out to California in September but we are struggling with an itinerary – can any one please offer some advice?

Basically we are looking to do a 9/10 day holiday. Our very sketchy itinerary thus far includes:

SF – 3 nights
Hire car and go to Yosemite – 2 nights
Back to SF – internal flight over to Vegas – 2/3 nights ( 1 day to include side trip to Hoover damn and grand canyon)

This doesn’t seem a great itinerary having read all the fabulous previous posts?

Would it be wise to add San Diego to start of tour – fly into San Diego and out of Las Vegas?

We want to keep costs down to a minimum – is it worth getting amtrack train up from san diego to SF? Or is it cheaper to go by car? How long is the drive from SD to SF?

We have no desire to do 8 hour drive from Yosemite to Vegas! Are we doing this tour in the right order or can any one shed any light on how we can do this better?! Help!

colinw

Beckymarshall07 wrote: »

I’ve been reading the posts with a great deal of interest – thanks for all the useful tips. Miles16v - how did you get your currency at 1.76!?

Me and hubby have aspirations to go out to California in September but we are struggling with an itinerary – can any one please offer some advice?

Basically we are looking to do a 9/10 day holiday. Our very sketchy itinerary thus far includes:

SF – 3 nights
Hire car and go to Yosemite – 2 nights
Back to SF – internal flight over to Vegas – 2/3 nights ( 1 day to include side trip to Hoover damn and grand canyon)

This doesn’t seem a great itinerary having read all the fabulous previous posts?

Would it be wise to add San Diego to start of tour – fly into San Diego and out of Las Vegas?

We want to keep costs down to a minimum – is it worth getting amtrack train up from san diego to SF? Or is it cheaper to go by car? How long is the drive from SD to SF?

We have no desire to do 8 hour drive from Yosemite to Vegas! Are we doing this tour in the right order or can any one shed any light on how we can do this better?! Help!

You could always drive to Vegas and have a stop half way at either Mammoth Lakes or Bishop. That is what I will be doing this Summer.

wdyw

colinw wrote: »

You could always drive to Vegas and have a stop half way at either Mammoth Lakes or Bishop. That is what I will be doing this Summer.

Thats exactly what we did (used Bishop as cheaper and broke the drive up better). Retracing a 4hour+ drive back to SFO didn't seem as the right move.

Alternatively you could drive down the west coast of the sierras and visit the other worthwhile NP's such as Sequoia NP.

Zazie

ferf1223 wrote: »

If you're into roller coasters, stop at Primm on your way to Vegas - it's on I-15 so should be right on your route (about 40 minutes before you'll hit Vegas) and you can't miss it...one of the attractions there is the Desperado roller coaster which is one of the tallest and fastest in the US.

With a 225-foot drop down a 55-degree descent on the first hill...

It nearly killed me. Then again, so did the one at NYNY - I have pictures of the bruises on my back from that one being so rough.

.

Just discovered that some American friends are going to join us for the Las Vegas part of our trip in April. They are 20 years younger than us and seem to be keen to try out the roller coaster type rides. Don't want to be chicken so are there any rides in Vegas that won't bruise a 50-something body???

laneycakes

hi miles.

Just a note on LA if you're still looking for somewhere to stay and stuff to do...first off let me say i LOVE LA so am a bit biased - but if you do want to do the wonderful madness that is la la land then i can't recommend this place enough it's called the hollywood b&b (if you do all the w's then hollywoodbandb and a dot com it'll get you there - can't post a link!) i've stayed twice and its amazing - quirky fun welcoming great breakfast reasonable - and somewhere i will definately be going back to when i can weedle my way back to LA! check out tripadvisor if you want pics etc. its about a 15 min walk from the walk of fame, has provate parking and a pool and is just amazing.

as for stuff to do in LA...my must do's include griffith observatory and a drive int the hills to get a close up of the hollywood sign, warner brothers studio tour, mann's chinese theatre, walk of fame, kodak theatre. santa monica pier (preffered santa monica to venice beach myself)...Disneyland (gotta love the house of mouse!) drive around beverley hills and rodeo drive...

Have also done universal (a bit of a let down after warners although seeing wysteria lane was cool - rides aren't my thang but they did seem a bit dated....waterworld, mummy, backdraft, jurassic park), paramount studio's (which was also very cool but unless you are a real movie/tv nut warners will be enough) walt disney concert hall (wow what a building) hollywood bowl, etc etc etc

anyway - like i said - i love LA but if you do go consider the B&B - its a top place to stay. Enjoy!

ooh and a note on Vegas...Hotel wise...gotta be the bellagio! all the way! we got a great deal - i think it was $129 or $149 a night (and that was at the time of 1.8 dollars to the pound!) and was lovely - wouldn't have missed the dancing fountains for the world either. Its nice and central on the strip and felt special. you might be able to get an even better deal now they've opened the big new place next door too.

Miles16v

I've booked a celebrity suite at the MGM grand for less than £200 for 3 nights, on an offer that includes 2 free cocktails, 2 free buffets and 2 free club entrances. I can cancel if something better comes up.

Its looking at costing around £2150 for 2 people with direct flights, a convertible for 4 weeks, 15 nights in hotels between 3 and 4 star. Hotels in LA, Monterey and Pismo left to book.



Flights 870 Car 381 San Fran Hotel 3 nights 208 Monterey 2 nights 100 Pismo beach 1 night 50 Los Angeles Hotel 3 nights 220 Palm Springs Hotel 3 nighs 135 Las Vegas Hotel 3 nights 193 Insurance 32 Train 120 Airport hotel Heathrow
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Any advice on Priceline regions to go for in LA?