west coast of america?

auntyS

flutterbyuk25 wrote: »

San Fransisco is a must! Especially Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge, both are fantastic.

I'm another one who would say avoid LA

x

ailuro2 wrote: »

I'd agree with flutterby, San Francisco is great.

Leave out the Golden Gate bridge if you've ever crossed the Forth Road Bridge though, they're just the same except different colours.;)

Alcatraz was the highlight of San Francisco for us.

spend as long as you can in the grand Canyon, though it still won't be long enough.

As you have both been to San Francisco before can you recommend any hotels which are well situated , fairly classy (3* or more) but not wildly overpriced? Looking for something around £100 a night in May for about a week?

Mr_Lahey

auntyS wrote: »

As you have both been to San Francisco before can you recommend any hotels which are well situated , fairly classy (3* or more) but not wildly overpriced? Looking for something around £100 a night in May for about a week?

The Radisson at Fishermans wharf is where i usually stay.

flutterbyuk25

auntyS wrote: »

As you have both been to San Francisco before can you recommend any hotels which are well situated , fairly classy (3* or more) but not wildly overpriced? Looking for something around £100 a night in May for about a week?

Sorry but I stayed in a hostel whilst I was there!

x

rocking69

auntyS wrote: »

As you have both been to San Francisco before can you recommend any hotels which are well situated , fairly classy (3* or more) but not wildly overpriced? Looking for something around £100 a night in May for about a week?

I would recommend staying in the Union Square area.

I have stayed at the Handerley Hotel three times and would probably stay there again. There is also a really good Irish Bar just in front of the hotel.
However, I do recommend going down to Fishermans Wharf in the evening (by tram ) for some lovely places to eat. I have had some magical evenings there.

laneycakes

i guess i must be a bit different to most people then - i've been to LA twice since december 2008 and loved it! i think if you like movies then a day or two in LA is worth it...there's several iconic places to visit but i guess it depends on what you like...my LA must sees include hollywood sign, walk of fame, chinese theatre, kodak, rodeo drive, hollywood bowl, a studio tour (warner bros was great - did that on both trips), walt disney concert hall, santa monica...and if you want to do a theme park i enjoyed disney best.

Other than that...Vegas is fun if you can take it for what it is - blackpool on speed! bellagio fountains are fab, good view from the top of the stratosphere...good beer at the monte carlo brew pub.

Grand canyon is amazing (i only get to see into the canyon for 45 mins - i went in dec in snow and the clouds were dropping in!) and deffo worth staying overnight....we travelled from the GC to monument valley (normally can do this by driving along the rim road - but it was snow covered so we had to go the long way round!) - was nice to see especially if you like the westerns/john wayne! spent a night there before heading for Zion which was stunning and definately worth visiting.

have a great time.

naz101

thanks to everyone.

I think we would like to go to LA for the movue stuff. We are not really bothered about the national parks really due to lack to time.
Alkatras is a good one.

So far thoughts are
Day1-2 Grand canyon
day 3-6 (or 7) LA do tours etc.
day 7-9 san fransisco and alkatras
day 10-11 san diego (or other way around)

What do you think

Paradise_Found

naz101 wrote: »

So far thoughts are
Day1-2 Grand canyon
day 3-6 (or 7) LA do tours etc.
day 7-9 san fransisco and alkatras
day 10-11 san diego (or other way around)

What do you think?

Hmmm. How are you planning to get from place to place?

If driving, the distances between the above are pretty ambitious
to do in one day, especially San Fransico to San Diego!

You first need to decide where you are going to fly from New York,
and plan from there.

For example, you could fly to San Diego, and then go to
Santa Monica (LA), continuing up the coast (stunning drive)
to Monterey with a overnight stop on the way (eg Pismo Beach);
your final destination would then be San Fransico.

If you absolutely must see the Grand Canyon, you could fly from
New York to Phoenix, drive to the GC, then to Lake Havasu City
(London Bridge) for the night, and then on to Santa Monica to
pick up the coastal itinerary above.

In other words, you should forget about trying to do San Diego
and the Grand Canyon and choose one or the other...


MARK

essexgirly

auntyS wrote: »

As you have both been to San Francisco before can you recommend any hotels which are well situated , fairly classy (3* or more) but not wildly overpriced? Looking for something around £100 a night in May for about a week?

Hi. We went to San Fran last September for 1 week, we stayed at the Argonaut in Fishermans Wharf. I'd absolutely recommend it for everybody. Rooms are nice, reception really helpful, doorman great and there is a free wine reception every evening for all guests. When we arrived after our delayed flight they gave us a room upgrade and breakfast vouchers for the week.

Hope that helps
Also, go to blazing saddles next door and hire bikes and cycle across the golden gate bridge to Saulsalito andget the ferry back,about an 8 mile cycle but absolutely amazing!

neilbond007

Mr_Lahey wrote: »

Below is the Itinerary - I'd just like to point out that any newbee to the States would b best not following it because i miss so many good things due to the amount of times ive been:

Fly to LAX
Arrive Los Angeles
Santa Monica
Six Flags
Shopping/Drive to Death Valley
Drive to las Vegas
Day in Vegas
Day in Vegas
drive to Laughlin
Day in Laughlin
Drive to Lake Havasu PM
Day in Lake Havasu
Drive to Grand Canyon
Day at Grand Canyon
Utah
Utah
Utah
Colorado
Colorado
Colorado
Colorado
Colorado
Colorado
Drive to Amarillo
Drive to Denton
North Texas Rodeo,
Denton North Texas Rodeo,
Denton Six Flags Texas
Drive to Murfreesboro/Diamond Mine
Drive to Hunstville, AL Nasa then drive to Atlanta Coke Museum
Drive to Clearwater
Day in ClearWater then Drive to Miami
Alligator/S Beach,
drive to Orlando
Day in Orlando
Day in Orlando
Day in Orlando
Day in Orlando
Day in Orlando
Day in Orlando
Drive to Atlanta
Drive to Six Flags over Georgia
Drive toward Cincinnati
Day in Cincinnati
Drive to Buffalo
Day in Buffalo
Drive to Six Flags Wild Safari
Six Flags Wild Safari
Six Flags Great Adventure
Drive to NYC drop off car
NYC
Fly to London

I know there are loads of six flags in there, ive got the season pass for all the parks, cost $54 because i bought it through Magic Kingdom LA, if you buy it through Kentucky its only $24.99. Problem is you have to activate it at your 'home park' Colorado and Utah yet to be sorted.

I decided to head up to Cincinnati because last time i drove up through DC and Phillidelphia - The world's worst drive ever. Every 20 miles a toll, full of proper slow knob head drivers. Can't do with it, so its by pure chance were going via Cincinnati en route to Niagra Falls. Will have to call at yours for a few beers Ill have kids in tow naturally

Just found this post while looking for info on Phoenix.
So, you done this trip yet? Or are we still to be blessed with your presence in the 'nati?