West Coast USA

tingtong

Murphy_The_Cat wrote: »

this is a really good point and is one that is worth repeating.
Potentially, it is very likely that you can save a lot of money by turning up at the checkin desk of a hotel and getting a room for the night/for several nights - but you always run the risk of finding that there is 'no room at the inn' and then you are going to have to spend additional holiday time finding somewhere suitable to stay.

Alternatively, booking ahead means that you will be maximising your available holiday time, by being able to drive directly to your prebooked (& possibly prepaid) accommodation, checking in and getting on with your holiday.

Especially if you are considering driving long distance in the US, don't under estimate being able to walk straight into your room after a long slog, rather than having to spend your valuable holiday time looking for somewhere to stay.

Both ways have merits, but some people become obsessed with saving a few $$$, rather than making the most of their time in the US.
I realise that my ideas aren't very MSE, but they MAY make your holiday a lot more enjoyable. (speaking as someone who once wasted half a day in Annapolis, Maryland, trying to find somewhere to stay, when everywhere was booked up !)

I remember going to Orlando with a mate of mine back in '97 with no accommodation booked. Went into the Rodeway Inn on I-Drive which was about $40 a night at the time. Sorry, no rooms available but they gave us a voucher for the Omni Rosen which was a pretty new and very nice hotel and we could have it for the same price. Like a pair of muppets, instead of booking it for the whole week we only booked 2 nights, then spent the next 5 nights in a Wellesley Inn which ended up costing us more. Lesson learned !! Didn't even make use of the pool......

Gloomendoom

Murphy_The_Cat wrote: »

If you can be in San Luis Obispo on Thursday night you'll get a real treat.They close the main part of town down and have a huge Farmers Market. Lots of barbecue pits, street entertainers, farmers selling stuff, local traders, people politicking, childrens entertainers and lots of people socialising and having a great time.

Don't forget to visit 'Bubble Gum Alley' too.

I stumbled upon it by accident and thought "That's gross!" I only found out later that it was an official tourist attraction.

misa.blue

Murphy_The_Cat wrote: »

Potentially, it is very likely that you can save a lot of money by turning up at the checkin desk of a hotel and getting a room for the night/for several nights - but you always run the risk of finding that there is 'no room at the inn' and then you are going to have to spend additional holiday time finding somewhere suitable to stay.

Thanks for the advice. There is so many motels in places we are planning to stay, wonder if they get fully booked in April/May. Maybe I will make list of 3 motels in each town and hopefully one will have free rooms..

Murphy_The_Cat

misa.blue wrote: »

Thanks for the advice. There is so many motels in places we are planning to stay, wonder if they get fully booked in April/May. Maybe I will make list of 3 motels in each town and hopefully one will have free rooms..

I honestly don't know, as I've never holidayed in California that time of the year.

I can remember a couple of years ago travelling from Legoland after they 'closed the gates' to Palm Springs, arriving at Palm Springs late in the evening and being to chuffed that we had somewhere to check straight into, rather than going door knocking for a room for the night !;)

Spursman180

[QUOTE=Vikki_74;40523092
For the Las Vegas / Grand Canyon part, checking in and out of hotels 3 times for a total 4 night stay isn't ideal but I don't have any better suggestions as clearly you can't do the drive to GC the day you arrive, and doing the 3 nights in Vegas then 1 at GC won't work either as then the drive to Death Valley would be huge!

Sorry that's not as helpful as I wanted it to be, but might give you a couple more ideas at least.[/QUOTE]

One tip that might help, these sorts of tours dress is as casual as it can be. I generally have a holdall in addition to my main bag that I have my toilet bag, change of shreddies and a T-shirt etc so I'm not having to rummage through the suitcase each time I stop off somewhere and hopefully keep your clean and dirty stuff separate.

It's also handy for a quick change when you've dropped that 30oz coffee and ranch dressing down your front.

three last words, "Wet ones essential"

MariaC

OH and I are planning a similar trip in Oct/ Nov this year....

21st Oct - LGW to Las Vegas, 8 nights (getting married on 25th )
29th - Death Valley, 1 night
30th - Yosemite, 2 nights
1st Nov - San Fransisco, 3 nights
4th - Monteray or Carmel, 1 night
5th - Cambria or San Simeon
6th - Santa Barbara
7th - Los Angeles, 4 nights
11th - LAX to LHR

Flights and 8 nights at MGM Signature in Vegas (as are the majority of our respective families) are all booked.

Rest of the hotels we are still researching - might Priceline the San Fran and LA stays. Though OH is nervous about leaving the hotels too late! I don't think he "gets" priceline.

Would welocme any hotel suggestions along PCH1 section.

VERY VERY excited..... but feels still so far away

Murphy_The_Cat

MariaC wrote: »

OH and I are planning a similar trip in Oct/ Nov this year....

21st Oct - LGW to Las Vegas, 8 nights (getting married on 25th )
29th - Death Valley, 1 night
30th - Yosemite, 2 nights
1st Nov - San Fransisco, 3 nights
4th - Monteray or Carmel, 1 night
5th - Cambria or San Simeon
6th - Santa Barbara
7th - Los Angeles, 4 nights
11th - LAX to LHR

Flights and 8 nights at MGM Signature in Vegas (as are the majority of our respective families) are all booked.

Rest of the hotels we are still researching - might Priceline the San Fran and LA stays. Though OH is nervous about leaving the hotels too late! I don't think he "gets" priceline.

Would welocme any hotel suggestions along PCH1 section.

VERY VERY excited..... but feels still so far away

if its a honeymoon and you fancy blowing the budget for a special night or two, we loved Apple Farm Inn in San Luis Opisbo. at the bottom of PCH.

MariaC

Murphy_The_Cat wrote: »

if its a honeymoon and you fancy blowing the budget for a special night or two, we loved Apple Farm Inn in San Luis Opisbo. at the bottom of PCH.

Oooooooo that looks lurvely!
Will look again in a few months as apparently they are only taking booking up until June at the moment!?!

Murphy_The_Cat

MariaC wrote: »

Oooooooo that looks lurvely!
Will look again in a few months as apparently they are only taking booking up until June at the moment!?!

we liked it a lot :D. Be sure to ask them if the outdoor hot tub still runs at the time of year that you are going, that was another lovely indulgence. IIRC we got AAA rates because we were AA members which took 10-15% off the bill. It may be worth checking to see if having an AA card still qualifies you for AAA rates.

tarkytarks

We loved the MGM signature - if you haven't already booked with a non-refundable deposit then keep an eye on the prices - I saved money by watching the price and cancelling / re-booking as the price dropped. We got upgraded to a suite just by me asking for a balcony in the room too!