West Coast USA

kleapatra

northwest1965 wrote: »

I think we have finalised our plan for 2011. LHR to San Francisco 4 nights. 2 nights Yosemite. 2nites Santa Cruz, 1 night Monterey. 1 night Santa Barbara. 4 nights Vegas.

How does that look to those of you that have been??

Hi

In September (2010) we did 1 night LA, 1 night Palm Springs, 1 night Scottsdale, 1 night Grand Canyon, 2 nights Vegas, 1 night Death Valley, 1 night Yosemite, 2 nights San Francisco, 1 night Monterey, 1 night Ventura and 2 nights back in LA.
We had the best holiday ever (drove just over 3000 miles in our rented Mustang) but there were places that we went to that we decided we wouldn't hurry back to (although we were both pleased we had visited)
We didn't really like Vegas - everything was so expensive, crowded and hot (it was over 100 degrees while we were there), I defintely couldn't see why people want to get married there - seemed like the least romantic place in the world to me! We both would have like longer in SF and Monterey but unless you're into hiking/nature a day driving through Yosemite (Tioga pass) is more than enough (it really was very pretty there though!)
You seem to have missed Grand Canyon (unless you were planning a trip from Vegas) which a sight to behold - again, glad we only stayed one night as there was only so long I could stare at it and I struggled with the altitude (as I did on the Tioga pass which is even higher!) I also really liked Phoenix/Scottsdale and Palm Springs.
I wish we could have included San Diego as I've heard really good things - maybe next time!

Gloomendoom

alanrowell wrote: »

I could have stayed weeks in Yosemite, Vegas I found two nights was more than enough

I had similar feelings. I'm glad I visited but I won't be making any effort to rush back.

Spursman180

I am going on the 2nd march into SFO and back from LAX onn the 18th, £367 with VA using M+M (add about £100 to either fly in or out of Vegas), 2 nights south lake Tahoe, 2 nights Reno, 5 nights Vegas via Yosemite, 2 nights Primm, 2 nights Laughlin and 3 nights LA. About 1,200 miles in all plus various running about in town.

Will miss out Lake Havasu (London Bridge) which I did on my last roadie. The driving is easy and hiring a 4x4 makes life comfortable.

For 2 of us sharing including car hire came out at £1,610 total. probably saved so far about £500 on various rack rates, Tahoe, Reno and laughlin staying at Harrahs locations booking using my Total Rewards card came to a grand total including tax of $62, and that was a top up for the Saturday night in Reno otherwise the rest is comped. harrahs at Laughlin is cool with it's own beach on the Colorado and water taxis/buses from the jetty to the other casinos. A Sat & Sun at Buffalo Bills in Primm for $79 but expect to get that reduced with my Terribles card, don't do it on booking.

The 3 nights in LA were booked through Expedia using points off my Nectar card to get £130 off the Crowne Plaza Commerce for 3 nights for £195. Apart from poker I will be going out to Santa Anita for the horse racing ( I was there in Nov 09 for the Breeders cup).

The driving part is not a problem as there is no rush, the expectation is to be stopping off all over the place, diner food will be the order of the day.

Getting close now and some improvement in the exchange rate these last few days, ooh! slice of pie and a coffee at a little diner on Chiriaco summit lovely.

northwest1965

cubegame wrote: »

Very easy to do that schedule. I would class it as unambitious but then we drove from Seattle to San Diego (and included Vegas) in 15 days last year. Not sure about two nights in Santa Cruz though?

You don't seem to have a natural route either?

Well we want to do SF, Yosemite and Vegas but also coast aswell. We want to fly back from Vegas as Virgin now flying into Manchester. Any tips for a better route?

northwest1965

kleapatra wrote: »

Hi

You seem to have missed Grand Canyon (unless you were planning a trip from Vegas)

Yes we are planning to do this from Vegas

Vikki_74

northwest1965 wrote: »

I think we have finalised our plan for 2011. LHR to San Francisco 4 nights. 2 nights Yosemite. 2nites Santa Cruz, 1 night Monterey. 1 night Santa Barbara. 4 nights Vegas.

How does that look to those of you that have been??

northwest1965 wrote: »

Well we want to do SF, Yosemite and Vegas but also coast aswell. We want to fly back from Vegas as Virgin now flying into Manchester. Any tips for a better route?

Are you dead set on flying into SF? Virgin also fly into LA from LHR so you could maybe do that instead then up to Santa Barbara, Monterey, Santa Cruz & San Francisco (driving up the coast on the way which is AWESOME!), over to Yosemite then on to Vegas.

I'd second whoever queried the 2 nights in Santa Cruz - it's a nice place but I don't know that there's enough for 2 nights there. Not sure where you'd slot the other night in though if you took one out there as I quite like the timings of the rest of your plan...maybe Monterey, we only stayed there for one night and by the time we arrived (driving down from SF) we hardly had time to do anything.

Vikki_74

northwest1965 wrote: »

Yes we are planning to do this from Vegas

On second thoughts, I think I'd take the extra night out from Santa Cruz and add an overnight stay at the Grand Canyon. A day trip from Vegas is a really long day as it's a massive drive and you won't get a lot of time actually at the canyon, plus it would take a whole day out of your Vegas trip when you've only got 4 nights there anyway.

wdyw

Spursman180 wrote: »

I am going on the 2nd march into SFO and back from LAX onn the 18th, £367 with VA using M+M (add about £100 to either fly in or out of Vegas), 2 nights south lake Tahoe, 2 nights Reno, 5 nights Vegas via Yosemite, 2 nights Primm, 2 nights Laughlin and 3 nights LA. About 1,200 miles in all plus various running about in town.

With Tioga Pass being closed in March are you planning on going down the east or west side of the mountains? If you go down the east you won't get more than a few miles into Yosemite and if you go the west side, you are probably looking at the guts of 600 miles driving on that day. ski resorts will still be open at Tahoe and Mammoth if you are feeling energetic!

xycom1

Cowboy73 wrote: »

My biggest tips would be think about staying in Santa Monica, it's beautiful and has a great vibe.

+1 for Santa Monica - if we were staying in LA again then I would stay there.

wdyw

northwest1965 wrote: »

Well we want to do SF, Yosemite and Vegas but also coast aswell. We want to fly back from Vegas as Virgin now flying into Manchester. Any tips for a better route?

Your first post mentions flying out from LHR to SFO and now then back to MAN? I'm assuming you want to stick to Virgin flights? Is the trip down to London ok, or is it a necessary evil?

An open jaw ticket from MAN to SFO and back from LAS will almost certainly be a cheaper option (with AA or similar, non direct though) that a return with Virgin (unless you have miles to use up)

On your itinary, I wouldn't drop a night at Santa Cruz, I'd drop them both! I'd add a night at Monterrey and add a stop between Monterrey and Santa Barbara.

We try to get out to the West coast or SW USA each year and one thing we quickly discovered - don't try and fit in too much because you end up doing nothing justice. (of course if you never envisage going back that might change things!) .