California Road Trip!

twig1_2

Las Vegas and Palm Springs are 50% more expensive at the weekend the weekend being Friday and Saturday. The check in queues can be hours long on friday night as well.

When are you going we were thrilled on our drive to see these
http://www.psa-newmember.org/image_evaluation/nature_images/ElephantSeals.pdf


though it was bit smelly.

The John Paul Getty museum was great as well and free
http://www.getty.edu/visit/index.html

Make sure you have an upto date ESTA and have a first night address even if you haven't booked anywhere as they will send you to the back of the queue at entry into LA if you haven't anywhere to go.

If you really need to watch the budget we used to pick up a booklet with discount coupons in the entrances of most fast food restaurants which used to have discounted offers for hotels if you are prepared to turn up at your location and walk in . When we were not so brave we booked a hotel room at one rate with one credit card and as long as it was a cancel on the day before 6pm rate I would go in with the discount coupon and ask if they had a discounted room rate and take that and then hubby cancel our existing booking on the phone or go in seperatly to cancel that saved us a few hundred dollars over a trip and meant sometimes we had much nicer rooms or hotels.

Anyway have a great trip . We have had several road trips in California and beyond over the years as a couple and with children and always enjoyed the challenge of getting the best bargain we could.

jackieblack

We saw the elephant seals too! Around Cambria if I remember correctly?

zagfles

twig1 wrote: »

Las Vegas and Palm Springs are 50% more expensive at the weekend the weekend being Friday and Saturday. The check in queues can be hours long on friday night as well.

When are you going we were thrilled on our drive to see these
http://www.psa-newmember.org/image_evaluation/nature_images/ElephantSeals.pdf


though it was bit smelly.

The John Paul Getty museum was great as well and free
http://www.getty.edu/visit/index.html

Make sure you have an upto date ESTA and have a first night address even if you haven't booked anywhere as they will send you to the back of the queue at entry into LA if you haven't anywhere to go.

If you really need to watch the budget we used to pick up a booklet with discount coupons in the entrances of most fast food restaurants which used to have discounted offers for hotels if you are prepared to turn up at your location and walk in . When we were not so brave we booked a hotel room at one rate with one credit card and as long as it was a cancel on the day before 6pm rate I would go in with the discount coupon and ask if they had a discounted room rate and take that and then hubby cancel our existing booking on the phone or go in seperatly to cancel that saved us a few hundred dollars over a trip and meant sometimes we had much nicer rooms or hotels.

Anyway have a great trip . We have had several road trips in California and beyond over the years as a couple and with children and always enjoyed the challenge of getting the best bargain we could.

Yes, if you're going off-peak and avoid the local holidays (and weekends in places like Vegas as you say) then walk-in rates are generally much cheaper than booking in advance, as long as you haggle (and the hotels expect this so don't feel awkward about it). But you need to research where is likely to be full eg Yosemite.

It also gives you a much more flexible itinery - if you like somewhere you can stay an extra day or if you don't then leave earlier than you were planning and take a detour to somewhere someone you met recommended... all part of the road trip experience...

I did get a bit of hassle at immigration once when I couldn't give an address where I'd be staying because I hadn't booked anywhere - he didn't seem to understand the concept of a road trip! But that was years ago, I think these days they're just happy to take your fingerprints, DNA and retina scan rather than an address!

zagfles

Murphy_The_Cat wrote: »

One thing that I did notice is your April travel date, so you'll need to take a combination of clothes for the differing climates. Differing parts of California can be surprisingly different regarding temp & rainfall.

Yes - scorching in death valley and the Tioga Pass into Yosemite might still be closed due to snow!

zagfles

Murphy_The_Cat wrote: »

possibly the exchange rate was especially favourable a few years ago. I've been at $2 to a £1 and at $1.40 to a £1 and the difference over a holiday is enormous ! (which makes me laugh whe some MSEers seem to go to great lengths to save a few cents ).

Hotelwise I seem to end up at around the £100 per night mark (incl breakfast & sometimes a light evening meal).
Mealswise, it probaly wouldn't be fair to give an accurate guide as we travel with two small children, but as Neil said further up the thread, if you can avoid restaurant alcohol, it can gave a very refreshing effect on your bill !

Yes alcohol is expensive in restaurants and bars.

But the meal portions are usually huge so normally we didn't have a starter, if we did we tended to get one between us (starters are also huge - not like typical UK starters!) and usually no dessert (as no room!). Typically you get freebie snacks too like garlic bread, or tortilla chips and dip in a Mexican etc...

richiehp

Try priceline.com to book hotels last minute and for cheaper. It worked for me a couple years ago. We were able to get a nice hotel at the price I was asking for.

McG_3

We did a road trip 3 years ago. We spent 5 nights in San Fransisco at the Kimpton Serano just near Union square, great location and we did a hop on hop off bus for two days which was a great way to see all around. We then hired a car and drove to Yosemite and stayed in the Yosemite Lodge which was a very reasonably priced hotel with good facilities. Yosemite is one of the most amazing places in the world.

From there we drove and stayed in Monterey at The Clement and then down the coast stopping off at San Luis Obispo and stayed at the Madonna Inn. This is a very interesting Hotel, all the rooms are themed and different and we thought it was great. Have a look on their website www.madonnainn.com I would recommend this hotel for the experience, it is amazing.:cool:

We went on to Valencia and stayed in a holiday inn near to The Six Flags Magic mountain for a couple of days then on to Los Angeles. We stayed at the Renaissance at Hollywood and Highland and our room looked out over the Hollywood sign. It was the premier of the X Files movie and all the stars were there. Great location for the hotel, just near the Kodak theatre.:j

We then drove to Las Vegas and stayed 2 nights at the Golden Nugget in Downtown and then The Palazzo on the strip.
We did a helicopter trip to the Gran Canyon West rim and Skywalk. Expensive but worth every penny.

Hope this helps a little, we had a wonderful 3 week trip of a lifetime and hope that your planning goes well.:D

jackieblack

zagfles wrote: »

Tioga Pass into Yosemite might still be closed due to snow!

Between 'more than likely' and 'almost definitely'