Our California Fly Drive

Zazie

You can't beat being at the Canyon for sunrise and sunset though. Nice music in the bar at Bright Angel Lodge for once the sun has set and the appetiser I ordered there was a full meal for me.

Use the free buses that travel along the rim and you can hop on and off to see the canyon from different vantage points.

ps We got a small hire car through carhire3000 (best rate for us and no one-way fee) and it was perfectly comfortable for 2 of us. We chose it for the same reason we have a small car at home - it's a greener option.

stphnstevey

Zazie wrote: »

You can't beat being at the Canyon for sunrise and sunset though. Nice music in the bar at Bright Angel Lodge for once the sun has set and the appetiser I ordered there was a full meal for me.

Use the free buses that travel along the rim and you can hop on and off to see the canyon from different vantage points.

ps We got a small hire car through carhire3000 (best rate for us and no one-way fee) and it was perfectly comfortable for 2 of us. We chose it for the same reason we have a small car at home - it's a greener option.

We would like to go for a small car too, but we don't think we would fit the two big suitcases in. We are likely to need to leave the luggage safely in the boot without needing to use the back seats and someone breaking in. Therefore a standard size seems best.

stphnstevey

Murphy_The_Cat wrote: »

p.s Monteray / Monteray Aquirium is a great stop off. I still smile when I think of Sea Otters

We were thinking of drive down Highway 1 coast route through Santa Cruz, Montery, Big Sur State Park and onto Santa Maria - only adds an hour to the trip, rather than going on Highway 101. Anyone been that route?

Gloomendoom

Don't fanny around with tiny cars. If you want to get the best out of your trip rent a convertible. Roof down through Death Valley is likely to be an experience you won't forget.

KarenG

Gloomendoom wrote: »

Don't fanny around with tiny cars. If you want to get the best out of your trip rent a convertible. Roof down through Death Valley is likely to be an experience you won't forget.

I would have said Death Valley in a convertible at the end of August is highly likely to be an experience not to be forgotten, for all the wrong reasons

Gloomendoom

KarenG wrote: »

I would have said Death Valley in a convertible at the end of August is highly likely to be an experience not to be forgotten, for all the wrong reasons

I've done it... 49°C and I haven't forgotten, for the right reasons.

Aircon is overrated.







https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3001964

stphnstevey

We considered a convertible, but decided against it for the following reasons
- Boot space
- convertible fine for towns, but on highways very blowy! My wife is cold constantly and wouldn't let me
- canvas roof security

Gloomendoom

stphnstevey wrote: »

We considered a convertible, but decided against it for the following reasons
- Boot space
- convertible fine for towns, but on highways very blowy! My wife is cold constantly and wouldn't let me
- canvas roof security

We had no problems with fitting everything in the boot. We had a 44kg baggage allowance each, so we had a lot of stuff!

My wife is cold constantly. She insisted.

Security is a non issue, keep everything in the boot and don't leave anything in the car. Just like you would with a hard top.

Murphy_The_Cat

stphnstevey wrote: »

We were thinking of drive down Highway 1 coast route through Santa Cruz, Montery, Big Sur State Park and onto Santa Maria - only adds an hour to the trip, rather than going on Highway 101. Anyone been that route?

do you mean the Big Sur route, along Highway 1 ? one of the most scenic drives you can make. its an absolute no-brainer, do it :beer:

jackieblack

stphnstevey wrote: »

We were thinking of drive down Highway 1 coast route through Santa Cruz, Montery, Big Sur State Park and onto Santa Maria - only adds an hour to the trip, rather than going on Highway 101. Anyone been that route?

I would imagine driving down the PCH is the main reason for most people doing that trip!

Spectacular.

As Murphy says, a no-brainer