Our California Fly Drive

Zazie

jackieblack wrote: »

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

Spectacular.

I'll third that! And do allow time to stop (and not just in the lay-bys if you can).

Our favourite park was Point Lobos Reserve www.pointlobos.org just south of Carmel. Easy walking trails and great views. See the sea lions sunning themselves on the beach.

For lunch Big Sur Restaurant with the best view is: http://www.nepenthebigsur.com/

stphnstevey

just flew along the Highway 1 route in Google Earth - STUNNING!

stphnstevey

Goldust wrote: »

I'd say being in the Canyon is better than being on the Canyon. It was $300 which was around £200 at the time which brings the two prices a lot closer together. Up to you though I guess...

Thanks for this, we are considering it - options are:

1) Drive 6hrs each way, stay overnight, 2 days of schudule, approx 1 full day at canyon (2x 1/2 days)

(Any sites to estimate fuel prices over there?)

£50 fuel + £60 hotel + £15 park entry = £125

2) Helicoptor tour from Las Vegas - 45m there, south rim (not National Park), 30 min lunch, 45m back - Hover Dam, Lake Mead and possibly Vegas strip. Done in half a day (instead of 2 days - more time in Las Vegas? or to move onto next stop)

2x £200 = £400

ferf1223

stphnstevey wrote: »

2) Helicoptor tour from Las Vegas - 45m there, south rim (not National Park), 30 min lunch, 45m back - Hover Dam, Lake Mead and possibly Vegas strip. Done in half a day (instead of 2 days - more time in Las Vegas? or to move onto next stop)

Helicopters don't go to the south rim - did you mean the west rim?

Whether a short trip to the GC and more time in Vegas is the better option is really personal choice - we overnighted at the Canyon - thought the stars at night were the most amazing thing - sunrise and sunset pretty awesome too...but didn't fancy spending much time there other than a couple of hours when we arrived and a couple of hours after sunrise on our day of departure - we were on our way back to Vegas (via the Hoover Dam) by 9 am...we're glad we did the trip once...others could happily spend days there instead of Vegas.

Vikki_74

stphnstevey wrote: »

1) Drive 6hrs each way, stay overnight, 2 days of schudule, approx 1 full day at canyon (2x 1/2 days)

(Any sites to estimate fuel prices over there?)

£50 fuel + £60 hotel + £15 park entry = £125

Try this:

http://fuelcostcalculator.aaa.com/

Obviously you won't know the vehicle make & model but I would have thought if you just input the 'typical' small / midsize / whatever vehicle they use as an example on your car hire company's website it will be good enough to give you a rough approximation of cost.

For what it's worth, I personally would do what you had originally suggested and just spend one night at the GC rather than doing one of the helicopter tours which, as I think you're already aware, will only take you to the West Rim - not the "proper" Grand Canyon.

photome

I am being constructive

I dont think you have left yourself enough time in many places, you also dont seem to have factored in any stops on route or eating in the morning unless you are getting up very early every day.

The first day you have exploring Vegas from 8am till 12, that really isnt very long and then you have a drive to GC, You will be very tired on your first day after having travelled for 24 hours the day before (will seem like it anyway with the time difference) so that drive will be very hard for the driver

It also takes ages to do anything in Vegas as it is all so far aprt (if on foot) so I would have longer in Vegas.

Def do the GC though but again I would leave forst thing in the morning and stay 2 nights.

I could go on but you get the picture, IMO you are planning to much in to a short period

Gloomendoom

stphnstevey wrote: »

Thanks for this, we are considering it - options are:

1) Drive 6hrs each way, stay overnight, 2 days of schudule, approx 1 full day at canyon (2x 1/2 days)

(Any sites to estimate fuel prices over there?)

£50 fuel + £60 hotel + £15 park entry = £125

2) Helicoptor tour from Las Vegas - 45m there, south rim (not National Park), 30 min lunch, 45m back - Hover Dam, Lake Mead and possibly Vegas strip. Done in half a day (instead of 2 days - more time in Las Vegas? or to move onto next stop)

2x £200 = £400

Petrol is just under $4.00 a US gallon (3.8 litres) at the mo.

If you do drive to the GC I can recommend the iMax cinema at the National Geographic Visitor Centre.

Explorethecanyon.com

stphnstevey

We have decided to go for the helicopter tour option - it gives us an extra 1.5 days in an already busy schudule and alow us a bit more time to see Las Vegas.

Its about twice the price of driving, but saves us 6hrs driving the day after arriving with jet lag (and a 6hr retrun journey). Also never been on a helicopter, so once in a lifetime thing.

Not going to go for the landing in the canyon thing as reviews all say you never get chance to eat the lunch and its not enough time there anyway and £68 more. So just going for the flight.

Papillion seem the cheapest - anyone used them?

jackieblack

Gloomendoom wrote: »

If you do drive to the GC I can recommend the iMax cinema at the National Geographic Visitor Centre.

Explorethecanyon.com

I agree......................

Walter_Sobchak

stphnstevey wrote: »

We have decided to go for the helicopter tour option - it gives us an extra 1.5 days in an already busy schudule and alow us a bit more time to see Las Vegas.

Its about twice the price of driving, but saves us 6hrs driving the day after arriving with jet lag (and a 6hr retrun journey). Also never been on a helicopter, so once in a lifetime thing.

Not going to go for the landing in the canyon thing as reviews all say you never get chance to eat the lunch and its not enough time there anyway and £68 more. So just going for the flight.

Papillion seem the cheapest - anyone used them?

If you are taking a helicopter from Vegas you will be visiting the West Rim. The 'West Rim' is not even on the grand canyon it's kind of like going to San Fransisco and saying you visited Alcatraz but really you visited Bird Island. It is also owned by a complete bunch of scammers who's only saving grace is they are not Nigerian so at least it is a refreshing change.

Helicopter trips from Vegas only go to the west rim. You can get a plane from Vegas to the South Rim but have read that the flight from veags is brutal, due to the thermals from the canyon.