Southwest USA & The West Coast (California, Arizona etc) - General Thread

northwest1965

vanilla8 wrote: »

Does anyone have any recommendations for the route back from vegas?

We did Vegas, Death Valley, Mammoth Lakes, (Tioga Pass to Yosemite) across to Monterey and up:)

gracie10

can anyone recommend where to get cheaper disney tickets for anaheim? Thinking of keeping the kids happy and taking them there while doing our trip next summer.

northwest1965

blindman wrote: »

14. 1 night Monument Valley stayed at the Cabins in Gouldings lodge. Did a self drive tour and then a sunset visit.
:cool:

Anyone's thoughts on Monument Valley. is it a must see and how long will we need there? Is it worth taking one of the tours?

blindman

northwest1965 wrote: »

Anyone's thoughts on Monument Valley. is it a must see and how long will we need there? Is it worth taking one of the tours?

It's a unique landscape (made famous in various films) so IMHO it's a must see.

MSE style it's easy to drive around the loop yourself and from what I see\hear better as you are in your A\C car whilst the tours are on the back of an open truck-It's VERY dusty!

You can also stop at whatever viewing points for as long\little as you want.
The track is very bumpy and has tricky section at the start, but it's doable in a normal rental-just mind the huge holes and rocks. :cool:

How long to stay?

A self drive takes aout 1-2hrs-depends how many stops TBHO.
Sunset has good colours, never been there at sunrise.

The location and surrounding (awful) hotels means if you're doing just a drive around then it takes time to get there and away (to better lodging).

If you do as I did the Cabins are a step up from camping and are fine for a 1 night stay.

The "View" at MV is probably not worth the $$$$-only you can decide.

Have fun:cool:

travellerboy

We visited Monument Valley in September last year, and can honestly say it made the hair on the back of my neck stand up, truely awesome. It was the highlight of our SWestern tour.

We stayed the night at the View Hotel, fabulous place, cost us about $270. As a visitor to the View Hotel's Restaurant you will see exactly the same. You can sit on the veranda, watch the Mittens as the sun goes down, enjoy a John Wayne movie projected onto the restaurant wall, no different to being a resident. The advantage of being a resident is that you can enjoy the sunrise views of the valley in your PJ's at leisure.

Kanab hotels are much cheaper and about 30 mins drive away. On reflection I would save the money and put it towards the expensive tour around the valley. (about $75 pp) Self drive is only possible with a decent 4 wheel drive with high underside clearance. Better to go on the bus tour, you will definately see more than self-drive for sure.
If you have half a day spare then a visit to Canyon-de-Chelly is only 90 miles to the east - another awesome spiritual place.

blindman

travellerboy wrote: »

expensive tour around the valley. (about $75 pp) Self drive is only possible with a decent 4 wheel drive with high underside clearance. Better to go on the bus tour, you will definately see more than self-drive for sure.

The advantage of being a resident is that you can enjoy the sunrise views of the valley in your PJ's at leisure.
About the only advantage and not worth $275 IMHO:eek:

'Fraid that's not true. I've driven around there three times in an ordinary rental saloon.
Yes you need to be careful to avoid big rocks and potholes (and the Indian tour vans:cool:) but it's easy. The only time I had a problem was once when we hadn't stopped to unload the luggage for the 4 adults in the car and the big saloon struggled in the sand.

If it's wet (never been) then you may need a 4WD in some places as there's lots of sand and there's a steep windy hill to get in\out.

I believe the tour does go to some off limit areas but TBHO it's not worth $75 :eek:

Glad you enjoyed it.

BTW
The entrance fee (5$ per car IIRC) is Ok for as many in\outs so you can tour during the day, go back to the campground\cabins then return for sunset which is viewable from the terraces-no need to drive around the place.

northwest1965

And for my next question..... The Wave. Did you get a permit blindman?

blindman

northwest1965 wrote: »

And for my next question..... The Wave. Did you get a permit blindman?

I did .Best $5 I've spent

Depending when you go it's incredibly hard to get one, with about 100 applications for the 10 available on-line :eek:

Having said that, I saw no signs of rangers on the route and only one other tourist was displaying the permit on his backpack.

When are you hoping to go and with how many?

travellerboy

blindman wrote: »

'Fraid that's not true. I've driven around there three times in an ordinary rental saloon.
QUOTE]



All I can say to you is that you took an unnecessary risk driving your Hire-Car off road. YOUR insurance would not cover any underbody damage - and you must admit this is highly possible.

You took the risk, maybe others will not be so luckly.

blindman

travellerboy wrote: »

blindman wrote: »

'Fraid that's not true. I've driven around there three times in an ordinary rental saloon.
QUOTE]

All I can say to you is that you took an unnecessary risk driving your Hire-Car off road. YOUR insurance would not cover any underbody damage - and you must admit this is highly possible.

You took the risk, maybe others will not be so luckly.

I did forget to add that doing so is against the rental agreement.

However I did assess the risk and drove accordingly. even so IIRC any 4Wd hired from a rental agency also cannot be driven "offroad" :cool: though there is less chance of damage.

Life is about taking chances sometimes.

BTW Driving to the "Wave" is also unpaved but is fine if it's dry. (last mile is a bit dodgy). Standard rental did me fine.

Driving to Toroweap you DO need a 4wd for the last 3 miles out of 60 -So I hired a 4WD :cool:
The risk of blow outs and getting stuck in a remote place was too great.