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

blindman

northwest1965 wrote: »

Flying in & out of Vegas
1 night stops dont bother us, we did a few on the last trip. We dont unpack, we pack minimalist and just open the suitcase and get what we want.

Priorities for this trip are Death Valley (1) Monument Valley, Bryce and GC

We did read your trip report about staying at Kanab but its 90mins to bryce and 60 to Zion from there. the hotels aren't any more expensive staying nearer. Thought with time & petrol, made sense to stay nearer. Presume you would reccommend flying into Vegas and doing Death Valley then? Then straight to Zion?

If you're used to 1 nighters then yes, stay nearer to the sights. The Kanab base worked for us as we could have some flexibility as to when we went to places plus it was near my two priorities of the Wave and GC North rim. Zion was fairly close IIRC, we did Bryce before going to Kanab.

I would do DV first, but it's your holiday!

gracie10

Am looking into car hire for our trip this summer. There will be 2 adults and 2 children so need enough room for all of our luggage. Am looking to hire from LAX to San Francisco and then San Fran to Vegas. A lot of people have mentioned dollar and that they dont charge one way fees. Just after any other recommendations if anyone has any, thanks.

blindman

gracie10 wrote: »

Am looking into car hire for our trip this summer. There will be 2 adults and 2 children so need enough room for all of our luggage. Am looking to hire from LAX to San Francisco and then San Fran to Vegas. A lot of people have mentioned dollar and that they dont charge one way fees. Just after any other recommendations if anyone has any, thanks.

Look at the first post :cool: Flights & Car Hire

No Car hire rental should charge one way fees in California and between CA and Nevada

torbrex

northwest1965 wrote: »

We did read your trip report about staying at Kanab but its 90mins to bryce and 60 to Zion from there. the hotels aren't any more expensive staying nearer. Thought with time & petrol, made sense to stay nearer. Presume you would reccommend flying into Vegas and doing Death Valley then? Then straight to Zion?

I did Bryce, Zion and GC North rim from Kanab, admitedly, I stopped in at Zion before I went to Kanab for the first night.

DesertWind

Disney_Pluto wrote: »

We have booked our honeymoon.

What do people think:

3 nights The Fairmont San Francisco
2 nights Hyatt Orange County Anahiem
4 nights Palomar San Diego
5 nights Venetian Las Vegas.

We are planning on booking Alcatraz in SF, A day trip to Grand Canyon, San Diego Zoo, Seaworld, and Disney California.

I did a similar trip but going direction of Yosemite when I was 11 so many years ago. I know most people think we are probably crazy for not doing Yosemite but we have booked this as yoesmite just wasn't working.

We are going early September.

Trying to read through this thread as it seems really helpful.

I would say deffo do San Diego Zoo. We went last August and it was easily the best Zoo we have seen. They have a new Panda Cub as well. He should be coming up to one year old when you are going.

You must book you Alcatraz in advance as they fill up really quick. I would recommend you take in a Cirque de Soliel show in Vegas. There are many but O is supposed to be the best but very expensive! We seen Kai last time we went which was excellent and a lot cheaper. The Canyon is a must if you have not seen it before. I presume you will be doing a helicopter flight? I am sure you will have a great time.

DesertWind

northwest1965 wrote: »

Ok, so here's how it's looking so far. Now bear in mind, 2 years ago we did a West Coast adventure. Have done SF/Monterrey and Yosemite .

1 night Vegas
2nights Zion
1night Bryce (is 2 days at Bryce, driving to Kanab the next night)
1night Kanab
1 night Page (hoping to do the Wave, if not Lake Powell)
1 night Kayenta (Monument Valley for the day)
2nights Grand Canyon (mule trip possibly?)
1 night Vegas
2 nights death Valley
1night Vegas

Now this leaves us a day free.

How is it looking?

It leaves us

If your budget allows it I would recommend the View Hotel at Monument Valley itself. We stayed there a few years ago and it was amazing. To be staying in Monument Valley itself and to have a balcony overlooking the Valley itself was well worth the extra cost. I remember sitting on the balcony late at night and hearing what i presume was coyotes howling was something else. Seeing the sun rise over the valley was also something to remember. We got that hotel for about £124 a couple of years ago.

blindman

DesertWind wrote: »

If your budget allows it I would recommend the View Hotel at Monument Valley itself.
We got that hotel for about £124 a couple of years ago.

Nearer £200 per night now.:eek:

DesertWind

blindman wrote: »

Nearer £200 per night now.:eek:

I might have been lucky at the time. Amazing location though!

northwest1965

For a good view and for the dates we need, even more expensive. We're slumming it at the Kayenta Monument Valley Inn that night:rotfl:

DesertWind

northwest1965 wrote: »

For a good view and for the dates we need, even more expensive. We're slumming it at the Kayenta Monument Valley Inn that night:rotfl:

I am sure you will have a great time anyway