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

sapphire7

Vikki_74 wrote: »

Wow, I just checked out your dates on a few sites...those are some crazy prices! $200+ for a Travelodge/Super 8, closer to $400-$500 for anywhere nice. San Francisco can, like any city, be on the pricey side for accommodation but it shouldn't be that bad!

It sounds like laughingsheep is right about the conference &/or something else going on as its the first two nights of your stay that are really pushing the price up. Is there any way you can move your dates around elsewhere to be in SF a couple of days later? If not, I would just grab whatever you can afford which isn't a flea bit at those prices and make the best of it!

Thanks again for everyone's help. What a friendly bunch!
Our dates are kind of fixed due to having booked flights from Vegas and weve booked a hotel at Yosemite for a few days before. I'll certainly check out the places everyone has recommended and just go for the best deal we can get, probably should have researched concerts etc...I knew about the world cup but being the week before I was not too concerned. We could always find somewhere near the airport to stay for the first 2 nights and then stay closer to FW to cut costs a little, although the whole trip is costing £7k ($10.6k) so what does a few £/$ matter!

Apart from the slight stress of hotels, I am still super excited for this trip. We are staying in Vegas for 5 nights, Grand Canyon for 3, Yosemite for 3, San Fran for 4 then New York for 3 before heading back to Scotland!!!

blindman

sapphire7 wrote: »

the whole trip is costing £7k ($10.6k) :eek::eek:

Apart from the slight stress of hotels, I am still super excited for this trip. We are staying in Vegas for 5 nights, Grand Canyon for 3, Yosemite for 3, San Fran for 4 then New York for 3 before heading back to Scotland!!!

Hope its First class all the way and 5* hotels for tat price:eek:

northwest1965

blindman wrote: »

Hope its First class all the way and 5* hotels for tat price:eek:

and food thrown in?:beer:

jackieblack

northwest1965 wrote: »

and food thrown in?:beer:

For that money I'd want the food served properly, not just thrown at me

sapphire7

blindman wrote: »

Hope its First class all the way and 5* hotels for tat price:eek:

I should have specified this is the cost for the whole trip (spending money, for food etc, included).. well I'm hoping the cost doesn't creep above that anyway!!

It's not cheap to get from Scotland to America if you want to fly direct and see a few places

Mayflower Hotel is fully booked, ahhhhh!
I will be sitting at the computer with the OH one (or probably 3) night this week to get this all finalised, fingers crossed priceline allows us to book a decent hotel for a decent price :undecided

Dirk_Gently_2

sapphire7 wrote: »

I should have specified this is the cost for the whole trip (spending money, for food etc, included).. well I'm hoping the cost doesn't creep above that anyway!!

It's not cheap to get from Scotland to America if you want to fly direct and see a few places

Yes, that's broadly in line with the total we've budgeted for our trip in September.

blindman

sapphire7 wrote: »

Thanks again for everyone's help. What a friendly bunch!
although the whole trip is costing £7k ($10.6k) so what does a few £/$ matter!

Apart from the slight stress of hotels, I am still super excited for this trip. We are staying in Vegas for 5 nights, Grand Canyon for 3, Yosemite for 3, San Fran for 4 then New York for 3 before heading back to Scotland!!!

Dirk_Gently wrote: »

Yes, that's broadly in line with the total we've budgeted for our trip in September.

Maybe I'm cheap then :cool:

That 21 day trip cost £3K per couple

sapphire7

Dirk_Gently wrote: »

Yes, that's broadly in line with the total we've budgeted for our trip in September.

Are you travelling from the UK also?

What are people's thoughts on booking holiday rental apartments? I have found alot of nice places near Fishermans Wharf/Union Sq on 'homeaway' website (not allowed to post links yet) the only problem is that I cannot see many reviews, I like to read reviews!!

blindman

sapphire7 wrote: »

Are you travelling from the UK also?

What are people's thoughts on booking holiday rental apartments? I have found alot of nice places near Fishermans Wharf/Union Sq on 'homeaway' website (not allowed to post links yet) the only problem is that I cannot see many reviews, I like to read reviews!!

Rentals can be cost effective if there's a few of you and you stay a few days.

Look at VRBO
and maybe AirBnB

Homeaway

Dirk_Gently_2

sapphire7 wrote: »

Are you travelling from the UK also?

Yes, two of us from Heathrow.

One night in Chicago, flight to Salt Lake City, single nights in SLC, Park City, Sundance, Torrey, Monument Valley, Bryce Canyon, 3 nights in Vegas, night in Yosemite (via Death Valley) and then 4 nights in SF.

I'm sure I could have got it cheaper, but in many ways that would have lowered the enjoyment - this is the highlight of the year, something to look forward to and to remember for ever. Whilst I'm not over-spending, I'm not scrimping or cutting any corners that would reduce the experience.