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

Crispy_Ambulance

I bet that's the hotel we thought about in Kanab! It did look nice.

We saw Cirque in Vegas thanks to 2 for 1 tickets via MyVegas. It was a fab show but the bargain price was helpful.

Your trip sounds really good.

duchy

Right and off I go starting the plans for April

SFO 2 or 3 nights - neither of us have bee there before but it's on OH's bucket list so he wants to drive over the Golden Gate Bridge ( although I think we won't pick the car up til the last morning)
2 nights Camp Curry Yosemite
1 night Ridgecrest for Death Valley
4/5 nights Vegas
1/2 night Anaheim for Disney

and home

Travel in April so it's the long way round as the pass will almost certainly be closed

Would have preferred May or even June but found a nice ex Euro fare of £240 in April so that decided it

Hints. tips. alternative suggestions all welcome (I've done Vegas & Anaheim before so it's the earlier part I'm looking for help with mainly)

gracie10

We used Hotwire to book our San Fran hotel. Ended up with holiday inn fishermans wharf and it was really nice. Central for everything. It worked out much cheaper.

duchy

Thanks Gracie -I was thinking Hotlwire or PL for SFO too Probably Union Square area - and definitely PL for Anaheim.

jackieblack

duchy wrote: »

SFO 2 or 3 nights - neither of us have bee there before but it's on OH's bucket list so he wants to drive over the Golden Gate Bridge ( although I think we won't pick the car up til the last morning)

That's what we did, picked up the car on our last morning and drove over the bridge.
We drove on to Muir Woods then spent a night in the Napa area and drove on to Yosemite the next day. The waterfalls should be in full flow in April

Murphy_The_Cat

duchy wrote: »

Right and off I go starting the plans for April


1 night Ridgecrest for Death Valley


Travel in April so it's the long way round as the pass will almost certainly be closed

Would have preferred May or even June but found a nice ex Euro fare of £240 in April so that decided it

Hints. tips. alternative suggestions all welcome (I've done Vegas & Anaheim before so it's the earlier part I'm looking for help with mainly)

We stayed at Furnace Creek Ranch which did everything that we wanted to do. It was about the time when they were was speculation as to whether the all time temp record would be broken (it didn't, just), but it was incredibly baking hot.

The ranger station next door to Furnace Creek is worth a visit.(complete with outdoor temp gauge to take your picture with)

Within Death Valley, food, drink and fuel is mouthwateringly expensive. Filling up you rental at the Furnace Creek service station will remind you of home

If you're going into several National Parks, look at getting an annual pass for $80 which could pay for itself quite quickly. Death Valley alone is 20 rabbits.

duchy

Thanks Jackie -I read your trip report for that trip before posting
Murph I hadn't even thought of staying in the National Park at DV so more food for though.

This is OH's first trip to the US so I want it to be a good one as he's excited but a bit daunted -but I love the planning so no doubt I'll be booking and tweaking over the next few months

jackieblack

duchy wrote: »

Thanks Jackie -I read your trip report for that trip before posting

Goodness! I didn't know that still existed :rotfl:
(IIRC, that was the trip where we got a bonus week at the end, courtesy of that unpronounceable Icelandic volcano )

gracie10

Another vote for Furnace Creek Ranch. We stayed there for 1 night. It was so hot my contact lenses stuck to my eyes!! it was August though.

Crispy_Ambulance

We stayed at Curry Camp in Yosemite - I was bit dubious about it as it is a lot of money for a tent/cabin but we really liked it and there is something quite special about waking up in the Valley.

We did a few walks - the Mist trail is great and the falls should be pretty spectacular in the Spring.

Have a great trip!