Need help with US west coast trip...

visidigi

All,

We've got flights, we've got car hire sorted, just planning up the hotels now. We're landing into LA and driving up internally via Sequoia NP, Yosemite and then into SF - then back down PCH, depending on time down to San Diego and then back to LA for the flight home.

Any suggestions on Sequoia and Yosemite hotels greatly welcomed - we would prefer to stay in the valley and drive into the parks to get a more mainstream hotel chain (mainly because the weather might still cause us an issue).

The big challenge is SF itself - I cant believe the charges I am seeing for parking the car, self or valet at most of the hotels as a result we're looking at options where we can get a train/bus in - currently Emeryville seems to be a popular option for this.

Anyone have any other recommendations for hotels in or outside the city that are on good public transport links? Or can take a car at a less than extortionate rate.

Thanks in advance

Caz3121

this thread should be able to help
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3248860

cubegame

I'll reiterate what I said on that thread.

Unless you're travelling in absolute peak holiday time don't prebook. You'l get better rates and more flexibility if you just do walk ins.

We'd never be constrained to having to be at a certain place on a certain day. If you're really nervous about this you can always book during the day if you have a tablet or laptop with you.

San Francisco absolutely abounds with free on-street parking. Choose a hotel in this sort of area and use the excellent public transport.

visidigi

We're travelling over the Easter break - and all the stuff we are booking is fully refundable if we change the day before we're due - witht he cashback deals at the moment we can also save 12% extra this way.

Its really hard to find info about where you can leave cars, what the limits are etc.

I've read alot of that thread previously when we did LA/LV and SD last year - its just the SF and parks bit I need to clear up.

Thanks for your replies, appreciated.

cubegame

visidigi wrote: »

We're travelling over the Easter break - and all the stuff we are booking is fully refundable if we change the day before we're due - witht he cashback deals at the moment we can also save 12% extra this way.

Its really hard to find info about where you can leave cars, what the limits are etc.

I've read alot of that thread previously when we did LA/LV and SD last year - its just the SF and parks bit I need to clear up.

Thanks for your replies, appreciated.

Easter isn't a major holiday period so don't prebook. You'll save $$$ on walk-ins.

There is a very good parking app for android which shows free and paid parking in US cities. I'll try and see if I can find what it was. Took us to plenty cheap spots.

Are you planning to cross the Tioga Pass? It might be closed at Easter.

visidigi

We aren't planning to pass no, the intention is to go into Sequoia on the way up, get to a hotel at Josemite late, stay two nights and explore from there, as I've heard there's only so many trees you can look at in Sequoia

Essexmum2010

Best western Lighthouse Hotel in Pacifica is where we've stayed twice. Right on the seafront (pay extra for the ocean front suite), 10 minutes to SF airport and 20-30 mins drive into the city itself, we tended to park by Pier whatever the number is (forgotten sorry but its the main touristy one).. Everything is then within walking distance.

We went over in 2011 during Easter holidays and did Hwy One LA to SF and just stopped where ever it took our fancy, had no problems getting accommodation.

2012 we travelled and did Lake Tahoe and Yosemite, Kerne Valley etc etc. We stayed in Oakhurst for Yosemite in lovely B&B called the Homestead. If you do stay near Oakhurst, hire a boat and spend the day on Bass Lake, what a blast. One of the highlights of our three week road trip, the kids loved it. Also make sure you do The Sugar Pine railway which is just outside the gates of Yosemite. Do the evening BBQ trip as you get the delights of a proper American campfire singalong. My kids were dreading it but honestly we haven't laughed so much in years. It's a complete cheese feat but great great fun.

John259

visidigi wrote: »

we would prefer to stay in the valley

Just checking: I guess you mean California's central Valley (the San Juaquin) and not Yosemite Valley?

Then for Yosemite I'd recommend Merced, provided you're ok about the distance. It's about 80 miles each way from Merced to Yosemite Valley, but very easy driving and I find that road fascinating, how it changes so drastically from the fruit growing valley to the forested mountains.

For Sequoia I'd recommend Porterville, but you might also like to check Visalia.

The big challenge is SF itself

Some ideas, apologies if they don't appeal:
On the north side of the Golden Gate Bridge, and use the passenger ferry from Tiburon or Sausalito to get to the city and back http://www.blueandgoldfleet.com/ferry-services/ferry-schedules
Somewhere on a BART line http://www.bart.gov
Somewhere on the CalTrain line http://www.caltrain.com

Crispy_Ambulance

Try Lombard Street for hotels in SF. We didn't find them through sites like expedia, so you would have to book direct but there are quite a few in that area. We stayed at the Cow Hollow Motor Inn - free parking garage and around £100 a night for a family room. You can walk to China Town or to Fisherman's Wharf from there and the buses are all nearby as well. It was nothing fancy but a lot cheaper than most we looked at!

Advice would be to avoid Union Square for hotels - you are right on the edge of the Tenderloin and it can be a bit dodgy at night.

I would recommend staying in Yosemite Valley if you can - there's something quite special about waking up in the midst of it all. However, your choices might be limited at that time of year. We stayed in a tent cabin at Curry Camp but it might be a bit chilly at Easter.

visidigi

John259 wrote: »

Just checking: I guess you mean California's central Valley (the San Juaquin) and not Yosemite Valley?

Then for Yosemite I'd recommend Merced, provided you're ok about the distance. It's about 80 miles each way from Merced to Yosemite Valley, but very easy driving and I find that road fascinating, how it changes so drastically from the fruit growing valley to the forested mountains.

For Sequoia I'd recommend Porterville, but you might also like to check Visalia.


Some ideas, apologies if they don't appeal:
On the north side of the Golden Gate Bridge, and use the passenger ferry from Tiburon or Sausalito to get to the city and back http://www.blueandgoldfleet.com/ferry-services/ferry-schedules
Somewhere on a BART line http://www.bart.gov
Somewhere on the CalTrain line http://www.caltrain.com

I meant the central, thank you, the advice on hotel locatiosn was just what I was looking for, driving isn't an issue - well used to it

As for the SF ideas, We had considered Tiburon, but the ferry costs added in make some of the city hotels a better overall deal.

The trains are a good option when the hotel is reasonable, I must admit having never been to SF before we are airing on the side of caution about where we end up, maybe thats why we're struggling a little!

Thanks for the info, greatly appreciated.

visidigi

Crispy_Ambulance wrote: »

Try Lombard Street for hotels in SF. We didn't find them through sites like expedia, so you would have to book direct but there are quite a few in that area. We stayed at the Cow Hollow Motor Inn - free parking garage and around £100 a night for a family room. You can walk to China Town or to Fisherman's Wharf from there and the buses are all nearby as well. It was nothing fancy but a lot cheaper than most we looked at!

Advice would be to avoid Union Square for hotels - you are right on the edge of the Tenderloin and it can be a bit dodgy at night.

I would recommend staying in Yosemite Valley if you can - there's something quite special about waking up in the midst of it all. However, your choices might be limited at that time of year. We stayed in a tent cabin at Curry Camp but it might be a bit chilly at Easter.

Indeed, the weather is a little unknown to be honest, some times its really warm others not so. Thanks for the SF info, keen to walk/tram it around SF if we can - we have the car if we need to go further afield but a day or two out of it would be good

I'll have a look into the Lombard area and see what I can find, thanks again