HELP! California road trip advice needed

Murphy_The_Cat

Kel wrote: »

We are flying home from LA now (so into SF and out of LA)

Just a thought (if you haven't booked yet) check out the flight price for returning from San Diego, rather than from LAXt

For my flight in 2016, it worked out £250 cheaper flying SAN - LAX - LHR - MAN on a through ticket, than flying LAX -LHR -MAN, or SAN - LHR -MAN.
So money in my pocket (actually put towards upgrading to MCE on the AA flight - money VERY well spent), plus I don't have to drive in LA, which is always a preference.

Murph

p.s it can sometimes be more cost effective flying from a small regional airport to LAX, rather than simply from LAX, plus its a lot more pleasant.:beer:

amberfinn53

I went to california and vegas then grand canyon in may.

We only had 2 day in hollywood, that was more than enough personally, i didn't like it all. Universal is worth going to but for me hollywood was a let down. So i would have less time there!

We stayed in the centre literally off sunset, our hotel was a days inn which was ok, but was also about $`180 a night, but don't go for a cheap a hotel, they are in awful areas! To be honest we got the starling (something like that can't remember but the touring open top bus) and went don't to santa monica pier and around the beaches which were a lot nicer, if i was you i would stay there and just get the bus thing into sunset to see the walk of fame etc, its much smaller than you thinK!

We spent a week staying laguna and loved every minute, but we also went to disney from there as its only about half hour 20 mins in the car, i would have stayed there longer, but it is a ver relaxed place so depends what you want, also as two girls (23 and 25) we found it so safe.

Newport beach is also really nice place to visit, as is huntinton beach.


We also went to san diego but didnt like it at all but our hotel seemed in a really sketchy part of town so may sure you check the area you are in.

We LOVED vegas (i thought i would hate it, it was only a stop gap for the canyon) we only had 2 nights there and i wish we had more. also if you fly with southwest they give you free luggage included checked cases so that should save you some money.

Also if you fancy something different try catalina island we went there for the day and loved it, we got the ferry from newport beach but i think you can get it from LA too, its about 1.30-2 hours, there is always a deal on groupon for the ferry, i think ours was like 20 dollars for both of us or something, but its a beautiful little island with clear water, we went snorkelling whilst there (again groupon) and hired a golf cart (thats what everyone uses mostly on the island) and had a great day exploring.

Hope you have an amazing trip!

amberfinn53

oh add from that, we flew from burbank when we went to vegas and it was so much nicer as its a small airport and was dirt cheap too, i think maybe $60 each all in!

kdogg_05

So if you haven't yet been convinced. . . Yosemite is a MUST!!

Since you get to Vegas, the Canyon is a MUST!

Of course, it's what you're in to, but you could easily lose two days in LA in my opinion. In fact, since I prefer the greta outdoors, California has so much of it, that LA is usually just a pit stop.

Enjoy!

michele-p

For yosemitee check out the Lodge at The Falls. It's just outside the park, and when we stayed was a lot cheaper. It's nothing fancy but is more than ok, and had a pool for the kids. Not sure on family room, but if you can get a river view that's good. Though the river is more a trickle in August.