Touring holiday to Nevada, California & Arizona

MOLLYBRUSH

Sorry to hear of your troubles Murphy. It really shouldn't be happening to you!

Thanks again for your advice. I think I will leave it as train (I really fancy this and you're right $120 for the three of us) if friends don't come - if they do we will drive it as they want to do that trip by car.

MOLLYBRUSH

Madmel wrote: »

But a medical evacuation by helicopter cost $38k... and then there was the hospital, 4 operations, a week in ICU (at $2300 per day for the bed & nurse) and a further week on a ward.

:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

Strapped

MTC - one small thing which I'm sure you've thought of, is to make sure the rental company know your kiddie car seat requirements - when we went to LAX with our 17 month old son, the rental agents were useless even though we had booked a car seat (not many kids thru LAX perhaps?) - although when they couldn't locate an appropriate seat, they did upgrade us to a Chrysler Grand Voyager (because it has integral kiddie seats) which suited us fine.

malid

Strapped wrote: »

MTC - one small thing which I'm sure you've thought of, is to make sure the rental company know your kiddie car seat requirements - when we went to LAX with our 17 month old son, the rental agents were useless even though we had booked a car seat (not many kids thru LAX perhaps?) - although when they couldn't locate an appropriate seat, they did upgrade us to a Chrysler Grand Voyager (because it has integral kiddie seats) which suited us fine.

When we travelled with little ones requiring car seats, we took 'old' ones with us then after we picked up the hire car, drove straight to Toys R us and bought new ones - dumping the old ones. They were much cheaper than back here and we then just brought them back with us. Also, this was a cheaper option than hiring them.

All this chatting is making me envious and I wish I was going this year. We never tire of the west coast, Arizona and Nevada. Never mind, we shall be back in 2009 with two sons (17 and 19) probably in tow!
:rotfl:

Murphy_The_Cat

Madmel wrote: »

To everyone joining this thread, PLEASE make sure you book adequate health insurance.

Good advice and always well worth repeating.

MOLLYBRUSH wrote:

Sorry to hear of your troubles Murphy. It really shouldn't be happening to you!

Thanks again for your advice. I think I will leave it as train (I really fancy this and you're right $120 for the three of us) if friends don't come - if they do we will drive it as they want to do that trip by car.

No worries. Its not the worst thing that has ever happened to me - whilst its not ideal, we'll get a work around some how (wish me luck - I'm phoning AA cust services later on)

strapped wrote:

MTC - one small thing which I'm sure you've thought of, is to make sure the rental company know your kiddie car seat requirements

We're going down the belt & braces route . We're taking MTK2's car seat in the plane for her to travel in, and we're either a) taking MTKs ISOFIX booster base with us in his luggage or b) hitting Walmart and buying a booster seat/high backed booster seat as soon as I get the car (leaving MTK with Mrs Cat in the hotel while I do so) - which will save us about $300.
I'm also going to have to probably pay for one amendment to the Hire Car contract to reflect the new drop off point SFO instead of SJC, so I'll have the hire car pickup point changed from the airport, to my hotel - and if the car that they bring is unsuitable, I'll mosey on down to the Hire Lot and change it.

malid wrote:

When we travelled with little ones requiring car seats, we took 'old' ones with us then after we picked up the hire car, drove straight to Toys R us and bought new ones - dumping the old ones.

Thats a thought that I'd never had. I'm looking at the bulk of the booster seat and thinking what a PITA that is going to be to bring back, plus, its seriously going to take up some 'new clothes from holidays' space in the luggage. Buying a booster over here, taking it with us, using it for the holiday and then leaving it could be a winning suggestion. We'll have lots of luggage space going over (thanks AA:beer:), but coming back things will be a lot tighter.
P.S. I'll have a long cold fizzy one and remember you whilst I'm away :beer:

Murphy_The_Cat

Hurray, flights rebooked with no drama (& got decent seats for SFO-ORD leg of flight with power point for MTK's DVD player, and window seat with view as well.

The only downer is that on the last day on the holiday we've got a 220 mile drive from San Luis Opisbo to San Francisco (via a stopover in Monterey to visit the aquirium/slotters). On the plus side, I've rebooked my final nights accomodation that is only 2 miles from SFO airport. So on the Sat morning, the children can get up as normal, we can enjoy a cooked breakfast, load up, drive 2 miles, drop off the car, check in and have a (hopefully) relaxed trip home. :j:j

Cheers AA, you've made me very happy.

malid

The drive is a long way but sooooo lovely (as long as the kids don't get travel sick and if they do, take tablets).

KMart and Target are also good for car and booster seats. We also bought lightweight buggies one year rather than take our bulky pushchairs. Also, to help with 'shopping space', we used to let the boys take their old trainers/sandals then ditch them in favour of newly bought ones. You could recognise all 5 of us in the airport on the way home - we all had brilliant white new designer trainers (and jeans)!

Not sure if anyone is looking for somewhere good to eat; a fabulous find for us in 2007 was the Cheesecake Factory. FABULOUS with terrific variety of all sorts of food. There's one near Huntington Beach LA but lost of other locations. Check it out here - www.thecheesecakefactory.com/. :j

blindman

Murphy_The_Cat wrote: »

The only downer is that on the last day on the holiday we've got a 220 mile drive from San Luis Opisbo to San Francisco (via a stopover in Monterey to visit the aquirium/slotters).

Going up the US 1 I assume (Big Sur road) Average about 30 mph....

Cheers AA, you've made me very happy.

You're not on the plane yet


Being nosey :rolleyes:
What is your itinerary now?

I'm in the process of putting together my December 2008 hols and I'll be in San Diego for some of the time.

Murphy_The_Cat

blindman wrote: »

Going up the US 1 I assume (Big Sur road) Average about 30 mph....
You're not on the plane yet
Being nosey :rolleyes:
What is your itinerary now?
I'm in the process of putting together my December 2008 hols and I'll be in San Diego for some of the time.

The advantage :rotfl::rotfl:of having small children is that they get up early :j, so on the morning of our last nights stay in San Luis Opisbo, we'll probably rise fairly early (we're staying on a farm, so everything will be up and about), have breakfast and get on the move fairly soon.
When we went up US 1 last time I can remember it being quite a sedate pace from SLO - Pacific Grove/Monterey (110 miles ?), but from Monterey upwards it was regular highway speed. So the 220 miles over the full day should be well within my travelling target. The children (& Mrs Cat !) travel really well, so I don't envisage any problems. I'm now wondering if we could have a quick drive and back over the Golden Gate Bridge to finish the holiday off and give MTK something extra special to remember.
As regards the flights, yep, I know what you mean. But I've got a 1hr40min transfer coming in (which I'm twitchy about, but which AA tells me is a VALID transfrer, so unless the plane is badly delayed, I'll get my connection. & coming back I've got a 2 hour transfer which is just about perfect for us.
My current itinerary is (& I don't mind you asking in the slightest)
Flying AA from Man - Ord - Las Vegas for two nights. Pick up hire car
Las Vegas via Hoover Dam - Cottonwood (2 nights)
Mesa (3 nights)
then driving to Tuscon for 4 nights.
San Diego for 4 nights.
Driving to Palm Desert (3 nights)
Driving up to Santa Barabara (2 nights.)
Mrs Cat & MTK may take the Amtrak whilst MTK2 and I drive
Driving to San Luis Obispo (3 nights)
Driving the Big Sur, stopping at Monterey fro the aquirium, before ending up at San Francisco for one night.
Fly from San Francisco - Ord - Man

Everything is booked. So much of it is already paid for (:eek::eek:), I've now got the really fun part of finding things to do in each locale that keeps 2 generations (& for one week, 3 generations) happy. :j:j

blindman

Where are you staying in San Diego?

I'll be travelling this time with 3 adults and one child so my usual (cheap:cool: ) priceline deals won't necessarily suit this time.
I'll be checking out Hotwire of course and have another (secret ) solution.