Touring holiday to Nevada, California & Arizona

malid

duchy wrote: »

If you're looking at trip advisor or similar then provided the majority are good I don't worry about the odd dodgy one. Some people have some weird expectations or just seem determined to find fault. I've seen comments about hotels I've stayed complaining about facilities that were fine-or better still didn't actually exist

Totally agree. Trip adviser is very useful but you can get a bit obsessed by the contributions. When I've had a really fab experience or quite poor one, I've contributed then found that others have totally disagreed. I guess some people have different expectations or are easily please. I don't think we're overly fussy as a family but like to have 'what's on the tin' -- accepting that there can be glitches. In the main, we have sourced great hotels by trawling different reviews (by the way, trawling for a good price is essential too). Some, we have returned to several times, occasionally finding they have not been as good as previous so we just put it down to experience.
Can't wait to start planning 2009 as we will be back! Some previoulsy visited od places - Palm Dessert and/or Scottsdale for heat and relaxation and a bit of touring possibly Sedona. Lovely! :rotfl: :rotfl:

Murphy_The_Cat

malid wrote: »

Can't wait to start planning 2009 as we will be back! Some previoulsy visited od places - Palm Dessert and/or Scottsdale for heat and relaxation and a bit of touring possibly Sedona. Lovely! :rotfl: :rotfl:

malid, malid, malid don't log off !!!!!!
We're staying in Palm Desert for 3 nights, were there many 'must do' things ? We're going to find a water park, wind turbine place & cable car ride, are there a few other things that you have done, that we should be checking up on ?
Rather than being in Scottsdale, we're staying in Mesa, but I think that the outlaws will spoil us rotten with things to do there :rotfl:
& as for Sedona, we're staying at Cottonwood for two nights, taking the Verde Canyon Railroad and a biplane trip from Sedona airport. Other than that, I think it will be looking for childrens playgrounds in Sedona/Jerome for the children to blow off steam in.



p.s. as for Trip Advisor, have you noticed how many places get marked down because 'the checkin lady looked at us funny' or 'we tried to book in at noon, but they had no rooms ready for us' etc etc

MOLLYBRUSH

Can I run my new itinerary by you and ask for suggestions.

24/26 LA
26/28 SF
28/30 Lake Tahoe
30/1 June - Mammoth Lakes

I now have until the 4 June when I am booked in at Vegas until the 7 June. Then committed to Annaheim for the last days of the holiday.

Am thinking of going from Mammoth to Vegas. It says over 5 hours on Mapquest. Is it worth staying near Death Valley. Is it safe to drive through Death Valley. Is it scenic? The alternative is to just head for Vegas and stop somewhere en route for lunch and book in some extra nights at the Palazzo after quite a hectic week of touring. Any input welcome.

Regards

malid

Murphy_The_Cat wrote: »

malid, malid, malid don't log off !!!!!!
We're staying in Palm Desert for 3 nights, were there many 'must do' things ? We're going to find a water park, wind turbine place & cable car ride, are there a few other things that you have done, that we should be checking up on ?
Rather than being in Scottsdale, we're staying in Mesa, but I think that the outlaws will spoil us rotten with things to do there :rotfl:
& as for Sedona, we're staying at Cottonwood for two nights, taking the Verde Canyon Railroad and a biplane trip from Sedona airport. Other than that, I think it will be looking for childrens playgrounds in Sedona/Jerome for the children to blow off steam in.



p.s. as for Trip Advisor, have you noticed how many places get marked down because 'the checkin lady looked at us funny' or 'we tried to book in at noon, but they had no rooms ready for us' etc etc

Still here my friend. We stayed at the Miramonte Hotel and Spa in Palm Dessert last year. To be honest on this occasion, we we looking for relaxation after a hectic two weeks travelling around. However, I would recommend a drive to Palm Springs for a cable car ride up the mountain and, for a visit to Indian Canyons. The latter, for me, has been fabulous every time. We have been there in August so very hot but the place offers total peace and tranquility and sightings of an odd coyote now and again. When are you going? Water parks tend to be closed July/August time. We had fabulous meals in a place called Tony Romas - 73155 Highway 111 Palm Desert. We always take teh opportunity of going to the cinema - great American experience - and last year saw the Bourne Ultimatum on the first day of its release. There's always a good choice to suit all ages.

For Sedona, how about doing a jeep safari? I suggest using Pink Jeep. We had booked for lat year but cancelled on the day as there were severe thunderstorms in Sedona (freak, don't be put off as on previous occasions its been fabulous). Slide Rock is great fun. The children shoudl enjoy but as with everythign, you need to take care as the rocks can be sippery.The Cowboy Club is a great place to eat in Sedona - try the margueritas!!!

You're right about some of the reviews; you can never please some folks.

:cool:

malid

MOLLYBRUSH wrote: »

Can I run my new itinerary by you and ask for suggestions.

24/26 LA
26/28 SF
28/30 Lake Tahoe
30/1 June - Mammoth Lakes

I now have until the 4 June when I am booked in at Vegas until the 7 June. Then committed to Annaheim for the last days of the holiday.

Am thinking of going from Mammoth to Vegas. It says over 5 hours on Mapquest. Is it worth staying near Death Valley. Is it safe to drive through Death Valley. Is it scenic? The alternative is to just head for Vegas and stop somewhere en route for lunch and book in some extra nights at the Palazzo after quite a hectic week of touring. Any input welcome.

Regards

Hi there

It is safe to drive through DV but not worth staying somewhere close by; not scenic as such but an experience. Can't offer another option at the moment but will have a think.

5 hours drive is par for the course in the States. Please remember that LV will be HECTIC. Everything is loud and at a frantic pace (fab eperience though and not to be missed) so don't expect relaxation after touring; you will be shattered (heat is also drainign here). :cool:

Murphy_The_Cat

malid wrote: »

Still here my friend. We stayed at the Miramonte Hotel and Spa in Palm Dessert last year. To be honest on this occasion, we we looking for relaxation after a hectic two weeks travelling around. However, I would recommend a drive to Palm Springs for a cable car ride up the mountain and, for a visit to Indian Canyons. The latter, for me, has been fabulous every time. We have been there in August so very hot but the place offers total peace and tranquility and sightings of an odd coyote now and again. When are you going? Water parks tend to be closed July/August time.
For Sedona, how about doing a jeep safari? I suggest using Pink Jeep. We had booked for lat year but cancelled on the day as there were severe thunderstorms in Sedona (freak, don't be put off as on previous occasions its been fabulous). Slide Rock is great fun. The children shoudl enjoy but as with everythign, you need to take care as the rocks can be sippery.The Cowboy Club is a great place to eat in Sedona - try the margueritas!!!

You're right about some of the reviews; you can never please some folks.

:cool:

We're off at the start of May and we'll be there (Palm Desert) in Mid -May. TBH, we were originally going to be staying at Palm springs, but we were struggling a touch to find the sort of accomodation that we like - so Palm Desert it was, plus, its quite a but cheaper :j:j Now all we need to do is find some mini golf/crazy golf courses in each place that were stopping and we'll all be happy. BTW, MTK2 will be 15 months old by then & MTK will be 4. This alone makes the planning process a lot more 'fun'.

Murphy_The_Cat

Whoops. A bit of a clanger om the map buying front and I've now got a copy of AAA Nevada & Utah that I have no need for.

If anyones planning a roadtrip to Nevada/Utah and is in need of a free map, please send me a PM and I'll post it off to you.

bafty_crastard

Murphy I've PM'd you

torbrex

On the map front I got myself a Rand McNally midsize road atlas, it covers all the states and guides to 80 cities, including attractions, shopping and various diversions and 'dont miss drives'.
Some of the writing is a bit small in this version but was well worth the $10 I paid, a new version comes out every year.

duchy

Rats missed the map but can you PM me where you got hold of it please Murphy ?