Touring holiday to Nevada, California & Arizona

JennyB

I remember the Excalibur for one reason and one reason alone... and my god it's a good one...

back to back Krispy Kreme and Coldstone Creamery!!!

Just go back and forth from one to the other. Glutton's Heaven.

Murphy_The_Cat

jackieblack wrote: »

Thanks Murphy, I'll check those out!

Hi Jackie

If you go to Santa Barbara car free you'll see that you are able to get a range of VERY welcome discounts, including 20% off the Whale Watching trip with Condor. (you need to register to get some offers/discounts, but they don't sem to be picky about the details that you put in. Obviously, if you'd like the hotel discounts, you would need to put in your genuine details).

Murphy_The_Cat

JennyB wrote: »

I remember the Excalibur for one reason and one reason alone... and my god it's a good one...

back to back Krispy Kreme and Coldstone Creamery!!!

Just go back and forth from one to the other. Glutton's Heaven.

Memo to Murphy - step away from the Krispy Cremes

Murphy_The_Cat

On another thread on MSE, TommyGun has come up with a really good moneysaving tip.
In a great deal of places in the US you get a discount (typically 10%) if you show your AAA card - but you also get the same discount if you show your AA card (& he says RAC card as well). Given that basic membership of the AA costs £33 this could be a reall cash saver on meals, days out & accomodation.
If you combine it with an American Express Moneyback credit card and get your 5% cashback from that, you've instantly cut the cost of a lot of your bills by 15%.

malid

Murphy_The_Cat wrote: »

On another thread on MSE, TommyGun has come up with a really good moneysaving tip.
In a great deal of places in the US you get a discount (typically 10%) if you show your AAA card - but you also get the same discount if you show your AA card (& he says RAC card as well). Given that basic membership of the AA costs £33 this could be a reall cash saver on meals, days out & accomodation.
If you combine it with an American Express Moneyback credit card and get your 5% cashback from that, you've instantly cut the cost of a lot of your bills by 15%.

Hi folks
Some tips,
1. Do not use AMEX card abroad as you will have to pay a fee (as with most CC cards). You need to sign up for a Nationwide CC as they do not impose a fee. Also, you should open a Nationwide Flexaccount as you can also withdraw cash at ATMs abroad and there ia no fee
2. Sign up for supermarket membership in California - Ralphs, Allbertsons, Safeway etc. You do it on the spot and get your card(s). This allows you to access the special offers (we found this handy as we often popped in for a bottle of wine, snacks etc). Ralphs was really good as they had a promotion on and we were able to purchase Knotts Berry Farm (theme park) tickets at a really good discount rates. :rotfl:

Murphy_The_Cat

malid wrote: »

Hi folks
Some tips,
1. Do not use AMEX card abroad as you will have to pay a fee (as with most CC cards). You need to sign up for a Nationwide CC as they do not impose a fee. Also, you should open a Nationwide Flexaccount as you can also withdraw cash at ATMs abroad and there ia no fee

moot point. If you have a AMEX Moneyback CC you will get a 5% cashback for the first 3 months, upto a £4000 spend, which more than offsets the foreign transaction loading and makes it a better buy/usage than the Nationwide offering. I should ha ve made it clearer that it was only applicable for the first 3 months :beer:

malid

Fair point if you're within the first 3 months with AMEX but would always recommend an alternative Mastercard or Visa. Cheers
:beer:

jackieblack

Murphy_The_Cat

Haven't been on the forum for a while (have been in Florida!) so have lost track a bit.

How long now 'til your trip? Are you packed?

Murphy_The_Cat

jackieblack wrote: »

Murphy_The_Cat

Haven't been on the forum for a while (have been in Florida!) so have lost track a bit.

How long now 'til your trip? Are you packed?

Hi Jackie

at this stage, everything is booked, a lot has been paid for, my new AMEX cash back card is activated and I'm looking at what clothes on my wardrobe that are suitable for hot weather fit me (easy answer, none, as I've lost over 4 stones since went anywhere hot :eek:)

As for being packed yet, nope, my PA (Mrs Cat) hasn't made a start on the packing yet, but she has made a start on 'the list'. I'm in charge of overall logistics for the holiday - she's in charge of the 'nitty gritty'. Checking the weather forecasts for where we are going - I don't think that we'll be needing any big coats :rotfl:

PandaPants_2

We are driving from San Fran to Vegas via Lake Tahoe in August. Every time i read this thread i get more and more excited!!!

Hurry up August!!!! :eek: