Touring holiday to Nevada, California & Arizona

magyar

I'd agree that you don't NEED a car in Vegas. We spent about three nights/two days there and the only time we used the car was to drive to Hoover Dam. So if you're going onwards via the dam then I'd consider just picking up the car before you leave.

Do you know where you're staying yet? If you get a hotel on the Strip, then you can easily walk up and down and see the others, which is where most the entertainment is (at least, the entertainment you're allowed to see when the family are there... ).

blindman

magyar wrote: »

Ithen you can easily walk up and down and see the others, which is where most the entertainment is (at least, the entertainment you're allowed to see when the family are there... ).

Do you know how far that is :eek:

magyar

blindman wrote: »

Do you know how far that is :eek:

Yeah, it's a long way, but I remember staying in the Monte Carlo, which is next to the... erm... big pyramid one. I certainly remember walking to... erm... memory poor... Treasure Island? Also Caesar's Palace, Venetian are all walkable from there.

In retrospect I'm thinking we might have walked until we were tired then got a taxi back. Either way probably cheaper than hire car.

PandaPants_2

If you know your way around you can benefit from a car in Vegas. We just use the sneaky back roads and keep away from the strip. Nearly all hotels have 2 exits, one to the strip and an exit that runs round the back.

Murphy_The_Cat

blindman wrote: »

No

Tuscon to Sandiego
Personally I'd drive as you can do it at your own pace etc.
So long as the kids have DVD's to watch in the car.

May not be the most enthralling drive, but you are your own boss (well except for the Mrs of course)

sorry, I should have made it obvious that needing to hire a car in Las Vegas should be a rhetorical question

---

however, on previous Trans Atlantic trips, the time differences play havoc with MTKs body clock and he usually wakes up about 3.30-4.00am local time on the first morning, and if he/they do so, at least I could take them out and about and let Mrs Cat catch up with her sleep.

Tucson to San Diego, I'm slowly coming down on the side of driving it again, as it will be easier/cheaper than getting the family & our luggage through two airports for such a short trip - if it wasn't such a bbbooooooooooooooorrrrrrrrringgggggg journey, the decision would already be made.

magyar wrote:

[ So if you're going onwards via the dam then I'd consider just picking up the car before you leave.

Do you know where you're staying yet? If you get a hotel on the Strip, then you can easily walk up and down and see the others, which is where most the entertainment is (at least, the entertainment you're allowed to see when the family are there... )./QUOTE]

At the moment, the Excalibur is comong out on top as being the most family friendly hotel, with decent pools in a central location.
I'm also considering (if I don't hire from the airport as a pickup) having the hotel as my pickup point - but how does that work ? Do you get a shuttle/taxi to the airport and collect the car, or do they deliver a car in your selected class to the hotel ? If its delivered to your hotel then I think that I'd prefer the collect at the airport and choose your own car option (that Dollar offer). If I can get a Hemi 300C or a Hemi Dodge Magnum this time, I'll be happy.:j
As for the sites in Las Vegas, I can imagine that MTK will enjoy the Bellagio fountains, the Venetian gondaliers and maybe/perhaps the eccentricty of rollercoaters on the outside of a building, plus the general feel of the place. Other than that, its not really a family place at all, is it ?

PandaPants wrote:

If you know your way around you can benefit from a car in Vegas. We just use the sneaky back roads and keep away from the strip. Nearly all hotels have 2 exits, one to the strip and an exit that runs round the back.

A cunning plan indeed :beer:



p.s. with a tip of the hat in Magyars direction, we're going to check this out

whilst we're in Palm Springs.

p.p.s off now to make my first reservations :j:j

wdyw

2 nights to Flagstaff - check out Meteor crater and Walnut Canyon. Walnut Canyon is a few miles east of flagstaff and an easy walk for the whole familly. Ancient Indian houses built into the sides of the canyon. If you aren't going near Canyon De Chelly or Navajo national Park they are as good as any ancient Indian community to see where they used to live.

Excaliber is too far south on the strip for most peoples liking, but for MTK it will be great.

As an early post said - if you are going to Tucson, make sure you go and see the air museum with the hundreds/thosands of planes lind up in the desert.

blindman

Murphy_The_Cat wrote: »

A cunning plan indeed :beer:



p.s. with a tip of the hat in Magyars direction, we're going to check this out

whilst we're in Palm Springs.

p.p.s off now to make my first reservations :j:j

Err... Wasn't that my tip in post#6 Huge Wind Farms at Palm Springs

blindman

magyar wrote: »

Yeah, it's a long way, but I remember staying in the Monte Carlo, which is next to the... erm... big pyramid one. I certainly remember walking to... erm... memory poor... Treasure Island? Also Caesar's Palace, Venetian are all walkable from there.

In retrospect I'm thinking we might have walked until we were tired then got a taxi back. Either way probably cheaper than hire car.

End to end I think the strip is 3 miles, so a round trip is 6 miles!

Long way to walk with kids :eek:

pandas66

I think the kittens would like this........

http://www.sandiegozoo.org/zoo/ex_panda_station.html

Murphy_The_Cat

blindman wrote: »

Err... Wasn't that my tip in post#6 Huge Wind Farms at Palm Springs

Indeed it was

and with a further tip of the hat in blindmans direction (and a tug of the forelock as well in apology).

In the first plan, we weren't going to be travelling close enough to see it/them and I'd forgotten about them/it. But when I redirected us via Palm Springs, I noticed it mentioned in the 'to do near Palm Springs section' of a guide.

wdyw wrote:

Walnut Canyon is a few miles east of flagstaff and an easy walk for the whole familly.

hmm, MTK2 will only be 15 months old when we go and still in a stroller. Is it somewhere that we can get close to in 4 wheels and then walk the last bit ?

pandas66 wrote:

I think the kittens would like this........

http://www.sandiegozoo.org/zoo/ex_panda_station.html

now who would send a link to see Pandas then ?????????? I think that San Diego Zoo has a VERY strong chance of having a visit from the Cats :beer: