DIY or travel agent

EssexExile

Another thing about motels, if you find a chain you like - Days Inn, Comfort, whatever, don't think they are all the same. If you see one that seems particularly cheap there's probably a reason! I like independents, look on Trip Advisor but remember not everyone has the same taste, some people think curling wallpaper & flaking paint equals character.

Murphy_The_Cat

nimac20 wrote: »

Both will be under 11 at the time, just!!



Don't dismiss the idea of getting positioning flights to/from a non-UK airport and starting your holiday from (say) Dublin. The potential saving can be considerable. As a guide DUB - SFO, LAX to DUB was £1504, MAN-SFO, LAX-MAN was £2525 & LHR - SFO, LAX to LHR was £2491


We're in Ireland anyway so was probably going to go from Dublin anyway, i was budgeting £2,000 for flights, what flight search site did you use to get these prices?


!

I used google flights
scyscanner and kayak are 2 other options
Once you start playing with dates, routes, itineries, connecting airports, preferred airlines etc, be ready for your head to be scrambled.

One huge bonus for you if you decide to go DUB-connect in USA- SFO is that you do the Customs & Immigration pre clearence milarkey in Dublin and you arrive in America as a domestic flight.
This is worth quite a bit on its own.
If Aer Lingus are still flying direct DUB-SFO, then happy, happy days (as long as their price/service is OK for you)

cubegame

To be honest, you'll struggle to get it in under £4000 for three weeks.


The dollar is expensive so that's a bad start.


You're choosing an area of the USA where petrol is pricey and it will be costly for a big enough car for a family of four to be able to do a road trip in comfort.


You probably should try and stick to hotels where they offer a free (and carbohydrate laden) breakfast so you can save on food.


Holiday Inn Express is normally a good shout. Book them via IHG Friends and Family links (google is your friend). The downside of this is lack of flexibility as the rate will be non-flexible.


A good alternative discount is the ABN Save (google again) saving on Wyndham group properties. The Microtel name is probably the Holiday Inn Express equivalent but Wyndham hotels vary a bit more in their offering.


An important thing to remember is that while it may merely be unpleasant to stay in a low rated hotel in the UK, such properties in the USA may actually attract the kind of people you don't want to meet. A colleague of mine booked himself and his other half into the cheapest Motel 6 in Denver. They didn't even dare to get out of the car when they arrived after dark.

nimac20

I'm considering hiring an RV and doing a loop from SF - Yosemite - LA - PCH - SF in about 2 and half weeks.

Is there any pros and cons to doing this. The main one i see is we want to spend 2 days in LA and 3 in SF, the RV might be awkward to drive in cities but we intend to use public transport a lot when there so hopefully that should help. I'm assuming the roads in California would be able to accommodate RV's?

I just like tho idea of hitting the open road and the kids would love it too!!

jackieblack

nimac20 wrote: »

I'm considering hiring an RV and doing a loop from SF - Yosemite - LA - PCH - SF in about 2 and half weeks.

Is there any pros and cons to doing this. The main one i see is we want to spend 2 days in LA and 3 in SF, the RV might be awkward to drive in cities but we intend to use public transport a lot when there so hopefully that should help. I'm assuming the roads in California would be able to accommodate RV's?

I just like tho idea of hitting the open road and the kids would love it too!!

Not all of them, some of the prettiest/most scenic roads I've driven on were signed as unsuitable for RVs, I remember thinking at the time that it would be a shame to limit your route like that.

Murphy_The_Cat

nimac20 wrote: »

I'm considering hiring an RV and doing a loop from SF - Yosemite - LA - PCH - SF in about 2 and half weeks.

Is there any pros and cons to doing this. The main one i see is we want to spend 2 days in LA and 3 in SF, the RV might be awkward to drive in cities but we intend to use public transport a lot when there so hopefully that should help. I'm assuming the roads in California would be able to accommodate RV's?

I just like tho idea of hitting the open road and the kids would love it too!!

RV's are great for the open road & woeful for a city. Consider carefully the San Fran & LA element of your holiday.

Look at your RV costings very carefully - mileage cost per mile (last time I looked it was about 35cent per mile), insurance and overnight lodging, on top of your rental may make your eyes water.
Also, have a look to see if any of the RV companies will let you go one-way ? If so, you've created a whole world of options for your self :beer:

John259

nimac20 wrote: »

I'm considering hiring an RV and doing a loop from SF - Yosemite - LA - PCH - SF in about 2 and half weeks.

Do you mean that the trip will be two and half weeks long (ok), or that the trip will start in two and half weeks time from today (in which case, the Tioga Pass will probably still be closed, and that will drastically affect your route choices)?

blindman

nimac20 wrote: »

I'm considering hiring an RV and doing a loop from SF - Yosemite - LA - PCH - SF in about 2 and half weeks.

Is there any pros and cons to doing this. The main one i see is we want to spend 2 days in LA and 3 in SF, the RV might be awkward to drive in cities but we intend to use public transport a lot when there so hopefully that should help. I'm assuming the roads in California would be able to accommodate RV's?

I just like tho idea of hitting the open road and the kids would love it too!!

Nice idea:- Lots of impracticaltities IMHO

1 Cost: They are NOT fuel efficient and hire cost can be really expensive.
2. Time Very slow so takes an age to get anywhere
3. Parking Where to park in cities? If you stay at an RV park how do you get around ?
4. Expensive One way drop off so you have to return to base.

It may work for your itin if you pick up on leavng SF-use the shuttle in Yosemite-I'd miss LA and go to San diego-Then leisurely drive up the PCH back to SFO

John259 wrote: »

Do you mean that the trip will be two and half weeks long (ok),or that the trip will start in two and half weeks time from today

!!!!!!
Very first post by the OP

I'm in the early stages of planning a holiday to California next year,

Keep up
Stop looking at You tube

mgdavid

blindman wrote: »

Nice idea:- Lots of impracticaltities IMHO

1 Cost: They are NOT fuel efficient and hire cost can be really expensive.
2. Time Very slow so takes an age to get anywhere
3. Parking Where to park in cities? If you stay at an RV park how do you get around ?
4. Expensive One way drop off so you have to return to base.
.................

We RV'ed round Florida for 3 weeks a few years ago;
1 - nothing in America is fuel efficient, given the price of gas over there it's still cheap though.
2 - NOT very slow, they will happily cruise at state speed limits, any faster and you get nicked.
3 - parking not an issue if you use guile and common sense; even for 4 people the RV does not have to be the size of the Queen Mary! Just get the smallest 4-berth you can find.
4 - agree, but a circular tour shouldn't be too difficult to plan.

nimac20

Thanks for the replies.

What i'm taking from your replies is that it may work but i cant drive on all roads, will be expensive and driving through cities will be a pain.

So i need to work out if all of this is worth the hassle. The alternative is to rent a large car/SUV to fit us and all our stuff and stay in hotels etc... Doesn't sound as much fun though!!

I wasn't going to drive around SF or LA anyway, just use public transport to get to places and go on some tours so not that concerned about not being able to drive here. However i would like to be able to drive the PCH and into yosemite so i guess my next question is would these places be suitable for RV's.