Help needed with a Los Angeles holiday

FinglisHobbit

FinglisHobbit

FinglisHobbit

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Hi folks,

I'm looking for advice on planning a 2 week holiday in California this July. We're looking to stay in LA for the majority of the trip, however I really want to visit the Grand Canyon at some point.

I've family who already live out there and they've suggested flying to Las Vegas and visiting the Grand Canyon from there. Then flying Las Vegas to LA... staying there for the remainder of the trip. We've also been looking at other options such as flying straight to LA, driving to the Grand Canyon and back to LA - but that looks like a 14 hour round trip.

I usually just go for package deals, so I'm not really sure on the best way to book one-way flights, hotels, etc. Can anyone recommend some good websites for doing this? Or better still, has anyone done any of the above and can provide advice on whether to fly or drive to the Grand Canyon?

I'm sure I'm over-complicating matters, so if any one can provide advice that would be most helpful :)

Thanks

Edit : Looking at a budget of about £3000 for two people if possible.
 
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£3k each? Or £3k for the both of you? Are you staying with the family out there? Or hotel for the full two weeks?

If it's everything for £3k, it's going to be mega tight for two weeks, flights are going to eat up a chunk and a half decent hotel another big chunk!

One way flights are a big no no, they'll cost a fortune in comparison to a return flight, personally I'd fly to LA, hire a car and drive it, do Las Vegas at the same time and spend a few days doing it.
 
3k for both of us. We're not staying with family out there. We'd just be looking at somewhere cheap for accommodation as it'll just be a place to rest our heads to be honest.
 
We are travelling on a similar budget

But we got the flights for £400 each, car hire for 3 weeks is £450. Average price for hotels is £70 a night but will be camping for 9 nights in various national parks. When are you going ? If in the summer holidays I would start to book places as soon as possible. Have a look at the road trip USA thread in the motors forum.
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18227057&highlight=Road+trip+usa
 
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3k is a decent budget for 2...

Flights should eat around 1000 for 2 of you leaving you with 2000 for car + hotel.... Hotels should not cost you more than 100 pounds a night and they should be decent at that price range.

So 1000 + 1400 and 600 left for a pretty cool car....
 
POB said:
OP wants to go in July. £500 per person for flights is not going to happen without a mistake fare or a flight leaving from somewhere else in Europe.
Click to expand...

We could probably be flexible and push the date back a bit. Would need to return by beginning of September though,

I'll take a look at the thread in Motors section too. Thankyou.

Flights are currently looking at around £890-£1000 per person on Kayak and similar.

We have the next few months to save a bit extra money if necessary, but we were really hoping that would be spending money.
 
peter said:
But we got the flights for £400 each, car hire for 3 weeks is £450. Average price for hotels is £70 a night but will be camping for 9 nights in various national parks. When are you going ? If in the summer holidays I would start to book places as soon as possible. Have a look at the road trip USA thread in the motors forum.
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18227057&highlight=Road+trip+usa
Click to expand...

flights to LA for 400 :eek:

I guess you mean off-season?

Flights to Southern US have sky rocketed this year.

Only need to look at the 3000 odd posts on thedibb to see that.


I think if you are really flex you could find them for 650-750 but that'll be indirect 2-3 stops.

We are planning to go inn 2015 so will sub this thread incase we see something interesting.

Why 2 weeks in LA though when you are so close to San Fran? Beautiful scenery great city and Alcatraz. What you plannning to do in LA for 2 weeks
 
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Hi Jas,

The main reason we have chosen LA is because my Mother lives there a lot of the time. Although we aren't going to be staying with her. San Francisco looks amazing and its a place I'd love to go to. (The other half's family went there and loved it.)

We would like to visit some of the theme parks. Universal Studios etc.

Its just hard finding time/money to visit all the great places in the USA.
 
yes flights for £400

Three weeks in August flying direct with norwegian same flights now are double that. Still one of the cheapest though.
Our plan all booked but not spending any time in LA
 
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Don't stay in downtown LA if you can. As it's a good distance from santa monica, hollywood, venice beach etc. Stay closer to them. West hollywood is a good shout but unsure if the budget allows. Shop around on sites though as you can pick up some deals.
 
Try Trailfinders for the flight, they got us cracking deals on a drop down ticket 2 years ago.

Flight itinery was this:

Glasgow to Heathrow
Heathrow to Boston
Boston to Chicago
Chicago to Minnesota
Minnesota to Chicago
Chicago to Heathrow
Heathrow to Glasgow

For £700 pp
 
As pointed out, flights to LA in July are going to be £700-£800+ I personally think £1,500 for 2 weeks hotels, food & car is asking a little too much.

Is there any movement on that budget?
 
FinglisHobbit said:
Thanks for that input guys. That trailfinders website looks good. I'm gonna give them a call soon.
Click to expand...

Aye their good, just tell them when and where your going and where you want to stay/travel whilst your there and they go away and do the grunt work for you :)
 
Good call windle will also look at them next year.

I lost a lot of trust in TA's over here in Belgium.
 
i'd say fly to LA instead of Vegas. From my previous travels ive always found it cheaper.

the drive from LA - Vegas isnt bad either, around 4.5 hours.
 
So we've amended our budget, and our itinerary slightly to include San Francisco. We got a quote today - 4k for the following:

First 2 weeks in July.

London - LA direct flight
6 nights in LA
2 nights in Vegas
1 night in Grand Canyon
Flight from Las Vegas to San Francisco
4 nights in San Francisco
San Francisco to London direct flight

Includes car hire for the 10 days up until San Francisco (our hotel there is pretty central and we don't think we'll need a car).

We think this sounds pretty reasonable. We've never booked anything like this before. What do you guys think? :confused:
 
Please don't waste 6 nights in Los Angeles. You need a few at the most, California itself is amazing and there is far too much great stunning stuff to see to spend so long in los Angeles.
 
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