Things to do in California - LA, SD, SF.

R-evans

R-evans

R-evans

Associate
Joined
13 Nov 2012
Posts
2,216
I usually think when people make these threads they are just showing off their holiday plans, so sorry to them people because I need help now too :rolleyes: :D

Me and the lady are going to California for three weeks in June. We are flying to LA which will be our base city then do San Diego for 4/5 days, San Francisco for 4/5, Santa Rosa for a day (Mainly just for a Brewery I want to visit) and Vegas for 3 days. Odd few days in between will be in LA to break up the travel.

We was going to hire a car but we found hotels are as much as 60% cheaper when booked with bus travel of $25 a trip so it's a no brainer.

We have been to LA and Vegas before so we kinda know what we'll do there, but if there is anything we NEED to do, please say.

Never been to San Diego or SF so any suggestions would be appreciated! Obvious touristy attractions already being considered, just really looking for any 'hidden gems'

Cheers
 
R-evans said:
We was going to hire a car but we found hotels are as much as 60% cheaper when booked with bus travel of $25 a trip so it's a no brainer.
Click to expand...

No, it really isn't a no brainer. Do not ruin this holiday by travelling by bus. Rent a car - you are not getting some sort of super-awesome deal on hotels by travelling on the bus. You'll be able to find similar deals without the bus travel.

A car is ESSENTIAL in California. With it you can really enjoy the coast, you can drive Highway 1 to Big Sur and beyond, you can head into Yosemite, you can go to Death Valley, etc etc.

When I did this trip we did the following route:

Los Angeles to San Diego. Few days in San Diego.

San Diego to Las Vegas via Mojave Desert. Few days in Vegas.

Las Vegas to San Francisco through Death Valley and Yosemite National Park. Few days in San Fran.

San Francisco to LA via Pacfic Coast Highway over about 3 days.

Please don't ruin this trip with bus tickets!

Do it properly, rent a convertible for about £200 a week. Job done.
 
ci_newman said:
Go spend 1/2 day at the floating aircraft carrier museum in SD. It's awesome :)
Click to expand...

MBennett said:
I was is LA two weeks ago for work - I am into my shooting and would recommend you go do that!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJPfICoinoM

This was at Oak tree - the Barret M95 can be hired for $10 a round - much fun!
Click to expand...

Both good ideas, doubt my girlfriend will go for them though :p cheers!

[TW]Fox;26124742 said:
No, it really isn't a no brainer. Do not ruin this holiday by travelling by bus. Rent a car - you are not getting some sort of super-awesome deal on hotels by travelling on the bus. You'll be able to find similar deals without the bus travel.

A car is ESSENTIAL in California. With it you can really enjoy the coast, you can drive Highway 1 to Big Sur and beyond, you can head into Yosemite, you can go to Death Valley, etc etc.

When I did this trip we did the following route:

Los Angeles to San Diego. Few days in San Diego.

San Diego to Las Vegas via Mojave Desert. Few days in Vegas.

Las Vegas to San Francisco through Death Valley and Yosemite National Park. Few days in San Fran.

San Francisco to LA via Pacfic Coast Highway over about 3 days.

Please don't ruin this trip with bus tickets!

Do it properly, rent a convertible for about £200 a week. Job done.
Click to expand...

Believe me, the hotels we looked at are like $60-$70 a night. Booking bus and 5 nights at the same hotel is ~$200.

We did it when we went to LA last time from Vegas, cost $160 for bus and 4 nights hotel. Would have been $300 just for the hotel otherwise!

The bus is with Tefusa, almost as quick as car, toilet, refreshments, wi-fi, films. We wouldn't do it otherwise, it was the best bus we've ever been on.
 
R-evans said:
Believe me, the hotels we looked at are like $60-$70 a night. Booking bus and 5 nights at the same hotel is ~$200.
Click to expand...

So book a bus and don't get it on it if thats really the case, have you examples of hotels and dates where this is the case?

We did it when we went to LA last time from Vegas, cost $160 for bus and 4 nights hotel. Would have been $300 just for the hotel otherwise!
Click to expand...

No it wouldn't, it's very easy to stay in decent hotels in Vegas for £30ish a night not $300 for 4 nights.

The bus is with Tefusa, almost as quick as car, toilet, refreshments, wi-fi, films. We wouldn't do it otherwise, it was the best bus we've ever been on.
Click to expand...

It's still a bus in the USA.

Rent a car.
 
I don't have hotel names on hand at the moment. It was LA where the hotel would have been $300.

Also, I should have mentioned I don't drive and she's not too keen to. :o
 
SF is generally a fantastic place with tons to see and do. SD less so, unless you're into military hardware....in which case you'll be in heaven :)
 
[TW]Fox;26124742 said:
No, it really isn't a no brainer. Do not ruin this holiday by travelling by bus. Rent a car - you are not getting some sort of super-awesome deal on hotels by travelling on the bus. You'll be able to find similar deals without the bus travel.

A car is ESSENTIAL in California. With it you can really enjoy the coast, you can drive Highway 1 to Big Sur and beyond, you can head into Yosemite, you can go to Death Valley, etc etc.

When I did this trip we did the following route:

Los Angeles to San Diego. Few days in San Diego.

San Diego to Las Vegas via Mojave Desert. Few days in Vegas.

Las Vegas to San Francisco through Death Valley and Yosemite National Park. Few days in San Fran.

San Francisco to LA via Pacfic Coast Highway over about 3 days.

Please don't ruin this trip with bus tickets!

Do it properly, rent a convertible for about £200 a week. Job done.
Click to expand...

THIS!!!
 
San Fransisco;

Alcatraz
Day trip to Yosemite
Giants Stadium
Helicopter flight down the coast
Golden gate bridge (obviously!)
 
Yosemite, Pebble Beach, Carmel, Big Sur, Monterey, Santa Cruz, Alcatraz, Palm Springs, San Diego Zoo, Shopping, Eating, Drinking etc.

I did pretty much the same trip as fox a few years back but missed out SD. Having a convertible mustang really made the trip. Learn to drive, fast and work on your other half. Driving over there is easier than over here!
 
I went from SF to LA to Vegas on a green tortoise and it was rather epic, wasn't wishing I had car back then but next time I go I think a car is in order. The pacific coast highway is the best road Ive been on. I do recommend Big Sur and Monterey Bay on the way and some other places mentioned. Ditto on the aircraft carrier in san diego. You might get lucky and see a premier on Hollywood boulevard or get tickets to be in a live audience for a TV show. LA a pretty rank city though so wouldn't spend too much time there, actually so is Vegas lol. National parks are more up my alley, like Muir woods outside SF, Joshua Tree, Yosemite, Grand Canyon and Death Valley are all great time fillers
 
Cheers all, some good suggestions, will have a look at them all.

A car would be nice but I'm not too bothered about busses.

A mate and I plan to cycle from Vancouver to LA so I'll see all the pacific highway I want then :cool:
 
Youstolemyname said:
Yosemite, Pebble Beach, Carmel, Big Sur, Monterey, Santa Cruz, Alcatraz, Palm Springs, San Diego Zoo, Shopping, Eating, Drinking etc.

I did pretty much the same trip as fox a few years back but missed out SD. Having a convertible mustang really made the trip. Learn to drive, fast and work on your other half. Driving over there is easier than over here!
Click to expand...

I'm just back from a road trip from Key West, and i took a Mustang Convertible. I think it was a 3.6L V6... Anyway, it was new with only 3k on the clock. I get to rent a lot of cars, and this was quite possibly the worst car I've ever driven. The thing was squeaky over bumps, the dash was really high for my missus. The Ford Sync worked with my iPhone for all of ten minutes, and no troubleshooting seemed to fix. The charger cable was put in the most ridiculous place possible. The cup holders were too deep to put a cup in them. Everything about the car was just designed from the outside in. No care / thought or attention went into the cabin. It's not like I've not driven other Fords before. I quite often get a Taurus or Explorers as rentals.. Despite the over complicated very sluggish Ford touch Sync system, they normally do ok. But the Mustang.. ugh, what a pile of crap that was.
 
thedoc46 said:
I'm just back from a road trip from Key West, and i took a Mustang Convertible. I think it was a 3.6L V6... Anyway, it was new with only 3k on the clock. I get to rent a lot of cars, and this was quite possibly the worst car I've ever driven. The thing was squeaky over bumps, the dash was really high for my missus. The Ford Sync worked with my iPhone for all of ten minutes, and no troubleshooting seemed to fix. The charger cable was put in the most ridiculous place possible. The cup holders were too deep to put a cup in them. Everything about the car was just designed from the outside in. No care / thought or attention went into the cabin. It's not like I've not driven other Fords before. I quite often get a Taurus or Explorers as rentals.. Despite the over complicated very sluggish Ford touch Sync system, they normally do ok. But the Mustang.. ugh, what a pile of crap that was.
Click to expand...

I would never rent one again for the same reasons but for Highway 1 there is only one car - the Mustang Cabrio.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom