![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
Use Virgin at that money, never buy something thats only just the better deal due to cashback as it's not guaranteed (Even though you almost always get it).
Road Tripping in the USA!
- Thread starter [TW]Fox
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Use Virgin at that money, never buy something thats only just the better deal due to cashback as it's not guaranteed (Even though you almost always get it).
Rather annoyingly it seems that for our trip from San Fran to Vegas nobody is offering the "sporty" option on cars. A few offer a convertible Mustang but since the missus will burn in about 6 seconds and we're on a 4 week honeymoon so will have large bags, I'm not sure it's worth it.
EDIt:
Managed to sort a car out from Alamo but only for a few days for what we need. Oddly booking direct with them to go from Union Square to Vegas was hideously expensive. It would have been substantially cheaper to get a cab back to the airport and then hire one. Booking with Alamo through a 3rd party worked out quite reasonably though.
How have you all done the Grand Canyon? Thinking of plane or Helicoptering in from Vegas.
EDIt:
Managed to sort a car out from Alamo but only for a few days for what we need. Oddly booking direct with them to go from Union Square to Vegas was hideously expensive. It would have been substantially cheaper to get a cab back to the airport and then hire one. Booking with Alamo through a 3rd party worked out quite reasonably though.
How have you all done the Grand Canyon? Thinking of plane or Helicoptering in from Vegas.
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2 days till I'm off 
Spent some time yesterday checking fuel prices in the LA / Yosemite / Vegas area. There's a real horrible stretch through Death Valley where you get nothing for miles, then a 200% price increase, then more nothing!
Spent some time yesterday checking fuel prices in the LA / Yosemite / Vegas area. There's a real horrible stretch through Death Valley where you get nothing for miles, then a 200% price increase, then more nothing!2 days till I'm off
It honestly made 0 difference when we did that route 2 years ago. We filled up as we left Vegas and then again in Furnace Creek and then again when we got to Mammoth Lakes. The price of fuel was so cheap out there anyway and we just made sure the tank was full through DV and Yosemite to ensure we didn't get stuck without any.
You're expecting San Francisco to go down? Next you'll be expecting parking there to get better
San Francisco was one of my most expensive stop offs. We stayed at the Hotel Zeppelin, which is pretty new so I think we got a good rate of $945 for 3 nights. Good location as well for getting around.
Glen Oaks Big Sur and the W Hotel in LA were the two most expensive per night though - $500 a night each.
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San Fran was very expensive. I stayed just outside (part the Golden Gate Bridge and drove in each day).
Los Angeles I've always found to be okay, we stayed at 'Jerry's Motel' the first time for about £60 per night in uber peak time (August) and that was good for the money. This time we're staying in a new Best Western Plus for about £80 per night. I always aim for under £100 per night for a 'decent' hotel and manage it everywhere apart from San Fran.
Los Angeles I've always found to be okay, we stayed at 'Jerry's Motel' the first time for about £60 per night in uber peak time (August) and that was good for the money. This time we're staying in a new Best Western Plus for about £80 per night. I always aim for under £100 per night for a 'decent' hotel and manage it everywhere apart from San Fran.
In San Fran we stayed at the Grant Hotel which is in quite a good location I think. Lori's Diner is just round the corner, which we liked a lot. Also good for Union Square. £275 for 3 nights. There's also a rental car place across the street.
Having just come back from Yellowstone there is no point in going for just two days to both YS and Grand Teton. It will take you the best part of those two days just driving to and from the park and then through it. You're basically not going to have any time to actually see anything, be that the sights or wildlife (other than Bison).
Getting from Mammoth to Jackson will take you the best part of 4-5 hours (non stop) just getting from the north of YS to Jackson, and at least an hour (if you time it right) to see Old Faithful. Most of the geyser basins take an hour or so to walk round as well, let alone if you don't just want to take the most direct route (i.e. see Hayden or Lamar Valley). We did the main sights of Grand Teton in a day, but I'd recommend at least two whole days in Yellowstone on top of that (+ one more for travel to yellowstone and maybe another from Jackson to SLC and Provo) - so 4 days minimum really. We spent a week there and would have liked to have spent more time in Grand Teton.
If you do intend to still do Yellowstone, book early and if camping book a pre bookable campsite, otherwise prepare to be waiting at the first come first serve campsites at 6:30 am to be in with a chance of camping there that night!
Also didn't realise how liberal the US was regarding speed. The main highways had limits of 80mph and most of the more major single lane roads were 70. I don't remember them being that high last time I was there (about 5 years ago).
EDIT: To join it up with posts a couple of pages ago, we did it in an F150, along with about half the people there (well pickup truck of some sort). Also stayed at Glacier last night on the way back. Road to the sun is still closed (obviously) but the scenery is stunning there and the wild flowers are out which really adds to it!
Getting from Mammoth to Jackson will take you the best part of 4-5 hours (non stop) just getting from the north of YS to Jackson, and at least an hour (if you time it right) to see Old Faithful. Most of the geyser basins take an hour or so to walk round as well, let alone if you don't just want to take the most direct route (i.e. see Hayden or Lamar Valley). We did the main sights of Grand Teton in a day, but I'd recommend at least two whole days in Yellowstone on top of that (+ one more for travel to yellowstone and maybe another from Jackson to SLC and Provo) - so 4 days minimum really. We spent a week there and would have liked to have spent more time in Grand Teton.
If you do intend to still do Yellowstone, book early and if camping book a pre bookable campsite, otherwise prepare to be waiting at the first come first serve campsites at 6:30 am to be in with a chance of camping there that night!
Also didn't realise how liberal the US was regarding speed. The main highways had limits of 80mph and most of the more major single lane roads were 70. I don't remember them being that high last time I was there (about 5 years ago).
EDIT: To join it up with posts a couple of pages ago, we did it in an F150, along with about half the people there (well pickup truck of some sort). Also stayed at Glacier last night on the way back. Road to the sun is still closed (obviously) but the scenery is stunning there and the wild flowers are out which really adds to it!
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Totally agree with the last post .we did Yellowstone 4 years ago and the southern part of your route 2 years ago each time taking 3 weeks . Back to Yellowstone in 7 weeks camping booked 4 days 2 days in the Tetons cabin booked then on to glacier . Any questions just ask.
My advice would be just do half of that trip .
My advice would be just do half of that trip .
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Soldato
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As above comments, you are trying to do too much I would scaled back, you aren't going to see anything. It's a very long way from even yellowstone to Jackson Hole. SLC to West Yellowstone took us most of the day. We spent 3 days in Yellowstone and 2 days in the Tetons, they are very scenic places with an awful lot to see and do. What you are trying to do is 2 separate (Already Rushed) 2 week holidays imo. I thought I tried to cram a lot in!
I would also point out that your map has you going to the Grand Canyon North Rim, no south. South will possibly be a significant increase in mileage.
I would also point out that your map has you going to the Grand Canyon North Rim, no south. South will possibly be a significant increase in mileage.
In which case I'd recommend booking a different trip, with more time spent in fewer places. I've always liked to break up a trip with 2-3 days in one place after a full days driving or a night to two in somewhere else after half a days driving. Even compared to hectic organised trips I've been on (Africa overland) that trip seems to be long on travel, short on viewing.
We actually did the exact same miles per day on another guided tour across the west coast of canada and loved it, you start very early and finish late so never really feel like you're in a coach for a long time - each to their own I guess. I suppose we like seeing lots of things in smaller chunks, the LA and Santa Barbara stop will be less moving about, then a little jaunt up to Monterey and chill for 2 days.
Thanks for your suggestions though
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