Road Tripping in the USA!

Ah, memories! Nice to see your pics of a great hol.

I'm lucky enough to have done the CA/NV road trip a few times and have to say that if you want variety, this part of the world gives you the best bang-for-your-buck you're likely to get in a 2 week trip. The PCH from Santa Barbara to San Francisco is just a joy, as is Yosemite to Death Valley via Tioga Pass.

For other people considering it, if you have more time it's worth going further afield e.g. to Palm Springs & Joshua or Sequoia & King's Canyon, or if you've got even longer, into Arizona and Utah. Utah in particular is pretty amazing with Bryce, Zion and Arches parks, but even the scenery on the Interstates is other-worldly.

I'd also say to anyone doing a similar thing that you don't want to try and cram too much into too short a period - the distances in this region are deceptive and if you're not careful you will spend too much time in the car. I know part of the enjoyment is the drive, but it doesn't all match the grandeur of the PCH or Tioga and there can be a lot of traffic in Southern CA - you'll soon get fed up of being in a traffic jam.

You need to get the balance right - one year we did a LV/SD/LA/SF/PS/LV loop in just under 3 weeks and felt we'd got the balance between driving days and stop days wrong.

The other bit of good advice that I'll repeat is that you can save a lot of money on hotels by being in the right town on the right day. Vegas is particularly like this. Not only is it more expensive on weekends and major conferences, the place is much more crowded and the traffic can be terrible. San Francisco prices can also vary wildly.

Picking your days will also have a knock-on effect on the amount of traffic you come across - which can easily affect journey times by hours.
 
Thread resurrection, but quick question about flights Fox. They were pretty cheap back then, now I'm looking at about £700 for 2 of us, but did you book them well in advance or last minute to get that price?
 
CHokKA said:
Thread resurrection, but quick question about flights Fox. They were pretty cheap back then, now I'm looking at about £700 for 2 of us, but did you book them well in advance or last minute to get that price?
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I booked in April at £470.

In February they were £420, so I lost out there.

This year, flight prices are bonkers - I am trying to sort Miami and New York out, and in September New York is a staggering 500 quid. 500 quid!!! Its crazy this year.

Early Feb every flight past May was bonkers. Now, May and June are sensible money again. I'm hoping that as the months go past and they worry about filling planes in September the prices will get more normal again.
 
I've noticed this with flights. Looking in January, flights to Orlando were £600ea, then in Feb they went up to £750ea, now with only good seat codes left, they are back at £650ea mark. The increase in tax is the killer although goodness knows why September is a big deal, no schools are off (UK or US). When I went in June last year, flights were £399ea. This year, June sees flights at £450ea.

Gay flight pricing is gay!
 
[TW]Fox;18689211 said:
I booked in April at £470.

In February they were £420, so I lost out there.

This year, flight prices are bonkers - I am trying to sort Miami and New York out, and in September New York is a staggering 500 quid. 500 quid!!! Its crazy this year.

Early Feb every flight past May was bonkers. Now, May and June are sensible money again. I'm hoping that as the months go past and they worry about filling planes in September the prices will get more normal again.
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For 500 I'll fly you myself from Orlando :)

Prices are mad at the moment. My parents just paid $8000 for first class to Orlando return :/
 
Fox, the only thing that is concerning me is my first night in LA with a car, can I ask where you stayed your first night, whether it had parking and was it far from the airport? I dont get in till near 11 and it will have been a 16 hour trip by that point if theres no delays so im assuming ill be near exhausted and struggling to function, I dont want to be struggling to find somewhere that first night with two tired teenage girls in tow.
 
I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express on Airport BLVD (8620 Airport Blvd). It was a block away from the Hertz rental pickup at LAX and had free parking and a free breakfast the next morning.

I'd recommend it, for sure.

I also stayed at Candlewood Suites LAX Hawthorne. It's another part of the Intercontinental Group (ie, Holiday Inn) but it's aimed at long-stay business travellers. So the rooms are nicer, you get a kitchen as well. Infact if I'm honest this place was nicer than the Holiday Inn Express, but no free breakfast. Parking was free though.

It was also cheaper than the Holiday Inn Express.

http://www.hotels.com/hotel/details...oms[0].numberOfAdults=2&landmark=#description

Try that link.
 
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[TW]Fox;19121213 said:
I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express on Airport BLVD (8620 Airport Blvd). It was a block away from the Hertz rental pickup at LAX and had free parking and a free breakfast the next morning.

I'd recommend it, for sure.

I also stayed at Candlewood Suites LAX Hawthorne. It's another part of the Intercontinental Group (ie, Holiday Inn) but it's aimed at long-stay business travellers. So the rooms are nicer, you get a kitchen as well. Infact if I'm honest this place was nicer than the Holiday Inn Express, but no free breakfast. Parking was free though.

It was also cheaper than the Holiday Inn Express.

http://www.hotels.com/hotel/details...oms[0].numberOfAdults=2&landmark=#description

Try that link.
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Thats great, thanks very much.
 
Yes I did - using the PH website. Refundable if you find a better deal, as well. I paid £36 a night. It's essential you stay midweek for these deals.
 
[TW]Fox;19180896 said:
Yes I did - using the PH website. Refundable if you find a better deal, as well. I paid £36 a night. It's essential you stay midweek for these deals.
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We fly in on Tuesday, Wednesday we have to goto Santa Clarita first which is about 40 miles north from LA, I dont know whether thats then do-able in a day if I book it for Wed/thursday night. The prices on the website though are about $118 per night.
 
Ah, If I put in two adults rather than one adult in child it does reduce a bit. $190 for two nights.

Theres two planet hollywoods, is that right? PH Towers is $199 as its not in the promotion.

I could stay at the Flamingo for $60 a night, does PH have parking? Parking is my biggest nightmare as I remember the parking costs in LA when i was last there was something daft like $40 a night!

Can I ask where you stayed in San Fran and whether you would recommend it and what the parking was like there?
 
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PH over the Flamingo.

Vegas is full of parking and it will be vallet. But once your car is in the car park you won't use it much in Vegas unless you want to drive around to see something. But a taxi will also do that and you can drink.

For San Fran I highly recommend this place:
http://www.marinamotel.com/

Each room has a garage to park your car in, which is one hell of a luxury!

It's also in the Marina District which is frankly brilliant. About 10 mins walk down to the water front where you can see the Golden Gate and another 10-15mins down to Fishermans Wharf and the tram system. But teh best part is all the cracking wine bars, restaurants and shops literally around the corner from the hotel. Great area that has a nice young professional vibe and isn't full of scummy fat tourists!
 
Metalface Mark said:
Ill check that out thanks.

I dont really have much need to drink, Ive got my 15 year old daughter with me so I wont be getting mashed :)
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Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh :)

We arn't lashers, more of a boring couple drowing their sorrows with fine food and wine :D

Think more chilled wine bars with tapas and restaraunts than Wetherspoons on a Saturday ;)
 
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