California. I'm sure this thread's been done, but hey..

[Howard-]

Hmm, not sure now whether or not we'll be trying to fit too much in :\ I don't mind driving, but I don't want to have only 10 minutes here and there because we're on such a tight schedule I'll try and make a spreadsheet/plan later including times etc to see how it looks


I'm fairly new to this whole sightseeing holiday planning lark, how do you lot manage

Edited by Howard- on Tuesday 9th February 13:10

[louiebaby]

I was planning something similar to yours over 3 weeks for a honeymoon, and even then thought it might be a bit tight.

It I was you, I'd drop the Mexico run, and spend an extra day on SF to LA down the coast. If you really like somewhere, when you're out and about, you can either stay a bit longer, (if you're winging it on the accomodation,) or come back another time.

If you're under 25, and therefore paying extra to hire a car, do more miles, to make the most of the car you're paying extra for.

Wherever you're going, get some bottles of water in the car, especially in the desert. When you leave a desert town, keep and eye out for the "Last Gas for XXX miles." Saw one that said 150 miles one day I think.

[LilCat]

If you want to do Vegas maybe Fly into Vegas for 2/3 nights so you can do the following (plus anything else you fancy):

Grand Canyon
Red Rock Canyon
Gun Store
Random things on the Strip
etc etc

Get internal flight (roughly $50 one way) to LA/ San Fran where you can pick up your car and start your road trip (From what I can remember it was a 4 hour drive to LA from Vegas).

Fly back to the UK from either LA or San Fran.

Also if you hired a car from NV and dropped off in CA you have to pay a one way charge.

Maybe 3 nights in Vegas is too much? You prob need 2/3 nights in San Francisco.

I am still trying to figure out what to do in Sept!!

[Polarbert]

Howard- said:

louiebaby said:

I did something similar with a friend when I was 24. Though Alamo you could rent a car under 25, but the surcharge was pretty high, something like an extra $25 a day.

Be wary.
!

Yeah I did this whwen I went to Florida in 2008, prepared to pay it this time too. Worth the extra cost IMO, especially as there's no other way to get around


I've drawn up this rough plan/route to start with... Can anyone see anything wrong with it so far?


http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&a...

I've been looking into this and actually there is. I'm under the impression that if you pay $60 to sign up to Hertz's gold club, then they waive the underage fee. I'm contemplating doing it for my trip in March.

[Polarbert]

louiebaby said:

LilCat said:

Maybe move your LA to SF journey slightly left (Along the coast)

Never done that drive, but I've been told it's stunning.

Its absolutely amazing. I'm definitely doing it again. 5 weeks time!

[Howard-]

louiebaby said:

I was planning something similar to yours over 3 weeks for a honeymoon, and even then thought it might be a bit tight.

It I was you, I'd drop the Mexico run, and spend an extra day on SF to LA down the coast. If you really like somewhere, when you're out and about, you can either stay a bit longer, (if you're winging it on the accomodation,) or come back another time.

If you're under 25, and therefore paying extra to hire a car, do more miles, to make the most of the car you're paying extra for.

Wherever you're going, get some bottles of water in the car, especially in the desert. When you leave a desert town, keep and eye out for the "Last Gas for XXX miles." Saw one that said 150 miles one day I think.

Thanks

When you say drop the Mexico run do you mean drop San Diego? My map is clockwise staring in LA (where we're planning to fly to)

[louiebaby]

Howard- said:

louiebaby said:

Lots, wow I should be working :-)

Thanks

When you say drop the Mexico run do you mean drop San Diego? My map is clockwise staring in LA (where we're planning to fly to)

Sorry, when I zoomed in I saw you weren't actually going into Mexico. I have a bit of a fear of LA, maybe irrationally. (I think Bill Bryson said something like "I'm glad there is a place for all the crazy people in the world, I just don't want to visit it."

I'd quite like to see San Diego though. I just thought it was an easier chop to gain a couple of days.

Personally, I'd fly to SF, as it's probably a bit shorter flight, and go clockwise so I had the LA to SF coast road to look forward too. (I wouldn't fancy the LV to LA road as the last drive.)

I'd have a couple of days in LA to see what it's like, and if I liked it go back to do the studios etc on another trip, and hit San Diego and Mexico on that trip.

It's up to you though, you know your likes and dislikes better than I do!

[K50 DEL]

I did this route

http://tinyurl.com/yhpg3p2

In 3 weeks last spring - although Google Earth says 3665 miles, I actually ended up driving 5,800
It was fine, although there were places where I would have liked to have stayed longer.

[Howard-]

K50 DEL said:

I did this route

http://tinyurl.com/yhpg3p2

In 3 weeks last spring - although Google Earth says 3665 miles, I actually ended up driving 5,800
It was fine, although there were places where I would have liked to have stayed longer.

Good lord That's a HUGE chunk of America, especially in 3 weeks. Nice

louiebaby said:

Howard- said:

louiebaby said:

Lots, wow I should be working :-)

Thanks

When you say drop the Mexico run do you mean drop San Diego? My map is clockwise staring in LA (where we're planning to fly to)

Sorry, when I zoomed in I saw you weren't actually going into Mexico. I have a bit of a fear of LA, maybe irrationally. (I think Bill Bryson said something like "I'm glad there is a place for all the crazy people in the world, I just don't want to visit it."

I'd quite like to see San Diego though. I just thought it was an easier chop to gain a couple of days.

Personally, I'd fly to SF, as it's probably a bit shorter flight, and go clockwise so I had the LA to SF coast road to look forward too. (I wouldn't fancy the LV to LA road as the last drive.)

I'd have a couple of days in LA to see what it's like, and if I liked it go back to do the studios etc on another trip, and hit San Diego and Mexico on that trip.

It's up to you though, you know your likes and dislikes better than I do!

Thanks. Sorry.. I'm an idiot. When I said clockwise, I meant anti-clockwise.

The plan was to start in LA and go round - LV, Grand Canyon, Death valley etc etc, although your advise about flying into SF is tempting.. I'll have a think! You're saying the same route but start in SF instead of LA?

I've read other negative opinions of LA too, but we'd like to at least see for ourselves

Edited by Howard- on Tuesday 9th February 13:45

Edited by Howard- on Tuesday 9th February 14:04

[beano500]

fatboy b said:

LilCat said:

I have the following places on my radar at the moment for CA:

San Francisco
Yosemite
Lake Tahoe
Kings Canyon
Sequioa National Park
Monterey
Sam Simeon
maybe LA for one night
(Anything I am missing or should leave out?)

Planning to go early Sept for roughly 2 weeks. Hopefully can fit it all in!

If trees, parks and rocks not your thing maybe fly into Vegas for a few nights then to Los Angeles for 2 nights then drive up to San Fran?

We're off in a few weeks to do most of that list.

I'd add Napa Valley to it if you like a drop of wine.

Two weeks is never enough! I did 42 days from San Francisco to San Diego via:

Monterey
Yosemite
Kings Canyon
Death Valley
....Leaving California....
Las Vegas
Zion National Park
Bryce Canyon
Monument Valley
Grand Canyon South Rim
Sedona
Nr Phoenix
....Returning California....
Joshua Tree National Park
San Diego


My tip - there's not a lot to be recommended about LA in comparison to all the other places you could go. Don't get me wrong, it's an experience in itself, Venice Beach, Universal Studios et al, but there's plenty of other things to see in the US.

Pay for someone to drive you round either Napa or Sonoma if yo ulike your wine!

Don't bother with car hire while IN San Francisco - it's too much fun on the cable cars. Take heed about any tips you get on where NOT to go (some parts are by night, others 24 hours if you're a tourist - same goes for LA, of course). Saving on time a flight back and forth can be useful for including LV, LA and SF (I think we paid $40 one time to fly SF to LV - that was first class and included the champagne!!! !!) - but the drive (especially through Death Valley) is a wonderful experience.

Take plenty of memory cards for your camera.

[louiebaby]

Howard- said:

I've read other negative opinions of LA too, but we'd like to at least see for ourselves

Exactly the right attitude!

You'll have a great time! We flew into SF, had a couple of days, bought tickets for Alcatraz, went touring for 2 weeks to Yosemite and Lake Tahoe, and came back to SF, did Alcatraz, and flew home.

The second trip was from SF to Vegas, through Yosemite, with a couple of days at the Grand Canyon.

[louiebaby]

K50 DEL said:

I did this route

http://tinyurl.com/yhpg3p2

In 3 weeks last spring - although Google Earth says 3665 miles, I actually ended up driving 5,800

Wow.

[Howard-]

louiebaby said:

Howard- said:

I've read other negative opinions of LA too, but we'd like to at least see for ourselves

Exactly the right attitude!

You'll have a great time! We flew into SF, had a couple of days, bought tickets for Alcatraz, went touring for 2 weeks to Yosemite and Lake Tahoe, and came back to SF, did Alcatraz, and flew home.

The second trip was from SF to Vegas, through Yosemite, with a couple of days at the Grand Canyon.

Sounds great

I think we'll enjoy ourselves whatever we do, it's just the initial planning that's daunting at first! Should we book hotels where possible, if we're 100% sure we'll be somewhere on a certain date? There don't seem to be ANY vacancies in the Yosemite area

[louiebaby]

Howard- said:

louiebaby said:

Howard- said:

I've read other negative opinions of LA too, but we'd like to at least see for ourselves

Exactly the right attitude!

You'll have a great time! We flew into SF, had a couple of days, bought tickets for Alcatraz, went touring for 2 weeks to Yosemite and Lake Tahoe, and came back to SF, did Alcatraz, and flew home.

The second trip was from SF to Vegas, through Yosemite, with a couple of days at the Grand Canyon.

Sounds great

I think we'll enjoy ourselves whatever we do, it's just the initial planning that's daunting at first! Should we book hotels where possible, if we're 100% sure we'll be somewhere on a certain date? There don't seem to be ANY vacancies in the Yosemite area

You'll need an address for your first night for immigration. (Technically you might be able to get around it, but it saves arsing about.) In the past we've used the youth hostels near Union Square in SF.

We'd booked Vegas, but unless you go when EVERYONE else goes, you'll find somewhere. Good luck with Yosemite. (Book a campsite and pop into a Walmart on the way for a cheap tent???)

Everything else, just punt it. There are motels and B&B's which have comfortable beds and a decent shower all over the place. What else do you need???

[Howard-]

Good point on the immigration front, will book somewhere in LA. As for the rest, yeah I'm sure there's no shortage!

[anonymous-user]

Try www.usrentacar.com we used them when we went to Texas. My mate was under 25 and they do a Young Driver package which meant that we could hire a convertible mustang for 17 days for under £600 including a free tank of fuel, no excess and all taxes included, otherwise it's normal rental costs and $25 per day to be paid when you pick up the car. I just had a quick look on their site and it works out about the same to get one for 14 days in June from SF airport. Be warned though there isn't much room in the boot for luggage so be prepared to travel light!

[Polarbert]

Bluequay said:

Try www.usrentacar.com we used them when we went to Texas. My mate was under 25 and they do a Young Driver package which meant that we could hire a convertible mustang for 17 days for under £600 including a free tank of fuel, no excess and all taxes included, otherwise it's normal rental costs and $25 per day to be paid when you pick up the car. I just had a quick look on their site and it works out about the same to get one for 14 days in June from SF airport. Be warned though there isn't much room in the boot for luggage so be prepared to travel light!

I just had a look at that website, and for 17-18 days they want around £600, plus £172 for the young drivers policy. So it works out cheaper but not by as much as you'd expect.

[Rollin]

Don't overplan. Once you've been you will go again and see the stuff you missed.

Stay in some small one bar type towns as well as the cities.

Talk to the locals.

[K50 DEL]

Howard- said:

Good point on the immigration front, will book somewhere in LA. As for the rest, yeah I'm sure there's no shortage!

Don't bother staying in LA itself, it's cheaper to stay in Santa Monica, the seashore motel (www.seashoremotel.com) is where I based myself and it was fine.

[Howard-]

Was thinking of staying somewhere in or near LA on the first night (shortly after we land), and picking up the hire car from the airport the next morning, saves paying for an extra day of hire

Edited by Howard- on Wednesday 10th February 08:24