More Holiday Advice - California

[engineer21]

So off to the Cook islands for a wedding in late july/aug, then on way home spending 12nights in California, with the intention of road tripping about - hire car needs to be very good (any pointers)

just wondered if anyone would look over a brief plan and give any advice

Flying in LA (1 night) - San Diego (2nights) - San Fransisco (4 nights) - Monterey (1night) - Santa Barbara (1 night) - LA (3 Nights)

Might swap LA nights around but not sure?

Also anyone done the swim with dolphins in San Diego?
Im a regular traveller so I should manage but not sure about the jet lag from cook islands for my Girlfriend, I will be driving anyhow

anything ive missed or any places which are must see, all appricated!

Cheers

[davepoth]

San Diego to San Francisco is a long haul in one go. I think I'd go LA-SF-Monterrey-Santa Barbara - San Diego - LA, makes the long leg up to San Francisco on the interstate a bit less of a ball ache. I'd consider getting the GF on the rental just for that bit, especially if you've still got a bit of jet lag. Even an hour of napping will be a help.

As regards cars, you're doing the right thing to do a loop. As for cars, anything from here:

http://www.hertz.com/rentacar/productservice/index...

Will do the job. Have fun

[Cutmore]

I spent a month travelling, firstly we arrived in San Francisco. We decided there was no real need for a car here, everything is either in walking distance or a couple of $ tram ride. Also, the parking there was a nightmare, of which we found once we hired a car when we were leaving.

We then drove from SF to Vegas, then down to San Diego, back up to L.A. We then spent nearly a week in Palm Springs, being offseason the rates were super cheap, pool and Jacuzzi for the price we were paying for a hostel. We used palm springs as a hub, travelling around the near by attractions.

We then drove back overnight to drop the car back over at San Francisco, I wouldn't worry about long drives over there. The driving is just so easy there.

Oh, and for the car; well of course we went with the most sensible fuel efficient car we could find...

Edited by Cutmore on Monday 27th May 14:50

[jackal]

San diego to sf is too long a drive imo

Id skip monterey personally, not that great (and im a massive steinbeck fan)

Santa barb is just ok as well

Where are you staying in la ?

La is one giant s&&&&thole but santa monica is wonderful. Malibu and venice also worth visiting. Maybe put more time there.

[Zeemax_Mini]

jackal said:

La is one giant s&&&&thole but santa monica is wonderful. Malibu and venice also worth visiting. Maybe put more time there.

I did a Cali road trip a year or two back, had a bloody fantastic time. The only thing I'd change is that I wish I'd listened to people who said similar to the above - don't bother staying in Hollywood. I did and it's a proper dive - stay in Santa Monica instead, then spend a day in Hollywood if you so wish!

Dom

[Voguely]

engineer21 said:

just wondered if anyone would look over a brief plan and give any advice

Flying in LA (1 night) - San Diego (2nights) - San Fransisco (4 nights) - Monterey (1night) - Santa Barbara (1 night) - LA (3 Nights)

Cheers

As previously noted by someone else, LA isn't great. San Diego on the other hand is lovely, I'd stay there a day longer and knock a day off LA. Depends on what you want to get upto there though? I'd avoid the city centre unless you are after upmarket nightlife and shopping. Instead head out to the beach areas to the North of the city like Mission beach and upto La Jolla. These areas are nice and a bit easier to get around without being stuck in traffic all the time. The surf is good along that whole bit of coast, with some bigger waves generally around the La Jolla area, Not so big you couldn't learn on though, so head there and take a couple of hours of lessons from one of the local schools if you fancy something you can't easily do in the UK (and certainly isn't as warm over here!). There are some great local food places along Mission beach too.

[richwig83]

Highway 1 is spectacular.... everyone must drive that road. Bucket list!

Have you thought about going inland more? Arizona? Las Vegas? Grand Canyon?

[blindswelledrat]

Personally I wouldn't spend 4 of those nights in San Fransisco.
Interesting place but a touch seedy and not actually that much to do. When I did this I found the highlights of my trip were the surprise middle-of-nowhere stays.
Yosemite is an reasonable drive from San Fransisco. It's stunning and well worth an overnight.
Id also try and find time for Las Vegas if you've never been. Regardless of whetehr you like gambling it is a complete one off experience.

[BoostMonkey]

richwig83 said:

Highway 1 is spectacular.... everyone must drive that road. Bucket list!

Have you thought about going inland more? Arizona? Las Vegas? Grand Canyon?

Agree, and if you can find the road up and over the mountain to Fort Hunterliget, it gets even better.
I set the brake's on fire of the RV we had doing that pass

[-Ad-]

Did a trip like my one below a few years ago, then went back 6months later on a cheap flight to do something similar (missing out Death Valley, Yosemite, San Fran and PCH to do Laguna beach and San Diego instead.

On your final night before departing from LAX, make sure you stay in Santa Monica. It's actually abotu 20mins to the airport, whereas someone
more central in LA is a lot further away. Plus it's not a hole

Another idea
1 - LA.
2 - LA.
3 - Drive to Vegas, spend night.
4 - Grand Canyon day Trip - Early start, take plane to South Rim airport, then do helicopter over canyon and bus to the viewpoint on South Rim (FYI - YOU CANNOT take a helicopter from Vegas and land in the Canyon, that is the crap West Rim, not the actual Canyon as you NEED to see it).
5 - Vegas.
6 - Drive West through Death Valley and stay in Bishop/Mono Lake.
7 - Drive through Yosemite, taking Tioga pass and get to San Fran later afternoo.
8 - San Fran.
9 - San Fran.
10 - San Fran and drive to Monteray after lunch.
11 - Drive PCH and stay in Santa Barbara.
12 - Santa Barbara for the day and drive to Santa Monicaafter lunch to chill.
13 - Home?


I did love San Diego. We also stopped over at Laguna Beach after driving south from LA to spend the day and night. It was lovely and got us to San Diego after lunch the next day. Although your idea is nice and San Diego is great, you essentially waste time driving up and down the same route. Can you extend the holiday a few days, do the trip as I've detailed above, but instead on day 12, drive from Santa Barbara to San Diego for a few nights before popping back to spend your final night in Santa Monica (nice and close to the airport)?

Edited by -Ad- on Wednesday 29th May 14:16

[V8LM]

-Ad- said:

On your final night before departing from LAX, make sure you stay in Santa Monica. It's actually abotu 20mins to the airport, whereas someone more central in LA is a lot further away. Plus it's not a hole

Another idea
1 - LA.
2 - LA.
3 - Drive to Vegas, spend night.
4 - Grand Canyon day Trip - Early start, take plane to South Rim airport, then do helicopter over canyon and bus to the viewpoint on South Rim (FYI - YOU CANNOT take a helicopter from Vegas and land in the Canyon, that is the crap West Rim, not the actual Canyon as you NEED to see it).
5 - Vegas.
6 - Drive West through Death Valley and stay in Bishop/Mono Lake.
7 - Drive through Yosemite, taking Tioga pass and get to San Fran later afternoo.
8 - San Fran.
9 - San Fran.
10 - San Fran and drive to Monteray after lunch.
11 - Drive PCH and stay in Santa Barbara.
12 - Santa Barbara for the day and drive to Santa Monicaafter lunch to chill.
13 - Home?


I did love San Diego. We also stopped over at Laguna Beach after driving south from LA to spend the day and night. It was lovely and got us to San Diego after lunch the next day. Although your idea is nice and San Diego is great, you essentially waste time driving up and down the same route. Can you extend the holiday a few days, do the trip as I've detailed above, but instead on day 12, drive from Santa Barbara to San Diego for a few nights before popping back to spend your final night in Santa Monica (nice and close to the airport)?

Edited by -Ad- on Wednesday 29th May 14:10

This is good ^^^

In addition, LA is not a great place to visit to be honest. You could swap the day in LA for a drive to San Diego, spend the afternoon and night there, and then drive to Vegas via Palm Springs (nice sights from the top of the hill via cable car).

Grand Canyon is a bit of a haul from Vegas; you could replace with a trip to the Hoover Dam.

We did a trip like the above over two weeks and it was fabulous. Couple of points - we didn't plan anything and just found a motel/hotel when we got to wherever we thought was it for the day. This was fine except for the other side of Death Valley. We left Vegas and timed the drive through the valley for late afternoon. This was great, but there is nothing on the other side so we ended up in the Bates Motel. And left VERY early the next morning. Yosemite is a must but places can be very busy.

[engineer21]

some real food for thought there, looks like our plans need to change a bit, more advice welcome, it is a driving holiday but i dont want to be stuck on the road all day everyday.

does anyone know driving times from most of these places??

thanks again

[saleen836]

engineer21 said:

some real food for thought there, looks like our plans need to change a bit, more advice welcome, it is a driving holiday but i dont want to be stuck on the road all day everyday.

does anyone know driving times from most of these places??

thanks again

Google maps will give you distances and travel times

[engineer21]

cheers wasnt just too sure how accurate google maps was for USA, seems ok in UK i always seem to go just a bit quicker than GM.

thanks

[Matt..]

Google maps is quite accurate for the US (probably within 10%).

Get yourself a sat nav before you go if you can. It makes things so much easier!

[engineer21]

yeah sat nav will def becoming! the girlfriends navigation skills are lets just say limited!

[Saleen836]

engineer21 said:

yeah sat nav will def becoming! the girlfriends navigation skills are lets just say limited!

We bought an SD card loaded with USA maps from Ebay for approx £20 for our TomTom which went with us to California last September and it worked a treat

[engineer21]

Right been trying to nail down this route! gf has now decided she wants to see vegas, and after reading other ideas iam very keen on canyon etc

so heres my proposed route

1 - Cook Islands - LA
2 - LA
3 - Drive to Vegas
4 - Vegas (grand canyon tour)
5 - Vegas - San fran
6 - San Fran
7 - San Fran (Alcatraz)
8 - Monterny (or somehwere on Hwy 1)
9 - Santa Monica
10 - Santa Monica (flying home)

Worst bit is going to be the drive from vegas to san fransisco, i realise its a long one! 12hrs+ but one long driving day will prob be ok??

all ideas welcome!

off too look at Hertz!

[RedWhiteMonkey]

Make sure you book Alcatraz in advance. Its worth being on the first ferry so you can get some idea of the isolation before too many arrive. Its not that big and even if you do the full audio tour (recommended) you'll be done in 2-3 hours.

[engineer21]

Thanks yeah booking it is the plan, great tip on first ferry thanks