San Francisco, LA & Las Vegas

[freespirit]

Hi Dibbers!

Me and my bf were thinking of doing a trip to San Francisco then flying to LA then on to Las Vegas from Manchester on 28th April 2007. I phoned Travel City Direct who quoted me £919.50 each staying 3 nights at Holiday Inn Golden Gateway (SF), 5 nights Holiday Inn Beverly Garland (LA) and 4 nights at the Aladdin (LV). Theres an upgraded BMI flight going home, the travel agent said it would be an extra £160 each to upgrade outbound flight that stops in Chicago then its an economy internal flight onto SF.

Is this value for money? Are these enough days in each place?? I let the travel agent pick my hotels as i havent a clue about the places or hotels available. How easy is it to get around these places for the complete novice without a car, im guessing theres a million tours available in the different places (iv seen loads for LV). I noticed the taxi fare from the LA airport to hotel is $70 each way!!

We initially saw a coach tour that lasted about 14 nights travelling all round the West USA but felt it would be kinda restricting and wed prefer to go where we wanted when we wanted to! Having said that going it alone and being dumped at the airport is kinda scarey lol!! Plus it looks tiring having to get so many planes! Has anyone done this trip? Any advice would be appreciated:spin:

[roadkingtrev]

hi why do you want to fly all over the place.You are missing out on some
great scenary.
I did this trip a few years a go.
We flew into SF stayed 3 days to see the sights then drove toYesomity park
stopped overnight at Bishop from here through Death Valley into Las Vagas
best time to go Monday to Thursday make sure you take a trip to the grand
canyon from here. then drive to LA from here. Try major travel for flights or cheapflights. dont know if this will help. you can book motels at good prices
trevor

[Heather1957]

Personally I wouldn't spend 5 nights in LA, I actually didn't like the place, I've been twice as I used to have friend there (she's moved)

Once you've done Disney and Knotts Berry Farm not much to see - I know some people like the beaches.

Obviously other posters will have their own opinion.

I like Trevors suggestion, and I'd lose 1 or 2 nights at LA to drive part of the route.

I stayed at the Aladdin (now called Planet Hollywood) last year, there was a lot of work going on, while not too disruptive there were areas of the casino floor cordoned off. It's in an excellent location, middle of the strip, but you may get better value for money by staying at the Luxor or Excalibur.

Enjoy the planning. :grin:

[uklad23]

The Beverley Garland is no good if you don't have a car it is too far off from public transport. Also you don't have to get a taxi from the airport lots of companys do shuttles for around $15. Checkout your hotels on www.tripadvisor.com I recomend reading the reviews and not just looking at the overall scores as Americans can complain about the smallest of things.

[June8th]

Hi
We did the coach tour last Feb, it was great. If you are non driving then I think this might be the way to go. LA is huge, we spent 3 nights there which was about right. San Francisco I loved, did the Segway tour, saw Alcatraz etc. We stayed in the Holiday Inn Golden Gate. It is on the Cable car turnaround, a better place to stay would be on the Fisherman's Wharf.
I know a coach tour means that you have to move on with the group, but if you are taking flights then that is the same.
Personally for a first visit, tours are good, we made friends with many of the other people, who we keep in touch with now.

[drpepper]

I agree with Heather1957 regarding LA. I have a friend who has lived there for years now and i've visited him twice. LA is basically featureless, dull and rather unexciting. It's surrounded by lovely mountains and coastal roads and desert drives, but LA itself is as exciting as watching paint dry.
As for flying to Vegas, that is such a waste. Last year i did the drive from LA to Vegas and it was awesome. It took about 5 hours and is totally different from what you expect. It's not all flat, boring desert, he road winds its way up and down steep gradients, between huge mountains and has some superb, wild scenery. We did the drive with our 2 year old and even he loved it. It's worth it for that first glimpse of Vegas through the heat haze alone.
As for the hotel in Vegas, i'd go for Luxor, Excalibur if you have kids, or New York New York rather than the Aladdin, but that's just personal preference.

[freespirit]

Thanks for all the info guys....looks like fly drive is the way to go whether that be by coach or car! Just shows you cant rely on travel agents to give you the 'best deal', they tell you what you wanna hear me thinks!;)

[danny]

i did LA, san fran and veags but flew between all of them ,didnt really have the time to spare for all the driving ,much prefurred just jumping on the plane and spending the time in the destination rather than on the road,but each to there own .thought the aladdin was a great hotel ,would recommend it ,pretty much central strip and good value.have stayed at the hotel mandalay bay ,that was lovely but right on the end of the strip ,next to luxor that was the only bad thing about it .if your intending to do disney in LA ,stay in anaheim ,we stayed at the sheraton anaheim and found it very nice,recently refurbished and looks like a medievil castle,best of all just round the corner from disneyland,and a short drive to knotts berry farm. in san fran ,id recommend a union square hotel ,right there in the middle of the shopping centre,all the big dept stores to wander round,and a fun ride on the cable cars down to fishermans wharf